Chapter 3 Hooked

"You bloody bitch...dad is right, you are talking too much these days." She raised her hand to slap her. Abigail closed her eyes to brace the hit but it never came. When she opened her eyes she saw Liam holding Zoey's hand.

"Keep your hands in your control, Zoey. I agree with Abigail. You should be thankful to your sister instead of going hostile. She not only saved your family from facing disrespect of Benedicts but also you from becoming a disloyal girl." Before Zoey could speak further, he caught her arm and dragged her out of Abby's room.

Zoey's words though were harsh made Abigail realize the reality. She looked around the church through the window of her room dubiously. Her only thought at the moment was, if the wedding didn't happen, how would she save her sister?

From the other corner she heard whispers that the groom is unemployed, extremely poor and idle, sorting for as small as daily wages to earn a livelihood. If he was Emerson's son who could render her uncle a ten thousand dollars interest free loan he must be leading a decent living. Then how could he be unemployed seeking even for a three course meal?

There were so many questions clogging the mind of Abigail. Amidst the gossip she recalled the heart breaking words of the oncologist. "Grace urgently needs a bone marrow transplant to restrain the growing cancer in her body. The cost of the surgery including medication will cost you around ten million dollars. And the operation is to be performed as soon as possible. The earlier the surgery, the greater are the chances of her recovery."

A soft sob was about to come out of Abigail but she immediately gulped it away. Abby knew she was taking up to the cross. But to save Grace, she would even challenge Hades, marriage with an old ugly misshapen man is nothing. "Are you ready, my child." The overly sweet voice of Nora was heard from the entrance.

Abigail could only manage to nod because if she would speak she would break into a cry and Nora doesn't deserve to see her tears. Just then she heard from someone outside "The groom arrived." Her pensive heartbeat relaxed.

Soon William walked to her in the customary style to walk her to the aisle. But there was something wrong with her uncle. His features looked torn and withered. What happened to him? It is not like he loves her and shortly is going to part with his loving little princess. There is something that stinks here. "Are you okay, Uncle William?" Abigail asked him doubtfully.

William did not reply, took her hand which was colder than hers. What's happening? Hopefully Nora and William are not sacrificing her to their dead forefathers. Abigail kept looking at William trying to search for her answers through his face but got none.

The music started playing and like coming out of the dead Abigail walked out of her room in a simple white gown and a veil, least interested in the wedlock but for money.

When she neared the dias William placed her soft arm in the calloused big hand which held her firmly and pulled her up. "She is now yours." He said to the groom.

"I will." The voice beside her spoke firmly. It was like an awakening to Abigail. Damn it! Who is this man? He is not misshapen with a bald head and seven months belly sitting on a wheelchair but a young and very handsome tall and lean man. "Who...." Abigail discreetly bent her head to talk to William but before she could speak, he growled low. "Shut up and get married without any questions if you want the money."

Abigail resisted the urge to look at the guy through the veil. His hand was so warm which unexpectedly held comfort against her cold ones. The swirl of his musk and hue cologne had her swooning in the aisles which felt much familiar. It was bringing her to an unacquainted feeling of sweet thrill. Who is this guy who feels familiar with his touch and scent yet unknown to her?

Abigail did not want to raise her head and look at the groom till then but the skin to skin entanglement brought an unknown delectation in her body. Her legs shivered with the impact of the tempting touch and to balance herself she flattened her palms on his chest.

In a shot, hot waves of electricity passed through her cells as if she experienced a shock. His robust chest encapsulated her in a gleam of delight and a vigor of youthfulness. She had no idea of sexual awareness in her till the moment but for his embrace.

She went stiff relishing the goose pimples by his unparalleled charisma. He was not old and grumpy with a huge stomach and bald head. The superfine fabric of his black tuxedo screamed richness and power. "Are you okay?" His very masculine gravelly voice struck a chord in her throat which possessed the latest leonine power. Was this guy really an impotent? Dissatisfaction loomed in her stance, she had no idea why.

"I am fine." Abigail slowly raised her head to look at him. The Patek Philippe watch which adorned his left wrist spoke volumes about the billions he possessed in his bank account contradicting the claims that he is poor. Why did Zoey give her wrong information about this groom? Why is she framed into this un-respected wedlock?

The cunning handsome quickly covered her surprise with his frame so that people couldn't see her reaction. He could easily guess the several queries clogging Abigail's mind. But was he going to be so easy on her? Never.

Abigail was innocent. She hadn't seen the man yet. Her eyes crawled from his long and thin fingers to his slim waist passing through his muscled sternum reaching the basalt shoulders and finally culminating into his eyes. And that's it! The world stopped moving around her. And she received the shock of the millennium.

"You?"