Chapter 4 Contract marriage

Chapter Four

Ava's Point of View

I didn't smile at the driver when he opened the door on my side again since I didn't have any reason to do so at the moment.

If you ask me, I'm just thinking about being anxious right now. As soon as I stepped outside the church, I saw two old couples waiting at the door. Their clothing exuded wealth and influence.

And they had suit-clad security with them. These were David's parents, I suppose. Please, God! I felt an arm quickly glide over mine, and I looked to find it was Alexander.

I looked from our intertwined arms and observed his face quizzically.

Why would he put his hands around me like that? "What are you doing?" I asked him. "What do I seem to be doing?" "If we want to persuade them of this whole thing, we need to put on a show,"

From the corner of his lips, he said in a voice that only I could hear. I put my arm back in his as we headed toward his parents.

The old lady came up to us, smiled kindly, and put her arms around Alexander. She put her arms over his broad shoulders and said,

"Aww, my little boy is back." He had to bend a little to make the hug comfortable. Hehe, little lad. I managed to control a burst of laughter into an almost perceptible chuckle.

As she pulled away from her child, his mother turned to me and asked, "Oh hello, is this her?"

In an instant, I smiled as warmly as I could. She placed her hands on each side of my face as she gazed into my eyes and smiled widely.

Her comment was, "She's gorgeous." Then she gives me a hug in return. Well, she's quite nice. Laughing aloud, she said, "I trust you love my son a lot." I returned the grin.

However, I was only able to nod uneasily. Okay, one done, one more to go. "Now let's go meet your father-in-law," she added, turning around. father-in-law to be.

We went up to the old guy, who didn't seem very pleased. He had a look of cold indifference. The coldness David exhibited must have sprung from it.

David just yelled "Dad" and the guy grunted back, his gaze fixed only on me. I took a swallow. "Good day, sir" is what I said to try to diffuse the situation.

"What's her name?" I don't even believe he asked, but he did, completely ignoring my greeting. "Ava ..." David opened his mouth to answer, but stopped.

I'm not sure whether I mentioned my last name to him. I immediately rushed in and said, "Daniels, the name is Ava Daniels, sir," saving the day.

He paused for a few seconds, his eyes narrowing on me. This guy is adding even more tension to an already difficult situation.

"Ava Daniels..." he said slowly, as if he was trying to recall where he acquired that name. I knew for myself that it was impossible since the phrase was invented.

I hadn't revealed my true identity to anybody yet, despite the fact that I had been going as Ava Williams while I was still in New York. I wanted to start again, and changing my name will help me in achieving that. so I changed my name.

"Okay, let's get to it, lest we keep everyone waiting," he said in closing, and my shoulder relaxed. We all went into the chapel after the tension had passed.

Only David's father and a few other well-off and influential individuals were present in the congregation. Their behavior and attire spoke for itself.

I was considerably more nervous than usual when I was finally called to approach the alter. I walked down the aisle with my head down the whole time. Thankfully,

To conceal my tight, red face from the rest of the group, I wore a veil over my head. As I walked down the aisle, more rose petals were thrown down. The journey to the altar seemed like it would never end.

When I eventually got there, I glanced up to see David standing next the priest, wearing a black starched tuxedo with a white shirt beneath.

His face was expressionless, and as his eyes locked with mine, he frowned. Why would a man be frowning his face on his wedding day, even if the marriage was fake. The guy next to me smiled and placed my hand on David's warm palm.

David smiled back at the guy and then straightened his lips again. After we both stared at one other in silence as he said, the priest asked David to repeat his vows.

The statement "As of this day, I, David Carter Gages, now declare Ava Daniels to be a lawfully married wife, to own and to retain,

I had to swallow hard when I heard the phrase "until death do us part," for better or worse, richer or worse, in sickness and in health.

It was almost time for me to make my vows, and my sweaty pores were itchy. Abruptly,

I began to feel congested in my wedding dress. I, Ava Daniels, formally wed David Carter Gages, and I will be with him from this day on, for better or worse.

"Until death do us part, in health and in illness, for richer for poorer." I've signed a lifetime commitment with him, and we are now linked together.

As we exchanged rings, the chapel erupted in applause. And at last, the much anticipated time has come. The priest said it rather plainly.

"You may now kiss the bride." My heart was trembling so violently in my chest that I thought it was ripping out of my rib cage.

I was out of breath, and the whole auditorium seemed oppressive. When I saw your piece, a grin formed on David's lips.

What an idiot! How can he feel comfortable in this entire situation? I had to shut my eyes to keep from seeing his face as it began to creep closer and closer.