Chapter 3 The Groom who never came, the stranger who did

Chapter 3

ADELINE

"She has been in an affair and you lied to me that she's pure?" I am still rooted at the spot even though the crowd has dispersed. I can barely hear what they're saying as my entire focus is on that man staring intently at me with legs crossed on each other.

"The family isn't aware of that. Care to explain this Adeline?" I swerve immediately, my eyes finding my dad's face, my stepmom's, and Annika's before they shift to the photos that the groomsmen had provided.

A photo of me in bed with another man. So my family is going to feign ignorance of the fact that I was raped? So what? They could save their heads? From what?

"Seriously, dad? You..." I trail off as he shoots me a death glare, one that reminds me that if I say anything outrageous, I won't have a home to return to. We all turn when the man still seated in the congregation coughs a bit and stands up but from their looks, it seems they are just noticing his presence.

"I'll handle this." The man is walking up to us when the groomsmen block his way.

"The wedding is over. Crucial family matters are being discussed so I'd have to ask you to leave." There is no fear in this man's eyes, and he stares down the groomsman, chuckles a bit, and nudges him out of his way.

"Hey dude, we don't want any trouble unless you do. Leave." The groom's man holds him by the suit and for that minute, everyone's attention is on him.

"I'm not going to ask you to leave. I'm going to give you three seconds to let go of my suit, or you would be short of 5 fingers. I'm in a good mood so you'll lose just 5." Coupling with the fact that this man is sinfully hot, his voice has this deep baritone that makes the air grow stale.

I watched in surprise as the groomsmen let go slowly and the man nodded with a coy smile etched on his face.

"That's what I thought." Walking up to us, he takes a seat and crosses his legs like he is seated on a throne.

"Am I disrupting anything?" He sighs and Stuart is about to say something when his father tugs his arm and steps forward.

"Of course not, Mr Cree." There is unease in the atmosphere and my father has broken out in a cold sweat despite the presence of all the Air conditioners. Stuart's father wasn't different either.

"No, I think I am. After all, my father didn't get an invite to the wedding. I'm a little glad he didn't since talk couldn't wait for the media to leave before starting your arguments. The headline tomorrow would be great. Heir to the Headnor's hooks up with a slut." I want to counter him, but my dad gives me a warning look, and I grit my teeth before bending my head in anger and shame.

"It must have slipped our mind to send your father an invite. Accept our apologies." He waved my dad off, shaking his head from side to side.

"Nah, it's fine. He wouldn't have wanted to see a hooker at the altar." His gaze lingers a bit on me and now, I declare that I have had enough.

"Excuse me. Do you have a problem with me?" I yank the veil off my head and toss it to Ana to look at him properly.

"Adeline, keep shut." My father growls but I am far more pissed to listen to him at this point.

Ana tugged my wedding dress a bit to stop me from venting, and I was about to heed their silent pleas when the man stood up and looked me down.

This man is staring at me like I am a short person, and I promise that I'm not; he's just way too tall. Taller than an actual man should be.

"Allow the lady to say what she wants. I'm the one calling her a slut so she's eligible to return the favor." I bite my lips when he says that because now I'm not quite sure if he's on my side or not.

"She has no right to talk back to you, my sincere apologies." I am disgusted by everything but more curious with the way my dad is answering this man so cooly, almost like he was treading softly so he doesn't piss the guy off.

"But she does have the right. Is that how it runs in your family, Mr Keaton? Women have no right to speak up? I think I detest you a thousand more times but since I'm not here to banter, I'll get going after knowing when your debts would be paid off." Debts? My father swallows hard and gestures towards Stuart's father. Something isn't adding up here.

They can coax the guy to a side and after speaking to him in low tones, he finally decides to leave.

"Would you just leave like that, Mr Cree? Perhaps we could treat you to lunch." Annika giggles softly as she approaches him and holds his arms softly.

"Hands off me." He stares at her almost with an irritated look and then says; "You're disgusting. You should know that." Her face falls as he walks off but then he stops and faces Stuart.

"Also, the pictures of your bride being a slut? If you ever find the person who photoshopped it, tell them they did a bad job. I was the one that was supposed to be in that photo." At first, I don't understand what he means but then, my eyes widen when I do.

"Hold on, what did you just say?" My head is bursting into pieces at the thought that this man might have been the person that raped me.

He winks when I stare at him and I grab the glass of wine that Stuart's father had been sipping on and throw it at him.

"You ruined my life, you fucking idiot! You spoiled everything. You ruined me." I drag her hair and run towards me, but my father stops me as it seems like I am going crazy.

"You're feisty too. Admirable," he stares at me with squinted eyes as tears gush out of my eyes, " I think I've made a choice, Mr Cree. She would be coming with me and staying with you till you can pay up."

"She's yours." I stared sharply at my dad, but he didn't say a word; it was like I was a pawn in whatever chess game they were playing.

"Good choice."