Chapter 1 THE WEDDING PARTY

MARRIED TO MY STRANGER

EXOTIC LUST

ONE: THE WEDDING PARTY

Walking down the aisle felt like the greatest thing Mia Dante had ever done, she was seething with anger.

She took one step at a time and lifted her head to the crowd before her, her mother Mrs Dante was giving her a bright smile while her father just sat beside her, his arms folded, and his expression was blank.

They were both seated with the groom's parents at a large table at the right corner of the hall.

The hall was exotic with soft lighting, and elegant chandeliers.

The hall is adorned with flowers, drapes, and sophisticated details.

Mia Dante and Lorenzo Alessandro were designed into different posters and adorned on each table.

"Why will they spend so much on a fake wedding?" Mia wondered, her questions were answered as she spotted paparazzi. Dozens of them at the end corner of the room, their cameras flashing at every scene.

She forced a dazzling smile. A picture-perfect bride walking into a nightmare.

Fake smiles. Fake love. Fake marriage.

I have a feeling she'll behave well, " Mrs Alessandro, Mia's mother-in-law, remarked.

Mrs Dante rolled her eyes.

" Of course. She was trained well, I just hope she's treated well " Mrs Dante said in the most polite manner she could use, she was boiling inside, she hoped her husband could give their daughter the choice to choose her life partner.

She couldn't do much to convince her husband and Mia hated that the most, she hated that her mother had accepted the proposal so quickly.

They should have stood against him, perhaps, maybe she wouldn't be walking this goddamn aisle.

She reached the altar and looked up straight into Leonardo's eye. Her so-called husband locked eyes and tension seemed to build between them, he had a strong jawline, prominent cheekbones, and a straight nose.

He has piercing eyes that sparkle brightly with smooth radiant skin and a healthy complexion, his hair is well-groomed and it frames his face

" Is this fate?" She questioned herself.

Who could have ever thought the man she had a one-night stand with, a few weeks ago would turn out to be her groom?

Her father's CEO. Was it planned? Was she the target?

"Let the bride and the groom exchange vows" the priest's voice jotted Mia out of her thoughts

"Can we skip that part?" Leonardo said only to the priest hearing and he quickly nodded

Mia studied him for a while "Why is he doing this?

"What good is their marriage going to get him?" she pondered.

They proceeded to sign the marriage contract and it was done.

At the after party. Mrs. Alessandro approached her Smile more darling, you're officially part of the Alessandro family ". Mia widened her smile.

Though it felt like she was cracking.

She looked down at her dress and she sighed.

She wished she'd worn the dress her best friend Bianca picked out, but she refused.

Instead, She chose a blue gown that flowed heavily to the ground.

She left her mother-in-law with a gentle bow and walked to the center of the room to meet Leonardo.

They swayed to the soft music, his arms encircling her waist, Mia bit her lips hard as she controlled herself not to stare at him.

"It's just for a few years Mia, I don't intend to get married too, let's just pretend for five years," he said into her ears and she stiffened.

"How could you play with my life for five years? I will find my way out of this marriage, I won't dance to your tunes I promise you" Mia whispered back to his ear

"Don't think of finding your way out of this marriage, Mia," he stated.

He smiled and wrapped his hand tightly around her waist.

"I bet my touches make you have Deja Vu, Mrs. Mia Alessandro" he replied and she forgot how to breathe for a second.

"Don't call me that" she snapped.

He leaned in, voice low. "Trust me, darling, I don't want this either," he said and Mia noticed his eyes were fixed on someone, she looked back and it was a man in his fifties, The resemblance was unmistakable.

"They are family, " but the man was cold, Distant and older.

"We don't need to go on with a couple of nights tonight right, we did that just a few weeks ago see ya wifey," he said into her ear and removed his hands from her waist, he gave her a peck on her forehead and left her on the dancefloor.

Mia stood alone on the dance floor. Her breath caught in her chest.

She watched him smile at the guests as if nothing happened.

"Mia" Bianca her best friend called and Mia turned to her.

" Sly bet you love how I ended up right? I will never let you know I found out the truth Bianca, let's play our cards well" Mia thought and masked her hatred with a smile.

"You must be such a tired baby girl, I wish I could carry the weight of the dress for you, " Bianca said and took my hand in hers.

"I'm happy for you," she continued.

Mia smiled at her and gently removed her hand from Bianca's grip

"I would like to attend to more guests, hope you don't mind," Mia Said and Bianca nodded

Bianca narrowed her brows as Mia left.

" Why is she acting strange " she thought but shrugged it off, she was probably just stressed.

She glanced around and frowned. "Could Luca ever pull something this extravagant"? she thought and bit her lips.

Mia looked around her and she smiled bitterly. Her father who signed a marriage contract without her consent, her mother who stayed silent, her mother-in-law? Probably planning to make her life hell, And Bianca–her best friend who betrayed her.

Then there's him. The man from one night. Now her husband.

She was too weak to get herself out of this mess, she knew accepting the marriage contract her father suddenly brought home was going to be a thorn in her life, but she was helpless.

The camera flashes repeatedly in her eyes.

"No, Mia, not now–" but her feet were numb.

But the floor rushes up.

Gasps echo around her and darkness takes her.