Chapter 2 The kiss

I looked around. I was in a black limousine with some unfamiliar and intimidating men. Their faces were stone-cold-mean and ready to kill.

If this hadn't been a legal marriage and the company wasn't globally recognized as legit, I would have thought I'd been kidnapped.

Although the car was well-ventilated, thanks to the air conditioner, I still felt hot and extremely uncomfortable.

The man who stood in for my husband was the one driving. He didn't glance at anyone-his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, and his cold gaze pierced through the road ahead.

Soon, we approached a massive mansion. It looked like a villa-too grand to be a regular home.

I expected a gatekeeper to appear, but to my surprise, the gate opened on its own.

Wow. An automatic gate.

The car stopped. I noticed a bright light behind us-three more cars had been following all along.

"It would be really easy for someone to kidnap me with how dull my senses were," I thought.

The men stepped out, leaving me inside.

The stand-in for my husband-yes, that's what I'll call him until I learn his name-knocked on the window. I rolled it down.

"We're here," he said in a low, almost uninterested tone. He didn't seem like much of a talker.

I pulled myself together and stepped out. They were already walking inside, and I had to jog in my wedding dress just to catch up.

The moment I stepped into the mansion, my breath caught. It was a sight to behold-unlike anything I'd seen in my 24 years of existence.

Golden pillars. Golden walls. Twisting staircases that made no architectural sense. Paintings lined the walls like a gallery.

I loved golden tones and fine art. Someone from my past knew that... but that was history now.

I was still gaping, unaware that my mouth hung open until someone called my attention.

"Jack will be taking you to your room," the stand-in said.

A man I assumed was Jack stepped forward and took hold of my luggage.

"Excuse me," I said quickly, interrupting.

"Which one of you is my husband?"

I couldn't take it anymore. They were treating me like a package being delivered-not a person.

If my husband was among them, I wouldn't know. He was only known as a powerful billionaire-owner of several companies. No one knew what he looked like.

Silence. No one moved.

"Even if this marriage didn't start with love or romance, I still have the right to know who my husband is," I said, voice rising.

"Jack, just take her luggage up," the stand-in ordered, ignoring me.

"I won't go anywhere until I see my husband." I stood my ground. But a part of me was screaming to back down-I was surrounded by strangers I couldn't trust.

Had my father sold me off to serial killers under the guise of a business deal?

The stand-in started approaching me, his eyes cold and deadly. My body tensed in fear. I stepped back, my heart racing. I whispered my last prayer, begging God to forgive my sins and welcome me into heaven.

"This is the end. My parents sold me off to be killed," I thought.

He kept coming until our faces were inches apart. For a second, I thought he was about to... you know.

Before I could figure it out, a hand suddenly clamped over my nose with a white handkerchief.

I struggled, desperate for air, but the grip was too strong.

How could the others just stand and watch someone murder a newlywed?

My limbs weakened. My eyes fluttered shut. The last thing I saw was that evil man's wicked smile.

✦

I woke up on a large bed, alone. My luggage sat beside me.

The last thing I remembered was being suffocated.

Panicked, I checked my body for missing parts. Everything was intact. No pain. No signs of assault.

I whispered a prayer of thanks. But I still couldn't understand this marriage.

My panic wasn't gone. What if they were only waiting for the perfect time to strike?

I reached for my bag and pulled out a bra. Hidden inside was a small piece of iron I had sewn in for emergencies.

It wasn't much-but it could do damage if anyone tried anything. I was on edge, ready to attack.

Minutes passed. No one came. Nothing suspicious.

Slowly, my nerves began to calm.

That's when I truly looked around.

The room was gorgeous-clearly made for a woman. Feminine. Warm. Comfortable.

For a moment, I felt seen. Cared for.

"You wish," came a voice in my head.

It wasn't for me. This wasn't meant to be mine. It was for my sister-she was supposed to be here.

I felt sticky. I'd been in that suffocating dress all day.

I searched the room, found the bathroom, and unzipped the gown.

Wearing just my inners, I stepped into the bathroom-and gasped.

It was just as stunning. Painted in soft pink. Filled with feminine scents and rows of scented candles.

I slid into the warm bathtub, and for the first time in hours, I felt peace.

So much peace that I drifted to sleep.

My alarm woke me.

I always kept it loud-I was a heavy sleeper. And 11 o'clock was my journaling hour. A habit I kept unless something urgent came up.

Wrapped in a pink towel I found in the bathroom, I returned to the room and started applying my creams and lotions.

A song I'd written years ago popped into my head. I began singing softly.

My voice... my friends said it was beautiful. My sister always insisted I was just average-nothing about me was better than her.

I got lost in the song. Lost in the memory.

Until hands slipped around my waist from behind.

I froze.

I stopped singing and tried to wriggle free.

"Please don't push me away again," a male voice whispered.

Familiar. Deep. Smooth. A voice I hadn't heard in years-but couldn't forget.

I tried again to escape, but then... he kissed my neck.

Softly. Just once.

And I froze completely.

That feeling.

It couldn't be.

That kiss on my neck... I knew that feeling.

It belonged to someone I once cared for-deeply.