Marriage by Right

Six Months Ago

« What are you talking about? » I whispered, feeling embarrassed as I excused myself and hurried down Collins Street in the city, trying not to bump into all the businesspeople at this hour. Did they have to look so grumpy and terrifying?

« I swear it was him, Iv, just check it out, » whispered Rose, clutching my arm like a lifeline. I scoffed. Where did she even hear that from? James and I had been together for nearly four years now, and now she tells me she thinks he's been cheating on me the whole time. The whole four years without me knowing?

Definitely not.

That was just absurd, I tell you!

« Look, Rose, you have the wrong person. Why would James cheat on me? We've been together for four years in a week's time. If he wanted to, then he would have dumped me ages ago! » I snapped, frustration bubbling up in my chest.

Rose sighed, her breath visible in the cold air as we walked swiftly toward the tram stop. Her grip on my arm tightened as we dodged people. It was cold and wet, the kind of chill that sank deep into your bones. We raced to the tram and boarded it just as the last few stragglers were getting on. The tram doors shut with a hiss, and we found seats in the corner.

It was a half-hour journey to our homes, thankfully a fair bit away from the city, so we could escape all the noise and pollution that came with living too close to the madness. The world outside seemed so far away as I gazed out the window, my mind still reeling from Rose's words. Cheating? On me?

I couldn't even entertain the thought. But the doubt gnawed at me, just the tiniest sliver of uncertainty. Was I being blind to something?

« Cause you're beautiful, rich, and whoever marries you gets not only all your money but also fame and popularity! » she snapped, her voice rising in irritation. I let out a heavy sigh and sank back into the seat, staring at the darkening streets outside the window. Rose was always blunt, and her words were always cutting. I didn't believe her, I didn't want to.

If this was anyone else, I would have slapped them as soon as I heard such a thing. But this was Rose-my best friend, my childhood companion. We'd seen each other through so much, the good and the bad. I had been the one to tell her about her hopeless crush that she refused to admit was a lost cause, and though she hated me for it at the time, when she found out the truth, she came around and realized how love could blind you. I'd been there for her through her darkest moments, and she'd done the same for me.

We were family, and family didn't lie to each other... Right?

I closed my eyes and sighed again, trying to shake off the unease. I wanted to believe in James, in us. This feeling-this was love, wasn't it?

« Fine, » I muttered reluctantly, my fingers gripping my phone. I took it out and sent James a quick text.

Where are you?

xx Ivy

Rose stared at me, waiting. I could feel her eyes burning into the side of my head. Her legs were bouncing nervously, a habit she had when she was on edge. She looked over my shoulder as if she was expecting James's reply to come through immediately. The tension was thick in the air, and I couldn't help but feel like she was waiting for the confirmation she needed to prove her point.

My phone vibrated, and I pulled it back into my hand, glancing at the screen. The corners of my lips lifted slightly.

At work. See you tonight, love.

I knew it. I knew James wouldn't do something like this.

Ivy-he never called me anything else, always Ivy. We had a shorthand that only we understood. The way he said "love" was enough to melt me every time, the kind of warmth that came with years of being with someone who cared.

Rose snatched the phone from my hand before I could even react, her fingers swiping across the screen with rapid fury. She muttered something under her breath, and I could feel her frustration rising. My heart sank as she glanced up at me, her eyes narrowing in disbelief.

« See, I t- » she started, but then she cut herself off as she grabbed my arm with surprising force, pulling me up from my seat. I barely had time to register what was happening before she was yanking me toward the tram door.

« What are you doing? » I gasped, struggling to keep my balance as I was dragged toward the exit.

She didn't answer, her eyes focused on something outside. The tram had just reached a stop near the area we lived, but something in her expression told me that this wasn't where we were getting off.

I felt my stomach tighten as the door opened, and I tried to pull back, but she was stronger than I anticipated.

« Rose, what the hell? Where are we going? » I demanded, but she ignored me, her pace quickening.

We were almost out of the tram when she muttered something under her breath again, and I finally pulled free from her grip. The cold air hit my skin as I stepped off the tram, eyes scanning the street.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw where we were.

This wasn't the stop for home.

This was near James's place.

"Rose! What the hell are you doing?" I snapped, my breath coming in quick bursts, panic bubbling in my chest. I knew this neighborhood well-this was James's area. His house wasn't anything compared to the massive mansions that lined the street, but it was cozy, a small house his grandparents had left him when they passed. He always said it reminded him of them, and that was why he loved it.

Rose didn't even look at me as she pulled me along the sidewalk, her grip tighter now, her face set in an expression I couldn't read.

« You're going to see for yourself, » she said, her voice grim and determined.

I froze, my palms suddenly slick with sweat. I hadn't been to James's place in a few days-not since our argument about his late nights at work. I hadn't thought anything of it at the time. Now, the doubt that Rose had planted was worming its way into my thoughts, twisting them, making my legs shake.

« What are you going to do, Rose? » I whispered, feeling a little defeated.

But she was already stepping onto the lawn, her eyes scanning the front porch as if expecting something-or someone.

I wanted to turn around, to run, to go home and forget this whole thing had ever happened, but I couldn't. My feet were rooted to the spot, caught between the unspoken trust I had in James and the fear that Rose's words were true.

Rose knocked, hard, on the front door, her hand raised in a fist again as if she were preparing to pound the door down.

My heart raced. What was she thinking? What was I thinking? Was I ready to face whatever was waiting for me on the other side?

The door creaked open, and the figure standing there made my stomach flip.

"James?" I whispered, barely able to find my voice.

The man standing before me wasn't James.

And the look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know.

Chapter 02

"That's spying!" I snapped, my voice rising in frustration.

Rose shrugged, pulling me along with her as if I were some child she could easily control. "He says he's at work, and you're his girlfriend anyways. It won't be spying," she retorted, her tone dismissive, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I nodded, though something about it didn't sit right with me. I felt uneasy in the pit of my stomach, an anxious gnawing that only seemed to grow the closer we got to James's house. Why? Why was I feeling like this? James would never do such a thing. Why would he? And he would never have married me for my money or my fortune; he just wasn't like that. James wasn't like those other guys who only cared about what they could get from someone.

But then again, maybe that was the problem. I was too trusting. I always believed the best in people, even when things didn't always add up. And now, as Rose led me through the side of the house instead of the front door, I had a creeping sense of doubt.

"Come on, Ivy," she muttered, pulling me along even faster. "You have to stop being so naive. You're twenty now, not some little girl who believes everyone is good. The world isn't like that. People lie. People cheat. And sometimes, those people are the ones closest to you."

I bit my lip, frowning, but I couldn't bring myself to argue. "But I'm not naive," I whispered back, almost pleading with myself more than with her.

"Says the girl who nearly gave a hundred dollars to that charity on the street that claimed pigs were endangered species," Rose shot back, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "You believed that crap. You believed in it, Ivy."

I shrugged, unwilling to let her get under my skin. "You never know," I muttered. "They could be."

Rose rolled her eyes dramatically. "Please, you're a walking disaster. Come on, let's get this over with."

She yanked me to the side of the house and pushed me against the window. I could feel my heart beginning to race, a knot tightening in my stomach as my palms turned clammy. Why was I so nervous? What was the worst that could happen? I told myself it was nothing. Just a peek through the window. Just a little curiosity, that was all.

When we peered in, the house looked ordinary at first. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting warm light across the room. Nothing seemed out of place. Just a nice, cozy home, exactly as I had imagined it. But then I saw him.

James.

My breath caught in my throat, and my heart slammed against my chest. I saw him sitting there by the fire with... someone. A woman. My chest tightened, and for a split second, I thought I might faint. I blinked, rubbing my eyes, hoping it was just some trick of the light, some misunderstanding.

But no, I was seeing it clearly. James was sitting on the couch, his arm casually draped over the woman's shoulders, their heads turned toward each other. There was a small laugh between them, too familiar, too intimate.

My stomach dropped. This wasn't happening. Not to me.

I leaned in closer, unable to tear my eyes away, hoping I was just imagining things. But then it happened. He moved in, his lips brushing against hers, a soft, lingering kiss.

It was like a punch to my gut.

"I told you, Ivy," Rose's voice was a quiet whisper in my ear. Her arm rested heavily on my shoulder, but I barely noticed it. My mind was reeling, my vision blurring as tears threatened to spill. "I told you he wasn't the guy you thought he was."

"No..." I whispered hoarsely. "That's just his... friend. His... friend," I repeated, but the words felt hollow even to me.

I felt like I was drowning, like the very air was being sucked out of the room. I had never imagined that something like this could happen. James wasn't like that. I had trusted him with everything-my heart, my life. How could he do this? How could he betray me like this? How could he kiss someone else like that?

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them away, refusing to let Rose see how much she was hurting me with every word.

I felt numb, the world spinning around me as I tried to process what I had just witnessed. It was surreal. Impossible. My heart was breaking in ways I hadn't thought possible. This was the moment I realized what true pain felt like.

But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was how I had ignored every sign. How I had let myself be swept up in the fantasy of a perfect relationship, ignoring the things that didn't quite add up.

"Ivy," Rose said, her voice softer now. "I hate to say I told you so, but... this was inevitable."

I shook my head violently. "No... no, it can't be. This isn't him. It's not..." My voice trailed off as I clutched the window ledge, fighting the overwhelming urge to run. I didn't want to see any more, but I couldn't tear myself away. I had to know, had to see the truth.

Rose didn't say anything. She just watched me, as if waiting for the inevitable breakdown that she knew was coming. I stood there, staring at James, the man I had married, as he continued to laugh and kiss that woman.

"Don't you think you deserve better, Ivy?" Rose asked, her voice low and serious now. "You deserve someone who will love you for you. Not someone who betrays your trust."

I didn't respond. I couldn't. There were no words for this kind of pain. The kind that felt like your entire world was shattering in front of your eyes.

Present Time

The sound of the door slamming open jolted me back to reality. I sat up quickly, my heart racing, but it was only Rose. I exhaled a shaky breath and laid back against the couch, trying to calm my frazzled nerves.

"I thought it was that stupid French lady," I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples to ease the tension in my head. The last thing I needed was another confrontation.

Rose 'tsk'ed me from across the room, shaking her head in that knowing way she always did. She sat down elegantly in the opposite chair, her posture perfect as always. If it weren't for her, I would have never survived the past six months. Her constant presence had been both a blessing and a curse. The endless tea parties, the parties every week, the gossip-if I had to endure another one of those ridiculous events, I might lose my mind.

"Are you excited?" Rose asked suddenly, her voice light and cheerful, as she picked up a cushion and began knitting. I wrinkled my nose in distaste. Was this what rich people's lives were like? Boring, routine-filled existence with no escape?

I sighed. My body ached, and all I wanted was to slip into a hot pool, forget about the world for a few hours, and drift away.

"For what?" I asked, trying to summon some energy to even feign interest. My body felt like it was made of lead, and sleep seemed like the only thing worth pursuing at the moment.

Rose glared at me with exaggerated disapproval. "Are you forgetting something, Ivy?"

I frowned, trying to remember. "What?"

She leaned forward, the gleam of excitement in her eyes now unmistakable. "Darius is coming home!"

I blinked in confusion.

"Your husband, woman!" she added, raising her voice slightly, as if I had forgotten the most important thing in the world.

It took me a second, but then it hit me. Darius. Of course. How could I have forgotten?

I rubbed my face with my hands, groaning inwardly. As much as I hated to admit it, the only thing that could possibly distract me from the mess that was my life right now was the chaotic whirlwind that was Darius.

But still, my heart felt heavy. How could I go on with life after everything that had just happened? How could I pretend that nothing had changed when everything in my world had come crashing down around me?

« Oh yea, » I said sighing. The guy I met 20 minutes at the aisle before I said « I do » and then spent 5 minutes in the car with before he left to the airport to finish his course. I couldn't even remember the way he looked!

Rose sighed, putting down her stuff and crossing her legs. She smoothed the material of her dress over her knees, looking at me with that same look she always had when she thought she was about to make a point that would make everything better.

« Look, Iv, I know you don't like this, but we both know the reason you had to marry him. It can't be that bad. He's a nice man, rich, powerful, and not to mention goddamn good looking. Or have you not been reading the papers lately? » she asked, arching a brow.

I nodded quietly, my mind drifting elsewhere. No, I haven't read any papers lately, but I wasn't about to tell her that. I wasn't about to sign my own death note by admitting just how out of touch with everything I'd become. If there was one thing I was sure about, it was that I was alone in this. There were reasons for why I said yes, but why on earth did he accept to marry me as well?

Was the promise in his family's generations before as strong as mine? It had to be. I couldn't see why else a man like him, with so much to lose, would marry someone like me. It was the only way I could stay out of the darker life I was being forced into. But why did he need this too?

I had no choice but to marry him. That was my ultimatum: marry him or say goodbye to everything and everyone. It wasn't just a promise I made; it was survival. But after these past months, if this was a preview of what was to come, I honestly wasn't sure I wanted any part of it. I would have chosen the darker life over this boring routine life any day.

The past months had been the same - lonely, cold, and distant. I spent my days in places I had no interest in, from beach houses to movie premieres, but never any of the real things I loved. At one point, I'd gone to a carnival with friends, laughing until my sides hurt. But now, it was the backyard of some rich estate or some exclusive gathering with people whose names I couldn't even remember.

Not only had I lost all the joy I used to have, but I'd also lost my health. I had become weak, frail even. I never realized how much the absence of happiness could change a person. It wasn't just that I was thinner or more tired - it was like a piece of me had withered away, and somehow, I wasn't as convinced as Rose that all I needed was a husband to cheer me up.

A husband who had been absent for six months now and, in that time, probably found some other skinny, pretty model to hook up with. And then, when he came back, he would ask for a divorce, and I'd be left to pick up the pieces of a life I never asked for.

But I couldn't say any of that to Rose. She wouldn't understand, and frankly, I didn't want to hear her soothing words. I just wanted to get through this - to survive.

« Well, get ready. He's going to arrive any time soon, » Rose said, standing up. Her words snapped me out of my thoughts, and I sighed, standing up as well.

I quickly tied my hair into a tight bun, my fingers clumsy as I tried to pull it all together. I felt... old. Like a granny, or worse, like someone who had already given up on life. I wasn't even twenty-one yet, and I already felt like my youth had been stolen. Even my birthday - the last one I had celebrated - had been held in some big mansion with people I didn't know and couldn't care less about.

I was drowning in a sea of opulence and emptiness, and no amount of designer dresses or expensive champagne was going to change that. Nothing would.

Rose, ever the optimistic one, gave me a smile as she brushed past me toward the front door. I followed her reluctantly, my heart thudding loudly in my chest, the sound almost deafening in my ears. The maid and butler stood at the entrance, waiting. The large, pristine white gates swung open, and a limousine glided through them, the engine humming like a distant storm.

I took a deep breath. How was I supposed to greet a man I barely knew? How was I supposed to greet my husband? The one who had been gone for six months, the one I only knew for an hour, a man I would spend the rest of my life with - or at least, that was the plan.

The answer? I didn't have one.

I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I barely knew what to feel. The butterflies in my stomach felt like bricks, and the nerves in my chest were threatening to break free and take over everything. It was a strange feeling, the kind of fear you get when you realize that nothing is ever going to be the same again.

Rose's hand suddenly pinched my arm, squeezing hard enough that it brought me back to the moment. She squealed, her eyes wide as the door of the limousine opened. My breath stopped in my chest.

That was him?

I froze, my eyes widening. For a second, I wasn't sure I could breathe.

He stepped out of the car, one shiny boot following the other, tall and imposing. The way he moved, the elegance with which he stood, was all too much. He looked every bit the man from the papers Rose had been raving about - rich, powerful, and undeniably attractive. But it wasn't just his looks that hit me. It was the way he held himself, like a king who knew his power and expected nothing less than reverence.

His dark eyes flicked toward us, and I couldn't help but feel an almost tangible pull toward him, like there was something magnetic in the air between us. It was unsettling and unfamiliar. He looked at me, and for a moment, I wondered if he even remembered my face.

Rose practically bounced beside me, whispering under her breath, « Oh my god, he's even more perfect in person! »

I barely heard her. I couldn't look away from him.

My heart was racing now, and all I could think was: This man - this stranger who had promised to be my husband - was here, and my life was about to change in ways I couldn't even imagine.

But did I want it to?