Chapter 3: I'm dying for sure.

The door opened, revealing a feminine figure.

"You bastard! Don't you know lifting a bride's veil before the completion of the ceremony brings bad luck?" she said as she walked closer to us.

Ethan let go of the veil and took a few steps away from me, tucking his hands into his pockets as the woman walked closer.

I released the breath I didn't know I had been holding.

Dad heaved a sigh.

"How would I have known when I wasn't trained to?" Ethan smirked, revealing his dimple that rested at his left cheek.

Dad turned to the woman, who seemed to be in her sixties.

"Mrs. Marcus... what a nice day to finally meet you in person," Dad gushed and nudged me.

"Greet your mother-in-law," he whispered.

"Good day, Ma," I greeted.

She nodded and turned to Ethan.

"Your dad couldn't make it, but..."

His jaw hardened, it was as if he didn't want to hear about his father.

"Enough already... let's get the wedding done," Ethan cut her off .

 He eventually dragged me to the aisle.

We began the ceremony. The priest blessed us through a video call, which seemed absurd.

We exchanged rings, skipped the kissing part, then proceeded to sign the documents.

Meanwhile, throughout the ceremony, Mom and Emma were nowhere to be found.

Once we concluded, Dad handed me over to him without a single goodbye.

My few belongings were carried to the car where Mr. Sterling was waiting.

The moment we got outside, I stood for a few seconds, staring at the mansion as memories rushed in.

When I was first brought here.

How I thought I would finally be getting the princess treatment I deserved as the only child.

Now, staring at how I was walking out without experiencing all I had dreamed of gave me goosebumps.

"Aren't you coming?" Ethan's voice came from behind me, holding the car door open for me.

I took a deep breath.

I guess he's a gentleman after all.

I got in. He shut the door and entered through the other side.

I stared at the mansion once more, hoping to see Mom standing by the door waving at the car... at least that's what I see in movies. Some mothers would even cry.

But I guess I'm different, and that pained me even more.

"You must already miss your parents," Ethan suddenly said as the driver pulled away.

I chuckled inwardly.

"Not really," I replied, and he smiled slightly.

"Trying to act tough, huh? Well, that's why I prefer you over your sister," he said with a spark of admiration in his eyes.

"Why?" I asked.

It's not like I have met him before now.

He turned to me.

"You really don't remember me?" He lean in as if trying to make me see him clearly.

I blinked and shifted back.

He smiled and sat upright.

" You're tough and considerate, unlike your vile sister" He replied.

What was expecting? Everyone know the Armstrong family has one vile daughter which me, and a Godlike child like Emma.

I faced the window as tears blurred my vision.

"But...What if she is different from what you know" I whispered.

"This is why I chose you over her... Look, you're still defending her. Indeed, you're too kind," he praised me.

My heart burned even more.

My hand clung tightly to my gown.

I turned slightly toward him.

His eyes was filled with admiration for Emma.

What would he do to me when he discovered the truth?

I shook my head, unable to think about what he would to me when I'm discovered.

Then suddenly, he rested his hand on my clenched fist.

"You don't have to be scared," he whispered, and strangely, I felt a little calmer.

But the rosary tied round his wrist caught my attention.

It looked familiar.

"Where did you get this from?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

He chuckled softly and said nothing.

I shrug the thought off immediately.

Then silence descended. 

No one uttered a word until we arrived at his residence.

It was already dark outside when we arrived.

Ethan stepped out first, opened the door for me, and before my feet could touch the ground, he lifted me into his arms in a bridal carry.

My heart jumped into my stomach.

"Wh... what are you doing?" I stuttered.

He smiled and said nothing.

He carried me inside just like that.

I couldn't even get the chance to admire the mansion because my eyes were on him the whole time.

The way he maintained the smile on his face and that side dimple.

Gosh! For a few minutes, I forgot all my worries just by staring at him.

Right now, the man I before my eyes was very different from the man the world described.

Some said he was a woman-beater, which was why there was no girl around him.

Others said he was a killer.

While some said he was a drunk. Well, yeah, I agree because I could still perceive the smell of liquor on him, but I think he's the complete opposite of everything they labeled him.

We entered a well-decorated room.

He walked to the bed and gently set me down like a piece of glass that would shatter if handled carelessly.

"The maids will attend to you," he said and started walking out.

Then he stopped and turned.

"You smell nice. I love it," he complimented.

My face burned pink beneath the veil.

He smiled and walked out.

It wasn't up to a minute after he left that some girls walked in with a set of clothes.

I was taken to the bathroom, where they bathed me.

They massaged my body. For the first time in my life, I was given the princess treatment, but it didn't wash away the sting in my heart that kept knocking with questions.

What would Ethan do to me when he realized that I'm not the one he thinks I am?

After the massage, the maids brought out a seamless dark net gown that only covered my private areas, accompanied by a dark veil.

"I can't wear this!" I protested.

"Master Ethan picked this himself," one of them said.

I hesitated for some time, but after much persuasion, I agreed and wore it.

It revealed my curves, but thanks to the veil that covered me from my head down to my knees, I was able to feel comfortable.

Then a voice called out.

"Master Ethan requires his wife's presence."

The next minute, we stood in front of Ethan's door.

One of the maids knocked.

"Come in," his baritone voice echoed.

My heart pounded as I stared at the doorknob like it was a weapon fashioned against me, not knowing what awaited me behind that closed door.

I sighed, opened it, stepped inside, and the maids locked the door behind me.

The room was huge, well decorated, but dimly lit.

My eyes searched the room and found Ethan sitting on the bed, shirtless, his legs crossed, with a glass of wine in his hand.

I stood there, not knowing what to do.

Then he stood, set the glass down, and slightly staggered toward me.

I shifted back with every step he took toward me until my back hit the wall.

His long, strong hands flew over my head and pressed against the wall behind me, caging me between his arms.

He leaned in.

The scent of liquor mixed with his clean cedarwood cologne reached me.

He rested his head on my collarbone, causing his hot breath to send chills down my spine.

My breath caught as my eyes scanned his well-carved collarbone, which rose with every breath, down to his hard chest.

The thought of running my hands over him came to mind, but I quickly shook it off and lowered my head.

Then he whispered,

"Emma, you smell so good that..."

He paused and lifted my chin with a single finger.

"I wanna eat you up," he said.

Before I could blink, he lifted the veil off my face.

I froze.

My chest grew heavy.

Slowly, his once-glinting eyes turned into a deep frown the moment he saw my face.

I needed no one to tell me that I was dying tonight.