Chapter 3

Mrs. Moore, my godforsaken mother, was over the moon to hear the engagement was still happening. She was thrilled to know that her own fucking daughter, the pawn she chose to get her riches back, is already acquaintances with Xavier Ackres. She introduced everyone to him before he finally requested that we talk alone. I was too speechless to even say anything earlier.

Once there was no one else in the room, there was a long silence. My eyes, filled with rage, glared at him. “You tricked me…” I whispered in disbelief and he leaned back on the chair. We were sitting in front of each other yet I felt we were miles apart.

“Tricked you? Baby, you wanted to have me,” he said much pleasure in his eyes.

He shifted in his seat and leaned forward. “If you hated the idea of our marriage, you should’ve tried harder to escape.” I stood up and slapped him across the face. He scoffed before standing up, his towering figure I could now not recognize as the same man I spent a night with.

He stepped closer, my chest against his torso. I could feel him breathing hard as his eyes were locked on mine. “Didn’t I tell you? Once we start, you can’t back out.” His words echoed in my mind. In my pure rage, I tried to slap him again but he caught my hand. He pulled me by my waist, pressing himself against my body.

“Our wedding is happening in a week. I love that defiance in you but don’t try running away,” he whispered sweetly and kissed my forehead.

“I’ll always end up finding you again,” he whispered in a deadly tone before letting me go. I was only silently bewildered, watching him walk away. Once he was out of sight, I sat down on the couch while gripping my hair in frustration.

“So stupid! So fucking stupid! What have I done?!” I scolded herself, almost screaming. I feel like I’m about to have a panic attack, I can’t even breathe! My eyes landed on the coffee table that had a piece of paper neatly folded.

I grabbed it and opened up the familiar paper. “Hah!” I said in disbelief. Placed on the palm of my hand, the blank cheque I gave Xavier now has words written on it. I crumbled the paper and threw it across the room.

The blank cheque now has my full name, Rhea Moore, in the blank space.

The day after meeting my “fiancé” was a blur. News outlets were flooded with news of our engagement while I was being fitted for a wedding dress. I looked outside the window of the dress shop and there were paparazzi taking pictures of me. “What even is so special about marrying him?” I asked before rolling my eyes.

“You’re marrying the richest man in the country. It’s only fitting they get curious,” my mother interrupted my thoughts.

I couldn’t count on how many wedding gowns I already tried yet none of them stood out. It’s been hours since they started looking for the perfect dress my mother adamantly insisted but all the paparazzi suddenly vanished from the window.

The hell? Confused, I glanced outside and saw them swarming a familiar car I rode all the way to that hotel. “How annoying,” I said while the lady tightened the wedding dress on me, and I could hardly breathe.

In walks Xavier Ackres with flowers in hand as everyone watches him walk to his “fiancée”. The people inside squealed in excitement while I looked at him with disgust. “Get out of my sight,” I said but he merely smiled and offered me the flower.

Acting and all, I got to give it to him. He’s annoyingly handsome and manipulative.

I looked at the flower and grabbed it. I could smell the scent of each rose and there was a small smirk on his lips. Jokes on him, I had no intention of playing nice.

I threw the bouquet on the floor. “Rhea!” mom screamed.

“Oops… I dropped it,” I said with a cunning smile to Xavier.

“Everyone. Leave,” he commanded and before long, everyone left the shop with the blinds covering the paparazzi from seeing us. I thought he would be outraged because I threw the flowers to the ground but he instead sat on the couch.

“Have you picked an outfit for our wedding already?” he asked and I sighed. I eyed him with annoyance.

“Is that why you’re here? Really?” I asked while struggling to breathe from the dress. It was too tight on me and I haven’t eaten all day because mom insisted on it. “Just so you know I’m making your life a living hell if you marry me,” I threatened while trying to adjust the dress.

I didn’t notice him come up from behind and unzip the dress. I breathed out but was still wary of him. “I don’t mind being ruined if it’s because of you,” he answered, only irritating me further.

“Where was this feisty attitude when you were shaking beneath me in bed?” he asked and my face instantly turned red. I hit him on his chest hard.

“LEAVE!” I shouted in embarrassment.

Chuckling, Xavier followed my wishes and headed out of the door. Only then did everyone return to help me with changing. My eyes landed on the floor, as I stared at the flowers and kicked it away before changing into a different dress.

I thought that the news of my defiance against the marriage would be the headlines that afternoon but I was dead wrong. Photos of Xavier handing me the flowers and when I was sniffing it like I was enjoying his gift were the ones posted online. Not a single one mentioned my tantrum or a photo of what happened.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

It was then I realized that my future husband, Xavier Ackres, could manipulate anything to get what he wanted. It wasn’t because I was stupid to fall for his trap, he was just steps ahead. Before I could even plan, he already shackled me in his arms.

After that… I tried my best to run away, or to even hide. Yet he always managed to track me down and brought me back to our villa. There was no news, no leaks, no nothing of my attempts to escape! He was scrapping everything clean!

When the day of the marriage finally came, the whole world was watching. It was only me who was uninterested in all the expensive jewelry, venue, and decorations around. I was sitting on a leather chair while getting my makeup done, tuning out the sounds around.

“Are you ready to walk down the aisle?” My mother who was over the moon asked gently and I refused to answer.

“I know this is hard on you… But it’s the only thing that could keep our family afloat,” she explained for the millionth time already. I continued ignoring my mother while my legs fidgeted in my seat.

She bent down and held onto my hands. “Mr. Ackres is a good man… he will treat you right.” She then stood up and left the room. Sitting there looking in the mirror, I wanted to believe what she told me.