Jade's POV

The bright morning light filtered through the soft silk curtains of my bedroom, against my wish that the day never breaks.

Saturday morning.

The day I will wed Bernard Veritas.

And Tony’s phone is not going through.

I sat up on my bed, my palms sweaty, my spine straight, my mind all over the place as the weight of my stupidity descended on me.

Tony had the marriage certificate.

“Shit!” I exclaimed, slapping a hand on my forehead.

I am a fool. What was I thinking? I got married to a stranger and let him keep the wedding certificate?

Someone I have never known in my life?

If this was not bottom barrel stupidity, what else could it be?

Picking up my phone, my chest tight, my heart hammering against my ribcage, I dialed Tony's phone number again.

It went straight to voicemail. As always.

I placed both hands on my head in despair as realization dawned on me.

I have been played.

Tony is one of Luca's men, sent to trick me. Sent to be kind and empathetic.

Those tattoos.

Those military muscles.

That aura of power and confidence. It was all starting to make sense.

Because how else would someone with his intelligence and personality stoop so low to be a taxi driver?

Why didn't I see this?

My split second decision, my impulsive action, has given my enemies what they really wanted without a fuss.

With that marriage certificate, Tony and whoever sent him, can claim the shipping company easily, without breaking a sweat.

And I will be married to Bernard Veritas, no Tony coming to claim and rescue me.

Bernard would bend me over at the altar to lay his claim on me.

And when he realises that I have played both of us, nothing in the world would shield me from his fury, from the pit of hell.

I have used my hands to dig my own grave.

I have sold the product of my father's sweat, my only inheritance, to a ghost.

I paced the length of my room anxiously, my clothes drenched in sweat, my thoughts over the roof.

How do I escape this?

The only solution is to run away.

I picked up my phone and dashed for the door, opened it and met a smiling Ruby about to knock.

“Good morning, bride-to-be," she said in a singsong voice as she stepped into the room.

Her smile evaporated the moment she saw my face.

“What is wrong Jade? You look like you have seen a ghost!" She exclaimed, rushing to hold me.

“I have been played, Ruby," I replied, wringing my hands desperately.

“How do you mean?" Ruby asked, guiding me to seat on my bed, her hand on my lower back.

Can I trust you to keep it a secret?" I begged, my eyes searching. “Please don't judge me!"

"Of course you can!” Ruby exclaimed, worry etched on her features. "What did you do, Jade? You are making me scared!”

The door opened and Mom peeked in, her face radiant. It twisted into a frown as her eyes fell on me.

"Go get a shower, Jade,” she ordered, pulling me up. "The makeup artist is here, and we will be late if you don't hurry!”

Before I could protest, she pushed me into the ensuite bathroom and pulled Ruby out of the room with her.

*****

I stared at my reflection in the mirror as the makeup artist finished her work.

I looked every inch the angelic, flawless bride.

My hair was put up in a messy ponytail, with few strands framing my face.

The radiance of my makeup did nothing to lift the weight that sat heavy on my chest, making the bodice of my wedding dress feel tight.

“Wow, Jade!" Mom exclaimed as she stepped into the room, her mouth opened in surprise, her eyes misty.

“It has always been my lifelong dream to see you in a wedding dress," she held my hands, sniffing back tears. “You look angelic, my darling."

A gulp the size of the universe lodged in my throat as I managed a faint smile that didn't reach my eyes. I have never seen my mum this happy and this emotional for me.

“Your marriage will flourish, my baby. You will never know pain. You would never have to look behind your shoulder. You will birth children in peace, and happiness would reign over your home. This might not be the best of circumstances, but always remember why you are doing this, Jade."

I shook my head, a tear cascading down my cheek. “Why does this feel wrong, Mom? Why do I feel like I am walking into my grave? What if Bernard hurts me?"

“Bernard Veritas can never hurt you," she replied confidently.

The tears streamed down in torrents.

“He hurt me for years, Mom! He abused me. He tried to rape me. Making me marry him is putting me into the lion's den," I pleaded, choking on my sobs.

Mom cradled my face in her palms, her eyes soft and reassuring.

“Jade, the Bernard I know, the Bernard I watched grow up, can never hurt a fly. If your allegations are true, he is now a changed man. He will never hurt you."

“He hurt me under your nose, under your roof, and you couldn't protect me," I wept, my chest heaving again the bodice of my dress. “How can you vouch for him when I would be at his mercy, with nowhere to hide?"

“You don't need protection, my daughter,” Mum said calmly. "Bernard would be your shield from the outside world. Your Dad chose him, because he knew him, and wanted the best for you.” She wiped my tears with her thumb.

"So put your chin up and stop worrying. You are in safe hands.”

*******

The double doors of the cathedral opened, and I gasped in surprise at the number of people that filled out the pews.

“I thought this was supposed to be a small ceremony," I whispered in surprise to Ruby, my maid of honour.

“Bernard knows a lot of people," she whispered back. “Maybe he invited them."

The pews were filled with high society men and women, in their expensive tuxedos and silk dresses that screamed elegance and wealth.

I proceeded down the aisle, my eyes searching the crowd desperately for Tony, my heart aching at the fact that I was cheating on him.

And he was nowhere to be seen.

I was about to get married to another man.

I heard the double doors close as the choir began, sealing my only chance of escape.

I heard gasps from the women as my heavy feet carried me forward, towards the man that stood in front of the priest, his back to me.

I exhaled.

This was it.

The day my I will sign my death sentence.

All my efforts was a rat race. A waste of breath and energy. I shouldn't have even bothered. In my desperation, I married a ghost.

Bernard turned around as I shuffled closer to him, his face radiant with smiles.

I eagerly wanted to pull out his teeth.

“I told you that you will meet me at the altar," he whispered, his lips curled in a lopsided grin.

“Do me a favour and shut your mouth," I replied with venom.

“That sharp mouth of yours would be useful this night. Just make sure you don't bite me," he whispered through gritted teeth.

My head whipped to the side to glare at him.

This is the angel my Mom vouched for. We are not even married, and he is spewing abusive threats.

I blinked back my tears as the priest began the sermon.

This whole thing was not about me. No one cared about my feelings. I was just a pawn in everyone's game, a means to an end.

The only saviour I found for myself chose this moment to evaporate into thin air.

“Do you, Bernard Veritas, take Jade Roberts, to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The priest's voice filtered through my ears, jolting me back to reality.

Bernard leveled me with a stare, his eyes searing into my soul.

“Yes, I do," he replied confidently, the timbre of his voice giving me goosebumps.

“Do you, Jade Roberts, take Bernard Veritas, to be your lawfully wedded husband?" The priest turned to me.

My head was spinning. My intestines twisted up, threatening to make me throw if I dared to open my mouth.

I glanced at the front pew, where Mom and Ruby sat, expectant, their smiles as wide as midday sun.

Everywhere dropped into a pindrop silence. You could hear your own heartbeat.

No one here would be ready to save me.

The only way I can save myself would be to agree to this, and kill Bernard before he touches me.

My mind made up, I raised my chin in defiance and cleared my throat, ready to respond.

The double doors opened forcefully, making everyone look back suddenly.

My misty eyes fell on the intruder as my heart leaped into my throat.

He marched in with angry purpose, his strides long, his face set, his tuxedo shiny, looking every inch the powerful man I believed in.

Despite being caught in the act, I managed a smile.

He came for me. My man.

He stood in the middle of the aisle, his attention trained on the stunned priest, seemingly oblivious of the chaos he created.

“I am not a religious person," he boomed, his voice bouncing off the walls and vibrating in the pit of my stomach, “but I know it is a crime to wed another man's wife."