My father's arm is linked with mine as the music starts playing, which is our cue. I am about to live down the dream of every girl - the perfect wedding. My gaze looms over to my dad and he gives me a grin, receiving a nod in return as we begin to walk.

I could have chosen my brother to walk me down the aisle too, but then I wanted someone to stare at me in awe as I did so. He does look in an awe of me as he stands beside my to-be husband as one of his best man.

James takes my hand slightly as we stand to face each other. The church priest starts quoting the bible and the vows of the wedding. We didn't write them on our own, we don't believe in them. That's the decision we came to.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," he announces.  "You may kiss the bride." The priest finishes.

My husband leans in close to me and I feel his lips brush against mine before they finally rest on the side of my mouth. It lasts one second. And then, he parts away. I sigh at that but move to look at my brother who gives me a charming smile and that just makes up for the most of it.

"The reception is in the back yard, the food is ready to be served." James' father, Carrack announces later and the guests start shuffling out of the hall.

I remember the first day I met James Peter Clark. He, undoubtedly, was the most handsome man I have ever laid eyes on but it put me in dilemma when I returned back from college and found the Clark family sitting in the front lawn of my house with my parents, having a chit chat.

My father is a business man, he often has casual meetings but I was alarmed as soon as everyone shut up when I made my presence known. I looked at the way James' step sister, Chloe saw me. She was anticipating my every move, creeping me to the core but then our parents suggested that James and I should probably take a round of our house and I should show him around.

They were setting us up. I was too naive to think through it, and it kind of pissed me off when he didn't talk much. But that was because he knew what I didn't. We were going to be married.

"It's really hot in here." He said. Those were the first words James ever said to me.

I laugh at the memory and look at him and then down to our interlinked hands as he holds my tiny ones firmly in his big ones. He doesn't glance at me as we make our way out of the church, people congratulating us all the while. When we reach the back yard, he lets go of my hand and I am immediately engulfed into a big hug, making me stumble a little at the sudden contact.

"Oh, you deserve all the happiness in the world sweetheart." My mother gushes in my ear and then parts away. She looks at both of us, "Such a lovely couple." She says, a huge smile on her face.

I resist the urge to scoff as my eyes brim with unshed tears since days. We are far from a lovely couple but when I look at James, he's passing my mother a small smile, as if he's very grateful for her comment. She looks between us before fixing her gaze at him.

"Take good care of my daughter, please." She tells him and he nods, giving her an assuring smile.

"You have nothing to worry about, Ma'am." He says and my mother frowns.

"Oh, call me Beth. I am your mother in law now." She brushes him off and I cringe at her words.

She gets distracted by the guests and James lets out a loud sigh by my side before leading me to a group of people. They are all in expensive suits that you recognise just by looking at them, immediately making me realize that they must be either his colleagues or important ones from the business.

"Mr. Lucas, I would like to officially introduce you to my wife," James says, drawing the attention of the group.

One of the middle aged man looks at me with more concentration than anyone else before taking my hand and placing a kiss on my knuckles, making me cringe inwardly as I plaster a fake smile on my face.

"It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Clark." He says, a smirk stretched on his face and I give him a nod.

"Thank you, Mr. Lucas. James has talked very nice things about you." I smile at him, obviously lying. I have never heard his name ever before, but if my husband is introducing me to him specially, then he must be important.

"All nice things I hope." He remarks and looks at James who's just staring at me.

"Yes, all good things indeed."

James takes ahold of my hand before leading us to the front table and I don't protest. I pull a chair for myself, and settle in. A waiter offers us a glass of champagne and I take a sip, at which he narrows his eyes at me, immediately making me flush.

"I would like the bride and groom to come on the stage for their first dance." The DJ announces and my sweet husband grunts under his breath.

He offers me his hand and I take it as we make our way to the dance floor. A slow song that I am sure Carrack chose himself comes on and James keeps his hand on my waist, pulling me closer and I look in his emerald eyes. He intimidates me, his whole confident composure sends chill through my spine and I don't recall looking into his eyes more than twenty times.

"I am sorry." I say and his attention snap towards me.

"For what?" He asks, and those are the first words he has said to me since the moment we got married, or since a week.

"I tried to get out of it. I fought with father and mother yesterday as well, but they didn't listen to me." I tell him honestly and he glares at me.

"Your apology isn't magically going to unmarry us, is it?" He snaps and I gulp, shaking my head.

"I tried." I state and he studies my features.

Before he can retort back, I see my brother Jeremy standing behind him, tapping him on the shoulder. "Do you mind if I cut in? I want to dance with my sister." He says and James gives him a nod.

As soon as he leaves me, Jeremy gives me a huge smile, "Congratulations, big sister. You are now married!" He gives me a hug before we start to sway a little.

"Thank you, Jer." I smile at him, my tears immediately coming to the surface as I talk to the one person whom I love the most in the world, yet he's estranged to the idea of her sister getting married for a business deal.

My father and Carrack are going to be business partners for a while, as Carrack has agreed to help with my father's business downfall. As soon as he has earns the stocks back, the charge will be within his hands again. But Carrack didn't do it for nothing. He has wanted his son to inherit the family business ever since he was born, but in the Clark family, a man isn't eligible to take onto the lead unless he's a married man.

So, Carrack settled a deal down with my father. I had to marry his son in order for him to save my dad's business. I protested, of course, but no heed was paid to that. A lot of people would hate on my parents for the decision they made, but I don't blame them. They are my life, and I cannot put this onto their head and keep a grudge towards them for their entire life.

I remember the night I broke down in front of them, and begged to break this off, but my father just looked at me with tears in his eyes and asked me to save my brother's future, to save our family's future. I didn't know what else to say after that, so I decided to sacrifice my own happiness for theirs.

"You don't look happy, Lil. What's wrong?" Jeremy frowns at me and I shake my head.

"Nothing, I am just going to miss you." I give him a small smile.

"Yes, I am going to miss the morning breakfast you brought me to bed as well." He teases and I shove his arm a little, laughing. "He's a great man, you know. He's going to take good care of you." He tells me, his eyes fixed on James, who's dancing with her very own step sister.

"I hope so." I whisper to myself.

After a minute, James comes back to me as an obligation and takes my hand to lead us to the table but then stops before I can take a seat. "We are leaving" He says, making me scowl.

"What?"

"You heard me. I don't like to repeat myself." He gives me a look.

"It's our party, we can't leave."

"That's exactly why we can leave. I have a jet waiting for us at the airport, we leave for Paris in an hour." He informs me.

Paris. Honeymoon. God, how stupid am I to forget about that?

"I don't even have any clothes to change into." I tell him and he frowns.

"Chloe is arranging that stuff for you, your mother has already packed a bag as well. Now, please go and get out of that dress right now." He grumbles, making me fist my hands, his eyes raking up and down my body in absolute horror and disgust.

He hasn't looked at me properly once! And then he goes on to insult me? I don't say anything as I close my eyes and take a deep breath. He may not be the ideal husband, but he's going to be the reason of my family's safe future. A tear falls down my eye but I immediately wipe it off as I make my way to my family's table.

My father and mother are busy in a conversation as I cut them, "Mom, Dad..." I say, grabbing their attention, "James and I are going to leave now, he has a plane waiting for us to take us to the Paris." I tell them and they both stand up to wrap me in their arms.

Tears well up in my mother's eyes immediately, "Be happy, hon. We'll come visit you as soon as you come back from your honeymoon." She says and I nod at her.

Chloe motions for me to follow her and she leads me to a small room built at the back of the yard. "I have kept a bag for you, along with some clothes for you to change into right now." She tells me, her voice displeased and I know she isn't fond of me at all.

"Thanks." I say and just as I am about to enter, she grabs my elbow, her nails digging in my skin.

"Try not to show your slutty skills to him just on the first night, yeah?" She arches an eyebrow before leaving my arm and walking away.

What? The negative thoughts immediately fill my mind as I am reminded of all the facts. I am a twenty year old, Lillian Vince turned into Lillian Clark and am married to a man who's twenty five years old, is a business tycoon and a rude asshole. Not to forget about the fact that his step-sister hates my guts while his father thinks I can magically charm off his son.

I can't wait for death to come.

•••

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