Katherine's POV

"I do."

The words left his lips without hesitation, an instant, effortless response—like signing off on an insignificant contract. His voice was devoid of warmth, his face a perfect mask of indifference. There was no flicker of emotion, no sign of joy or even relief. It was a transaction, not a promise.

Our marriage was never anything more than a business arrangement.

The priest turned to me, his eyes gentle as he spoke, but I couldn't hear a word. The pounding in my chest drowned out everything else. Time slowed, my breath catching as I stared at Ashton.

He stood before me—tall, composed, untouchable. His eyes, a stormy sea of blue, held no tenderness, no flicker of regret or hope. Only indifference. The expression that had become his armor, the same look that had suffocated every dream I had dared to hold onto.

The man I once believed could be more was gone. In his place stood the ruthless businessman I had first met—the man whose reputation preceded him in sharp, brutal whispers. The man who did not bend, did not break.

He was waiting. Watching me. Silent.

His gaze burned, urging me to speak, to finish what we had started, to seal the fate we had chosen.

To play my part in the charade we had created.

I could stop this. I could walk away, and break free from the shackles of a loveless union built on lies and cold, bitter truths.

I could save myself.

But as my fingers grazed the curve of my stomach, my heart clenched. A whisper of life stirred beneath my trembling fingers—a fragile heartbeat, bound to mine.

My choice had already been made. I can't run away from this. 

For you. I whispered in my heart. Only for you, little one.

Swallowing the bitter lump in my throat, I forced the words out, "I do."

The priest's voice slipped away into silence, drowned by the deafening roar of my heartbeat. The room blurred, its colors bleeding together as if the world itself had come undone.

What have I done?

I closed my eyes, but the darkness offered no comfort. Ghosts of memories flickered like dying embers, the gnawing guilt hunting me till my very last breath. Chase. His name echoed through me—a wound carved so deep into my soul it would never fade. His face, his laughter, his warmth. Every piece of him lived within me, haunting every breath.

I'm sorry, Chase. God, I'm so sorry.

"You may now kiss the bride."

The words cut through my thoughts and my eyes snapped open, a low strangled breath tearing from my lungs as if I had been dragged from the depths of a drowning sea.

Ashton moved toward me, his expression unchanged, a man untouched by the storm we wrecked around us. His lips met mine, a fleeting smooth brush of warmth that was neither soft nor cruel—just empty.

His hand grazed my waist, his fingers splaying just enough to possess but never to hold. I felt the chill of his wedding band through the thin fabric of my dress—a cruel, cold reminder of the chain I had fastened myself to.

A faint scent of cedar and clean linen clung to him, intoxicating in its contradiction, a cruel scent of comfort when there was no peace in his touch.

The world tells you a kiss seals the heart, and binds two souls together. But this kiss...it unraveled me.

It didn't ignite.

It didn't heal.

It wasn't cold. It wasn't passionless. It was worse.

It was nothing.

And still, I felt it all—the rush of fire, the tremor of awareness, the butterflies that twisted my stomach in cruel mockery. Longing surged, an ache so deep it felt like drowning.

And then it was gone.

Too fast.

He pulled away, his face blank, while my whole world burned. His kiss had been a duty, a formality—a box checked off on a list of business obligations.

Applause erupted around us. My hands trembled as we turned to face the crowd. Bright smiles surrounded us—grins far bigger than the ones we wore. My gaze swept across unfamiliar faces, desperately searching for something, anything to keep me from shattering, a familiar face, an anchor to my old life.

I sucked in a sharp breath when I spotted her amidst the crowd.

Cara. She sat beside Alex, her eyes glassy, one unshed tear clinging to her lashes. Sympathy radiated from her. She understood. She knew. She knew I didn't want this, but it no longer mattered.

Her lips curved into a somber, fragile smile, a silent offering of courage and hope from afar. I managed a weak response, the barest twitch of my mouth before the weight of my choices pressed heavier on my chest.

My gaze left her and moved across the crowd, scanning for an alarming presence, almost like I could feel it; a set of eyes scorching into my skin from the far end.

My eyes grew wide, my breath faltered, and the world tipped as my eyes landed on him.

Caleb stood in the back, alone, his posture rigid, his shoulders so tense. His green eyes locked onto mine, holding a wave of emotions I couldn't name. Time slipped away as we looked at one another. The air thickened, pulling me under.

His jaw clenched. His chest rose with a breath that shuddered through him, and then...

He shook his head. Disappointed.

He turned around, and walked away, unable to watch me carry on with such a mistake.

Ashton's hand tightened on my waist, drawing me back to the present, to the life I had chosen. I blinked away the haze as he guided me forward. My feet moved, mindless and mechanical, as we wove through the crowd.

The air felt suffocating, filled with words I didn't want to hear. Congratulations. Well wishes. Polite smiles and curious eyes.

His sister embraced me first, ever so tightly, so warm and genuine, "Welcome to the family," she whispered, her joy felt painful because it wasn't mine

Then his grandmother pulled me into her arms, her smile so soft it almost broke me, "Take care of my honey bunch, Katherine," She said with a sigh of fondness I didn't deserve.

I gave her a weak nod, my lips twitching into a semblance of a smile.

She turned to Ashton, her eyes flashing with a playful warning, "Take care of Katherine, little boy."

His arm slipped around my waist, "Of course, Grandma," He leaned even closer toward me, pressing a tender kiss to my head. Oh, he was good. So damn good. "She's my wife now."

I am his wife now.

I closed my eyes. The truth settled heavily on my chest, his touch still burning through the fabric of my dress, a fire that would never warm me.

I drifted through the crowd, answering questions I had no answers for. Why the rush? How had no one met me before? How had we fallen in love? Each inquiry sliced deeper, but Ashton handled them with polished lies. Smooth. Practiced. No wonder he was a successful businessman. A master of deception.

And I, a fool caught in his web.

I forced myself to breathe when Cara and Alex finally appeared. Relief washed over me at their familiar closeness.

Cara crushed me in a very tight hug, her silence speaking volumes. She held on as if she could keep me from breaking all over the place.

Alex watched me with a soft expression, his lips lifting into a very tender smile, "You look so beautiful, sweetheart." For once, his tone held no humor—because he saw it. The fracture beneath my mask.

When Cara let go of me. He took her spot, his arms slipping around me in a warm soothing hug. A soft breath left me, my eyelids falling down as I tried to draw some strength from them. I desperately needed it.

"If he ever tries to hurt you, I swear I'll kill him," he said as he edged backward, a playful warning that wasn't playful at all. Even when Ashton was his best friend, he is still sticking to my side of this story too.

Alex and Care were the only ones who knew the truth. Our marriage was a facade, a desperate bid. A beautiful lie wrapped in thorns.

"I saw him," Cara whispered, her concerned eyes searching mine, "He went to your dressing room before the ceremony. What happened?"

"He just wanted to clarify his intentions behind this marriage," I murmured, my voice unintentionally bitter. The memory of his words seared fresh pain through me.

"This man has lost his damn mind," Alex grumbled and shook his head disapprovingly, "I am going to kick some sense into him."

I placed my hand over his arm, attempting to stop him, "Alex don't, it is okay."

"Don't worry I won't do anything, I just need to talk with him," He said and went toward Ashton's direction.

"Caleb was here," Cara whispered.

"I know."

"Why?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I don't know. I just hope he stays away."

She frowned, the worry seeping through her gaze, "Katherine, I respect your decision and I know you're doing this just for your baby, but I am so scared for you," She said, "He is going to hurt you, I am sure."

My throat tightened, "I am pregnant with his child, he won't hurt me." At least, that's what I told myself. That's what I needed to believe.

"I am not talking physically," She said and she had a point.

"It's not his fists you need to fear," she whispered. "It's your heart."

I wanted to deny it. I wanted to believe I could bury my feelings, lock them away. But I couldn't.

"You still have feelings for him, and that is what's gonna hurt you the most."

"I will try to let these feelings go," I said, determined.

"Just be careful, please," She added, "And you know no matter what, I am always here for you." She said placing her hand over my shoulder and squeezing gently.

"I know," I whispered, my lips lifting just enough to give her a somber smile.

She smiled back, but her gaze went toward someone behind me and it instantly dropped.

I turned around, my gaze catching Ashton as he drew near. His eyes fell on Cara before they drifted to me, "They wan.." He started to talk but was interrupted in a second.

"If you ever hurt Katherine—God help you, Ashton—I will end you. Put that in your arrogant little mind," She snapped, her voice rising and she pushed past me, getting closer to him, ready to make a scene.

He gave her a very unfazed look, "It is time for our dance," He said while looking at me. He didn't spare Cara a glance—he never did.

His hand rested firmly on my back as he led me to the dance floor.

I gave her a small, wavering smile and mouthed, "It's okay," as I walked away, following wherever Ashton's lead would take me.

"Attention, everyone! If you can all please step away from the dance floor so the bride and groom can have their dance," a voice announced through the microphone. I barely registered the young man's face—just another blur in a sea of strangers—as people began to scatter, leaving a wide-open space for us.

Ashton's hand was warm as he reached for mine, pulling me gently into the center of the floor. The room dimmed as the first soft notes of the song began to play.

He edged closer, his left hand sliding down to rest firmly on my waist, both gentle and possessive. His palm spanned my hip, a touch that grounded me and sent a shiver up my spine. His right hand held mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in slow, deliberate strokes.

My breath hitched as I looped my free arm around his shoulders, my fingers curling into the crisp fabric of his suit jacket. My hand trembled slightly against the taut muscles beneath it, my pulse drumming a frantic rhythm that had nothing to do with the music.

His eyes found mine; blue, like an endless sky just before a storm, swirling with emotions he could no longer hide. Today, he had worn a mask of ice—cold, untouchable. But now in the hush of the moment, I saw the cracks. The ice was melting, his guard slipping, and something raw, unguarded flickered just beneath the surface.

My heart stuttered.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I saw him.

The music swelled, the melody urging us into a slow, graceful rhythm. We moved together, our bodies pressed closer than they should have been, our steps perfectly aligned as if we had danced this way a thousand times before.

♫♫ One, you're like a dream come true... ♫♫

His hand tightened ever so slightly, drawing me deeper into his embrace. He spun me, a twirl that left me breathless, before dipping me low. His breath was warm on my skin as he leaned in, our faces close enough that I could feel the whisper of it against my cheek.

♫♫ Two, just wanna be with you... ♫♫

He pulled me back up, and his eyes never left mine. We were caught in something far beyond a dance—something unspoken, undeniable. The room around us blurred, a haze of muted colors and forgotten faces.

There was only him.

♫♫ Three, girl, it's plain to see... ♫♫

My heart beat wildly, the music dictating the rhythm of my pulse. His hand traced the length of my spine, ever so slowly, like torture.

I felt everything—his breath against my skin, the heat radiating from his body, the slow, sure pressure of his hand guiding mine as we moved. The faint scent of cedar and something darker, distinctly him, filled my senses, making it impossible to breathe, impossible to think of anything but this moment.

"Ashton," I whispered, unsure if I meant it as a plea or a warning.

♫♫ That you're the only one for me... ♫♫

He stared at me, as if trying to memorize every detail. For that fleeting moment, the world faded away. There were no lies. No guards. No regrets.

Just us.

The spark between us ignited, a flare of something raw and reckless. His hand slid up my back, his touch a burning brand that left me trembling. He inhaled sharply, as if the weight of it all had finally reached him.

His grip on my waist tightened, and a jolt of pain broke through the haze. "You're hurting me," I murmured.

His eyes widened slightly, regret flickering through them. He blinked, his hold loosening instantly, but his gaze remained locked with mine.

"Stop staring at me," I said, my voice barely more than a breath.

"I can't," his words were soft, raw.

His expression flickered, shock and something far more vulnerable flashing across his face. He cleared his throat, a forced barrier slamming down between us once more. His gaze dropped—anywhere but me.

Applause erupted around us, a distant hum of sound I barely heard. Faces blurred back into focus as the crowd reclaimed the floor, their laughter and joy a great contrast to the hollow ache in my chest.

Tears burned at the edges of my vision. I blinked rapidly, swallowing the lump rising in my throat, but it didn't stop the weight pressing down on my heart.

Cara was right.

Ashton wasn't the only one who would hurt me.

My feelings for him would, too.

I took a shaky breath, the walls closing in as emotions crashed over me in relentless waves. Each inhale felt heavier than the last, my lungs straining, my heart too full.

I needed air.

Before the tears fell, before anyone could see me break, I turned and slipped into the shadows, searching for somewhere—anywhere—I could be alone.

"Katherine."

I froze dead in my steps. His pained voice was like a wound torn open.

I swallowed hard and turned—only to find Caleb standing before me

"Why?" He asked, his voice a mere whisper. His brows knitted and he stepped closer, "Ho..how? I don't understand."

"Caleb, please leave before someone sees you," I said, my eyes flickering all around the place.

"I am not leaving till I get an answer. Why did you do this?" He asked.

I moved backward, "You won't understand, so just leave, please."

"Then make me understand," He said, the fury creeping into his words, "Damn it, Katherine, why did you get married to him, out of all people, why him?"

"Just go away, Caleb," I said and turned around ready to walk away from this before it escalated but his hand grasped mine, stopping me.

"Is he forcing you to do this? Is he threatening you ?" He asked, "Just tell me, I can protect you."

"Protect me from what? He is my husband now whether you like it or not," I snapped as I freed my wrist from his hold, trying to sound strong and confident.

"Don't lie, Katherine!" He shot out, "I know you. Even if you had feelings for that man, I am sure you won't just marry him this fast!"

"You don't know me," I said, shaking my head. If he knew me, he would not have hurt me the way he did.

"Yes, yes, I do," His voice raised, his fingers reaching for my arm again, tighter this time, almost like he wanted to claw me out, "For god's sake, just tell me why!" He growled as he pulled me closer to him.

"Enough!" I snapped, "It is none of your business," I shot out as I tried to free myself.

"Katherine, if you won't tell me, then I'll go inside and I'll beat the crap out of him in front of all these people till he tells me why," He threatened.

The will look in his eyes proved that he was more than willing to do so. A part of me was scared, so damn scared of people's reactions, of Ashton's reaction if he sees Caleb here with me...

"Okay, okay," I said, trying to take in my next breath, "I am pregnant."

His eyes instantly widened at my response, his lips parted to say something, but nothing came out. Speechless.

"Is this why you married him?" He asked, his voice a mere whisper as he tried to digest the news, "He is forcing you, isn't he?"

"No, Caleb. It is my choice," I said.

His gaze searched mine for answers I wasn't willing to give, "He was going to take the baby, right?" He deduced, his jaw ticking in realization, "Leave with me Katherine, I can protect you, I can protect your child, I promise," He said, his hand clutching mine with a desperate, trembling grip, his voice softening, "I will never let him lay a finger on you, just please don't stay with him—"

"No, no, I can't, you don't understand," I shook my head, "I can't lose my baby, not this time. I am not going to take any risks at all, I won't let it happen again," I added, my voice breaking at the bitter memories.

"I will protect you, I promise," His voice was so soft, pleading. His hand slipped from my arm to cup my face, wiping away the tears I didn't realize I'd shed, "Don't cry, please."

His brows quenched in sadness, his gaze a sight of destruction, "I missed you," He mumbled, his face edged closer.

I placed my hand over his chest trying to push him away from me before he'd attempt to do something...

"Caleb," I said, my tone careful, "Stop, please," I muttered, but if possible his face only drew near, his forehead almost brushing over mine. I pushed harder on his chest, my palm tight over the fabric of his shirt, my attempts were futile in the face of his pain and determination.

I couldn't register what happened after. My breath caught, a strangled gasp tearing from my throat as Caleb was suddenly wrenched away from me with brutal force.

Ashton moved like a storm, gripping Caleb's collar and slamming him into the wall with a thunderous crack. Caleb's back arched as Ashton's grip tightened, his knuckles bone-white as he pinned him there.

Fury radiated off him in waves, a consuming thing that sucked the air from the room. His clenched fist was poised to strike with violence that shook me to my core.

"Oh my god, Ashton, no!" I shot out in desperate panic, rushing forward to intervene. My trembling fingers grasped at his jacket, pleading with him to stop, but he remained oblivious to my pleas.

"Ashton," I spoke again, my voice lower, "Let him go, please."

His jaw tensed with restrained fury, and before I could stop him, his fist fell forward. I winced, embracing myself for the impact. The force of his fist meeting the wall, right beside Caleb's head sent shockwaves through the room. Blood splattered across the once-pristine white surface.

That same blood covered Ashton's bruised knuckles.

Caleb managed to break free from Ashton's grip, tearing himself away, his eyes meeting mine with a mix of sorrow and blame at once. In that fleeting moment, I saw the pain he carried, the anguish mirrored in his gaze as he looked at me, just like he used to—with a tenderness and a type of love I didn't reciprocate.

But then his expression hardened as he turned back to Ashton, shaking his head with a bitter resignation, his words echoed with so much heartbreak as he walked away.

"You've taken everything from me. My best friend, and the only girl I ever loved," He said, "Congratulations."