What had she done? What had she done? Only one thought kept going through her mind as Beth ran down the hall towards her office.

She kept replaying the events that occurred in the chapel. The dramatic wedding had taken place, and she had forced Alec to marry her.

No, our mothers had forced us..... She tried to convince herself, but she couldn't. She had a choice, but her rage.

The conversation in her mother's cabin had snapped something inside her. She hated her mother for saying all those words. They had made her anger erupt like a volcano and she had destroyed everything.

Everything was ruined. Her friendship, her relations, everything and now there was turning back.

The moment she entered her office, she quickly pulled the blinds down and locked the door.

What had she done? What had she done? Oh god no..... How could I?

She looked down at her hand. The platinum band fitted her finger snuggly. She tried to pull it out, but failed.

Her knees gave away and she fell on the ground, crying.

•

It was the start of the year, only two months had passed, winters were still persistent but that morning, it was the hottest day of the season. And just like the day, so was Alec.

It had almost been twenty four hours since Beth had pulled him into the hospital chapel and forced him to wear the platinum band on his finger. It had been almost three hours since he had sent the papers to court, one hour since the hearing came in his favour regarding the inheritance case. But his mood worsened with every passing moment. And so suffered his staff.

He fired at everyone who entered his office. His secretary, his board members, everyone faced his wrath.

It was just after the lunch when his phone rang.

"Yes?" He barked at his secretory.

"S-Sir..." She stuttered a little. "There is someone to meet you from the DA's office."

"DA? I don't remember any such appointments."

"Sir, he insists on meeting you."

"Okay, send him in and ask my attorney to come in as well. And tell him to be fast." His last few words were a little too harsh than they were supposed to be.

"Y-yes sir."

After two minutes, two gentlemen entered his office. In crisp suits and ties, they entered the room with long confident strides. Their hair were neatly combed, revealing well groomed faces.

"Sir." One of them said and greeted Alec. Alec shook his hand with the second one.

"Mr. Mason, I am Lewis Hosley. I am with the DA."

"Mr. Hosley, it's a pleasure to meet you. This is my attorney, Nathan Nash." They shook hands with each other taking thier seats. "How can I help you Mr. Hosley?"

"Sir, I am here regarding your inheritance case. The judge has appointed me oversee certain things regarding your marriage. If I find any fault in them, your property will be ceased until further notice."

Alec looked at his attorney. "When did this happen? Why wasn't I informed about this?"

"Sir I had mentioned this as soon as the decision had come."

Alec considered his attorney's words for a moment. It was true that his attorney had given him all the instructions after the hearing had been officially released, but Alec hadn't paid much attention to facts after hearing the fact that he had won the case. He, honestly, wasn't even interested since he wasn't very happy about the idea of having Beth as his wife.

"Okay, continue." He said to Hosley.

"I will visit your house, once a month, to check on you and your wife, Mrs Mason-"

"I am sorry, it is still Richards. She won't be changing her surname."

Both the attorneys raised their eyebrows on this. "Sir, may I suggest-" Nathan interjected.

"Nathan we are final on that. I am absolutely sure Beth will agree on this with me." He said in crisp tone.

"Okay, continuing on what I was saying, I will visit your house once a month. The DA wants to ensure that the marriage is not a fake one. This will continue until the year ends, that is until your first marriage anniversary, when the property will officially be named as yours."

Alec flinched at the thought of sharing his anniversary with Beth. He hated that idea. He hated the idea of sharing any thing with Beth.

"I am told you are presently not living with your wife, is that right Mr. Maosn?" Hosley asked.

"Yes."

"Well I suggest you both move in fast, otherwise the property will be ceased."

Alec looked at him questioningly. "Mr. Mason, it says in the will, you are supposed to live with your wife for at least a year."

"It said I am supposed to be married for an year."

"Well sir, I thought it was implied. You can't possibly live like a married couple while you stay in the different houses. You are supposed to live like a married couple."

Alec felt he was going to be sick at this thought. He realised everyone in the room could see his frustration.

"Mr. Mason, I don't know if you realise that you aren't helping your case here. You need to convince the DA otherwise the property will be lost and believe me, I am not convinced at all at the moment."

"Mr. Hosley, is there anything we need to be aware of?" Nathan interjected. "If there is anything more, I think we should discuss it outside, perhaps in my office. I will let my client know about it."

"No, I think I am done here. Until next time, Mr. Mason." He got up from his seat and shook hands with Alec. Five minutes later, Nathan was seeing him off.

He could feel his pulse throbbing inside his head. On his left hand, shinned the platinum band. He hated the sight of it. He tried to pull it out, but it didn't budge. As he tried to pull it out, his hand slipped back and hit a content of his desk. It was a wooden photo frame. Craved beautifully, it was a very smart table accessory. He picked it up and tears welled into his eyes when he saw the picture.

He stood in a sea green sweater on westminster abbey with his arm around his late wife, Melissa in the picture. Her soft bright curls neatly framed her face. She had left her hair open that day. She hated it, but that day she did so, because she knew her husband liked them open. Her long bob cut gave her a very classy appearance. So, did her skater dress. They had taken this picture on the first day of their honeymoon, five years back. Five years back when he had been married to that beautiful lady.

°

He looked at the path that was covered with flower petals. She walked down lightly dancing with the music that being played. The off shoulder grey tea length dress hugged her beautifully. She held a pink and white bouquet. When her father gave her hand in his, he whispered in her ears, "I have waited an eternity to make you mine." She smiled and replied, "Me too." She winked at him. When the ceremony ended, their lips crashed with each others. They both beamed and walked towards their reception.

°

"Where are we going?" She asked as they both settled in thier seats in the aircraft. "Surprise." he winked at her. After the reception, they both were leaving for their honeymoon and he was taking her to London.

When they landed on Heathrow airport, she jumped on him. "London! We are in London!" She said as she kissed him deeply. "I figured it to be the perfect honeymoon spot, you always wanted to visit this place."

"Yes it is! Let's go, come on!" She pulled him, running towards the baggage claim.

°

"Come on, let's go click a picture over there!" She pulled him down the path. "I want a picture here!"

All day long they had clicked pictures. She captured every moment of their honeymoon in the camera. It was a beautiful day and Alec loved sharing it with her.

They were standing in front of Thames, near Westminster abbey. He looked at her. Her eyes fixed at the water below them. The breeze blew a few strands off her face and he knew she was the best choice he had ever made. She caught him staring at her. "Gawking your wife Mr. Mason?"
He turned towards her. "No, Mrs. Mason," he loved calling her that. He pulled her in his embrace and whispered in her ears "admiring her." She blushed the shade of her hair, but her lips curved in a grin. He stared at her long enough for her to click a picture. It caught him off guard and she couldn't stop laughing. It was a childlike laugh, full of mischief and he loved it. Pulling her arm towards himself, he found his lips met hers.

"Let's go back to the hotel, shall we?" He finally said.
"I thought you would never ask."

°

He smiled at the memory. He kept the picture back on the desk and wiped a few stray tears off his face.

Alec picked up his phone and dialed his PA's number.

"Lisa, please call Beth and tell her the DA has asked her to move in with me. Ask her to call me immediately if she has any to say and send her my address. Also inform my mother regarding the same." And he slammed the phone down.

****
A very late update, I know and I am really sorry for it but well exams and procrastination, not a good combination to update the book.

But anyhow, here is another chapter for all of you. Hope you all enjoyed it. It is a little choppy, I know and I going to fix it soon.

The chapter also gives us an insight about Alec and Melissa's married life.

If you have any views, do put it down in the comments.

Please click on the little star on the corner of the page to vote and do share it with world.

Until next time,
Love,
Alice.

****