Wedding gifts to remember

After a long hour of questioning and answering, Emma and Theo decided to return home. Theo was driving and Emma sat beside him lost in her thoughts. Theo watched Emma as her long black hair waved from the wind coming from the open window of the car.

"You will get cold. You might want to shut the window" Theo said.

"I will get suffocated," Emma told Theo looking outside the window.

Theo looked at Emma again and hope that she will look at him but she did not. Theo noticed that Emma barely looked at him ever since they got married.

"What are you thinking?" Theo asked.

"Where is my father" Emma said.

"I think we know who took him," Theo said.

"He is not a child and I think Ricker is not involved in this" Emma said. Theo did not like Emma taking Ricker's name.

"He is not innocent Emma," Theo said.

"No. He is not innocent but that man with the hoodie on was not Ricker" Emma said in confidence.

"How can you be so sure?" Theo asked.

"Because that man had his hoodie with the purpose of hiding his face and Ricker is no person to hide anything from anyone. He just doesn't care" Emma said.

"So, who could be involved?" Theo asked.

"Is it possible that he left by choice?" Emma said.

"Why would he do that?" Theo asked.

"I have no idea what's happening but if you have any. Please do tell" Emma said in frustration.

"I don't know where your father is but if he left by choice, as you say, we should not find him," Theo said.

"But did he?" Emma wondered.

"I know one thing. He will be fine where ever he is and with whoever he is accompanied with" Theo said in assurance.

"If he left himself then I will be very disappointed in him," Emma said.

"I suggest we wait and see. We will continue to look for him but we have a lot on our plate right now" Theo said.

"Like what?" Emma asked.

"We have a wedding reception to attend" Theo reminded Emma.

"Are you kidding me? My father is missing and probably kidnapped and you want to party" Emma said surprisingly.

"Invited have already been sent and it is too late to cancel anything. Besides if we cancel this thing then it might reflect, we are weak and we cannot let anyone think that" Theo said.

"Who cares?" Emma asked.

"I do and so does your father and so should you," Theo told Emma. Emma accepted Theo's words in silence. He was right. Her father would die before letting anyone know that he is a weakling.

"I don't want to attend," Emma said.

"Too bad. You have to and maybe you prepare your stuff to pack and leave your father's mansion" Theo said.

"Why would I leave my home? Do you think it's not safe anymore?" Emma asked.

"No, but it is not your home anymore. We are married and if Mr. White would have been there, I would have understood you wanted to care for him in his ill health but he is not there. So, I don't see any valid reason for you to stay there anymore. I told Sophia to pack your bags and hers and bring them to Relish Mansion" Theo said.

"Is it necessary?" Emma asked.

"It is" Theo answered.

Emma's heart raced. She did not realize until now that she will be living with Theo as his wife. Going through the wedding was hard enough but living with him was. Emma had no idea what Theo expect from this marriage because she did not expect anything. She was stuck. She can't say no and now her worst fear was to think of her future from that moment. All this time she ponders her thoughts on Ricker and this unwanted marriage but she forgot what marriage means. It is just not about tying knots, which is the easy part of above all but about rest…

Theo brought Emma to Relish Villa. Now their home and paradise, at least for Theo. Theo escorted Emma in. As Emma entered the unfamiliar place, she noticed how managed Theo's staff was. All the servants and maids were present at the front door inside the mansion to greet the newlywed couple. Everyone looked at Emma with awe and great interest. All these staring eyes made Emma more nervous but what brought her attention was the sharp-pitched voice announcing her presence.

"Finally, your bride made it," Ava said. Ava Relish is the younger sister of Theodore Relish. Emma smiled half-heartedly at Ava as Ava gave her a sly smile. Emma did not like Ava at all. She was cunning and way too spoilt for anyone's good. She was wicked, as Lavinia describes her.

"Be nice sister" Theo said to Ava.

"I am a nice brother. It's just that I was wondering if these doors will ever have Emma visiting them" Ava said.

"Hello, Ava. How are you?" Emma said politely. Emma rolled her eyes in front of Emma for everyone to see.

"I am good but you must be heartbroken" Ava commented.

"Ava!" Theo called out as a sign of warning but Ava did not seem to care at all.

"Because of his father Theo. I did not mention Ricker in any way" Ava said and Emma nervously looked down but she could feel the servants and maids staring at her with questioning looks.

"Go to your room, right now," Theo said.

"Whatever" Ava said before leaving.

Ava left and Ricker introduced Emma to everyone. Emma was nervous and embarrassed because of what Ava said and she felt everyone with questions and predicaments due to the incident just happening.

Theo left Emma in the big villa. He had some urgent meeting to attend but he informed Emma that he will be on time tomorrow before the party starts. Emma was escorted to Ricker's bedroom. Emma wanders around to familiarise herself with the strange environment. Theo's bedroom was the size of a hotel suite and well decorated with paintings and art with wallpapers light and comforting. The room opened to a common area where lay a comfortable couch and two chair sofas surrounded a round table. To the right, was the king-sized bed and to the left was the changing room and dresser. The room was connected to a bathroom on the right side but the centre of attraction of the entire room was the big connected balcony at the front that opened into a small garden. It was nice and beautiful.

Emma was left alone in the big room with her worries, troubles, and loneliness.

***** Next day *****

A servant brought Emma a beautifully embroidered silver-colored net dress. There was beautiful detailing in the sweetheart cut neck design and the long sleeves. The dress was stunning and even Emma in her gloominess went in awe for a moment. Emma had a sleep for a few hours but she ended up tossing and turning a lot at night, mostly because of the new place she was in. she knew makeup could cover everything, especially the dark circles of tiredness that were quite visible on her face so she worried for nothing. Emma grabbed her towel and went to the bathroom for a long, hot shower before getting ready for a long day. It was when Emma was in the shower, Theo entered the room. He heard the noise of water running and realized Emma was in the bathroom. Theo removed his blazer and loosen up his tie and walked towards the bed where servants had placed Emma's gown. Theo smiled looking at the dress and he knew Emma will look precious in it. He suddenly noticed Emma's net lace lingerie beside her silver gown. Theo touched the soft fabric and felt the softness of the fabric under his touch but quickly moved his hands away as he heard the bathroom door open.

Emma came out adjusting her towel but she was stunned to find Theo unannounced in her room.

"What are you doing here?" Emma asked.

"Emma, this is my room too," Theo said.

Emma embarrassingly looked at Theo and gazed her eyes down in discomfort.

"It's okay. You get change. I will come back in fifteen minutes" Theo said.

Theo turned to leave the room when Emma stopped him.

"Theo" Emma called out Theo's name.

"Yeah," Theo said without turning back.

"Thanks" Theo smiled and left Emma to get dressed.

**********

"Emma and Theo got married and they are having a reception tonight. What should bring them as a wedding present?" Kol asked as he walked towards Ricker.

"I already did. Both of them will be receiving what they deserve" Ricker said with a snarky smile.

"What did you send them?" Kol asked.

"Something that will end that wedding fiasco," Ricker said.

Ricker punched the man tied from a chair in the dark room he was standing with Kol

"Who is this poor man?" Kol said moving his head closer to the man.

"He is a lawyer" Ricker answered.

"What did he do?" Kol asked.

"He was about to sin. I helped him prevent his mistake" Ricker said.

"Wait a minute. Isn't he the Relish's lawyer?" Kol said in realization.

"You bet; he is," Ricker said.

"Are we going to the reception?" Kol asked.

"Of course. I wouldn't let it miss for the world" Ricker said leaving the man behind with his dear friend Kol.

**********

Emma was getting ready when Sophia brought a decorated box to her. Emma looked at Sophia and her worried expression. She told everyone to leave at that instant.

"What is it?" Emma asked.

"This box is for you," Sophia said.

"Who sent it?" Emma asked.

"It is from Mr. Davidson," Sophia said in a lower voice.

Emma nervously took the box and opened it carefully as if contained the bomb. But as she looked at the contents inside the box, tears fall down her cheeks as she closed the lid quickly.

"Burn it. Just destroy it before anyone could see it" Emma said.

"But?" Sophia said.

"But what?" Emma asked in fear.

"I saw another box for Mr. Relish" Sophia told Emma.

"What? Oh my god. No… he can't see it. Where is he?" Emma asked Sophia.

"He is downstairs but he must have opened it by now," Sophia told Emma.

"No… I have to stop him" Emma said rushing towards the gate to Theo. Emma was about to call out his name but stopped in the middle when he saw Theo already opening the box. She nodded her head in disbelief. 'That can't be happening She thought.

Theo looked at the content of the box he received. He looked at them and was puzzled about what they meant. They were the torn pieces of some paper until Theo saw his and Emma's signature pasted to the inner side of the lid. Theo looked at the papers again and furiously throw them on the floor in realization.

"I will kill you" Theo shouted.

They were his wedding registration papers. The papers were never submitted to the court.

Emma and Theo were not married.