CHAPTER 3:THE WEDDING

The day of the wedding arrived, and I felt like a bride, but not in the way I had always imagined. My heart raced as I put on the stunning white gown, my hands shaking as I adjusted the veil. I looked in the mirror, and a stranger stared back at me.

"Are you ready, Emily?" Damian asked, his voice low and husky.

I took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm ready."

The ceremony was a blur, but I remembered the way Damian's eyes locked onto mine as we exchanged vows. It felt real, but I knew it wasn't.

As we exchanged rings, I felt a sense of trepidation. What had I just gotten myself into?

"You look stunning, Mrs. Blackwood," Damian whispered in my ear.

I forced a smile, feeling like a fraud.

The reception was lavish, with guests I had never met before. I played the role of the happy bride, but inside, I was dying.

As the night wore on, I felt like I was living a lie. But I had to keep up the act, for my mother's sake .

As the night wore on, I felt like I was living a lie. But I had to keep up the act, for my mother's sake. I forced a smile and laughed at Damian's jokes, trying to pretend that this was a real marriage.

But then, something unexpected happened. As we were dancing our first dance as husband and wife, Damian's eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I saw something there that made my heart skip a beat. It was a glimmer of genuine emotion, a spark of connection that I hadn't expected.

I felt a flutter in my chest, and my smile faltered for a moment. Damian's gaze held mine, and I felt like he was seeing me, really seeing me, for the first time.

The music swirled around us, and the room faded away. It was just us, lost in this moment, this strange and unexpected connection.

And then, the spell was broken. Damian's eyes crinkled at the corners, and he smiled, his mask slipping back into place.

"Shall we get some fresh air, my dear?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

I nodded, still feeling the lingering effects of that moment. We stepped out onto the balcony, the cool night air a welcome respite from the suffocating glamour of the reception.

As we stood there, looking out over the city, I felt a sense of unease. What was I getting myself into? And what did Damian really want from me?

But I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the end goal. I was doing this for my mother, and I would see it through, no matter what.

Little did I know, the night was only just beginning, and the real challenges were yet to come...

As we stood on the balcony, Damian's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his eyes scanning the screen.

"Excuse me, my dear," he said, his voice distant. "I need to take this."

I nodded, watching as he walked away, his shoulders tense. I wondered who could be calling him on our wedding night, but I pushed the thought aside.

As I stood there, alone, I felt a sense of unease. This wasn't how I had imagined my wedding night. I was supposed to be happy, surrounded by loved ones, not stuck in a fake marriage with a stranger.

But I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the end goal. I was doing this for my mother, and I would see it through, no matter what.

Just then, Damian returned, his eyes narrowed. "I'm afraid we need to leave," he said, his voice firm. "Now."

I felt a surge of anxiety. What was going on? But I didn't have time to ask questions. Damian took my hand, leading me back into the reception, his pace quick and urgent.

We made our way through the crowds, people staring at us, wondering what was happening. But Damian didn't stop, didn't explain. He just kept pulling me forward, until we reached the exit.

And then, we were outside, in the cool night air, Damian's car waiting for us. He opened the door, ushering me in, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

I felt a sense of fear, my heart racing. What was going on? But I didn't have time to ask questions. Damian got in beside me, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

As we drove away from the reception, I realized that this was just the beginning. This fake marriage, this strange and unexpected turn of events. I was in this now, for better or for worse. And I had no idea what lay ahead.

We drove in silence, the only sound being the hum of the engine and the soft rustle of the wind through the trees. I tried to ask Damian what was going on, but he just shook his head, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

As we left the city behind, the scenery changed, and we found ourselves winding through a narrow mountain road. The trees grew taller and closer together here, casting long shadows in the fading light.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Damian spoke up. "We're almost there," he said, his voice low and mysterious.

I felt a shiver run down my spine. Where were we going? And why did it feel like we were leaving the world behind?

As we rounded a bend in the road, a massive gate came into view. It was old and rusted, covered in vines and moss. Damian pulled up to the gate and punched in a code, and it creaked open, revealing a long driveway that wound up to a sprawling mansion.

My eyes widened as we drove up to the house. It was enormous, with turrets and towers that seemed to stretch up to the sky. I felt like I had stepped into a fairy tale, one that was both beautiful and terrifying.

Damian pulled up to the front door and turned off the engine. "Welcome to our new home," he said, his eyes glinting in the fading light.

I felt a sense of trepidation as I got out of the car. What lay ahead? And what secrets was this mysterious mansion hiding?