Cynthia's POV
"You looking for trouble, huh? "What are you wearing?"Zander questioned through clenched teeth, and I smiled back.
"Today is my funeral day, therefore this is the ideal colour to wear,"I said.
"Dearly beloved, we are assembled here today before God to witness and celebrate Cynthia Philip and Zander Jones' holy marriage." The priest spoke.
"Do you accept Cynthia Philip as your lawful wife, to have and keep from this day forward, for better or worse, richer or worse, in sickness or in health, to love and cherish till death do you part?"The priest asked.
" I do." Zander started without emotion in his tone, and my stomach twisted. I can not believe I was pushed into this marriage just because I was in the wrong place at the wrong moment, and now I am paying the price.
"Do you accept Zander Jones as your rightful husband, to have and hold from this day forward, for better or worse, richer or worse, in sickness or in health, to love and cherish till death do you part?"The priest inquired.
It was now my time, and my heart was beating against my chest, as if it was about to burst. My palms were sweating, but I could not open my lips and say, I do. I do not want to marry this man.
Zander grabbed my hand beneath the table and gripped it tightly, causing me to wince in agony. Before I could say anything, I heard footsteps approaching the entryway.
My stomach churned, and I felt shakiness in my legs. My father and his entire family entered the room, and my lips trembled. All of the memories from that day began to play through my mind, and my entire body trembled. I will never forget that day, and seeing his face exposed all of my fears that I had been attempting to suppress.
"What is going on here?" "Why are you getting married to Zander?"My father asked, and my heart raced even faster.
"I do. "I said , suprepressing my dread, this was my own way of escaping this monster of a man I call my father because I knew if I left here unmarried, he would murder me.
"I now proclaim you husband and wife; you may now kiss the bride."The priest announced. I fought hard not to cry; my life had been officially wrecked. This was it for me.
The journalist began taking photographs of us, and everybody laughed as the sound of the glasses snapped. I was feeling so overwhelmed by everything that I was near my breaking point. It is unclear how or when I fell, but all I could see was darkness.
~~~~~~
"Do you see this dagger?"My father inquired, running the dagger over my jaws. Tears streamed down my face as my hands and ankles were bound behind me in the chair. The room was dark, the air was tight, and my heart was pounding against my chest. I was held captivated by my own father, it was just hard to believe.
"Please let me go, Father!"My father chuckled as I sobbed.
"I will let you leave, but if you tell anybody what happened to your mother, I will use this dagger to murder you and reunite you with your mother, understand?"My father inquired sharply, and I nodded, tears flowing down my cheeks.
"I want you to say it. You cannot simply nod your head."My father spoke firmly.
"I will not tell anyone what happened to my mother; believe me, I will keep my lips shut."I stuttered, tears falling down my cheeks. I have no idea why he killed my mother, and the saddest thing is that I can not get him imprisoned because he worked with all of the police.
"Good, girl."My father stated that just as I believed he was about to untie me, he abruptly stabbed me in the foot, causing me to scream loudly and tears to pour down my cheeks.
"This is a reminder to keep your mouth shut!" My father remarked coldly.
~~~~
I felt beads of perspiration gathering on my forehead as I jerked into a sitting posture, panting very hard. My heart was thumping my chest so fiercely. That was not actually happening—it was simply a bad dream.
As I surveyed the room , darkness was the only thing that met my eyes. My shoulders bent forward and shivers ran down my spine as my chest grew heavy.
"You are awake?"Zander's icy voice made me gasp, and my heart began to speed.
"Come on, we are heading out now!"I squinted my eyes at his icy words.
"Where are we going? "I asked, perplexed. I am not sure why people believed it was a good idea to have so much influence over my life. Like a pet that anyone can drag around whatever they like.
"Now that we are married, you do not ask me questions, and I do not answer them. Do everything I want you to do without question."He spoke in a chilly tone.
"What will happen if I refuse?"I challenged him.
Without saying anything, Zander got up from the chair and walked over to the bed where I was seated. I let out a gasp as he took me in his arms without saying anything.
"Put me down, you foolish man! What are you doing?"I shouted, but Zander continued to walk out of the room.
"Put me down! "What are you doing?"I shouted. But Zander decided to ignore me completely as he walked down the stairs, all eyes turned to us as he walked down.
"What type of bullshit is this, Zander? Why did you marry this poor girl? Did you not agree to marry my daughter?" My entire body shook as my father spoke angrily, causing my heart to race. I hastily hid my head in Zander's chest.
"I do not understand why you are here; the wedding is done."Zander said without showing any emotion.
"Zander, I thought you were going to marry me? How on earth could you wed her?Tiara inquired, tears running down her cheeks. Zander strolled past the father and daughter and towards the entrance.
"Zander!! I heard Tiara cry behind us; for the first time in his life, he had done something decent.
After the guards unlocked the door, Zander forced me to take a seat in the rear of the vehicle before going to the driver's seat and turning on the engine. As he drove away from the mansion, silence filled the automobile.
I laid my head on a vehicle seat. I did not want to think about anything at the moment. My life was wrecked, and there was nothing I could do about it.
After what seemed like an eternity, Zander parked the car in front of a massive edifice that screamed "wealthy only," like a hotel or a building filled with flats. It was difficult to comprehend that he was living among humans, regardless of what monster he was.
Zander stepped out of the car, and I followed suit by opening the door and exiting. He started making his way inside, and I followed him.
When he entered the massive building, he went to the elevator, and I followed him. When we got inside, he tapped a button I did not notice, and the lift began bringing us upwards.
The elevator dinged and the two of us stepped out and I followed Zander, when we reached an apartment upstairs, he unlocked the door and went inside and I followed him and closed the door behind me.
Everything in the room was black, including drapes, couches, and furniture; everything was gloomy, and the lighting was weak.
"This is my place; you will live with me. It's a four room apartment as you can see, I'm sure you will be able to adjust. "Zander remarked, and I looked across the room, shaking my head.
I chose to keep my mouth shut. I removed my jacket and laid it on the couch.
"I am going out; I will return tomorrow."Zander muttered and exited the flat; I could hear him click the door lock; of course, he was locking me in. What a stupid dude.
I removed my heels and sat on the floor. I needed to think of a strategy to get out of here or to protect myself from him if he tried to injure me in any manner.
I sat on the floor for the rest of the night, staring at the walls, and I had no idea when daylight arrived.
I sighed as I got from the floor and made my way to the bathroom, where I removed the dress and carefully laid it on the bed. I turned on the shower and let the warm water run over my body. The sound of the door opening and footsteps entering the room caused my eyes to enlarge. The apartment was a four-room unit with no door, so he could see me in the bathtub.
I emerged from the shower and hastily wrapped a towel around my body.
"You can not just walk in without knocking on the door first. I am sure you heard the running water in the shower, yet you still came in; do you not have any manners?"I inquired, looking at him.
"You are my wife, and this is my apartment. You should get used to this; the sooner you do, the better for you."He said with no emotions in his tone, I couldn't believe him.
"You can't tell me to get used to this shit! I can not get used to this, you or your gloomy world. Everything is dark about you and I will never get used to a cruel and heartless person like you!! "I shouted, tears welling in my eyes; the thought of living with this man crushes my heart.
"What the fuck are your problems? Ever since we met, you have been moaning like a foolish bitch instead of being grateful."He said, my stomach hardened.
"Do you think you have done me a favour by pushing me into this suffocating marriage or by allowing me to live in this hell you call a house? You did not do me a favour; I was better off staying in my apartment, even if I was hungry or alone. I would rather die out of hunger than to live here with you. "I said, tears welling up in my eyes.
Zander grabbed my hair and pulled me towards him.
"Behave, Little Foxy. I offered you an option, and you decided to marry me; I did not marry you under gunpoint. You will not have such an attitude towards me as long as you live under my roof, understand?" He asked coldly, I sobbed.
"Do you understand what I'm saying? "Zander inquired, loudly and harshly, and I felt a stinging ache in my head as he yanked my hair. I nodded, Zander let go of my hair, causing me to tumble to the floor, and I wept even more.
"Stop that nonsense, you are making noise. God, and get changed."He roared, and I hurriedly got up from the floor and walked to the room, trying to suppress my sobbing.
After changing clothing, I emerged from the bedroom wearing a black jean and a white crop top, along with white shoes.
I discovered Zander seated on the chair, drinking something from a glass that was so crimson that I was certain it was blood rather than wine. My stomach churned.
"I need to get out because I have some work! "I said, I couldn't believe that I was seeking permission to do something.
"You cannot keep working on that club."Zander stated it casually, without even glancing at me.
"I am still a student, and I need to pay my school expenses. So, if I do not work, how will I make money?"I questioned, gazing at him.
"I will pay your school fees."Zander replied tiredly, as if I were saying something pointless.
"I do not need your money; I can support myself."I retorted angrily.
Zander finished the remainder of his drink and set the glass on the table before rising from the chair.
"You will be here for the next five days until you learn to listen to me."Zander remarked, walking out of the flat, closing and locking the door.
I walked over to the couch and sat down.