Cian clears his throat and tells the girl "I'm not your husband, Alicia." His voice stern and firm, like a judge pronouncing a verdict. Alicia rolls her eyes, a look of annoyance flashing across her face, her perfectly manicured eyebrows arching upwards in disdain.
Cian takes Kaliyah's hand, his fingers intertwining with hers, sending a spark of electricity through her body. He leads her to a couple of older-looking people, who are standing by the window, sipping champagne and surveying the room with an air of superiority.
Cian bows briefly to them, a gesture of respect, and the man pats his back, a warm smile on his face. "Cian, my boy," he says, his voice booming through the room. "It's been too long."
Alicia joins them shortly, her eyes flashing with anger, and Cian introduces the couple as Alicia's parents. Kaliyah bows and greets them, trying to be polite despite the tense atmosphere.
Alicia's mother, a tall, thin woman with a pinched face and a cold smile, looks Kaliyah up and down, her eyes lingering on Kaliyah's hair and clothes. "And who is this... young woman?" she asks, her voice dripping with disdain.
The old man's eyes flick over to Kaliyah, and he asks Cian who the beautiful lady is. Cian's response is smooth and confident: "She is my girlfriend."
Kaliyah's eyes widen in surprise at Cian's words. She hadn't expected him to introduce her as his girlfriend. She feels a flutter in her chest, a mix of emotions: shock, surprise, and a hint of excitement.
The old man's gaze grows cold, and he says, "The last time we talked, you were to get married to Alicia. What changed?" His voice is stern, disapproving, and Kaliyah can sense the weight of his disappointment.
Cian's response is simple and direct: "I fell in love with her, and she's the one I want to marry." His voice is firm, resolute, and Kaliyah can sense the conviction behind his words.
Alicia's face contorts in anger, and she starts weeping. "You're evil!" she yells at Cian, before storming out of the room. The sound of her sobs echoes through the hallway, a stark contrast to the laughter and music that had filled the room just moments before.
Alicia's dad yells furiously at Cian, his face red with rage. "What nonsense are you saying?" he demands, his voice echoing off the walls. "You're going to marry Alicia, just like we agreed."
Alicia's mom, who has been quiet until now, finally speaks up, trying to calm her husband down. "Now, dear, let's not be hasty," she says, her voice soothing, but with an undercurrent of steel. "We need to talk about this, figure out what's going on."
She turns to Cian and says, "That wasn't the deal. I know you don't love her; you just don't want to get married to Alicia." Her voice is cold, calculating, and Kaliyah can sense the manipulation behind her words.
Cian glares at her, his eyes flashing with anger. "What do I have to do to prove it?" he demands, his voice low and menacing. "I've told you how I feel. I've told you that I want to be with Kaliyah."
Alicia's mom opens her mouth to respond, but before she can say anything, Cian slams his lips on Kaliyah's, taking her by surprise. All mouths fall open, and Kaliyah's eyes widen in shock. The room falls silent, the only sound the soft gasps of the people around them.
Kaliyah feels like she's been punched in the gut. She can't breathe, can't think. All she can do is feel, and what she feels is Cian's lips on hers, warm and firm and demanding. It's like a spark of electricity has run through her body, setting her nerves on fire.
Cian finally disconnects their lips with a pop sound, leaving Kaliyah breathless and stunned. He turns to the old couple, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. "Is this enough proof?" he asks, his voice dripping with satisfaction.
The old man's voice booms throughout the hall, echoing off the walls. "What kind of disrespect is this?" he thunders. "This is unbelievable, coming from you, Cian. I'm highly disappointed." His face is red with rage, his eyes bulging with indignation.
Cian's smile never wavers. "I just wanted to inform you, as a sign of respect," he says, his voice smooth as silk. "Your opinion doesn't really matter. The deal was, if I couldn't find a girl in three months, I should marry Alicia."
Alicia's mum interrupts, her voice shrill with excitement. "It's already been three months, Cian," she says, a triumphant smile spreading across her face.
Cian smirks, a mischievous glint in his eye. "No, actually," he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Three months remains two hours and 57 minutes to complete." He glances at his watch, a sleek, black timepiece that looks like it costs a fortune.
Kaliyah is just looking confused as hell, her eyes darting back and forth between Cian and the old couple. She looks like she's been dropped into a war zone, with no idea what's going on or how to escape.
Cian takes Kaliyah's hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. "Let's go, my love," he says, his voice low and husky. He pulls her towards the door, leaving the old couple and their shocked expressions behind.
Kaliyah plasters a fake smile on her face, trying to play along. She has no idea what's going on, or what Cian's game is. But she's determined to play along, at least for now. She walks out of the hall with Cian, leaving the drama and tension behind. But she knows that this is far from over.
As they step out of the grand hall, Kaliyah suddenly pulls her hand from Cian's grip, her movement forceful and abrupt. She spins around to face him, her eyes blazing with anger and confusion.
"What the fuck was that?" she yells, her voice echoing through the cool night air. "Why did you drag me into your mess?" Her face is flushed with anger, her chest heaving with each ragged breath.
Cian's expression changes in an instant, his eyes narrowing into slits as he looks at Kaliyah with disdain. His jaw clenches, his lips curling into a sneer.
"Looks like you've forgotten that I bought you with money," he yells, his voice dripping with malice. "And I can do whatever I want with you." He takes a step closer to Kaliyah, his eyes glinting with a cold, hard light.
Kaliyah held back the tears threatening to fall, what's wrong with him one minute he's nice and the next he's a monster.