Chapter 4 CHAPTER FOUR: PAPER VOWS

ZARA

“I will get you a suit so you'd look…”

“No need.” He shook his head, and I frowned. “Oh come on, I am a man in the twenty-first century; of course I have a suit.”

“A good-looking one?”

“I won’t embarrass you in front of your parents. He finally turned around and gently slipped on one piece of clothing after the other in a slow, deliberate manner, like he was putting on a show.

“I have to give you my number,” I said, and he stretched his phone to me. I typed the number as fast as I could and returned it. “Text me the address, and I will pick you up later.”

“The bar is fine.” The question of where he lived bubbled in my chest, but I didn’t want to cross any lines between us and be rude, so I ignored the urge to ask and smiled.

“About our living arrangement…”

“I bought a villa last year; we can move in there. I will have people speed up the process,” I explained. He nodded once.

He had no idea how much this marriage was going to elevate his life.

I looked around the tiny room as if I were trying to check if I had forgotten anything. I pressed my sweaty palm onto my dress. I was acting brave, like this was an easy thing to do, but underneath, I was losing my mind at how courageous I was pretending to be.

“I'd better get going.” I took a step back and smiled. He closed the gap between us, standing just close enough for me to touch and feel him.

“See you later, princess,” he said. I felt my throat tighten. I pulled a nervous smile and took a step back.

“Sure.”

I slipped into my car; my driver threw a weird glance at me. It was the first time I had gone to a bar and not gone home at all. The sun was high, and I needed to look good tonight when I introduced my husband, Michael Black, to my parents.

“I want to get some clothes,” I declared, and without another word, he started the car, driving towards the exclusive shop I usually went to.

The sun was already retreating for the day when I returned to the bar. I slipped in, and my eyes caught Michael sitting in the corner. From the door, I could feel his electrifying presence in the room.

Dressed in a black tuxedo paired with a brown suede tie, he got up as soon as our eyes met and walked up to me.

“You are here,” he said, hands stretched to me. When I took his hand, he lifted it to his mouth and kissed it gently while still holding my gaze.

“You are breathtakingly stunning,” he said as my hand dropped to my side. I felt those words shake me gently. I hadn't heard anyone compliment me so sincerely before.

“You look…” I gestured to him when my hand dropped to my side. “...nice,” I said for lack of a better word.

“I hope I am presentable enough to meet the Crawford family,” he said, and I stared at him once again. The hair that had fallen over his face last night was neatly styled to the back of his head, making his beauty even better.

“You are,” I said. How was he not breaking out in nervousness? If I were in his shoes, I don't think I'd ever agree to an absurd deal and even go through with it. Maybe the money was a driving force for him. Ten million was a lot, and he could do a lot with it.

“Shall we then?” I asked, and we weaved our way through the almost empty bar until we were at the car.

He rushed forward and opened the car door before my driver could get to it. ‘Hmm, such a gentleman,’ my mind hummed. I had known he was from last night, but it still felt good to see him once again in action.

I took out the two-year binding contract that my lawyer had prepared alongside a legal commitment document and pushed it towards him.

“This would ensure that our relationship remains strictly professional,” I said, forcing my eyes to stay on his face and not gush about how good he looks in the suit.

He took it from me, glancing over a few times before appending his signature on both the certificate and document.

The signature looked painfully familiar. As the CEO of the company, I had spent hours on legal documents, and all documents involving the Knight family used the same elaborate calligraphic style, like a family crest. Michael's signature had the same feel and screamed old money. But I must be overthinking it. I mean, come on, he's just a bartender.

Warning bells went off in my head, but I shoved them aside for now.

“We are officially married now, Husband.”

“Yes, we are. Wife.”

My parents were waiting in the living room for me when we got home. Michael trailed behind me quietly. We stood in front of my parents, and my father slammed his fist into the arm of the chair he was seated in.

“You are late,” he declared.

“For what?” I asked, blinking while pretending I had no idea what he was going on about.

“Your engagement party! The Knights are probably waiting for us, and here you are strolling in.” He sounded pissed, and maybe it was not in my best interest, so I moved closer and pulled a cute face.

“I had to get dolled up, and it took a little more time than I had expected,” I lied. My family lawyer usually handled all my private contracts and had seen worse from me.

“You look stunning, dear.” My mother got up and held my hand. “She is here now, so we can go.”

I pulled out of her grip gently and shook my head. “We can't.”

“Why not?”

“I can't get married to Aiden because…”

“Don’t you dare bring up the excuse of him not being your type or whatnot,” my father thundered. “That wedding is happening, and there is nothing you can do about it,” he finished.

“No, it’s because I am married already.”

Both of them followed me with their eyes as I pulled Michael closer, my hand looping with his. “Dad, Mom, meet Michael, my husband.”

“Husband?” My mother asked, her eyebrow knotted with confusion. “This is no time for jokes.”

“You said you wanted me to be married; this way, I get married like you want, but not to that jerk.” I nudged Michael by the side, and he took a step forward.

“Lord and Lady Crawford, I am Michael Black and…”

“Zara,” my father cut him off before he could get the words out. “You got married without us?”

I shrugged, maintaining the steady smile across my face. There was no way they would try and force me with Aiden now.

“You will get a divorce…”

“Impossible since we just got married,” I pouted and let out a small breath. “He is your son-in-law now,” I finished.

They shifted from foot to foot, their eyes meeting with urgent confusion. My father’s face was dark; I recognised that look anywhere. He was plotting. They passed silent glances from person to person before my mother finally took a step forward.

Her eyes swept over Michael, and maybe she saw what I saw, too. This man was no ordinary bartender, maybe some illegitimate child of a rich family. He held too much composure and poise.

“I guess we got no choice, Zara,” Mom murmured. “Since matters have come to this, and you are so averse to our arrangements, we shall grant your wish. You might have chosen well.”

Just like that? My mind screamed, What was happening here? How had she given in so easily? And my father? Was there any play I had no idea of here?

“Michael Black, welcome to the family.” She stretched her hand to him. He took it firmly and held her gaze like a dare.

“Thank you, lady…”

“Call me Sera.”

This had gone all too incredibly easy.

“I will cancel the engagement,” my father said.

“You will?” My voice couldn't pretend to hide the shock. My goal was to stop the engagement, and I was ready for war, but everything had gone too smoothly, suspiciously.

He nodded once and sighed. “Better a publicly married daughter than a runaway heiress.” He took out his phone and barked out commands.

It was over. Their acceptance wasn't peace; it was strategy. Something else was going on.

“We should have a private ceremony over the weekend,” my mother gushed, already planning the wedding with the way her eyes darted from side to side. “Here in the garden,” she added.

“What do you think of that?” She wasn't asking; she had already made up her mind, and my input didn't matter. I had won the battle; maybe I should let her win this one. I smiled and nodded.

“A private wedding is good.”

I had won this round, but it felt like I had stepped into a bigger trap.