Chapter 6 You can still escape...

Dahlia.

The ride from the hotel room that I was staying at to Goldville Heights was long and blurry, with my mind preoccupied with thoughts of my revenge and the uncertainties that loomed ahead.

To distract myself, I looked out through the windows, a moment of reprieve washing over me as my eyes wandered around the long and towering city buildings, beautiful, lush city trees, green and heartcalming, then the polished cars that swiftly cruised on the tarmacs... around me, everything was in motion, lively, but within, it was like my life had come to a stand still. No motivation, and clearly, nothing to look forward to. But at least, there was my revenge to look forward to, right?

" Miss, we are here." Too lost in my daunting thoughts, I didn't notice when we arrived, until the driver's concerned voice called out, and I snapped back to reality, my cheeks heating up as I wiped away my tears.

Yes, I was crying, and surprisingly, I hadn't even noticed. Things were spiralling out of my control, and no matter how hard I tried to act strong, I was failing, terribly, too.

I mean, my wedding with Jason was supposed to be in a week, but it was not going to happen. I had spent my entire life looking forward to the day Jason and I said yes I do, the day I finally became his. I had waited for years.

Good Lord, I had nursed my love for him for over ten years, and what did I get? a f*cking betrayal, and worse still, it was with my enemy, Sofia. Clap for fate and its twisted jokes!

" Miss Brooks, right?" I had just stepped into the room when the receptionist's eyes brightened in recognition after seeing me. She must have been waiting for me, probably, with a photo of the former me, a photo of the cheerful and jovial girl that I was before Jason's betrayal.

And the current me? All buttered and broken, with a tear-stained face and eyes too swollen they could hardly see? It was still a miracle that the bubbly receptionist managed to recognise me.

" That should be me," I answered, forcing a smile, trying to match her energy, but from the pity that clouded her eyes? I must have done very poorly. Just perfect. And yet, my sorry self was going to meet my future husband in that condition. If I didn't manage to scare him into withdrawing from the marriage, I was surely going to count my stars after the meeting was over.

" He is waiting for you." The room that Dalton had booked wasn't too far from the reception area and before long, we were in front of a classy, well-polished VIP room, the one that I assumed was reserved for Dalton and me.

" Come in." Dreep and husky, a voice answered from the inside shortly after my knock, and I strode in, with complicated emotions swirling within me.

The room was quiet and clean, engulfed by a warmth that could hardly relate to the biting winter chill out there, inviting, yet, intimidating.

From the ceiling to the very tiles, everything was neat and polished, a gentle whisper of class and money, old money, actually.

In the middle of the room, a dinner table was set, layered with several courses of meals, and accompanied by a warm and mouthwatering aroma that directly conversed with my stomach, and for a split second, my mind was not filled with thoughts of Jason and his betrayal. For a moment, all I was thinking about was pulling my chair, setting down my purse, and devouring the rich meals like I had a personal vendetta against them, it was close to two days since I had a proper meal, after all...

Luckily, my sense of self-control had always been superior, so, I reluctantly peeled my gaze from the table, directing it forward, where a figure stood, his back facing me, as he stared out through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Soft clicks resonated in the room as my heels met the tiles, and I ventured deep into the room...

" You are on time." Deep and rich, his voice tore through the air, bringing me to a standstill.

His back was still facing me, his face and features obscured. I knew who Dalton Riggs was. On several occasions, I had seen him in the business magazines, the country's, news channels, and across all the social platforms.

He was a sensation. A business mogul, an icon in the streets of business, and the youngest and most powerful CEO in the country.

He was also the country's most eligible bachelor, a guy who was the hot character in almost all the women, in and outside the country, married and single's wet dreams.

He was ranked first as the hottest CEO whom many wanted to marry.

From my recollections, he was hot, and impressive, but that was all. Prior, I had not been obsessed with him.

I had been locked up in the small fantasy world that I had built around Jason, where no one else could compare with him in my heart.

But now. With the fantasy gone, and my overnight engagement to Dalton, things were different, and when his voice seeped through my ears, my heart took a jolt, small, but noticeable.

His voice was low, mellow, and yet, powerful. It affected me in ways I never thought were possible, and as I stared at his full, tall, and striking back view, I became muddled-headed.

How could anyone appear so effortlessly charming, even from the back view? That was supposed to be a crime, right?

And yet, nothing prepared me for what I was going to lock my gaze on next.

Smoothly and elegantly, he turned, his front view coming into my close view, and my breath hitched.

Coming from a wealthy family in Goldville, I had seen my fair share of hot men, from all walks of life, ranging from models, to rich heirs. Jason had been very pleasing to the eyes, and his group of friends hadn't lacked either.

But the sight before me was a whole level of hot. Looking at him, I became visibly dazed, for a minute, before everything started making sense.

No wonder every woman in the country was obsessed with Dalton Riggs.

He was not just handsome, he was a statement. Perfect in all angles, a candy to the eyes.

Sharp and chiselled jaws, thin and sexy lips, that had my mind going blank for a moment as sinful thoughts about tasting and kissing them swirled within me with violent intensity.

Deep sets and ocean blue eyes, captivating, and mysterious, as if they possessed the ability to see through you.

He was in a black bespoke suit, perfectly fitted, hugging his thick muscles, his well-sculptured upper body, all the way to his legs.

His silky black hair fell over his shoulders in soft waves.

He was a picture of perfection, a balm to a wounded heart, and as our gazes locked for the first time since I entered the room, a knot twisted in my heart, a knot of resolve.

He was handsome, heavenly hot, painting a picture of those perfect mythical Greek-god characters, and yet, an air of chill and danger engulfed him.

Hot and dangerous.

And his intense gaze was like a warning, willing me to walk away, while I still had time, while I was still intact,

And my heart? It sang a tune of its own.

I wanted the danger, craved it, actually.

I weren't whole anyway. If hell looked like Dalton Riggs, then I wanted to be a part of it.

" Dahlia Brooks. " My heartbeat was erratically, my thoughts chaotic, and yet, I found my voice, firm and steady.

" I know " He responded, once again, his husky voice doing foreign things to my body...

" You are my fiancée. " It was not a question. It was a statement, a declaration, filled with possessiveness, one that had my body going hot with foreign sensations.

" I will be your wife, in a week," I responded, my voice coming out as a whimper, flirty, inviting, and my cheeks heated from shame. I felt exposed, judged.

Naturally, I was very reserved, but for some weird reason, facing Dalton exposed a nasty side to me, a side that I didn't know I possessed.

" Being my wife is not easy, Princess, " He whispered, his jaws clenching, his eyes darkening with something that I couldn't name. His words were like a warning, but to me, they felt like an invitation.

" You can escape, while you still have time," As he spoke, he was right before me, his right hand, wrapped around my neck...

" Otherwise, "