CHAPTER 4

Mila

"You make such a beautiful bride don't you agree?" My step sister smirked at me.

On my other side, Elisa grinned. "Mr. Verde is so generous to buy such an exquisite dress for you even after you disrespected him."

I stared at my reflection in the mirror fighting the urge to beg them to not let this wedding happen.

I knew there was no changing their minds. And with Mr. Verde's vast resources, there was no escape for me. There was no place I could run to where he wouldn't be able to find me.

"Before you think of running," Elisa drawled, pulling out her phone and showing me a live video of my sister in her hospital room. "I have people on standby waiting to pull the cord and end her for good. I'm sure you won't want to be the reason your little corpse passes away."

My stomach tightened painfully, and it suddenly felt like the corset was squeezing me to suffocation.

"I'll marry him. I won't do anything crazy." I promised.

"Let's hope you keep your word." Cassie winked, arranging the folds of her white dress. It was disrespectful for her to wear white to my wedding, but I didn't even give a damn.

If it were up to me, I'd have been wearing a funeral dress.

"Oh and one more thing," Elisa grabbed my jaw roughly. "You're going to have to keep me happy and satisfied if you want your sister to live."

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

She rolled her eyes like I was dumb. "Don't be stupid. Even though Victor has settled us with some money for you, it's not enough. You have to be sending us a sizable sum every month. Why would you get to enjoy his millions while we live as paupers?"

"W-what? How do you expect me to do that?"

"Ugh, you're so stupid." Cassie groaned. "can't you think? You're going to sell of whatever jewelry you get from him and replace it with a fake. Not just jewelries. Clothes. Shoes. Anything you can get your hands on."

I gaped at them. "And what if I'm caught?" From what I had heard, my soon to be husband wasn't a forgiving man. He could easily kill me and nobody would even bat an eyelid or miss me.

"It's up to you to decide if the risk is worth your sister's life." Elisa grinned at me.

"The occasion is starting," the door opened, and Ryan stepped in dressed in a form fitting suit.

I bit back my triumphant smile when I spotted the nasty gash on his face. I had heard him lie to Elisa that he had slipped and fallen. I hoped the wound never healed and he wore it as a mark of shame for daring to touch me.

"Good. Let's go. Best not to keep Mr. Verde waiting." Elisa snapped her fingers, motioning at me to go.

Taking a deep breath and accepting my fate, I made my way down the hallway to the wedding hall where hundreds of strangers were waiting for me to say I do to a man I loathed. A man I had been sold to like a piece of meat.

I walked down the aisle to where my husband stood, his suit hanging off his fat body awkwardly.

As soon as I stood before him, his mouth curled into a smile. "I can't wait for the wedding night, sweet thing. I even heard from a reliable source that you're a virgin. That's my favorite flavor of woman. I am looking forward to eating you up."

My empty stomach soured.

"I'm almost tempted to end this wedding right here and go test out the merchandise in the dressing room first." He continued, licking his fat lips. "You'd like that won't you doll?"

I turned away from him, trying to hide my disgust.

" We are gathered here to witness the union of Victor Verde and Mila Garvis." The officiant said. "If there's anyone who sees any reason why this two shouldn't be together, speak up now or forever hold your peace."

I closed my eyes for a second and whispered under my breath to any greater being that was listening. "Please."

All of a sudden, the double doors flew open. All eyes turned to where a tall figure had just stepped into the church.

I stared in surprise as the man stopped at the doorstep and surveyed the church coldly. There was something familiar about the angular face and the chilling blue eyes that locked on mine. I took in the rest of the man.

He was wearing a coal black, designer suit that fit snugly over his tall, trim frame. He looked like he had just stepped off the pages of a GQ magazine, with his full head of dark hair and sharp jawline.

"Who are you? You can't be here!" My step mother flew to her feet, looking furious at the interruption.

"Security, throw him out." Victor ordered.

To my shock, the security guards exchanged glances with each other, looking uncomfortable. What the hell was going on?

"Didn't you hear me? Do you want to lose your jobs? Grab this intruder, throw him out and give him the beating of his life." Victor barked, face going red with rage.

Something inside of me wished his blood pressure would continue to rise and he'd eventually have a heart attack and drop dead. I wouldn't have to go through with this horrible wedding at least. I'd rather be under my step family's thumb than Victor Verde's.

"Sir, I'm sorry but we can't do that." One of the guards said.

"What?" Cassie asked. "Why is that? You dare to disobey Mr. Verde's direct order?"

"Do you know who this man is?" One of the guards asked, eyes wide.

"He is nothing but an intruder in a borrowed suit. Throw him out so I can continue with my wedding." Victor grabbed my hand.

"But s-sir," one of the guards stuttered. "This is Mr. Lance Armstrong. The billionaire CEO of Armstrong incorporated."

Gasps rose up around the church.

Lance's eyes hardened. "And I'll only tell you once to get your hands off my wife."