Chapter 5 Married Now

• Astrid
• I stared at myself in the floor-length mirror, admiring the white dress I’d bought at the last minute.
• The dress was beautiful, ending at my knees with a silver lining at the neckline and delicate pearls hanging from it.
• It felt ironic how a dress so pretty could be for an occasion so… fake. I wasn’t just the event planner anymore. Now, I was the bride.
• I had pinned my hair into a bun and done my makeup myself. This wasn’t a grand affair. Adrian had decided we’d go to a small chapel to get married, and I couldn’t have been happier.
• If I was lucky, I’d walk away from this sham of a marriage with a clean slate and someday marry someone who deserved me.
• I turned away, grabbed the bouquet, and slipped my shoes on. Adrian would arrive any second.
• Two days ago, at the engagement party, we had exchanged contact information.
• I opened the door just in time to see an SUV pull up. The chauffeur, who I assumed worked for Adrian, rolled the window down and nodded at me. I quickly crossed the street and got into the car.
• What I didn’t expect was to see Adrian sitting in the backseat, frowning at his phone.
• Traditionally, the groom isn’t supposed to see the bride until the ceremony, but this wasn’t a real marriage, so it didn’t count.
• He didn’t even glance at me when I shut the door, and I couldn’t have been more relieved. This was business. We had no say in each other’s lives.
• The ride was silent, thick with tension. I fidgeted with the bouquet, wrapping and unwrapping my hands around the stems, willing my heart to calm down.
• It was a fake marriage, even though I was marrying the man I’d once loved. It was still fake.
• My palms grew clammy. My heartbeat quickened.
• I glanced at the bouquet again, my eyes catching on a bottle of Xanax sitting on the leather seat between Adrian and me.
• My heart slowed as I stared at it before glancing at Adrian. His jaw was tight, and his eyes were fixed on his phone.
• “Who owns this?” I asked, nodding toward the Xanax.
• “Take a pill,” he said, his voice low and even.
• I raised an eyebrow. “Why would I? For all I know, you’ve done something to it.”
• His brown eyes locked on mine for the first time since I’d entered the car.
• “Your palms are clammy, your pupils are dilated, and I can hear your heartbeat, sunshine,” he said, his voice calm but edged with knowing. “Take the pill. You’re nervous.”
• I swallowed hard, trying to look indifferent.
• “You don’t know me, Mr. Voss. I’ll be fine,” I said flatly, turning my gaze out the window.
• It was a lie. He knew me. Too well. He knew I’d get nervous, and he knew exactly what would help. That bottle of Xanax wasn’t sitting there by chance.
• He didn’t say anything more, and I kept my eyes on the passing scenery, silently counting to ten to steady my breathing.
• We arrived at the chapel minutes later. I took a deep breath before stepping out of the car, Adrian following behind me.
• Our eyes met briefly before I looked away, resisting the urge to smooth my hands down my dress.
• He walked ahead, and I followed him into the nearly deserted chapel. Only the minister was waiting.
• Soon enough, we stood facing each other, reciting vows that felt hollow.
• “...In sickness and in health, in good times and in bad. So help me God,” I repeated, sliding the band onto his finger. My hand lingered for a moment, but I felt nothing.
• Not even the flicker of excitement I thought I might feel when getting married.
• Adrian repeated his vows, his eyes never leaving mine.
• I looked away as he slid the band onto my finger. Meaningless. Fake.
• The minister smiled broadly. “You may now kiss your bride,” he announced.
• My eyes shot to Adrian’s, a warning buried in my gaze.
• He pulled me closer and brushed his lips against my cheek, his voice low as he muttered, “You’ll want my lips on you again someday, wife.”
• A shiver ran through me, and I prayed he hadn’t noticed. But the faint amusement in his eyes said otherwise as he pulled back.
• I clenched my teeth, my fingers itching to wipe the spot where his lips had touched.
• I would never want him. Never need him.
• Hopefully.