Chapter 3

• Why is she marrying an arrogant man like him?
• He glared at her with murderous looks as she came out of the car. Kiara's back shuddered with building fear.
• “I am s-sorry I… I ended up sleeping more.” She gave an apologetic look with a small smile, her hands carried her simple blue gown.
• She was looking extremely beautiful in that simple attire. Her inky black hair was left loose open to bounce behind her back. She's curled them from the tips in small spirals.
• Her cinnamon eyes stuttered and her thick velvety lashes cast a noticeable shadow on her cheekbones whenever she lowered her head. From time to time she glanced at his face while her plump lips were worried between her teeth.
• "I forgot to turn on the alarm," She lied.
• Her stomach twisting in fear. The off-shoulder gown fitted her in perfect place while the medium sized heels made her look taller so that she came under his chin.
• He did not utter a word but continued to throw daggers at her as he watched her walk silently towards him with a lowered head. Raven didn't know how to react for this was not new for him.
• He was well versed with her habits of coming late. She was always like this in college. And every time after coming late, she would give him her cute smile that would melt his heart.
• However today, even though his blood was rushing maniacally in his veins with speed, he did not say a word to her. She was three hours late; they were supposed to sign the marriage (contract) certificate in the early morning and shift in his bungalow with him.
• Her luggage and other belongings were agreed to be shifted in the afternoon. But looking at the time they already wasted, he can assume it would take forever to have her shift with him.
• "I swear this will not happen." She whispered.
• Kiara nibbled her lips fearfully. The time may have changed but they were simply the same. She was aware of that look and that silence as she prayed he didn't get mad.
• She felt uncomfortable sensing his intense gaze darken on her face. Raven slowly took her fingers in his and leaned forward.
• “We will definitely discuss your habits and how to change them. Let's get going first. We are already three hours behind the time." She upped her eyes slowly and stared at him for a second.
• Did I hear him correctly? Raven is not angry with me for coming late? Oh my god, did he seriously let me get away with this without any screaming or scolding? She thought and tried to read his features.
• She also pinched the side of her waist with her free hand so to make sure this was not a dream. Raven Carter was anything but a patient man. He never let her get away easily if she ever arrived late during their college time.
• Either he would leave her alone or avoid talking to her for a day or two unless his anger subsided.
• But this side of him was alien to her. Time has indeed changed many things for him yet Kiara was still the same.
• "Come on, let's go inside." Raven joined their palms and took her inside the huge building.
• She silently followed him with small steps. Even the way he marched ahead of her, she could tell that his anger was on the highest level. It was just that he was not letting it out probably because they met after years of separation.
• Or maybe because they were about to get married and start a life together as a couple. It would be a bad way to start their matrimony with anger and frustration.
• They took an elevator to go up in the building to a certain floor. They didn't exchange any words or look at each other. The journey was silent and the two of them were lost in their thoughts.
• Kiara was so zoned out that she didn’t even realize which floor they were on. When the doors of the elevator unlatched with a ding, she jumped and came to her senses.
• She absent-mindedly followed him, their hands locked together. After taking a left turn they came to a four way path, where they took three left turns again, then a right, then left, then walked ahead for more than a minute.
• Kiara was grateful that he was there, if not, then she would have ended up getting lost. The puzzling corridors and the left right turns were mind-boggling.
• Her head spun and she could no longer look at her front. Kiara was glad Raven was holding her hand, otherwise only God knows how she would have persisted in the maze of corridors.
• “We are here.” Her eyes lit up as he spoke.
• They paused before a closed door with a brown coloured plain name plate hanging on it. Kiara cringed her nose and she felt like puking on it. It was tasteless.
• The person who was on the other side seemed to have no taste at all.
• “I expect you to behave well in front of the advocate and the witnesses please. Don’t embarrass me on the other side of the door, Kiara." She heard him.
• His voice was steely and it was hard to comprehend if he meant to scare her or warn her. His face was as usual expressionless. She assured him of her best appearance with a nod of her head as her voice seemed to have gone on a strike
• "I don’t want to look like a fool because of you, Kiara. You are going to become my wife now. Please for the sake of my reputation— behave.” Her eyes eventually cascaded down to the wooden floor shining impeccably under the lights.
• She felt humiliated. His tone might be emotionless but it managed to attack her where it hurt the most. He was rude and his way of expressing himself with that ‘arghhh you are more like an embarrassment to me in the name of a wife’ look made her feel like digging a hold in the ground and jumping into it.
• She inhaled a deep gulp of breath and agreed with him by nodding her head lightly.
• Raven acknowledged it with a nod of his head too as he smacked his lips.
• "Shall we go inside?" He asked.
• Kiara was in tears.
• “Present yourself graciously. I have already told them that you are my lover. You are a woman now, Kiara. A beautiful one at that but please stop acting in a childish way or like a stupid teenager you used to be before." He insulted her again, making her succumb to his harsh tone.
• Tears formed in her eyes. Kiara didn't dare look up thus they halted on the rim of her eyes, threatening to slip down on her cheeks. She controlled them anyway except for her sobs.
• "Oh shit!" He blurted as he happened to notice her colorless face.
• She had always been the sensitive type. His words always affected her. That is another thing that whatever he ever said was for her own good, Kiara only took it to her heart and cried.
• They may have met after three long years of division, his harsh words still made her feel awful. And like always, after hurting her cruelly he sensed that.
• "Kiara," He saw her tears fall.
• She was an open book he didn't have to read twice. She was predictable and Raven knew how to bring her back to life.
• He sighed tiringly and he pulled her close by sliding his hand down her waist. She refused to look up. Raven chuckled and placed a small kiss on her forehead. Instantly, her face elevated and she gaped in his dark.
• "Forgive me for my harsh words. I didn't mean to hurt you, Kiara. I.. I was just trying to," He bit his mouth not being able to speak another word.
• He snuggled near her left ear and clutched her tighter to his chest. Apologizing someone was hard. Harder for Raven Carter as he never asked for an apology from anyone before.
• “I promise this will not repeat. I am sorry. Please don't cry now.” He put some hair strands behind her ear that were trying to cover her face.
• "I am okay." Kiara smiled.
• "Are you sure?"
• "Hmmm,"
• They turned to the door. Raven held the door knob whilst giving her an assuring smile. His eyes elevated as if asking her if she was ready. She found it cute and responded with a blink.
• Raven twisted the knob and pushed the door open. Kiara curiously peeked inside the room only to stare at a certain someone and jerked behind.
• Her eyes broadened and she started perspiring. "Kiara," Raven attempted to pull her in his arms but she refused to let him touch her.
• Erggg, I expected her to flip out when she saw him, but not like this. Damn, he still scares her. Thought Raven.
• Tbc…