Two

{♡CHAPTER TWO♡}

I wasn't given the chance to talk to anyone—not even a word. Everything about this wedding felt like a setup. A trap, carefully and deliberately laid out just for me.

“You’ll account for your father’s sins.”

His words echoed violently in my heart, pounding like thunder, ringing endlessly in my ears.

Those words were like daggers, piercing deep into my soul. What had I gotten myself into? Why did I feel like a prisoner, dressed in white, walking into my own execution?

I sat beside him in the car, silence wrapping around us like a thick fog. Levander’s eyes stayed glued to his iPad, fingers scrolling, focused, emotionless. His presence felt cold and intimidating. I knew he was a businessman, clearly powerful and ruthless—but what haunted me were the questions flooding my mind like a tornado.

What sins?

Why me?

Why should I suffer for them?

Did he marry me for revenge?

The questions kept spinning, faster and faster, until I thought my head would burst. I turned to the window, closed my eyes, tried to calm my nerves. But it was impossible.

Was I going to die?

Would he kill me?

Did my father know he was sending me into the arms of a man with revenge in his heart?

Of course he knew. And if it benefitted him, he wouldn’t hesitate to hand me over. I sneered bitterly. My father, the man who once celebrated my smile, was now the same man who would sell my soul to the devil for profit.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them back. The joyful moments of my childhood—smiles, laughter, birthday cakes, bedtime stories—all now felt like a dream I was being forced to forget.

Then, I remembered…Today was my birthday.

My twentieth birthday.

I had promised myself that on this day, I’d be celebrating my success in medical college, a step closer to becoming the most renowned doctor in the city. That was the dream I’d held onto with every fiber of my being. But here I was—in a stranger's car, beside a man who had threatened to ruin me, heading to a home that was never mine.

My dream had been shattered—stolen by my father, manipulated by power, and buried under a white wedding dress.

Once, on days like this, my father would pamper me endlessly—he’d bake cakes with me, sing my favorite songs, hold my hand and dance with me. That man was gone, and in his place stood a stranger, cold and monstrous.

This time, I couldn’t hold back the tears. They rolled freely down my cheeks. I had been through so much… and I had no one to tell. No one to hold me. No one to protect me.

No one… except God.

Levander noticed my silent weeping. Without a word, he handed me his handkerchief. I was startled, confused by the sudden kindness. Hesitant, I took it and wiped my tears.

Was this a gesture of comfort—or manipulation?

The car came to a slow stop. Our ride was over.

I stepped out slowly, my heart pounding, my hand still held in his. A colossal mansion stood before me, towering and majestic. A bold sign read:

SMITH MANSION

He took my hand again. I followed him, reluctantly. Why was he being kind now, after threatening me at the altar? The confusion only deepened my fear.

“Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” the workers greeted in unison, bowing politely.

I clutched the edges of my gown tightly, my knuckles turning white.

“Wow…” I whispered under my breath. The mansion was breathtaking—vast, spacious, decorated like a palace from a fairy tale.

The moment we stepped in, confetti rained over us. Cheers erupted. His family was waiting for us. Appearances mattered here.

“Welcome, son,” a woman greeted warmly—his mother. She patted his shoulder affectionately. He kissed her hands, and I noticed how her warm smile faded the moment her eyes landed on me.

She flustered slightly, giving me a calculating look.

“Aurora,” Levander’s father called out, “Please, help them settle in.”

Aurora, his mother, nodded with a faint smile. She gestured coldly. “Come in. Make yourself comfortable.”

The moment Levander dropped my hand, he walked off without a word.

His sister… Her eyes locked with mine. A strange, piercing look. It made my heart skip unevenly. I recognized her. She had been at the engagement.

Her gaze—so sharp, so full of something dark—sent chills down my spine.

Another woman, Levander’s aunt, held her back gently, trying to calm her down. But I saw it clearly—the strangeness, the hatred burning in her eyes. Still, I played along. Pretended not to notice.

“You must be tired. Get some rest,” Aurora said politely, her voice ice-cold despite the fake smile she wore.

I followed a maid quietly as she led me upstairs to my room.

Downstairs, in the sitting room. Aurora and Andrew sat side by side, quiet.

“Mom, you should’ve been harsher on her,” Zinnia—Levander’s sister—muttered bitterly.

“I’m waiting for my son’s signal. Chill…” Aurora replied coolly.

Zinnia’s voice rose. “Levi’s actions are dangerous,I agree. But she deserves to know why he married her!”

“Zee, calm down,” Aurora said gently, placing a hand on her daughter's.

Their father, Andrew, sighed deeply. “I don’t know. This all feels… wrong. The girl—she’s too innocent to be punished like this.”

“I feel that too,” Georgia added softly, one of Levander’s aunts. “She’s beautiful… and so innocent.”

Zinnia rolled her eyes angrily. Her emotions spiraled. She slammed her phone hard against the tiled floor, the crack echoing.

“Hey!” Georgia called out, reaching for her—but Zinnia yanked her arm away.

“She wasn’t just my best friend. She was innocent!" Zinnia screamed. “Laura was innocent! And still, Gabriel raped her. He killed her! And—damn it all!” Her voice cracked, a storm of pain crashing through her.

(Zinnia’s POV)

Tears flooded down my face. My body trembled from the intensity of my emotions. Seeing her—Gabriel’s daughter—brought back everything I tried so hard to bury.

Laura had been my best friend. My shield. The only woman I loved after my mother.

Five years ago, Laura was raped and murdered by Gabriel Blackwood. I watched the video—saw him stab her again and again. It scarred me. It broke my heart into million pieces.

I was in denial for months. When the truth finally hit, I couldn’t breathe.

My brother,filed a case. He fought for her, sought justice. But the system failed us.

Gabriel’s influence ran deep. The case vanished. No conviction. No justice. And he didn’t know Levander was behind the case,or else he would’ve never allowed his daughter to marry into our family.

He made a deal with my brother, a deal to boost his business in exchange for Lorraina’s hand in marriage.

Greedy bastard.

For five years, I stayed awake at night, haunted by Laura’s screams. And now, Gabriel’s daughter walked through the door, innocent or not.

“Zinnia,” my mother whispered gently, pulling me into her embrace. “Your brother knows what he’s doing. Laura’s death won’t be forgotten. Gabriel will pay.”

I sobbed into her chest. “It hurts, Mom. It hurts so much. Levi… he never told Laura how much he loved her. And Gabriel stole her life.”

Levander entered the room. His cold eyes landed on me.

“Stop crying,” he said sharply.

I looked up, face soaked in tears.

“I said, stop your tears. Don’t show emotions. I warned you!” he barked, his voice void of sympathy.

“It hurts, Levi!” I shouted back, voice trembling.

His eyes reddened slightly. I had hit a nerve.

Aurora touched his hand gently. Their father watched silently. Georgia wiped her eyes.

Levander had never loved anyone,except Laura.

“Worry less,” he said finally, voice cold and flat.

“Today marks her ruination.”

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