Days Later
"You're one beautiful bride, ma'am." The stylist commented, zipping closed the tight corset that robbed Elena's lungs of every bit of air.
Her team concurred, all wearing big smiles as though they needed to give their best to appease Elena.
"And the dress, I doubt sir Adrian will let you leave it on for long." She teased, as if it were supposed to brighten Elena's mood.
"It's your wedding ma'am, feel free to make your own choice, if you don't like mine." The woman yapped, her fingers trembling just at the thought of Adrian's bride not satisfied with her choice.
Elena ignored her, her dewy eyes staring quietly out the balcony, like she was barely present.
"Ma'am…." The lady called, tapping Elena and jolting her back to reality
"I was wondering if you liked your…."
"It's beautiful." Elena cut in, returning her gaze to the peace outside.
The ladies exchanged glances and without any other question, continued their job on a sad looking Elena.
"Would you mind if I asked a question?" One of the girls in the team suddenly asked, causing the rest to exchange looks in surprise.
Elena nodded slowly.
"Who exactly are you? I mean we only know that you're Adrian Power's wife, we know nothing else about you…."
"Have you lost your mind?" Her boss shunned.
"I was just being curious…."
Elena smiled, trailing her gaze to the floor as a guard came barging into the dress room as expected.
"Come with me for a minute." He growled, ignoring the confusion in her boss's face as he dragged her out.
"Will she be okay?" Another asked, already shaking in panic as they watched her struggle in vain to break free.
"She'll be fine…. I guess," their boss answered, applying the final touches to Elena's dress. She turned her by the shoulders, and gestured towards the grand mirror before her.
"You are stunning, ma'am." They chorused.
Elena scoffed, batting the brewing tears in her eyes as her hands crawled to the sides of the diamond–clustered gown, each jewel bursting brightly with light until the whole creation looked less like fabric and more like an ocean of floating stars.
"It's beautiful." She mouthed and forced a smile. Never in her life did she dream of walking down the aisle in a dress made with real diamonds. All her life, she had pictured her wedding in a small town, by the ocean, with her mom, dog and husband. A man she actually loved, not feared. A family she could actually call her own, not one to survive in.
"You're so lucky, ma'am…. Your dress is worth over a million dollars."
"I know, right…. I sure am." Elena responded, her voice laced with obvious sarcasm.
"And where is the bride to be?" Elena heard and looked up, her heart giving a painful flip.
"Oh my goodness…. She is stunning." Blair Power, Lucian's wife, cooed as she strutted into the room, four other wives of the family following in her wake.
"I can't believe you finally get to be one of us." She gushed and hugged Elena briefly, stepping aside for the rest as they took turns hugging a slightly shaking Elena.
"Are you going to excuse us or what?" she snapped, sending the glam team scampering out of the room, leaving just them and Elena.
"Relax wifey…. we don't bite." They joked, guiding Elena to a chair and forcing her down, taking the empty seats around her.
One of the ladies cleared her throat, Blair gave a slight go ahead nod.
"We came bearing gifts." She said, snapping her fingers. An entourage of maids filed into the room, each setting down a wrapped box–something expensive from each woman.
"We're so proud of you, darling….. I mean, how did you manage to hook that brat? We all swore he'd die single."
"I know, right…"
"It's a pity he had to rush the wedding after that mess the other night at the gala….was he really planning on never bringing you home? I can't believe that until now, we had no clue you existed."
"Exactly. So what's the story behind it all, how did you two lovebirds meet?" One of them teased, sending Elena's mind racing back to Marcus's warnings. Her mother's life was as good as gone if she ever revealed anything about the actual truth to anyone.
"We…. we….."
"How dare that son of yours not check in with his grandmother before attempting to walk down the aisle with any woman," A voice interrupted. The women rose swiftly to their feet, as though they dared not remain seated in the figure's presence.
Elena teetered to her feet too.
"Welcome, mother." They all chorused as three elderly women walked in, one of them obviously a doctor.
"Wel…. welcome, mother." Elena said after, bowing her head as the oldest of them approached her.
"Have we met?" She asked.
Elena shook her head sharply.
"She's Adrian's grandmother." Blair whispered.
Elena nodded quickly, her gaze rooted to the ground as her body trembled.
"Do we proceed, doctor?" The other woman asked,
"Yes, ma'am."
Two maids scurried into the room at the snap of the woman's fingers, each seizing Elena by an arm and yanking her to the bed.
"What are…." Elena knew to stop herself immediately, tucking in her lower lip as her tears threatened to spill, the maids positioned beside her, eager for the next command.
"Mother, the wedding is to start in an hour." Blair intervened, the rest of the women mute and wordless.
"I don't care! I will not let my grandson marry any woman unless I'm certain she's fertile."
"But, mother…."
"Get to work, doctor." She ordered.
The doctor gestured for Elena to lie on the bed, setting down her bag and zipping it open.
Elena obeyed without a word.
"Take off your clothes and spread your legs." The doctor instructed.
Elena nodded slowly and started to strip, this time the water in her eyes sliding one after another.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to wait outside." Blair mouthed, her face twisting in anger.
The other women concurred quickly, all making their way out of the room without hesitation.
"What use will it be if she's fertile anyway….. we all know that husband of hers wants nothing to do with kids." Blair muttered and laughed, catwalking her way out of the room too.
"What if she's actually fertile, Blair." One of the women asked, the rest of them letting out a sharp gasp.
"It won't change anything ladies…. Adrian Power doesn't want kids, it's been that way since forever."
"How do you know that?" Another asked as they strode down the hallway.
"I have my source–why else do you think Meghan left?"
Another gasp escaped their lips.
"He could change his mind at any time, Blair–and that could make father really choose him over your husband as Heir."
Blair laughed.
"After that mess the other night at the gala? that can never be possible, besides Adrian hates kids, don't you get it?"
"I know, but…."
"Then we kill her. If she gets pregnant and he decides to keep it, we kill her–and the bastard. Simple as that." Blair cut in, rolling her eyes as the thought of it alone, embittered her.
"No one takes my husband's place in this family–not even that brat Adrian. The day she gets pregnant is the day she dies."
"You're a genius, Blair." One of them complimented, an evil smile appearing on Blair's lips.
"Did you do what I asked you to do?" Blair asked,
"Of course…. I'm sure she'll get the message when she sees our actual welcome gift."
"On a scale of one to ten… how much blood did you spill on the doll before you tucked it in."
"Ten." The woman responded, the others chuckled.
"Well…. welcome to the family, Elena Power." Blair whispered under her breath, flipping her long hair over her shoulder as they catwalked away into the distance.
***************************
"Adrian chose this over Meghan?"
Elena heard and stumbled on her feet, her lungs running completely out of air as a wave of light-headedness struck her.
"Your mom is safe…. for now, you'll see her again when all of this is over. Stick to the contract and nothing goes wrong." Marcus's words, replayed in her head for the upteenth time. No matter how much she hated everything–she had no choice but to stick to the agreement.
"Good thing she's at least beautiful." a voice in the gathering scorned, the soft hum of the organ filling the quiet hall, a gentle shield for Elena's ears against their disdainful remarks.
Elena forced a smile, barely holding herself together as she proceeded to the altar in her magnificent wedding gown that shimmered like liquid pearl, each delicate fold and lace catching the light as if alive. Her trembling fingers clutched a bouquet of ivory roses and pale pink peonies–as though she'd be dead if she lost hold of them.
She locked eyes with Adrain at the opposite end of the hall, neatly styled in his tuxedo. His cold gaze strictly on her, his face without a single trace of warmth.
Elena darted her gaze to the floor as Adrain neared, his footsteps steady on the marble tiles, the click of his polished shoes a rhythm drum that matched the pounding of her quaking heart.
"Hi….."
Adrian interlocked their fingers and led the way to the priest without a word to Elena.
"You both look good together." The priest complimented, taking a ring from the ring bearer and handing it to an annoyed-looking Adrian.
"Make it quick." Adrian whispered, he nodded and cleared his throat, motioning for the gathering to rise.
"We're gathered here today." He began, "To witness the union of two souls, to honour the promise of love, fidelity and companionship."
He turned to Elena first,
"Do you, Elena Brooks in presence of these witnesses, take this man, Adrain Power, to be your lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold…."
"Skip it." Adrain cut in,
The priest chuckled dryly, clearing his throat and doing just as Adrain commanded.
"Do you, Elena Brooks, take this man, Adrain Power to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
Elena stole Adrain a quick glance through the veil, her heart spiralling out of control as his cold eyes met hers. Was she really about to marry this man?
"Miss Elena…"
"I….I do." She breathed, causing a scoff to escape Adrian's lips as he slid the ring into her finger.
"Do you, Adrain Power, take this woman Elena Brooks to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"Would I be here if I didn't?" he snapped as Elena placed the ring on his finger, her hand trembling.
"By the power vested in me, I pronounce you, husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Disdain darkened Adrian's expression as the priest motioned he proceeded with the kiss.
Elena bit on the edge of her lower lip as her heart churned painfully inside her chest. This was not the fairytale wedding she had pictured for herself.
"Fine." He heaved, sliding his firm hand around Elena's waist and pressing her shaking body against his.
"You don't have to…."
With the other hand, he lifted Elena's veil, the coldness in his eyes disappearing quickly as his gaze met Elena's wet, quivering eyes.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to…."
He crushed his lips against Elena's trembling ones, cutting off her sobs. And just like the first time he met her, something like fire stirred inside him–raw, insatiable and entirely consuming, a clear warning that resisting this woman would be nothing but a losing battle.