Elena instinctively squinted her eyes as the car rolled through the bright, towering gates of the power family house and into the vast compounds.
Her heart slammed upward, choking her breath.
"We're here, sir." Marcus announced and sent Adrian's closed eyes fluttering open, his gaze falling on an already struggling Elena.
He scoffed,
"Is everything okay, ma'am?" Marcus asked, taking a glance at Elena through the rear mirror and noticing her uneasiness.
"I'm…. I'm…. I think I'm fine." Elena lied and swallowed hard into nothing. She could spot the crowd of desperate paparazzi and press barely restrained by guards, just meters from the car, eager and ready to capture their first appearance as a married couple.
"It's just for one year, ma'am. And you can return to your normal life, except you'll be walking away with 20 million and your mother in perfect health." Marcus advised.
Adrian's eyes landed on Elena's face again, this time searching for the slightest lit in her eyes, anything at all that could confirm his suspicion of this woman being nothing but a whore, one that would do anything for money.
"I'm…I'm sorry…." Elena mouthed and forced a smile, looking up and locking eyes with a disgusted Adrain.
"It's time, Sir." Marcus announced,
Adrian looked away, biting on the edge of his lower lip as Elena's hand crawled its way to his, interlocking their fingers.
Marcus stepped out the car, striding over and pulling the door open,
"Come on, sir." He urged.
Barely holding unto Elena's shaking hand, Adrain stepped out of the car causing a glamorous chorus of clicks to ripple through the crowd, each man behind the camera desperate for the perfect shot.
"Are you coming, or what?" He sneered, stepping aside as Elena alighted, his firm hand claiming her waist in a single, effortless motion.
"You look perfect together." one of the men complimented as a frenzy of camera clicks burst through the air, Elena's lips curving into the brightest smile she could summon as Adrian's hold on her waist, sent her pulse quickening out of control.
"This way, sir." Marcus mouthed and led the way into the mansion, ignoring the desperate protest of paparazzi as Adrian and Elena followed behind him, making their way straight into the glitter of a small, extravagant party in the living room.
A dry chuckle escaped Adrian's lips as he let go of Elena's hand, snatching a drink from a steward and gulping it down in one go.
"Welcome home, wifey…." Blair cooed as she peacoked her way over to Elena, wrapping her arms around her as Adrian watched- repulsed.
"I am so proud of you, darling." Blair added, ignoring the scowl on Adrian's face as she gushed over the new bride.
"Thank…." Elena swallowed hard instead, unable to get the rest of the words out as her eyes spotted the look on Adrian's face. She could tell he hated whatever was going on and more than anything–he hated her.
"Come, come sit with us…."
She grabbed Elena's hand, ignoring the fear in Elena's eyes as she made to whisk Elena away when two maids stepped in, blocking her path and bowing slightly.
"Have you lost your…."
"The old woman demands her presence, ma'am."
The confidence in Blair's face disappeared quickly,
"Come with us, ma'am." They added, leading the way for an already dizzy Elena as Blair watched helpless.
"But…I…."
She turned to look at Adrian but spotted him already making his way to the men at the lounging area.
"She hates to wait, ma'am." the maid added and sent Elena exhaling deeply to calm down.
"Okay." She muttered and brushed past a fuming Blair, following closely behind the maids as they led her up the grand staircase and into the hushed hallway, until she stood steps from a sleek gold door, its authority pressing outward even before it opened.
"Go inside, ma'am."
She forced a smile as her shaky hands trailed to the doorknob, pushing the door open in a heartbeat and stepping inside.
"I'm here, mother." Elena faltered, her voice barely above a whisper as she lowered her gaze.
"The doctor confirms you're very much fit to bear a child." The woman's cold voice declared sending Elena's heart sinking gravely into her stomach.
"You will carry Adrian's child tonight if possible."
Elena looked up sharply, her heart skipping a painful beat as her eyes landed on the woman's face–she was serious.
"Mother I can't…."
"You're his wife." She shunned. Elena flinched, tears already welling up quickly in her eyes as her heart thundered in her chest. Having a child was never in the books, besides this was all for one year.
"The very day you accepted the Power name, was the very day you accepted to be a vessel for Adrian's heir. I don't care for the story behind the two of you and I pray you never push me to learn it. You will give, Adrian an heir, yes, and you will do it quickly. You'll receive a check of thirty million the day your pregnancy is confirmed, and far more when the child is born. But if you defy me–if you dare delay–i will make certain there is nothing for you beyond these walls, even if the marriage ends. Nothing. And believe me, Elena… you will find death far kinder than the fate of choosing to go against me."
Elena wobbled on her feet as the words slid down her spine like ice water, freezing her in place.
"I know my grandson…. he would never plant his seed in just anyone–and you are no exception, even though you now bear his name."
"Mother…."
"Leave it to me. The servants will help you prepare. He will come to you tonight. I will make certain of it."
Elena's lips parted ways, but no sound came.
"They will give you a pill–fertility aid, nothing more. Tonight, Adrian will plant his seed inside you, and you will be certain to conceive. And rest assured, someone will be stationed behind the door all night, should you entertain any…. improper thoughts."
Elena's trembling fingers found its way into her mouth, her gnawing teeth biting on her nails as her body shook to the core.
"Now leave." She commanded.
Elena swallowed hard to calm down as her heart slammed violently against her ribs. Just days ago she was a virgin mistaken for a whore, now she's expected to carry a child?
"I said, leave!"
Elena snapped back to consciousness, batting the brewing tears in her eyes away as she scurried out of the office, bumping straight into the maids stationed at the door.
"This way, ma'am." They motioned for Elena to follow, not paying mind to the tears streaming down Elena's cheeks as she panted breathlessly.
"I….I can't do this, I can't…." She cried and halted in her tracks, breaking down helplessly as her mind ran back to her mom. If only she could turn back the hands of time–she would never step into this fancy cage, let alone end up in the bed of Adrian Power.
"Ma'am?" One of the maids called as Elena sobbed, staggering to her feet and hopelessly drying her eyes.
"Shall we?"
She nodded and the journey continued in silence, each step towards Adrian's suite making it harder for Elena to draw a full breath.