Chapter 2 A Charade at the Altar

Alice flinched at Evan’s icy words. Her heart began to race, not from love, but from a suffocating fear. She tried to step back, intending to escape his piercing gaze. Before she could move far, Evan’s strong hand snapped around her waist.

With one forceful pull, Alice’s small body slammed into Evan’s broad chest. Their bodies pressed together. Alice could feel Evan’s steady heartbeat, a sharp contrast to her own, which felt as if it might burst from her chest.

“Why? Are you trying to run?” Evan whispered.

Tears gathered at the corners of Alice’s eyes. Her lips trembled as she fought back the sobs clogging her throat. She felt like a lamb just delivered into a lion’s den.

Evan bent closer until their noses were nearly touching. He stared intently into Alice’s glassy eyes. Instead of pity, he roughly wiped his thumb across the corner of her eye.

“Don’t cry,” Evan hissed softly but sharply. “That powder is far more expensive than your tears. Don’t ruin your makeup before the guests see you.”

Alice closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She clenched her fists between their chests, searching for the strength not to collapse right then. She hated how weak she felt in front of this man.

The sound of the door broke the tension. A wedding organizer peeked inside, anxiety clear on his face.

“Excuse me, Young Master Evander, Miss Alice. The ceremony must begin now. The guests are already waiting in the main hall,” he said.

Without warning, Evan released his grip on Alice’s waist. The sudden movement made her stagger and nearly lose her balance.

Evan did not look back. He straightened his suit briefly in front of the mirror, then strode out of the room with long, arrogant steps.

“Come on, hurry,” Vinie whispered as she suddenly appeared after Evan left, immediately pushing her niece’s shoulder to urge her forward.

The hotel ballroom had been transformed into an extraordinarily lavish sacred space. Thousands of white roses adorned every corner. At the front, a large digital board that once displayed the name “Selena & Evander” had been changed.

The Wedding of Evander Nathaniel & Eisha Alice Eleanor.

The name looked unfamiliar to many guests holding physical invitations. Whispers spread among the rows of seats.

“Wasn’t the name Selena?”

“Who’s Alice?”

“Did they change the bride at the last minute?”

Alice could not hear them clearly. A loud ringing filled her ears. At the grand entrance, Edwin, Alice’s uncle and Selena’s father, was already waiting. He looked pale and could not bring himself to meet Alice’s eyes.

“Forgive your uncle, Alice. This is for our family,” Edwin whispered as he offered his arm.

Alice did not reply. She simply took his arm with a hand as cold as a corpse. The doors of the hall slowly opened. Majestic wedding music began to echo. All eyes turned toward Alice.

She stepped onto the red carpet, dragging the heavy white gown behind her. At the far end, before the priest, Evan stood tall. He looked stunning, but to Alice, he resembled an executioner waiting by the gallows.

Each step felt heavier than the last. When Alice glanced toward the family seats, she caught Vinie’s sharp stare. Her aunt’s lips moved silently, forming the word “Smile,” her eyes wide with threat. Alice was forced to lift the corners of her lips, creating the fakest smile she had ever worn.

When they reached the altar, Edwin placed Alice’s hand into Evan’s. “I entrust my niece to you,” he said quietly.

Evan merely nodded without expression. He clasped Alice’s hand tightly, so tightly that she let out a small wince.

The vows began. The priest’s voice was solemn and authoritative. Evan recited his vows smoothly, without the slightest hesitation. When it was Alice’s turn, her voice nearly vanished.

“I, Eisha Alice Eleanor, take Evander Nathaniel as my husband…” Alice stammered. She paused briefly, glancing at the crowd, hoping this was all just a dream. But Vinie’s deadly glare from the front row snapped her back to reality. “…in joy and in sorrow.”

“Legally wedded,” the witnesses declared.

“Brother Evander, please lift the bride’s veil and kiss your wife as a symbol of your sacred bond,” the priest said with a smile.

Alice felt her heart stop. She had forgotten about this part. Evan stepped forward, closing the distance. His large hand slowly lifted the sheer fabric covering Alice’s face. When the veil fell back, Alice’s beautiful but frightened face was fully revealed to him.

“Wait, I…”

Without giving Alice time to prepare, Evan cupped her face with both hands. He bent down and pressed his lips firmly against hers.

Alice’s eyes flew wide open. Her body stiffened like stone. It was her first kiss, happening in front of hundreds of people, with a man who had threatened her only hours earlier. The kiss was not brief. Evan held it deep, as if asserting his dominance before everyone. Amid the thunderous applause, Evan closed his eyes.

'Her lips are surprisingly soft,' Evan thought.

The unexpected sweetness made him lose control for a moment. He pressed more firmly against Alice’s lower lip, the pressure making her flinch and nearly let out a sob.

Alice felt her chest tighten. Tears were already at the brink, ready to fall if Evan did not release her soon.

After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, Evan pulled away. He looked at Alice’s lips, now slightly reddened and damp, then at her tear filled eyes.

“Save your tears, Alice. Don’t let them fall in front of everyone,” Evan whispered hoarsely, only for her to hear.

Loud applause filled the room. Rose petals were tossed into the air as they walked down from the altar. Camera flashes from photographers repeatedly dazzled Alice’s eyes.

She tried to lower her head, but Evan wrapped an arm possessively around her waist, forcing her to stay upright.

“Put on a friendly face for the guests,” Evan murmured between his fake smiles at the cameras. “Act like you truly love me, unless you want your uncle and aunt thrown out of here right now.”

Alice swallowed hard. She forced out a small laugh as several of Evan’s relatives came to congratulate them.

“Congratulations, Evan. But wait, this isn’t Selena, is it?” asked a middle-aged man, one of the Nathaniel family’s business associates.

Evan laughed warmly, his performance so perfect that it made Alice shudder. “No, Uncle. This is Alice. There was a slight change of plans at the last minute, but for me, Alice is a far better choice. Right, darling?”

He turned to Alice, waiting for her response. She could only nod stiffly. “Yes, Uncle.”

Throughout the photo session, whispers among the guests did not fade. Some of Evan’s cousins exchanged murmurs while pointing at the name board.

“The name is completely different from the invitation. They say Selena ran away.”

“The bride looks so pitiful. She looks terrified.”

Evan heard it all, but he did not care. To him, this marriage was merely a way to save his father’s reputation and keep the Nathaniel business empire stable. Which woman stood beside him had not mattered at first, until he felt the tremor of fear in Alice, which oddly stirred his hunting instinct.

The final photo session was held with the extended family. Vinie and Edwin stood beside them, wearing forced looks of relief. When the photographer signaled that it was over, Evan pulled Alice slightly away from the crowd.

“Are you tired?” Evan asked coldly.

“I want to rest. Please, let me go to the room for a while,” Alice pleaded, her voice nearly gone.

Evan glanced at his watch. “The reception won’t start for another two hours. You need to stay here and greet my father’s associates.”

“But I…”

“Don’t argue,” Evan cut in. He leaned close to Alice’s ear again, making her instinctively pull her neck back.

Evan flashed a crooked, dangerous smile before whispering softly. “Remember our agreement earlier? Now that you’re officially my wife, there’s one more thing you should know.”

Alice looked at him, confused and uneasy. “What is't?”

Evan stared straight into her eyes, as if locking onto his prey. “Tonight, I won’t let you sleep in a separate room, and don’t ever try to lock the bathroom door if you don’t want me to break it down.”

Alice froze. Those words were more terrifying than any threat her aunt had made earlier. “What do you mean we…”