Arranged to Marry Her Ex-Billionaire Lover

Chapter 10

Dahlia

I, Dahlia Wilson, take you, Jinn Mancini to be my lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward: for better, for worse, for richer, for poor, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish, till death do us apart.

My voice wobbled lightly but I cleared my throat and managed to utter those words. Anna handed me the ring and Leo handed one to Jinn. We soon exchanged them on our fingers.

Then came the moment I had been dreading so much, the time for the groom to kiss the bride.

Our eyes met, marking the act as a scared deed but I knew there was nothing scared between us. Jinn made it very clear to me last night.

I was totally against the idea of staying in Jinn’s family house when it wasn’t an unknown fact for me that he hates me so much but I couldn’t deny Anna and Leo’s offer. They had literally begged me to stay here and it wouldn’t be nice as the future daughter-in-law of the family to disrespect the decisions made by the elders. I was helpless and had to say yes to them in the end.  

I was so grateful to know that Jinn lived in his own apartment but it was also equally scary to think that I would have to live alone with him under the same roof after our wedding. I didn’t want to think of what this twisted version of Jinn is capable of and to what extent he would go to hurt me.

Above all, I swear I had no idea that I was staying in Jinn’s room until the moment he showed up last night without an announcement. His accusations, like always hurt me. I was carefree and outgoing, but I was never the one to sleep around with random men. I expected him to know that when we spent a passionate night together but I guess I was wrong. 

I decided not to argue with him when it was just going to be a waste of my time and energy. The couch seemed a better option for me than sleeping next to him, not that he would let me sleep next to him first of all.

His presence in the same room as me was too agitating for me and on top of it, my peaceful night’s sleep was ruined by that one phone call that left me weeping for the remaining hours of the night.

I am aware that he hates me but how could he do something like that to me? As if all these years of pain were not enough for me, Jinn was willing to sleep with another woman while being married to me.

He could hurt me physically or in any other way he wants. I would surely tolerate it but if this was the way Jinn chose to take his revenge on me, then I must say I wouldn’t survive a single day alive.

I was disturbed from my tormenting thoughts when I felt Jinn’s cold hands crawl up from my wrist, slowly traveling up to grab my upper arms, making me squirm under his clamp-like hold.

I felt my heart drum hard and loud against my chest. I was glad that I was the only one who could hear it as the blood pulsed hard in my veins. 

He looked too intimidating and handsome for his own good. Jinn’s previously boyish looks that I remembered were now replaced by more manly looks. He was what every woman would fall for, tall, broad, muscular, and with a squared jaw. His blue eyes had striking golden radials around their pupil that I had always felt attracted to.

His cheekbones were defined in a way that just added up to his good looks. His generous, ample lips were pressed into a thin line reminding me how much he loathed to be standing here at the altar with me.

My heart began to bore holes in my chest by hammering so fast. I quickly shut my eyes close when he leaned closer into my lips.

My heart fluttered as his minty breath tickled my lips softly. It was after so long I was going to feel his lips against mine and my insides were twisting in anticipation but I was disheartened when the frigid and coldness of his lips touched the corner of my lips before he pulled away.

His mouth never came in contact with mine, apart from a brief brushing of our skin but I still didn’t miss the electrifying effect it left in my heart. I stared at him, trying to conceal the look of disappointment from my face. How stupid was I to expect him to kiss me after I shattered his trust in me?

His usually calm and welcoming demeanor was now all gone, thanks to me and his face only revealed hate and abhorrence for me.

“Mr. and Mrs. Mancini..” The priest announced.

The small crowd’s loud cheering and clapping managed to break our eye contact. I fisted my hands together and tried to smile at all the people who, one by one came to congratulate us.

“Gosh, I’m so happy for you two..” Alana hugged Jinn before she engulfed me in her tight but comforting embrace. “Welcome to the family, Dahlia. I am sure, you are going to be the sister that I never had..”

“Can’t.. breathe..” I struggled to speak.

“Ohh sorry, I guess I am too excited..” She giggled and pushed her hair behind her ear. “I just didn’t imagine our Jinn getting settled down with a simple woman like you..”

“You made a great choice by not choosing one of those supermodels who were dying to tie you down, Jinn..” She added to Jinn with a chuckle and I stiffed when I remembered his conversation with the woman on phone. And his subtle smirk silently relayed to me that he had no plans to discontinue his affair with whoever that woman was, he was currently dating.

With Alana, her husband Zayn stood there with a soft smile. “Congratulations both of you..” He shook hands with Jinn and nodded at me.

After them, Anna and Leo came to greet us. Anna kissed us on our cheeks and when she pulled away, I could see some tears blinding her eyes. “Jinn, promise me you will love Lia and take care of her..”

Jinn hesitated a bit yet he made a promise to her, a fake promise to be more precise. After everyone was done congratulating us, a dozen photographers surrounded us. I tried to smile when the cameras flashed but I doubt my smile reached my eyes, unlike every other happy bride.

“Sir, I’m from Vegas this week magazine and your picture would make the front cover tomorrow morning. Do you mind hugging your wife more closely?” One of the photographers asked and to say I forgot how to breathe after that would be putting it rightly.

With a stiff, curt nod, Jinn coiled his arm around me and with his skin coming in contact with my bareback, I begin to hyperventilate. He pulled me closer to him in such a way that the next second I knew I was rammed into his front. His familiar musky scent wafted my nostrils, making my stomach leap up to my throat.

‘Smile..’ He gritted, ‘..because after this day I will make sure you never smile..’

That left my mouth dry and I had to gulp hard to calm down my erratic heart.

Did he truly mean it?

Should I just tell him the truth so that he would forgive me for all the misunderstanding between us?

But will Jinn ever believe my words?

No, he would definitely not. No one in his place would believe me for that matter.

We spent the next fifteen minutes posing for the pictures which I am sure none of us would want to see ever again in our lives because it would only be a harsh reminder of how miserable we both were on our wedding day.

After the ceremony was officially over and the guests began to leave, we marched out side by side, my dear husband was not even bothered to hold my hand like the newlyweds we were.

“I would want to keep you both with me if I had a choice but I know you two will need some alone time together. So, you can take your bride to your apartment but I hope next year this time, you both will give me a great-grandchild to play with.” Anna grinned at us as they all walked us to the white limousine waiting for us outside. Not letting her words bother me, I hugged her.

“Lia, come here..” Leo pulled me down to his level and whispered to me in a low voice, making sure no one other than me could hear him, “I am sure you are still mad at me but understand I am doing this for both your well-beings. You and Jinn are made for each other and just give that i***t some time to realize that. In his heart, he still loves you and it’s just a matter of time, he confesses it to you himself..”  

I wanted to laugh at Leo for saying something so absurd like that but as he mentioned earlier I was still upset with him for knowingly trapping me into this marriage. When I told him about my past, he knew I was talking about his grandson Jinn but the old raccoon did not bother to tell me anything. I actually screamed at him after the engagement party and did not talk to him until to this day.

“And about the money, one fifth of it will be transferred to your account today..”

From the corner of my eyes, I could see Jinn staring at both of us keenly, trying to figure out what Leo was whispering to me. I nodded and quickly straightened up. 

I walked over to Xavier and Scarlet. "I am going to miss you guys.." 

"We too.." They said in unison and we group hugged. 

After bidding our farewell, we both got into the car. Carter was the one to drive us to wherever our destination was. The drive was suffocatingly silent for me and I kept fidgeting my fingers nervously throughout.

Jinn had his eyes buried into his mobile phone, probably replying to his emails and making work-related phone calls. Not even a glare was thrown my way and it confused me whether I was sad or relieved about it.

I looked down to my hands which were placed on my lap and my eyes caught attention on my simple gold wedding band around my finger. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Jinn’s ring which fit his finger perfectly, just like mine.

We are husband and wife now. If a few months back, if someone had told me that I would be meeting Jinn Mancini once again in my life and would be marrying him, I would have scoffed at that person. 

This turn of events was just too unexpected for me. It even felt surreal, as if I am in a dream and I would wake up any moment now.

Sometimes when I gave a thought to all this, this marriage felt beyond just a mere coincidence. Was it really fate that pulled us back together? 

If not, how did I end up married to the same guy I love so much and at some point thought I lost him?

But did it matter? Jinn doesn’t love me anymore like he did once and there is no meaning to this marriage, he made it very clear to me. 

The car came to a halt in front of a tall building. Carter got down to unload my bags.

“Get out..” Jinn's gruff voice rang in my ears and I swiftly got out.

Jinn got out too and walked near Carter, “Thank you so much, Carter. We will take it from you..”

“I can bring it up for you, Mr. Mancini…” Carter spoke politely.

“Oh, it’s okay..” Jinn dismissed him and grabbed the two large bags from his hands, which were by the way the new clothes I didn’t know Anna had brought for me.

“Alright, sir. Have a nice day..” Carter nodded and drove away in the car.

Dropping the bags with a loud thud on the ground, Jinn began to walk into the building, leaving me blinking at his broad back.

What the hell? If he wasn’t going to then why the hell did he stop Carter from carrying it for me? I don’t bother carrying my own luggage but since it was too heavy, I don’t think I will be able to take it up without panting like a dog.

Raising my chin high, I did not give up so easily and carried the bags in my hands. I increased the speed of my steps so that I could match up to Jinn’s, considering the fact that I wasn’t aware of his contact number and flat number.

And looking at the tall building it must have at least a hundred houses. I didn’t have any intention to run around the building, searching for my husband’s house on my wedding day. Nothing would be more embarrassing than that.

Before the door of the elevator could close, I slid in and dropped my bags down. I was already beginning to pant as I had expected but I tried to control my breathing, to not give him the satisfaction of it.

And once again he strode unbothered when the elevator door opened. His pace quickened as I followed behind him like a lost puppy. Fortunately, his house wasn’t too far from the elevator, and with a press of his thumb on the sensor, he opened the door.

I strode inside closing the door behind me. I watched him take off his suit jacket and toss it on the couch before heading upstairs. I once again followed behind him, still with the heavy bags in my hands.

Taking the stairs, we came to a narrow corridor which had two doors facing each other.

“This is my room and that, yours. Don’t dare to cross your border and as long as you stay the hell out of my way, we both will not have a problem. Understood?.” He said loud and clear, without turning around in my direction.

As much as to my knowledge we were husband and wife. How in the freaking world am I supposed to stay out of his way?

“I. Asked. If. You. Understood that?” He emphasized each word when I didn’t answer him.

Am I supposed to answer him? 

“Yeah.. I u-understood..” I stammered and flinched when he closed his bedroom door on my face way too harshly.

Sighing to myself, I carried my bags to my own bedroom wondering how wonderful my wedding day turned out to be.