Trapped In Contract Marriage

Chapter 4

My soul split into two halves, one encouraging me to sign and another stopping me from signing it. Where were you both when I was suffocating in the prison?

I nervously gripped the parker pen, its weight a reminder of my decision. My hands trembled as I reviewed each line. Doubt clawed at my mind, his warning played in my head like a broken cassette.

Are you not going to regret it?

Remember your words.

I could feel the pulse in my temples, syncing with the ticking of the clock on the wall. The urge to prove myself innocent. I was surrounded by the storm, with only one hope in my hands. Yet another record playing in my head again and again.

Your daughter is responsible for the death of those people.

An evil mother shouldn't be alive.

You ate our children.

Those f*****g blames, I want all of them to vanish. Even if I need to go through hell for it.

With a trembling hand, I finally signed the contract. The scratch of the pen against the paper felt like a final verdict being pronounced. With a nervous exhale, I slipped the document into the envelope and sealed it shut. As I handed it over to him, his lips curled into a reassuring smile.

“Alright! You will be out of this prison by tomorrow.” A sense of relief appeared on his face.

With heavier steps, I walked back to my cell. Counting each moment, thinking it would be the last day, the last hour and the last minutes in the prison. The trial arrived at a speed that matched the pounding of my heart.

As mentioned in the contract, a fast-track trial was conducted on the next day, even though the jury had their vacations. Every action gives me a stark reminder of George’s formidable influence over the wheels of justice.

The courtroom buzzed with activity. The argument came unexpectedly. By the last trial, there was not a single piece of evidence that favoured me. Every thread of proof was woven to an extent that almost closed all the doors of my escape. But today, Attorney Nathan presented some evidence that favoured me, giving me hope. He even proved some of the witnesses false, which made a big way for me to get out of this hellhole.

"Miss Crystal is granted bail, subject to specific conditions. She's prohibited from departing the country and her pilot's license remains suspended."

As soon as I heard that verdict, my hands ran across my face. It wiped away the weight, the pressure I had been holding for many days. A sigh of relief escaped my lips, mingling with the air of the room. A fragile spark of hope ignited within me, the tears welled up in my eyes.

Leaving the courtroom, I spotted my mother standing outside. Her eyes were searching for me in the crowd. I waved at her, grabbing her attention.

“Mom, I am finally out. Look here!” I screamed as soon as we saw each other, her presence was a bacon of solace. She was the first person whom I wanted to hug as soon as I stepped out, but before I even got close to her, an unexpected interruption shattered the moment. A colossal black Mercedes-Benz stood before me, casting an imposing shadow.

“Mr George asked you to get inside.” The driver of the car walked out and asked me. Forced by circumstances, I reluctantly entered the car. Not even able to say bye to my mom.

This was uncharted territory; the figure beside me, unfamiliar. The vehicle eventually came to a stop by the serene expanse of the beach. My pulse quickened as the scene unfolded before me—a grand cruise ship waiting. It was flanked by two guards dressed in pristine white attire clutching their microphones.

"Get inside, madam," they spoke. After the harsh treatment in prison, being subjected to insults like 'b***h,' 'w***e,' and many other abuses, I didn't expect someone to address me with such respect. I boarded the cruise and stood at a corner watching the shore.

Even though everything appeared safe and secure, my heart was still racing with an unfamiliar fear. My nails were turning pale.

The cruise started and we left the shore.

“Madam, come with us.” Two Asian girls in pink midis appeared, and took me to a giant luxurious room. I must be looking foolish to follow everything blindly. But this is what is highlighted in the contract with the bold words.

Rushing into action, one girl inspected every detail within the vanity. Meanwhile, another carefully arranged accessory. The glint of a silver diamond necklace and the brilliance of star-like silver shoes added to the ensemble's radiance.

From the velvet box they hand out a weighty, ivory wedding gown. My gaze widened as the sight unfolded before me—an exquisite off-white dress adorned with pearls and diamonds, a gown that seemed to fulfill the dreams of every woman.

Approaching me, they suddenly slid my dress down from my body. A mixture of surprise and irritation welled up within me, prompting me to shield myself with my hands.

"What on earth are you doing?" I scolded them. I knew they followed their Sir’s instructions, but undressing me without my permission was unacceptable for me.

"Sir instructed us to help you put on this attire," they gestured towards the wedding gown.

Until that moment, I had believed our marriage was merely bound by contractual terms. Now, it dawned upon me that a traditional marriage ceremony awaited. A fluttering bundle of butterflies took flight within my stomach.

They pulled my zip up and I stared at myself in the mirror. I loved the color white. They say it’s a sign of purity and love. I had envisioned wearing a pristine white gown for my wedding, complete with delicate lace shoulders adorned with pearls at each corner. Every flower is embellished with a glistening diamond.

Just like the tale of Cinderella, my life had transformed in an instant. A few hours ago, I was in jail, and now I'm about to attend my own wedding ceremony.

They cleansed my face, and a tingling sensation spread across my forehead as the cleanser was applied. A faint mark still lingered in the corner of my right forehead from a plane crash.

They carefully applied a light layer of makeup to my face. My complexion, ranging from wheatish to fair, responded magically even to a small amount of concealer. During my time on planes, I never liked much makeup on my face: a foundation matching my skin tone, a hint of blush to give my cheeks a healthy flush, and subtle eye makeup to enhance my green eyes.

"It's done," they announced, and I opened my eyes. My jaw dropped; I had never felt so beautiful. It was as if I had been plucked from hell and placed in heaven.

"Thank you," I expressed my gratitude. While they were preparing me, our cruise ship had already arrived at the small island. If I am not wrong, this could be a part of Love Island. The island was a considerable distance from the main city in France. The owner of the airline also married at Love Island and almost for f*****g fifth time.

I could sniff orchids and lavenders just by sitting there on a cruise. Slipping on my heels, I stepped onto the deck. As I disembarked the ship, I took in the island's exquisite decorations and the numerous attendees. Among the guests, none were familiar faces. I hadn't met them before and I certainly didn't know my future husband either.

Just as I had imagined in my childhood, like meeting a prince from fairy tales, a prince would come to meet me. He would do everything best for me.

As I stepped outside, the gaze of every other guest fixated on me. Their eyes held a surprise and confusion, as if my presence was unexpected. Following the directions given by the girls earlier, I proceeded towards the stage. On the stage, a man in a black suit stood, his back turned to me, his figure slender.

The moment my gaze fell upon him, my heart began to race with a fervent rhythm. The hushed murmurs of the crowd faded, and the sensation of everyone's eyes upon me intensified.