The Wrong Bride: Chapter 20

“Congratulations,” one of the actresses under my management says. Jessica, I believe her name is? “When I got the invite, I assumed it’d be something like this, but for some reason, I thought it’d be Hannah and you. I always thought there was secretly something going on between you two, but it all makes sense now. You were just looking out for your sister-in-law.”

My heart clenches painfully at the thought of Hannah being my sister-in-law, yet that is exactly what she is now. I force a smile to my face, and Raven tenses beside me. “The Du Ponts and the Windsors have always been good friends,” I tell her, unsure what else to say.

She glances at Raven and grins. “I guess this explains why there haven’t been any rumors about you in a while. You were secretly dating Ares.”

I tighten my grip on Raven’s waist and pull her closer. “Yes,” Raven says. “Ares and I are both very private people, so we’ve tried our best to stay out of the spotlight, and we’ll continue to do so.”

I nod and press a soft kiss to her temple, tired of this fucking charade. It’s been an endless barrage of questions that neither of us has answers to, and I’m exhausted. I’m sure Raven is too.

She slumps against me once Jessica walks away, and I pull her closer with a big fake smile on my face. “Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I tell her.

She grins at me so cheerfully that even I’m deceived for a moment. “Gladly,” she snaps, smiling brightly.

I chuckle. I can’t help it. “This is fucking ridiculous, but let’s put on our last act of the night,” I tell her, before bending down and lifting her into my arms. Cheers erupt around us as I carry her away, both of us smiling the way that’s expected of us.

There’s a limousine waiting for us, and I carefully put Raven down in front of it. The relieved sigh that escapes her lips grates on me. I suppose a small part of me wishes that she didn’t hate every second of today, of marrying me.

I hold the door open for her, and she freezes for a moment before getting in. It isn’t until I join her that I understand her reaction. Grandma is sitting in the car, her arms crossed and a deceptively serene smile on her face.

“Raven Windsor,” she says. “Welcome to the family.”

Raven tenses and nods. She’s smiling the way she did throughout the day, but I notice the way her hands tremble.

“Why are you here, Grandma?” I ask, weary. Today has been a complete mess, and I’m not sure how much more I can take.

“Everything went as I expected today, but I understand that both of you are confused and uncertain about your future, so I’d like to take the time to ensure you’re familiar with the rules you must abide by throughout the first three years of your marriage.” She looks at me then. “You might be aware, but Raven is not.”

“I can—”

“No,” she cuts me off. “It’s best that I explain this myself, and it’s best for both of you to go into this knowing what is expected of you.”

I sigh and glance at Raven, my heart aching. I can’t imagine how hard today must be for her, and the last thing I want for her is to be overwhelmed with restrictions and rules.

“Raven,” Grandma says, her voice soft and tender. “In order for Ares to inherit his shares and for you to inherit your parents’ stake in the company we’ll be merging, there are a few rules you must abide by. I’m not sure how much you know already, so I’ll explain everything, okay?”

She nods hesitantly.

“One. Ares and you may not spend more than three consecutive nights apart.”

Raven tenses and wraps her arms around herself, looking uncomfortable. I hadn’t given much thought to anything beyond today, and the idea of us sharing a room seems… strange. I can’t even imagine what that might be like. While I care for her deeply, we’ve never spent more than a few hours together, and rarely completely alone.

“Two. When you’re together, you must share a bed. You cannot live separate lives, nor can you have separate bedrooms.”

I see the way Raven tenses, and I wonder if she’s trying to think of ways around Grandma’s rules. I suppose she’s about to find out the hard way that grandma is not to be trifled with.

“Three. You must remain married for three years. If, after that time, you decide you truly aren’t well-suited, you can get a divorce without penalty. However, there has never been a divorce in the Windsor family, and I have full faith that your marriage will not be an exception.”

Raven glances at me, her gaze unreadable. I always said that I’d never get a divorce, but that was with Hannah. With Raven? I’m not so sure. Perhaps a divorce is the solution to all our problems.

“Four. You must remain faithful to each other. If either of you cheats on the other, you both lose everything. You’ll lose your parents’ company, and Ares will lose his inheritance. Family is at the core of everything we are, everything we’ve built. And your family? It starts with each other.”

Raven nods, a hint of reluctance in her expression. Surely she didn’t think I’d allow her to fuck around while she carries my name? I clench my jaw and look away. Everything about this marriage is a clusterfuck.

“The fifth and final rule is that you must give your marriage an honest chance. Be open to this working out for both of you.”

Grandma looks between the two of us, a sweet smile on her face. It’s odd how genuinely sweet she looks while she’s got both of our lives in an iron grip. “Don’t cling to the lives you had before marriage. Give each other an honest chance, and in three years, I’ll sign the paperwork declaring the company jointly yours, making the two of you the owners of this country’s largest media company. You’ll be handed your inheritance too, Ares.” She pauses, her gaze moving between the both of us. “I know this is all very sudden, so for the next four weeks, I will relieve you from all family obligations. You won’t need to attend family dinners or charity events. All I want you to do for now is focus on your marriage. Spend time together, get to know each other on a different level. Soon, the entire world will find out about you, and the pressure will add some additional strain to your marriage. Spend some quality time together before all that weighs you down.”

Raven and I both nod, though neither of us does it with conviction. I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking. I have no idea what a marriage between us would look like, and I’m not sure what she wants, what she expects. I don’t know where I stand with Hannah, either. Everything is a fucking mess, and Raven is caught in the middle of it.

“Carry your bride in the way you should,” Grandma orders when the car stops in front of my home.

I nod obediently and step out of the car, my eyes locking with Raven’s as I bend down and reach for her. She looks reluctant and scared, and I hate that I’ve put that look in her eyes. I hate that she was forced to do this at all.

I wrap one arm around her waist and the other underneath her knees as I lift her into my arms. Raven gasps, her arms finding their way around my neck.

“Ares!” She looks at me, and the expression in her beautiful hazel eyes stops me in my tracks. “You don’t have to do this.” She sounds hurt, broken. Today might be hard on me, but it’s just as hard on her. We both lost a lot today.

“You heard Grandma,” I tell her, my voice soft. “Besides, the staff will all be watching us.”

As if on cue, Donna, my housekeeper, appears at the door. She keeps her gaze trained on the floor, but her curiosity is palpable. Our household staff was all expecting Hannah. I know they won’t say a word about it, but it still feels unsettling.

I carry Raven into the house, my heart aching as I walk toward the living room with her in my arms. I can feel her gaze on me, but I can’t bear facing her. She has no idea how many times I’ve imagined carrying in her sister this way… but if I want to do right by her, I need to ensure she’s never reminded of that.