With steady but heavy footsteps, she walked out of the house and hailed a cab to the marriage registration office.
Her adoptive parents trailed behind her at a distance. Their presence, like a leash, reminded her that escape wasn't an option.
By the time she arrived, the office was still closed. She exhaled sharply and sank onto a wooden bench outside, her nerves stretched thin as she waited patiently.
She had already called Melissa to ask for a leave of absence on her behalf. If her guess was right… Today would definitely not be an ordinary day.
Seconds turned into minutes. Then an hour. Still, the man was nowhere in sight.
At some point, the urge to get up and leave nearly overwhelmed her, but the thought of losing her life made her sit still.
Maybe, just maybe after the marriage, she could plan her way out of this mess. But right now, leaving wasn't the best option.
Her legs bounced restlessly, her eyes glancing at her wrist at intervals, already feeling impatient about the long time it was taking to get this done and let her return to the office.
Her heart swirled with questions.
Where is he?
The so-called 'Boss'?
"Isn't he time conscious?"
A dry, humorless sigh escaped her lips. What should I expect from a street kingpin? She muttered helplessly.
At exactly 9 AM, the rhythmic sound of polished shoes clicking against the pavement drew her attention. She looked up.
A tall, sharp-featured man dressed in an impeccably tailored suit approached. His presence was effortless yet commanding.
He stopped a few steps away, his posture rigid but polite.
"Miss Emily, right?" His voice was smooth, devoid of emotion.
She swallowed. "Yes."
The young man nodded and extended his hand with professional courtesy. "I'm Bryan. I came on behalf of Boss."
Emily shook his hand lightly. Since he already knew her name, there was no need to repeat it.
With the introductions done, he extended a folder toward her.
Emily stared at the folder briefly, her hand curled lightly on her thigh and she stretched her hand accepting the folder.
Her fingers tightened around the edges, her heart raced in disbelief, questions swirled within;
Is this really happening?
Am I really about to sign away my life like this?
Is there really no other way?
Yet she was unable to find the answer she sought. Her heart constricted, her eyes stung, but she refused to shed more tears over this matter.
Seeing her hesitation, Bryan thought she wanted to reconsider her option. "Any problem?" He asked.
She shook her head, immediately flipping it open. Her name, printed in neat, formal text, sat beside another, a name she wasn't familiar with.
But come to think of it, she only knew his name as Boss, should that be his nickname?
She glanced at the name again, then at the man before her. She made a few deductions from his appearance : No rings and bangles, no gold chains around his neck.
She clicked her tongue.
It seems he must be one of his bouncers and probably because of coming to this setting he definitely wants to look civil.
She would have asked a few questions but recalling the violent man from last night, she decided to go with the flow.
The young man, exuding an air of confidence and professionalism, gave her a calm yet firm look as though he could read her thoughts.
"My Boss is a busy man. He has already signed his part, and all that's left is for you to do the same. I hope you can understand."
Emily hesitated, glancing down at the crisp white paper in her hands. Her heart pounded as she skimmed the words;
Marriage certificate.
Legal binding.
Husband and wife.
It was a normal term for loving couples but to her it meant bondage, betrayal, and probably destruction.
She turned slightly, noticing her adoptive parents lurking in the distance, their anxious eyes trained on her, making sure she didn't try to escape.
Her stomach churned. Even now, they had followed her to this point.
Was I never trusted?
Had they really thought I would run off or probably abscond the deal?
Or do they just want to witness their adoptive daughter get married yet not bold enough to come close?
Pathetic.
She retracted her gaze, settling it back to the piece of paper before her waiting to be attended to.
With trembling fingers, she took the pen offered to her.
She took a deep breath, gathering every ounce of strength she could muster, a final moment of hesitation, and then slowly, she signed her name.
One stroke. Then another. The ink dried instantly and sealed the marriage bond.
A bond she couldn't explain.
A bond that still feels like a dream to her.
A bond she never planned.
The man took the document from her hands, glancing at the signature for confirmation before nodding in approval.
"It's done. The office will handle the processing while we get the certificate."
Emily only nodded. She couldn't say or do anything to change the matter.
"Do you care for breakfast?" he asked politely.
"No. I'm okay," she replied quickly. She couldn't help but wonder:
How would I still find the courage to eat when all my life had tumbled down unexpectedly.
When I had just been doomed because of a text message from my sister and my blind loyalty as a good daughter?
Bryan didn't have the leisure of waiting beside her as he disappeared into the office to finalize the paperwork, leaving Emily alone with her thoughts.
Within minutes, he re-emerged, holding two marriage certificates. One he handed to her, the other he tucked neatly into his suit pocket.
Like a hot potato, she swiftly pocketed it into her handbag. She dared not open it to see its contents and besides what more could see…her thwarted future? No need.
Emily let out a shaky exhale, feeling the heavy weight of this decision settle over her.
"Come," the man gestured toward the sleek black car parked nearby. "I'll take you home."
Emily's legs felt heavy as she followed him, her mind numb. She had done it. She was now someone's wife.
"You don't have to take me home, drop me off at work. I have already asked for leave of absence but with so much going on, I want to go back to the office."
Bryan stared at her lightly. "Do you work?" he asked in surprise.
"Who doesn't work, even the CEO is working," she retorted.
Bryan became confused about her attitude. He had never heard of Robert's daughter working, when her dividends in the Robert Group were enough to last her for a lifetime.
He opened the backseat for her, but Emily bypassed him. "I don't sit at the back while you are alone in the front seat," she replied as she slid into the car.
Bryan felt more confused. The Emily he had heard about would never do such a thing. His brow furrowed hard in thought:
Is there a mix-up somewhere?
Or does she have a split personality problem?
Emily settled into the car, her gaze cold, her heart heavy as she couldn't imagine the journey she had just stepped into.
Seeing Bryan standing by the door spacing out, "Aren't we leaving?" she asked, snapping Bryan out of his daze as he hurried to the driver's seat and settled in.
Without sparing him a glance, Emily carefully buckled her seatbelt.
Bryan glanced at her briefly, turned on the ignition, and the car carefully pulled away from the registry office.
Emily leaned back, her calm gaze on the scenery as they blurred past while her thoughts returned to how it had all begun.