~Abigail's POV~
"Do you take Abigail Nakamura as your lawfully wedded wife?" the priest asks Darius, whose gaze hasn't left mine since the moment I appeared at the end of the aisle.
I arch a brow at him, refusing to look away. His lips twitch almost forming a smirk before he answers, his voice calm and deep.
"I do."
I almost roll my eyes, but the priest doesn't give me the chance.
"And do you, Abigail Nakamura, take Darius Rassais as your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do." The words slip from my lips easily, though my chest feels tight, like the air's gone heavy between us.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Darius steps forward, closing the distance with a kind of quiet dominance. His arm slides around my waist and his lips press against mine. Warm.... Controlled....
Fucking hell! I kiss him back slowly, but my pulse betrays me. It's brief, charged, and when he pulls away, his pupils are darker, his expression unreadable.
That's not the reaction I was expecting....
Applause and camera flashes explode around us.
I turn from him to face the crowd, forcing a bright smile. But when my eyes find my father's face which looks like it is carved from stone, I feel nothing but relief.
Relief that this is done. That I'm finally free of that man, even if it means walking into another cage.
The ceremony wraps up quickly, and it's clear Darius hasn't planned any kind of afterparty. Before I even realize it, we're walking toward the car waiting under the open sky, the sound of cameras and voices fading behind us.
"Go on first," Darius says as his driver opens the door for us. He doesn't seem interested in basking in the spotlight of a tycoon's wedding.
I don't argue. I slip into the car, the silk of my dress rubbing against the leather seat. Before the door closes, I glance up just long enough to catch him tugging at his tie and rubbing the back of his neck, his composure cracking for the briefest second.
A cruel smile tugs at my lips as I look away, pulling my phone from the hidden pocket of my dress. I move to text Alex, only to see that she's already sent several messages.
[Alex: Are you sure I shouldn't come?]
[Alex: I hate you for this! I'm only staying back for your happiness.]
I laugh quietly and glance out the window, only to see Darius talking to a rather familiar man... someone who carries the same commanding air as he does. From his jet-black hair to his midnight suit, everything about him screams power.
"Fuck, that's Valentin Morozov," I breathe, stunned. He's another member of the ruling families and Darius's best friend.
He looks cold and rigid, his sharp eyes narrowed at Darius, who keeps rubbing the back of his neck with unease written all over his face.
I glance back at my phone and type, [Me: The walnut plan is going to work.]
Her reply comes fast. [Alex: Wait! What?!]
Then another. [Alex: Girl, please tell me you didn't actually do the allergy plan! I thought you were joking!]
A low, wicked laugh slips from my throat. "I wasn't joking, girl."
When I look out the window again, Darius suddenly collapses. Valentin's eyes widen in shock as guards and the driver rush toward him. Darius's face is already breaking out in hives.
"What a perfect sight," I sigh to myself, swinging the car door open and hurrying out dramatically toward the chaos where my husband is gasping on the ground.
"What's happening?!" I scream, panic rising in my throat.
"He's having an allergic reaction!" Valentin shouts, looking completely stunned like his brain can't process what's happening fast enough.
Maybe I should give Darius mouth-to-mouth, which would definitely make things worse, but before I can even move, Valentin drags his friend up, trying to steady him.
At that exact moment, Taro walks into the scene, flanked by two almost identical men I immediately recognize as Darius's brothers. Dimitris and Leo Rassais.
"Darius?" Dimitris calls out, his voice breaking as he and Leo rush toward him.
"We have to get him to a hospital!" Valentin quickly tells them, and together they haul Darius toward the black car parked opposite the one I'd been in earlier.
I stand there, trembling, eyes stinging with unshed tears. I start toward the car as the driver opens the door, Leo climbing in with Darius and Valentin but before I can join them, Dimitris's hand grips my arm.
"No, don't go. He'll be fine," he says gently, his sapphire softer than I expected, full of genuine concern.
Meanwhile, the car speeds away, and my stomach twists uneasily because I know that bastard will definitely survive.
I nod weakly, sniffing, pretending to hold it together but when I glance over his shoulder, Taro is staring straight at me. His expression is cold.
He knows.
Time to get out of here.
Dimitris opens the door to my car. "Go in. You'll be taken to Darius's home. He'll be fine," he says reassuringly.
"Okay." I force a shaky smile and nod before stepping inside.
Dimitris walks toward my father while another driver takes over the car. I catch him giving my father a polite smile, probably trying to assure him that everything will be fine.
Fine. Sure. The bastard will live.
As the car pulls away, a strange relief settles over me. For the first time today, I can actually breathe. I don't have to sit next to Darius, pretend to be the perfect wife, or God forbid, share a bed with him. The thought alone makes my skin crawl.
I have no time for this farce.
It doesn't take long before we reach an enormous mansion which is far bigger than the home I grew up in and twice as suffocating. Everything about it screams power, money, and control. Of course it does. This is one of Darius Rassais's kingdoms.
The car rolls to a stop in front of the grand entrance. Three maids stand in a neat line beside a middle-aged man in a tailored suit. One of the guards opens the door, and I step out, gathering my wedding dress as they all bow low.
"Welcome, Mrs. Rassais. I am Theo, the butler," the man greets smoothly.
Mrs. Rassais. Of course... I really am Mrs. Rassais now.
And I'll just have to deal with it.
At least until Darius divorces me… because a walnut allergy is only the beginning.