Chapter 10: Retribution
\[Bridal Dressing Room - 15 Minutes Earlier\]
The sharp, violent sound of expensive silk being torn apart shattered the silence of the dressing room.
Dion, the head butler, widened his eyes. His face went pale as he stared at the vintage wedding dress worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, which now had a slit gaping from Agatha's ankle all the way to her upper thigh.
"Madam," Dion hissed in panic, his voice trembling. "What are you doing? Mr. Xavier will kill me if he sees this. That dress costs thousands of dollars."
Agatha threw the torn fabric onto the floor indifferently. She looked in the mirror, turning her body to see her long leg now perfectly exposed with every movement.
"This dress is too boring, Dion. Too covered up. Like wrapping a corpse," Agatha replied casually. She then pulled the dress collar down forcefully, revealing her smooth shoulders and collarbones. "There. Now the appearance is better."
"Better?" Dion wiped the cold sweat from his temples. "That invites disaster, Madam. You are provoking a hungry lion."
"Good. I want the lion to wake up," Agatha cut in coldly. She turned around, staring at Dion with a sharp gaze that made the man's guts shrink. "Now, give me your arm."
Dion took a step back, swallowing hard. "E-Excuse me?"
"Give me your arm. You will escort me to the altar."
"NO," Dion refused firmly, though his voice shook. "That is suicide. If I touch you, Mr. Xavier will cut off my hand before I can even beg for mercy."
Agatha didn't say much. In a flash of movement invisible to the naked eye, she snatched Dion's wrist.
"Argh!" Dion grimaced, stifling a cry.
Agatha's fingers pressed on a nerve point in Dion's arm with terrifying precision. It wasn't a normal hold. It was a deadly lock. Dion felt like his arm was being crushed, instantly paralyzing him.
"Dion, listen carefully," Agatha whispered softly, her face leaning in with a sweet smile that contrasted with her death grip. "If you refuse, it won't be your master doing it, but I who will break your elbow joint right now. The sound will be very loud."
Dion stared into those hazel eyes. The gaze of a true killer. There was no hesitation there.
"Which do you choose? Die at Xavier's hands later, or be crippled by my hands this very second?"
"I... I..." Dion's face turned blue from holding back the pain. "Fine. Fine. Release the lock, Madam. For God's sake."
"Smart boy," Agatha loosened her pressure, changing it into an arm link that looked normal from the outside, but her grip remained as strong as iron handcuffs. "Let's go. Don't keep 'Your Master' waiting."
\[Valois Private Chapel - Present Time\]
The atmosphere at the altar was gripping. The organ music had been replayed for the third time.
Xavier stood at the altar, repeatedly glancing at his Rolex watch. His jaw hardened, his eyes staring at the entrance with a look that wanted to kill.
"She's twenty minutes late," Xavier growled at his mother, who was sitting casually in the front row. "She must have run away. I will order my men to catch her."
Melynda Valois only chuckled. She opened her folding fan gracefully.
"Sit down, Xavier. You're making me dizzy," Melynda said relaxedly. "You look like a time bomb about to explode."
"How can I be calm? She is a cunning woman. She must be planning something right now."
"Or maybe she is preparing a surprise?"
The giant wooden chapel doors opened wide with a heavy creak.
The entire room held its breath. The organ music stopped abruptly.
In the doorway, Agatha stood.
As she stepped inside, the sound of shocked gasps could be heard from the staff and guards.
Agatha walked with her chin held high. Every step she took made the modified dress part, showing off her smooth thigh proactively.
And beside her, Dion walked stiffly. His face was wet with cold sweat. He tried to stop at the doorway, intending to retreat out of fear of Xavier's gaze.
However, Agatha didn't let him.
With an elegant smile that deceived everyone, Agatha's hand on Dion's arm gripped the man's bicep as hard as steel. She dragged Dion subtly.
"Walk, Dion. Or I break it now," Agatha whispered without changing her smiling expression.
Dion grimaced faintly, his legs forced to move by the monster strength behind Agatha's slender body. From afar, they looked like a harmonious pair walking side by side. But up close, Dion was being held hostage.
"Wow," Melynda murmured in admiration from her seat. "That girl. She really has the guts to provoke the devil."
Xavier froze.
His eyes locked onto Agatha's exposed skin. And on Dion's arm which was linked with Agatha.
Xavier's blood boiled. Blind jealousy incinerated his logic.
"Dammit," Xavier hissed.
Xavier stepped down from the podium. His strides were wide and stomped on the floor, radiating a killing aura so thick that the guests in the front row reflexively stepped back.
Agatha saw Xavier approaching. She smiled crookedly, deliberately slowing her pace, making Dion suffer even more in her grip.
"Move," Xavier ordered coldly as he blocked them in the middle of the aisle.
Agatha released her grip.
Dion immediately jumped back two meters as if he had just escaped a crocodile's bite, bowing deeply with a trembling body. "Mercy, Sir. I was forced. I swear on my mother's life, I was forced."
Xavier didn't care about Dion. He immediately took off his white tuxedo jacket with a rough movement, then draped it over Agatha's body. He pulled both sides of the jacket firmly until it covered Agatha's exposed chest and thigh.
"You..." Xavier stared at Agatha sharply, his breath ragged, restraining himself from ripping the dress altogether. "What is your goal wearing this rag, huh? You want to give a free show to all the men?"
Agatha stared back without fear, her chin raised defiantly. "Why? You don't like it? I thought you preferred showing off the goods you bought at such a fantastic price."
"This body is mine," Xavier gripped Agatha's waist possessively under the jacket, squeezing it hard until Agatha flinched slightly. His eyes darkened dangerously. "Only my eyes are allowed to see this. If one more man dares to glance at your body, I will gouge their eyes out."
"Go ahead," Agatha challenged. "Gouge all their eyes out. That would be a great wedding gift."
Melynda laughed crisply while clapping slowly. "Bravo. Great show. Come on, continue, don't be shy."
Xavier smirked terribly hearing Agatha's challenge.
"You are really asking to be punished, My Wife," Xavier whispered low, his lips brushing Agatha's ear. "You are walking too slow. My patience has run out."
Without warning, Xavier bent down and snatched Agatha's body up.
"Kyaa!" Agatha squeaked in surprise. Reflexively, her arms wrapped around Xavier's neck so she wouldn't fall. "Put me down. What are you doing?"
"Saving time," Xavier answered flatly.
Xavier carried Agatha bridal style toward the altar with wide strides, ignoring Melynda who gave a two-thumbs-up.
Xavier brought Agatha directly in front of the priest who was trembling holding the bible. He set Agatha down, but one arm remained firmly wrapped around the woman's waist, holding her so the covering jacket wouldn't fall even a bit, while simultaneously locking her movement.
"Start," Xavier ordered the priest without turning his head. "And make it short. Read only the essential parts."
"Bu-but Sir. The opening prayer..."
"Skip it," Xavier cut in impatiently. His eyes glanced sharply at Agatha, whose face was relaxed without guilt, but instead happy because she successfully woke the lion. "I have urgent business with my wife after this."
Agatha stomped on Xavier's foot with her stiletto heel with all her might.
Thud!
Xavier only winced slightly, not in pain, instead staring at Agatha with a satisfied, annoying smirk.
"Save your energy, Darling," Xavier whispered meaningfully. "You will need it later tonight."