CHAPTER 69

CHAPTER 69
Archer
Treating Elena like that was so painful, but I had to do it. When I saw her lips on that animal's lips, I felt like killing them both, but I couldn't. I love her, fuck.
I couldn't bring myself to hurt her, the only way I could hurt her was to objectify her. That is one thing I'm sure always hurts her.
I wanted to stay in bed and cuddle all night long, but I didn't. Instead, I'm just here in my office, staring into space.
One thing I'm confused about is how I'm still keeping it together. And why am I still keeping her around knowing damn well that she was messing with Pius.

THE NEXT MORNING
I entered the room and met her fast asleep. I had to refrain from crawling on the bed and cuddling her from behind. I know what is going to happen today is going to take her by surprise, but I don't care.
She's carrying my child, and even though I always just wanted a baby mama, I want to make her mine completely. I don't want another man's hands on her. I can't stand the sight of that.
Just then, the picture of her kissing Pius flashed in my mind again, and I felt like going crazy. I inhaled and exhaled sharply to calm myself.
Then I pulled out a chair and positioned it right in front of the bed, and sat on it while staring at her peaceful sleeping state.
I woke her up gently and went back to the chair. She opened her eyes and started stretching. She looks so darn cute doing that.
Her eyes landed on me, and she went stiff. “Good morning to you, too,” I said sarcastically.
“So, Miss Elena, can you explain to me how you know Pius and why you were kissing him?”
She blinked rapidly while looking at me. She adjusted herself on the bed and parted her lips to say something, but stopped. I sat there quietly, waiting for her response.
“I knew him way before I met you.” She finally spoke.
“How?”
“Joker–I mean, Pius was the one who sold me to the Russian old man.”
My fists balled beside me in anger when she said that. “So why were you kissing him if he did that to you? I thought you would hate him.”
“Because I can do whatever I want, I'm not a kid, and I'm not yours either. Edward, please, let me go and I promise to pay back your 50 million.”
I don't know why I felt hurt by her words. I didn't care about the money anymore, I just wanted her to be around me.
“You're carrying my child, Elena, there's no way that is happening.”
“So now I'm some woman bearing your child, right? Why would you do this to me? Why did you intentionally impregnate me to trap me here? Isn't Crystal enough for you?”
“I can do whatever the hell I want, Elena, I'm Edward Cattaneo.”
“I hate you.” She said with glistening eyes. My lips turned into a smile as I got up from the chair. “A maid would be here shortly to help you change.” Her face creased in perplexity. “Change? For what?”
“Oh, I didn't tell you? The priest is on his way here. We're getting married, Elena.” I said with a smile and walked off, but I was stopped midway as Elena grabbed the back of my shirt with widened eyes.
“Wh–what do you mean by marriage?” I turned around to face her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“You heard right, we're getting married.”
“What? Why are you doing this? Why are you making my life hell?” Tears started to fall, and even though I wanted it to stop, I couldn't do anything.
“I don't want to marry you.” “You don't really have a choice, Gattina”
“What? So you're just gonna force me into a marriage I don't want to?” I nodded.
“Wow, you're so wicked.” “Thank you, see you in 3 hours.” I finally walked out after that.
Elena is the only woman I've been able to fall for after all these years, and if I have to cuff her to make her stay with me, then I'll gladly do it.
Elena
I kept on crying as the maids adorned me with beautiful jewellery. My heart was heavy, I never wanted to get married this way. Why is Archer doing this to me?
Does he take joy in torturing me and making me cry? Why does he want me to be tied to him?
The fabric of the white dress scratched against my skin like a thousand needles. I sat stiffly on the edge of the velvet stool, the maids fluttering around me like nervous little birds, pinning my hair, smoothing the dress, fastening buttons.
My heart was still hammering in my chest and I was somehow praying that this would just be a bad dream and I wake up in no time.
I barely registered them. My heart was thudding so loudly in my ears that everything else sounded like a distant hum.
I stared at myself in the mirror.
A bride. But not a willing one.
Tears clung to my eyelids, begging to fall, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn’t give Archer the satisfaction of seeing me broken again. This wasn’t a wedding. It was a prison sentence dressed up in white lace.
I pressed my hand against my stomach instinctively. The reason I was being bound to a man I despised with every shattered piece of my heart.
Our child, I can't believe that I'm having a baby with this monster. And he's trapping me with him because of this baby.
The door creaked open, and I stiffened.
Savien stepped in wearing a look I couldn't understand. He then looked at me through the mirror, and I saw pity in his eyes.
“The priest will be here soon,” he said gruffly. Then he left, leaving the door wide open, as if even the walls of this house knew I was a prisoner now.
God, I hated him. I hated Archer for ripping away what little freedom I had left. For destroying the tiny sliver of hope I clung to every night when I thought maybe, just maybe, I could still run away, still find myself again outside his shadow.
Now there was no outside.
There was only him.
I gripped the edge of the stool so hard my knuckles turned white. My chest felt like it was caving in, suffocating under the weight of everything I could never say aloud. I wanted to scream. I wanted to rip this stupid dress apart and run barefoot through the streets until I disappeared.
Instead, I sat there, frozen, listening to the muffled sounds of the house being prepared for a wedding no one would celebrate.
I can't escape anymore; Archer would now have a reason to chase me forever because of this baby.
The maids finished their work in silence, their faces pale, their eyes avoiding mine. They knew. Everyone knew. This wasn't love. It was control. Power. Ownership.
A knock sounded at the door, sharper this time.
“The priest is here.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. The maids helped me to my feet. My legs trembled slightly under the heavy gown, but I forced myself to stand tall. I would walk out there.
I would say whatever words they forced into my mouth.
But I would never, ever forgive him.
And somewhere deep inside the ruins of myself, I swore:
One day, I would make Archer regret ever thinking he could chain me to him.