Chapter 144: The Wedding Of the Century
With the arrival of the bride, the priest officiated the wedding. His voice boomed across the sanctuary.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honor to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Romano."
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause as the couples made their way down the aisle.
Amidst the vibrant crowd, whispers of admiration and awe buzzed like bees in a flower garden.
"Did you see her long hair? She's the definition of rare beauty." Some of the wedding guests chimed.
"She's prettier than her brother." Another confirmed.
"Isabella Bennett is a precious jewel. No wonder, her beauty was hidden from the public."
The crowd and the picture bloggers craned their necks to glimpse the unrivaled jewel of the Clayton crown, and they were not disappointed. She was the epitome of beauty.
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In living rooms and bars across the state, people gathered around their screens, their eyes glued to the broadcast.
"Can you believe this?" exclaimed a woman, her voice heavy with excitement. "The royalties of the business world are merging."
Her friend nodded in agreement, eyes sparkling with intrigue. "If these two families join, who knows what kind of empire they'll build in New York?"
The ceremony was finally over? And it was time for the new couple to go home together and start their first day as a two-in-one set. The newlywed Romano slid into a sleek black Red Rover truck, bidding farewell to his family and friends.
In the shadows, a representative of one of New York's most powerful men was watching with quiet, calculating interest.
"'The sharks will always outmatch the minnows," Marcus murmured, his gaze fixed on the Romano and Bennett families.
Marcus Lee, the titan of China, his company was a result of merges and buyouts of other comps and his pharmaceutical company had long-established it as a contender for the top three biggest companies in New York and the world, and he possessed everything that was left untouched by the two great families.
"But for now, even I must bow my head and play the role of a lamb in the lion's den." He said with a sinister smirk playing across his lips.
He was a monstrous man, a predator unlike any other, however, in front of the giants, the Romano, and the Bennett, even the Japanese monster to be wary and submit.
Alexander refused to take his new bride to his family manor and instead moved to his penthouse. The penthouse sat on a 47th-floor skyscraper in the heart of New York. As the couple arrives at the penthouse, they are greeted by a legion of maids and butlers.
"This, Mrs. Romano, is your east wing." Marsha, the housemaid said, gesturing towards a wide area, large enough to fit two loft apartments. It was adorned with lush fabrics and fine paintings.
"WOW!" Jennifer exclaimed, running her hand along the smooth marble of a table.
'Breaking any of this would probably be the end of me.' Jennifer's thoughts went wild, it was probably best that she kept to herself in her room. She brought with her all of Isabella's belongings so she could learn more about her.
"You can see Central Park from here." Marsha declared.
"It is surreal," Jennifer replied, eyes wide with wonder, as she stared and admired it. "It's like stepping into a magical world."
A magical world where Jennifer wished she could make her wishes come through.
Jennifer went on a tour of her new prison, while her better half, Alexander Romano, was busy thinking of ways he could make Jennifer's life a living hell.
The next day, the rays of sunlight peering into the curtains of her bedroom announced the new day. Jennifer had initially struggled to fall asleep, but the exhaustion from the day's events eventually caught up with her, and she fell into a deep and blissful sleep.
Alexander woke up with a gasp, and the first thing that greeted her was the cold, intense stares of her new husband, Alexander. Who was seated beside her, clad in a black suit, staring at the.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. I see you slept well," he said, sarcastically.
"Y-Yes," Jennifer stuttered.
Alexander didn't say anything and kept his gaze fixed on her, Jennifer frantically sat up confused, and asked, "Wh... What are you doing here?"
Alexander stared at her with a calculating expression that made her anxious as to what was running through his mind. She clutched the sheets tight in fear as she awaited what was to come.
After a few suspenseful seconds, Alexander let out a scoff. "I suppose I should be asking you that question since this is my room." He stated.
"But unfortunately, you are my wife, and it is customary for a husband and wife to share a room. But for the sake of both our insanity, I will be using the other bedroom. And for as long as we are married, that will be the arrangement between us," he stated firmly.
"There is a maid specially dedicated to you. You should remember her, as she guided you here last night. She will come this afternoon to show you around the penthouse and get you accustomed to the layout of this place. She will attend to all your needs and answer all your questions. Wherever she takes, you will be at your full disposal. But just don't bother me or come to my room or use us that clearly?"
"Yes s…sir. I understand." Jennifer responded meekly, her voice trembling as she looked down at the sheets, still gripping them tightly.
Perhaps it was a figment of her imagination, but Alexander dished out orders in a manner similar to that of her former husband Kain, and the moment images of Kain's brutality merged, she instinctively felt the need to be careful.
"No need to address me as sir. I am your husband, and you are my wife. Sadly, we are equal." he stated plainly, his expression void of emotions.
"You can call me Alexander like everybody else, not that there will be a need to address me frequently anyway. However, if the situation calls for it, address me with respect, but never 'sir'." He continued.
"This morning, breakfast has been delayed because of you. But on every other day, meals are served like clockwork, and you will be present at each one. Your maid will brief you more on that. For now, clean up, get dressed, and head downstairs." With that said, Alexander stood up from the bed and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
Jennifer remained in a daze for some time after he had left. With an exasperated sigh, she lay down on the bed and thought to herself.
'These two families are filled with psychos. Having breakfast together as a family, what is this, the nineties?'
'Will I be able to survive long enough to find out more about how I was transported into Isabella's body? Jennifer let out an exasperated groan as different questions raced through her mind. A sound broke the serene calmness of the room.
Taking a hand to her stomach, she made a mental note.
'Argh! I'll worry about all that later. For now, I am starving.' She said to herself as she leaped merrily from her bed to head to the kitchen. However, she stopped in her tracks when her heart started to ache. It was an intense pain. She fell to the ground. Clenching her heart almost as if trying to place a hand on the pain. Then she looked down as the pain started to subside. It was the necklace as it started glowing again.
"Why…….. ugh……why is this happening" she asked as she passed out from the pain.