CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5
Mila.

"Wife?" Elisa let out a shrill laugh, gaze flinging from me to the newcomer. "No sir, you must be mistaken."

"Excuse me?" He asked coldly.

"This is Mila Garvis." Cassie interrupted, with a flirty smirk. "She's an orphan nobody who doesn't even have two cents to rub together. She's not your wife. She probably just looks like her."

"Yes." Elisa tacked on with a wide smile. "But of course, my beautiful daughter Cassandra can help you find your wife if you wish."

"Enough!" Victor roared, fingers tightening around my wrist. "I don't know who you are but I demand you leave. Mila is mine."

He tried to drag me away, but I was too frozen with shock to move. Memory came rushing back of the man I'd met two years ago. Back then I'd only signed the marriage certificate for tuition money. I hadn't thought about the man or the marriage again.

But it was evident that the man hadn't forgotten me.

He pulled out a document from inside the pocket of his suit pocket and strode forward, holding it up to Victor's face. "I'd be more than happy to give you my lawyers contact so you can get the full details. But then again, I'm not in a nice mood. I clearly remember telling you to get your paws off my wife."

In the blink of an eye, he had grabbed me and I was at his side.

"We are leaving." Lance announced, spinning around.

To my shock, Ryan jumped in to block our exit. "No. You can't do that. Mila is mine."

"Excuse me?" I asked, confused.

" Mila baby, I love you. Forget everything that has happened in the past and_"

Lance doesn't give him the opportunity to say more than that. With a scoff of annoyance, he pushed him out of the way and we continued on our way out of the church, leaving the entire congregation including my step family and Victor Verde gaping at us.

As soon as we were out of the church though, I yanked my hand out of lance's. "I never agreed to marry you."

"The document you signed says differently." He replied coldly.

"Well, then I want a divorce."

"Permission denied."

"I'll take you to court! " I warned.

"With the six thousand dollars in your bank? " One of his eyebrows climbed up. "Face it, Mila, you need me. But I'll cut you a deal. This doesn't need to be a real marriage. I only need you to stay married to me for one year, and give me one heir after which you walk away with ten million dollars."

My jaw dropped open at the staggering amount. "T-ten_" I trailed off, the sum refusing to even leave my mouth.

"Do we have a deal?"

It was tempting. So, so tempting. But if I took his deal, I had no doubt that Elisa would pull the plug on my sister's life. "I can't."

"Is this about the sum? Fine. Twelve million then? Is that enough to buy you and your womb for a year? "

I flinched at how demeaning he made the entire thing sound. Tears stung the back of my eyes. I had just run away from one man who wanted to treat me like a commodity to the arms of another who only wanted me for my womb.

I should be used to this by now. It was time to face this cruel life I had been given squarely.

I steeled my spine. "I'll go along with this marriage and give you an heir under one condition."

His glacial blue eyes narrowed. "What condition?"

"My sister was sick for many years with an autoimmune disease. I was managing it well. About two months ago though, she suddenly collapsed and got into a coma." I took a deep breath. "She's not of legal age and is technically under my step mother's care. Elisa can decide to pull the plug whenever she wants if I don't do what she wants."

"Done."

My eyes went wide. "You don't understand. It won't be so easy. My step mother is_"

"Mila, you're going to eventually realize that everyone has a prize. Including your step mother. If you want your sister in your care, it's done." He informed me. "But let me warn you. If you do anything to jeopardize this marriage or my position, you'll wish you had said I do to Victor Verde."

I shivered at the promise in his voice, wondering if I wasn't making a grave decision. I was jumping from the fire straight to hell itself.

"Is that understood?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Good. Now Mrs. Armstrong, let's go. We have an event to attend." He held open the door of a slick, black luxury car waiting at the curb.

I slid into the back with my heavy wedding dress.

As soon as he joined me in the back, the car pulled away. The interior of the car felt too small with my new husband's broad frame beside me.

"I have something else to add," I cleared my throat. "I'm a college student and I don't want to quit school."

"Fine by me." He sounded like he didn't care either way.

Could it really be that easy. I had gotten a wealthy, handsome husband and saved my sister's life in one move. And I could finally get my revenge on Elisa, Cassie and Ryan as the wife of a multibillionaire. If this wasn't a miracle, I didn't know what to call it.

The car navigated the streets of new York with ease and finally pulled over at a quiet field far away from the city center.

"Where are we?" I asked, but my husband ignored me, climbing out of the car. I scrambled out after him, glancing around in confusion at the vast emptiness around me.

My stomach squeezed with nerves at the strange surroundings. What the hell was going on?

I hurried to keep up with my husband and finally we came upon where a small crowd was gathered. It took me a moment to realize that we were at a funeral.

Lance grabbed my hand and walked up to the coffin in the center. To my shock, he spat on it, causing murmurs to ripple around the crowd.

"What are you doing?" I asked him in shock, trying to pull my hand away.

He didn't take his eyes off the coffin. "Rot in hell."

" Have some respect, Lance. This is your wife's funeral!" An older woman approached, looking furious.

My husband smiled. "On the contrary mother." He wrapped his hand around my shoulders. "This is my wife."

What the hell had I gotten myself into?