Welcome Home, Fiancée

Ivy's POV

Seated in front of the mirror, my reflection stared back at me.

No matter how much I tried, I couldn't stop tears from streaking my face, ruining the artist's work.

“Ivy, please stop this!” Mom said for the umpteenth time. I said nothing, just let them paint me up again.

The door creaked open, and Dad entered. I kept my gaze on the mirror, ignoring his presence.

“It's time” he said then turned.

Mom leaned closer, looking into my eyes through the mirror. “Stay calm, Ivy. Once you get out of here, your life changes”

My heart clenched.

The change which she was talking about was something I don't want in my life.

Not this life. Not Cassian Wolfe.

Mom led me out, Dad waiting in front of the hall.

Thoughts ran through my head, dark plans lurking around every corner, but I couldn't execute any.

I imagined a gun in my hand, aimed at my head as I threaten to kill myself if they don't stop the engagement.

I could run! Leave and never come back.

But I couldn't do it, I didn't have the courage.

Instead, I held onto the one hope I had left.

Adrian.

He might come, and he might not.

“Wear a smile, Ivy.” Dad said, but I didn't flinch.

The door swung open, the reception hall glittering under golden chandeliers. Influential people I had never seen in my life filled the hall. People who never cared about my existence but cared about my engagement.

Again, my eyes got glassy.

Cassian stood at the centre of the hall, a wine glass in hand as he laughed with some partners.

His lips curled into a smile when his gaze landed on me.

“To Ivy Sinclair, my soon to be fiancée” his voice was smooth, sharp. “Tonight marks the union of two families. Two legacies. Together, we'll build an empire”

The crowd clapped.

I wished I could scream, but instead, tears blurred my vision.

Moments later, gunshots filled the hall. Glass shattered, the guests screaming as they scampered for safety.

I froze as I stared in panic. Women tripping over their gowns, people shoving into each other….

Everywhere turned into chaos.

Cassian grabbed me roughly, his glass falling from his hands. “Stay close to me”

I didn't object, just gulped. But before he could grip me tighter, a figure emerged, kicking him to the floor.

I gasped.

A masked man seized me, his strong hands throwing me over his shoulder.

My heart raced.

My fists pounded into his back, fighting to yank myself free as he shoved through panicked bodies.

I was thrown into the back seat of a car, the door slamming behind me.

I swallowed hard.

“Who…..are you?” My voice trembled. “What…..do you want from me?” I asked, the moment he slid into the driver's seat.

He ripped his mask off, turning to face me.

My breath caught. “A-Adrian?”

“I couldn't let you go, Ivy. You deserve better than that asshole”

My stomach knotted, thousands of emotions coursing through me.

The car sped into the night, stopping in front of a penthouse moments later.

We stepped inside, Adrian looking over windows and curtains to make sure it was safe.

“The bathroom. The kitchen. Laundry. Your room” Adrian pointed towards rooms, but my thoughts weren't circling around his words, but his voice.

“You had this all planned out?” I croaked.

“A brother should at least be able to protect his sister, shouldn't he?”

The words sliced through me. Brother

No matter how many times it had been said, my heart refused to believe it.

“Your phone?” He held out his hand and I handed it over without protest.

He snapped my SIM card into half, making me gasp.

“If you want a new life, then you can't keep this card” he slid a new line into the phone before handing it back.

“I got everything you might need, call me if you need anything. My number is in there” He turned and walked away, leaving me staring at his back.

For two days, I stayed hidden. No nagging. No marriage talks. No betrayal. No tears.

Just peace.

Everything was perfect until a phone call from an unknown number came in.

The ringing sound pierced through me, making my blood run cold as I stared at the screen.

Who could it be?

Cassian?

Dad? Mom?

The call stopped, the phone pinging with messages almost immediately.

Photos.

Hesitating for a while, I clicked on them.

My hands trembled, phone threatening to slip as I stared at the photos in terror.

Adrian. Tied to a chair, blood dripping down his temple.

My breath hitched.

The phone rang again.

I picked up, trepidation washing all over me.

My Dad.

His voice was calm, dangerous. “You dared stage a play to ruin your own engagement?”

I gulped.

He has Adrian, having him tortured.

“I’m sorry, Dad. Please don't hurt him” My voice trembled.

He chuckled, dark and cruel. “Come back and complete what you ruined, Ivy. Then I'll let him live”

My chest tightened.

I thought I was finally able to run from everything, but turned out, I was still revolving in the circle of my misery.

Adrian's voice came from the other end of the phone, low and weak. “No, Ivy. Don't”

I swallowed hard, face twisting with resolve and determination. “I'll be there”

Minutes later, I fled from the penthouse, ending up in front of the mansion in minutes.

In front of the gates, a cold wave hit me, marking the beginning of a new chapter of my misery.

My legs wobbled as I stepped through the gates, Adrian's words echoing in my head. “No, Ivy. Don't” but I knew I had already chosen my own poison.

Rather than watch him die, I would suffer.

The moment I walked into the mansion, Cassian was waiting.

He didn't scold me, didn't rush towards me with rage. Instead, he lifted his glass of wine, a sinister smile spreading on his lips.

“Welcome home, fiancée”

My blood ran cold, the realization hitting hard.

I hadn't just saved Adrian, I had just delivered myself to the slaughter.