Chapter 3

• A tall elegant man with broad shoulders walked in.
• All eyes were fixated on him and people started murmuring and whispering to each other.
• "Wasn't mr Elrod supposed to be crippled, how come "
• " Seems she isn't marrying an older man "
• When remarks like this were going on.
• Reyes rolled his wheelchair in and the young man who had come in before gestured for him to come in by stretching out his hand to pave way for Reyes.
• "Seems the young man is the head security of the Elrods, oops she is indeed marrying Mr Elrod, what a shame!
• Some noble families at the wedding continued to gossip among themselves.
• Some thought Ashley was marrying him for his money.
• "It is a trend among young girls these days, they find a rich man and seduce him into marriage! The voice was a bit loud so Ashley must have heard it. But she never worried about it. She was just saving her Mom.
• Reyes came in, of course by the wheelchair.
• When people saw him, a lot of people stopped their gossip.
• Reyes had blonde hair colour, even his beard too, he was a man in his late fifties. He always has that grumpy-looking countenance. So most people were scared of him and Moreover, he was a powerful man who owned the biggest mall in Berlin city.
• Everywhere was so quiet as he rolled his wheelchair up to the stage.
• Ashley stared at him and sighed heavily, at this point, she had decided to accept her fate.
• As the priest was about to begin, the young man who opened the door before came and whispered to him as everyone skimmed at him muddled.
• The priest glanced at Reyes and shook his head, the moment he wanted to go against the instruction he was given. Reyes gave him a thunderous gaze and his mouth was dry and his heart was pounding as he tried to force the lump of fear down her throat.
• He bent his head and twirled his head, people were getting impatient so the audience started becoming noisy. Ashley was equally dazed.
• Then the priest brought his head up, "Ladies and gentlemen, we therefore present Mr. and Mrs. Elrod. The wedding is over " the priest said and made his way out of the hall in a flash.
• Everyone was puzzled with their mouths wide open and the hall became clangorous.
• " Is the wedding a joke!? A voice came from the crowd.
• Tony, the young man from before, had already commenced to take Reyes out of the hall.
• " she must be a joke to him! Our time was totally wasted! Angry birds began to March out of the hall.
• Ashley stood there baffled, a lot of thoughts were creeping into her mind.
• Wealthy people truly did whatever they liked. She had been standing there for 30 minutes and he came in and commanded the priest to declare them as a couple. She didn't even hear the name of her husband. Wow!
• There shouldn't have been any wedding in the first place.
• But Ashley composed herself, she has fulfilled her promise. She put it in her mind to confront her dad so that he could grant her the pledge he made.
• Before Ashley gained poise, a lot of people had escaped the hall. She managed to see her father and stepmom with Alexis of course.
• " Dad! She scurried over to where they were.
• Jared was unconcerned about whatever the Elrods did; he had fulfilled his contract with them and he can now sleep calmly.
• Jared veered around when he heard her.
• "I have married Mr. Elrod as you wished, when is Mom getting the surgery? Ashley inquired and glued her eyes on Jared.
• "Ashley I have a lot of projects at hand, there are a lot of people that want to invest and buy the company shares, I suggest you give me more time to sort things out" Jared stated, he seemed unaffected after all she can't back out now.
• "Dad! Ashley clenched her fists and bit her lips. What was she expecting from her vicious father?
• "Enough! Elena cut in "Things aren't going well in the company, he will give you the money when things become stable, he wouldn't let his first wife die" Elena said that in an attempt to mock Ashley and her mom.
• She caressed his hair and asked "Right honey?
• While Jared remained speechless and didn't utter a word. Ashley's eyes alone could be a mighty dagger to stab Jared.
• Just when Ashley was about to utter another word.
• "Miss Alexis? " a voice came from behind as he tapped Ashley's shoulder.
• Ashley curled up to him, it was the driver who picked her up before, maybe he is here to take her to the Elrod's mansion.
• " I'm not Al….." Ashley paused, she went further to whisper to Jared. " I'm going to tell Mr. Elrod that you deceived him if you don't pay the bills by next week" Ashley stepped back and winked at Jared.
• "Let's go " she turned to Sam, the driver who came to pick her up.
• Sam took Ashley back to the mansion, All throughout the time she was in the vehicle. She didn't move her lips, she just opened the window and leaned on it.
• Ashley came back to the mansion and a lady came to introduce herself as her personal maiden.
• They were other servants as well.
• "I'm Natasha, I will see to all your needs from now on. Will be glad to attend to you " she bowed.
• Ashley just nodded and started moving upstairs.
• "Would you like to have anything!? Natasha echoed watching her walk upstairs.
• Ashley never answered that, it seemed she didn't even hear.
• Natasha peeked at Sam" She must be very unhappy"
• Sam raised his shoulders, not knowing what to say to that and shifted outside.
• Ashley laid down in her bed all day after the wedding, " it was such a useless wedding! She kept remarking about it, she had no appetite to eat or whatsoever. She just picked up her phone and called her mom making sure she was alright.
• She did tell her that she wasn't going to be available for two days and Louisa would attend to her.
• She lay in her bed and slept till morning.
• When she woke up the next day, she saw a stunning man beside her, she clasped onto him tightly and kissed his forehead.
• "I want to continue living in this dreamland, there is a handsome Man here! She murmured half asleep.
• She touched his chest "Oh my God, he has broad shoulders and chocolate abs, she thought and momentarily licked her lips.
• "Holy heavens, don't let me wake up, I'm just going to stay married to him here in my dream! All those thoughts were going on in her head.
• Ashley opened her eyes slowly and saw a man beside her, he wasn't the man she married.
• "Hey beautiful" his hoarse and deep voice came through.
• Ashley hastily shoved him and he stumbled to the floor.
• " Ouch…. my waist" he moaned and allowed in pain.
• Ashley jumped up from the bed in her pyjamas.
• "Help! There is an intruder here!