My Deadly Desire

Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Wedding

Isabella's POV

I pushed Alexander away, suddenly realizing what I was doing. "No, this is wrong," I said. "I have a boyfriend, someone I love, and I can't do this."

Alexander gave me a confused look, saying, "He might be your boyfriend, but that's all in the past. I'm going to be your husband, so I don't see how it's wrong."

I was unable to think straight at that moment. Confusion gnawed at me, mingling with a strange guilt, as I didn't regret kissing him. It had felt...good.

"You have to forget your past, Isabella," he said.

I sighed. "How can I do it so quickly? This morning, everything was normal. I was living a completely different life, I had a boyfriend whom I loved so much, and suddenly, everything changed in a few hours. Now I'm kissing some other guy I've met probably three times in my entire life," I lamented.

Alexander's response was characteristically calm. "Well, that kind of summarizes the whole thing."

My frustration boiled over. "This is not funny!" I snapped.

Alexander merely shrugged. "You're the one who likes to joke in serious situations."

"Not when the serious situation involves me getting married to a stranger," I replied with a hint of sarcasm.

Alexander quipped, "Stranger might not be the right word because you know me."

I scoffed, "I know your name and that you can argue and debate very well. Talking to you is like talking to a wall."

This is absurd, I thought to myself. One moment, I'm a regular college student with a loving boyfriend, and the next, I'm engaged to a man I barely know. Is it even possible to forget the past and embrace this strange new future?

I tried to gather my thoughts and make sense of the situation. But this is real. My parents and Alexander's parents expect us to marry, and there's no easy way out. Even though I don't want this, I need to find a way to cope.

"Isabella," Alexander's voice broke through my internal monologue. "I know this is strange, but we're both in this situation together. We'll have to figure it out."

He's right, I acknowledged. We're both trapped in this bizarre arrangement, and somehow we have to make the best of it.

I looked at Alexander, attempting to read his mysterious demeanor. What's going on in his mind? What does he really think about all this?

"Alexander," I began, seeking some clarity. "Why are you so calm about all this?"

Alexander leaned back, his enigmatic expression never wavering. "Calmness helps in dealing with chaos, Isabella. Our situation is chaotic, to say the least."

I couldn't help but nod in agreement. This guy has a point. If I keep panicking, it won't solve anything. Maybe I should follow his lead, at least for now.

Dad smiled as we returned to the table, and he said, "Isabella, Alexander, we've been discussing some details about your upcoming marriage."

Mr. Harrington, added, "We want to make sure that this is a memorable event for both of you."

I couldn't help but sigh internally. The thought of this marriage becoming an unforgettable event was far from comforting.

"So, we were thinking of having the wedding at St. Mark's Church," Mom chimed in.

St. Mark's Church, I thought. That sounded suitably traditional, though it was hard to be enthusiastic about a wedding that neither of us wanted.