Heir of Deception | (for mature audience)

Chapter 39: Christian

Christian

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After our first dance as husband and wife, Alexandria and I wove through the crowd, mingling with our guests. The exhilaration of finally calling her my wife sent a surge of pride through me, a title I would wear like a badge of honor. She was radiant, effortlessly captivating everyone around her, and I reveled in the fact that I was her husband. Despite our rocky start, everything had beautifully aligned since our time in Barbados.

While she animatedly chatted with Leah and Aliyah, I made my way to the bar to refill my glass with champagne. Just as I reached for the bottle, I felt that familiar, unwelcome presence beside me—Anthony, sauntering up with that smug grin plastered across his face.

“Congratulations,” he said, his tone dripping with insincerity.

I let out an exasperated sigh, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. “What do you want, Anthony?”

“I just wanted to congratulate you. You’re officially the owner of that land you’ve been drooling over,” he smirked, clearly relishing this moment.

“Don’t start your shit tonight,” I warned, my patience wearing thin.

“I come in peace,” he replied, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I just think it’s time we made this official now that you’re married to Alexandria. Let’s sign the papers.”

“Let’s go,” I said, setting my glass down with a determined clink.

Alexandria was still immersed in conversation with some guests, so I enlisted Taylor and followed Anthony and his lawyer to a quiet room down the hall. The lawyer handed me the contract and a pen, and as I signed the papers, a weight settled heavily in my chest. With each stroke of the pen, I felt a knot tightening in my gut, knowing I was sealing a deal that could shatter everything.

I shoved the signed papers back into the folder and handed it over to Taylor to keep safe, my voice low and laced with menace. “If Alexandria ever finds out about this arrangement, I will fucking make your life a living hell. I will take everything from you, Anthony.”

The words lingered in the air, my tone firm and cold, masking the turmoil roiling inside me. I was betraying her, just like the others had before, and the disgust I felt for myself was overwhelming. She didn’t deserve this; based on her past relationships, she had already been dealt enough pain.

“Find out about what?” Alexandria’s voice cut through the tension, sharp and probing.

“Alexandria!” I exclaimed, shock coursing through me as I turned to face her, panic rising in my chest.

“What shouldn’t I find out, and why is it so important that you had to sneak off with my father?” she pressed, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

“I think I should leave,” Anthony interjected, glancing between us, that same smug smile still plastered on his face.

“You think?” she rolled her eyes at him, her annoyance palpable. “Taylor, can I see what’s in that folder?” she demanded, her voice resolute.

Taylor looked at me, her eyes filled with fear that mirrored my own. I could feel the walls closing in, the weight of my secrets pressing down on me. I wanted to protect her from the truth, but the thought of keeping her in the dark any longer felt equally unbearable.

“Taylor!” she said louder, frustration spilling over.

“Give it to her,” I sighed, conceding to the inevitable.

Alexandria snatched the folder from Taylor’s hands as she left the room, closing the door behind her. My stomach twisted in knots, dread pooling in my gut as I realized the moment of reckoning had arrived. I stood there watching as she read the contract.

“Princess, this was way before I got to know you and who you were,” I said, practically pleading with her. “I would have…”

“So, why weren’t you honest with me from the jump?” she snapped, tears welling in her eyes. “You think I would have married you if I knew? You used me, Christian!”

“Used you? I never used you!” I shot back, my voice rising, anger and desperation colliding. “I was trying to protect you!”

“Protect me?” she scoffed, incredulous. “By lying to me? You think that’s how you protect someone you love? This is exactly why I can’t trust you! You’re just like everyone else!”

“I’m not like them!” I shouted, desperation clawing at my throat. “I love you, Alexandria! I’ve never cared for anyone the way I care for you!”

“Love?” she echoed bitterly, her voice trembling with anger. “You love me, but you’re willing to hide this from me? You think lying is love? You’ve shattered everything I believed about us!”

“I was afraid, okay? Afraid you’d walk away if you knew the truth!” I admitted, my tone softening as I stepped closer, yearning for her to understand. “I wanted you to be happy!”

“Happy? You think this is happiness? This is betrayal!” Her voice trembled, breaking under the weight of her emotions. “You have all the money in the world, and yet you chose to manipulate me to get what you wanted!”

“You’re worth more than anything to me, Alexandria!” I pleaded, reaching for her hand, desperate for contact. “I would give everything just to show you how sorry I am!”

In an instant, her hand flew across my cheek, the sting of her slap igniting a fire in my chest. “Fuck you!” she spat, tears cascading down her face.

In any other situation, I wouldn't have stood for it, but this was different. I cared more about her than myself. She could do anything to me right now, and I would allow her to let it out.

“Are you leaving me?” I asked, my voice cracking, the thought of her leaving shattering me.

“I’ve dealt with enough humiliation tonight,” she said, her voice weary, “and as much as I want to, I won’t—at least not now.”

Her words sliced through me like a dagger, and I stood there, paralyzed, as she walked away. A heap of emotions crashed over me—rage, regret—but the most overpowering was sadness. All because of things that could have been avoided. I had fucked up, and I knew it. I had brought the woman I loved to tears, something I never wanted to do.

The rest of the night was punctuated by her avoidance and the brave facade she put on for everyone else. I couldn’t handle it. She was wearing a mask, and I hated that I had forced her into this position. I hated myself for it.