Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Apart from the couple's families, the numbers of the guests that were present were half quarter of the choir. The priest was standing on the altar, he looked at the couple standing before him for a moment before proceeding with the marriage oath, it was the next thing after the exchange of the wedding rings.

“Are you Richard Sullivan ready to take Charlene as your wife, forever during happy and hard times?” The priest gazed at Richard steadily. He expected him to answer him immediately but Richard's mind was far gone.

An hour ago, before the bride arrived he made a strict order that whenever Henrietta arrived in the church she should be taken away and locked up in a room. He wouldn't want her to ruin his plan, he couldn't avoid getting his father pissed off again.

When the priest noticed he wasn't listening he repeated and that jolted him out of his thoughts. He looked at him and glanced at Charlene, he refrained himself from huffing. “I do.” He eventually said apathetically.

“Are you Charlene...”

“I do!” Charlene interrupted the priest before he could complete the sentence. Bryant chuckled, including the guests. The truth was her legs were beginning to ache and moreover standing in front of the man who wasn't happy about the marriage made her wish the wedding ceremony should end as soon as possible.

“By the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Intoned the priest.

Bryant was super elated instantly he said the words he had been anticipating. He looked at them eagerly, everyone in the church couldn't wait to see him kissing his bride.

Charlene raised her head to look at his face through the veil. Richard sighed out loud, he tilted his head, instead of taking off the net she wore to hide her face he stuck his head into the veil, now both of them were covering with the net. Their faces were close but their lips weren't touching.

“Wow! Isn't he cute?” Adonis said astonishingly. While looking at them he believed they were kissing but that wasn't the case. Richard did that to make it seemed like they were but in the veil their lips were apart.

He cupped his hand around her neck, it was enough to make the whole drama seem true. “I have no intention of kissing you, let's just pretend and stay still for a while.” Richard murmured in a lowly voice that Charlene could barely hear. Her face was expressionless while staring at him intently.

“Gosh, Richard, she's all yours. You ain't planning to make love to your woman in the church, right?” Devyn rolled his eyes.

Jeremy scoffed softly. “I'm pretty sure he's putting on a show right now.”

“You ain't blind right?” Devyn threw him a playful grimace.

When his thirty seconds were over he pulled out of the net, drew it up and looked at her face. The priest saw the whole thing but he dared not speak out. Charlene rolled her eyes insolently and looked at her parents then Charles who was grinning to himself.

Eventually the wedding ceremony was over, some of the guests had left. Richard excused himself from his friends and went to the room. The bodyguards were with Henrietta, she was sitting comfortable on a chair while operating her phone.

“I hope you have a great time here.” Richard stuffed his hands in his pockets and strode toward her.

She put her phone down, she glared at him hostilely and hissed loudly. “You asshole!” She leaped up and made to hit him but he grabbed her hand halfway in the air.

“Calm down, Henrietta.” She pushed his hand away and glared at him.

“I should have known you had planned beforehand. Anyways, tell your bodyguards to let me out. The marriage is over, what's left to wait for?”

“A lot.” He said politely and smirked.

“You wife— don't forget to tell her that you're stuck with me forever. It's either I have you or no one else.” She said threateningly, she crouched down a bit and took her silver purse on the table.

“What are you planning to do?”

“Why don't you figure it out yourself? You getting married to another woman doesn't mean I don't have my chance with you, in fact you're all mine. Take care of our son.” She tiptoed to his height, she angled her head to one side and whispered to his ear. “You can wipe off the smug look on your cute face, Richy. Enjoy your day.” She pecked his cheek before exiting the room.

Richard stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets, he had a mischievous grin plastered on his face while staring at the window. He glanced at the clock on the far wall, it was already time to leave. He pivoted and walked out of the room.

Richard returned to join Charlene who the paparazzi were giving a hard time. She had changed into a comfortable sleeveless pink long gown which was heavily decorated with flowers. She attempted to leave but none of them gave her a chance to escape.

“Where have you been?” Luciana asked with concern while looking at Charlene.

“Top floor.” He answered before walking up to her. He smiled at her kittenishly, Charlene gazed intently into his eyes, neither surprised nor anticipating. He shrugged his shoulders and wrapped his hands around her waist. Tons of cameras flashed on them.

He smiled at the cameras and leaned over and whispered to her softly. “Try to smile a little, dear wife.” He moved his lips to her forehead and gave her a soft kiss on it. She rolled her eyes in such a way no one would notice, she glanced at his eyes to see the same mischievous grin on his face. Charlene forced a delightful smile on her lips.

“Are they not beautiful together?” Bryant said to Rowan calmly, both of them were looking at the couple from far while holding flutes filled with champagne.

“Of course they are.”

“I have a surprise for both of them. Since there's no honeymoon, they should spend a memorable night together.”

Rowan narrowed his eyes at him, he lifted a brow perplexingly. “Oh,” It was the only response he could come up with since he didn't want to ask what he had done.

“Let's join the couple.” Bryant smiled brightly. They walked alongside the couple and took tons of photos with them.

AFTER SPENDING PLEASANT time with the newlyweds couple, their parents left the mansion so they could have all the time to themselves. The maids walked over to clean up the mess. Richard rose, he picked his phone on the sofa and sauntered causally to the elevator, he took the elevator to their room. He stepped out when it slid open, he strode toward the door and unlocked it before walking inside. He walked straight into the bathroom, he had a splendid shower then stepped out in a white bathrobe. As he headed toward the walk-in closet he noticed something different in the room, his eyes scanned the room. It was decorated with rose, candles on the floor in the shape of love. Beside the bed was an expensive wine and two glasses alongside a card. Richard scoffed quietly and rolled his eyes. “Don't tell me dad did all this?” He ambled toward the card and picked it up. He read what was written on the card. ‘CONGRATULATIONS DEAR SON. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT WITH YOUR WIFE.’ He scoffed disgustingly and threw it to the bed. The colorful lights in the room made him roll his eyes nonstop.

Before walking into the closet Charlene walked inside, while staring at him she couldn't believe she married the man in the magazines, Richard Sullivan. She could help but drool over his flawless body, he had bright shiny pink lips, long lashes like lady's. Bright blue eyes, Charlene figured it out he had been using contact lenses to hide his beautiful eyes.

Richard hadn't noticed Charlene was already in the room, he was busy checking out other gifts his father left in the room for them. He had separated his gifts from Charlene by attaching their names on it. When he raised his head as he had sensed her presence in the room when her fragrance filled his nostril. He cleared his throat to distract her. It jolted her out of her imaginary world, she began to walk despite not knowing where to stand or sit.

Richard wasn't bothered, he turned around and left for the closet. As he stepped inside, he gasped stunningly at what he saw. Her things were perfectly arranged in his walk-in closet. He knew instantly that only his father would do that to him. Richard had no intention of sharing the same room with Charlene. He clenched his fist tightly.

“Damn it!” He cursed underneath as his eyes became cold. He motioned to a side, he grabbed a casual outfit. He dressed up, took a wristwatch in a glass cover then walked out of the closet while fitting the watch around his wrist. Charlene was sitting on the bed, she wanted to ask him something but Richard didn't spare her a glance, he strode toward the nightstand beside the bed, he took his phone on it and a remote for his car. He scanned the room in order to be sure he didn't forget anything. His phone rang, he checked the call ID then walked out of the room leaving Charlene alone without saying a word to her.

He twisted the doorknob, entered the room and strolled toward the baby crib. Miguel was sleeping peacefully, there were toys hovering in the air. His room was beautifully designed and decorated. There were many toys on the floor. Richard moved a hand to his face, he caressed his face a little bit and leaned over, he kissed his small lips and smiled at him affectionately, he had a deep affection for his son and he was the only one that mattered to him, no one else.

“I'll be back in a few days, Miguel. Be a good boy when dad is away. I love you so much.” He said as if he could hear what he was saying. He kissed his forehead and covered his body well with the baby blanket. He left the room and took the elevator downstairs. Miguel's new babysitter was waiting impatiently for him in the living room.

“Good evening sir. I'm sorry for coming late.” She apologized for being late, she bowed her head a little bit.

“It's fine. He's in his room right now. I'm pretty sure you know the right thing to do. Keep your eyes on him, don't let him get hurt and handle my son tenderly.” He said sternly.

“Sure sir.” She nodded multiple times.

A bodyguard walked inside. “Sir, all done.” He announced.

Richard shrugged, the bodyguard led the way out and he followed from behind. They headed straight to the parking lot, he opened the car door for him and he hopped in then the driver drove out of the mansion. Although it was late in the night, Richard had planned not to stay for the night.

It was when he left Charlene came downstairs in a nightwear only to meet a lady on her way to the elevator. There were a few maids around, most of them had retired to their residence which was located far away from the main mansion.

“Good evening ma'am.” Ariel greeted warmly.

“Hey, perhaps have you seen Richard around?” Charlene enquired looking around for him.

“He left.”

She arched her brow puzzlingly. “Left?” Ariel was muddled than she was, she believed Charlene was supposed to know. Ariel bowed her head a little before attempting to leave but Charlene called her. “Excuse me, where are you going?”

She smiled a little. “To check Miguel in his room.” She noticed Charlene was confused again so she decided to explain with a little detail. “The room facing Sir Richard's room, that's Miguel's room. He's going on a business trip tomorrow, I'm pretty sure he told you.” She started ascending the stairs while gripping the stairs railings.

Charlene was devastated, she gnawed on her lower lip to prevent the tears that overflowed her eyes. She never believed Richard would ever do that to her even if he didn't love her. At least he should have respected her. She gripped the tip of her nightmare infuriatingly. She turned her head to look at the flat screen TV, their pictures were displaying on the screen, the reporter was talking about the famous families, Sullivan and knight. She stood on the same spot and watched the reporter talking about their wedding, saying a lot of things that weren't true because to her the wedding was nothing but phoney.