<b>Chapter </b>99


    KADE


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    “What?” Kross shouted as soon as I delivered the news to him, his eyes wide. “Marriage? What the fuck are you on about?<b>” </b>


    I took off my tie, tossing it and not caring where itnded, and slumped on the chair in his office. “I would like


    to know, too.”


    He took off his sses, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fuck, Ss has finally lost it.”


    I didn’t know what to feel anymore, I didn’t even know if I could feel. I had exhausted all my feelings earlier and now I was just left nk. I sent a text to Axel, dropping my phone and closing my eyes.


    My phone rang and I picked it up without looking at the caller’s ID.


    “What the hell, man?” Axel shouted, and I had to remove the phone from my ear and put it on loudspeaker. “Marriage? What is Ss thinking?”


    “About more power and money,” I answered, my voice t. “What else?”


    Axel cursed harshly, and he sounded angry. Same with Kross. They were angry on my behalf. Good, I didn’t have the strength for that.


    “Originally, it was supposed to be you,” I said. “You were the one who was supposed to be getting married. And that was why he was so desperate for you toe back.”


    “I could talk to him,” Kross said. “Make him stop this.”


    I shook my head. “There’s no need for that. I’ll do it.”


    “Why?” Axel asked.


    I said nothing. Why? No, really, why? Because I wanted to prove useful to that bastard? That was bullshit, considering I felt nothing towards him, and yet what was I trying so hard to prove?


    “Marriage,” I muttered, my eyes slowly closing.


    ***


    Four dayster, it was time to meet my soon–to–be wife. I was notified through an email, and I didn’t bother to make any effort. I didn’t go make a new suit–what was the point when I had countless suits lined up in my closet–and I didn’t go get a haircut.


    Usually, I kept my hair tied up<b>, </b>and it was sometimes hard for people to know I had long hair, but today, I was going to wear it down.


    “You’re not ready yet?” Kross asked, leaning against the door frame of my room.


    I was sprawled on my bed, staring nkly at the ceiling. “I’m going to bete.”


    Kross scoffed. “Is this you rebelling<b>?</b>”


    “You can call it that.”


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    “Do what you want, man. I’m off.”


    After he left, I didn’t stop staring at the ceiling, and not once did I blink.


    Was this normal? Me feeling so… empty? Surely, I ought to feel something, however tiny it must be. But why do I just feel so empty? I don’t remember how these past days went by. I know I went to work like my world was still the same, but I was living on autopilot.


    This emptiness… scared me.


    <b>** </b>


    I was two hourste. Honestly, I didn’t mean to be thatte. Time just moved too fast.


    I stepped out of my car, looking at the mansion. I finally stepped in and Gabriel was there to take my coat.


    “They’re in the back, sir,” he informed me and I acknowledged by nodding.


    I followed Gabriel’s direction, each step echoing on the marble floor. As I got closer, the sound of their voices reached me, and I finally got to the ss door. I slid it open, stepping into the back garden.


    It fell silent as soon as I entered.


    When the email said it was going to be a small gathering, I didn’t think it was going to be this small. It was just four people, minus Kross, Vera, and Ss. Thetter who was walking to me with a drink in his hand, and his eyes were hard.


    “You’rete,” he muttered, pushing the drink into my hand.


    “Time slipped,” I said, not sounding a bit apologetic.


    “The man of the hour has arrived,” Ss said, turning back to his guests, a pleasant, fake smile on his face. “Let’s get the introduction started.”


    He introduced me to Mr. and Mrs. Iannelli. I bowed deeply, kissing Mrs. Iannelli’s hand when she offered it.


    “Oh my, you’re more handsome than I thought,” she said when I dropped her hand, batting her eyshes at me, a silk smile on her face.


    What the hell…? She was beautiful, sure, but her husband was by her side.


    “You tter me,” I said, not bothering to push any emotion into my voice.


    “He


    says with a nk face,” Mr. Iannelli said, but his face was pleasant.


    <b>9:20 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>15 <b>d</b>.


    “Pardon my expression.”


    <b>He </b>just waved me off.


    :


    “And now to introduce the woman of the hour,” Ss continued. “Bedonna Iannelli.”


    <b>61 </b>


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    There were two younger women, but I immediately knew who Bedonna was <b>as </b>soon as I entered, and I’ve been avoiding looking her way.


    But now, there was no avoiding it any longer.


    I finally turned to her, and our eyes met and held.


    She was beautiful. More beautiful than I thought she would be. Her ck eyes stayed locked on mine, a bit wide. Her ck hair flowed like spilled ink down her frame. She didn’t need to stand up for me to know she was tall and had a nice shape. Her back was straight, legs crossed but she uncrossed them when I approached her.


    Here she was. My bride.


    The reason I didn’t look <i>at </i>her when I stepped in was that I thought I would feel something when I saw her- anger, curiosity, dread–but I felt none of those things. Just that emptiness, yawning wider.


    I stopped in front of her and she slowly stood up, her eyes never leaving mine, her red, lush lips slightly parted.


    I reached for her hand and she ced it on top of mine. I bowed gently, kissing her knuckles.


    “Kade Varkas<b>,</b><b>” </b>I said as I dropped her hand, straightening.


    “Kade,” she purred, her eyes finally leaving mine and roaming over my features. “A man who knows how to stick to his time.”


    “It’s one of my best features.”


    She smiled softly. “Are you trying to flirt with me, Kade?”


    My expression didn’t change. “I’m not.”