2. Forced marriage

CHURCH

The men drag Eleanor and Avery out in the church. It’s an ancient church where you hardly can find people around. Built at the outskirts of the town, no one visits here except during the yearly fair which happens mostly in December. They force Eleanor and Avery to climb the church stairs and as they get closer, Eleanor notices the Priest sitting and doing some preparation.

Their surroundings are decorated as if there is some wedding happening here. But whose? There are also few men guarding the place with guns. All of them were wearing that special attire with the Knight Royals logo on their arm.

Someone pulls the scarf from Avery’s mouth first.

The sudden release of the scarf brought a mix of relief and confusion to Avery. The unexpected turn of events left her disoriented.

“Max?” Avery shouts seeing the man sitting before the Priest performing the ritual. “What is all this?” she screams. “Why have you got us here? It’s my marriage today.”

Avery's voice echoed with a blend of shock and frustration, as she sought answers from the unexpected figure before her.

“That’s right, Avery,” Max replies. “It is OUR marriage today.” He said with a blank look on his face which shook Avery to the core.

Max's calm response heightened the tension in the room, leaving Avery's jaw dropping in disbelief. The realization of an impending forced marriage sent shivers down her spine.

Avery’s jaw drops, and she tries to step behind, but the men don’t let her move away.

The physical restraint imposed on Avery painted a picture of helplessness. The men, shadows in the background, symbolized an unseen force orchestrating this bewildering scenario.

"I am marrying the Head of the police commissioner's son of our town, not you. My family is waiting for me at the altar. Leave us alone. Please." She tried to plead in a helpless tone as she could feel what was going to happen if Max doesn't stop his madness right at that moment. Her father is going to make their life a living hell!

Avery's desperate plea carried the weight of her predicament. The mention of her legitimate groom added another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama.

Eleanor has no clue how Avery knows this man who is waiting to get married to her by hook or crook.

Eleanor's confusion mirrored the audience's, as she grappled with the surreal situation unfolding before her eyes. The connection between Avery and Max remained a perplexing puzzle.

She breaks free of her tied arms and pulls the scarf covering her mouth.

Eleanor's determination to break free from the constraints symbolized a spark of resistance. Her actions hinted at a willingness to confront the unfolding chaos head-on.

“Who is he, Avery, and what is happening here?” Eleanor shouts.

Eleanor's desperate inquiry echoed through the room, seeking clarity amid the growing chaos.

“You must be her best friend,” Max asks. “Good you joined us here. We need someone to be proof of our wedding.”

Max's sinister acknowledgment of Eleanor's presence cast a chilling shadow over her role in this unsettling ordeal.

“Shut up,” Eleanor snaps. “You cannot marry my friend forcibly.”

The moment she says this, someone puts a knife on her neck from behind. Eleanor freezes. She feels a strong masculine scent of the man who has pointed the sharp knife on her neck. If she even moves an inch, the knife will pierce her skin. The man leans closer to her ears.

“You are a guest, so act like one,” he mutters, clenching his jaw.

“Take this knife off my skin, and I will show you what actions I can take,” she snaps back in confidence.

Avery can see the man standing behind Eleanor, and she gestures to her not to argue or fight back. Eleanor doesn’t take her warning seriously. She, in fact, provokes him even more.

“What happened? Scared to tackle a woman?” she mocks.

The next instant, he twirls her around with force, their upper bodies colliding along with their breaths. He grips both her wrists at her back, disallowing any further movements for her.

She has to widen her eyes to see him properly; they are that close. He is taller than her, his nose sharply inhaling her fragrance. His eyes have the ability to light fire, his broad lips inches apart from hers. He hasn’t shaved his beard, and that gives him the perfect villain look, enough to scare any other woman but her! She has seen strong men like him before, but none from so close, none who could create a ripple in her body, which she hates to feel.

“What happened?" He asked in his cold and menacing tone. "Cat got your tongue?"

His voice is intimidating, just like his personality.

“Break me loose and I will show you what I can do,” she scoffs.

There is a gentle smirk on his face as if he has never tackled a woman like her. Obviously not because she is one of a kind.

“Get Avery seated for the rituals,” he shouts, without leaving his gaze from Eleanor’s.

Avery struggles but is forced to sit next to Max and perform the marriage rituals. Eleanor tries to run to her friend and save her, but he holds her hands.

“Your turn will come to wish her, until then you get to stand here and watch them become husband – wife.”

“Shut your mouth and stop this wedding. You have no idea who I am.”

His brows narrow.

“And you have no clue who you are misbehaving with, girl,” he shouts back.

“You are spoiling a girl’s life. You have no rights to do that. I will ask my father to sue you all. He is the governor here.”

His eyes suddenly sparkle with an unknown light.

“You are Adam Watson’s daughter?” he asks.

“Yes, I am his second born, and trust me, when I put a word against you all, he will send you behind bars.”

He smirks again, this time gazing at her face leisurely. There is something wild in that stare; she couldn’t even name it openly, but any man who looks at a woman like that has just one intention... to consume her! He might have handsome looks, but she will not fall for that if he thinks in those lines.

The priest continues chanting the vows. Avery weeps silently. Max tries to hold her hand, but she waves it off. Eleanor keeps struggling to go, but two guards block her way. The one she was arguing with walks to the Priest, and when asked to, he ties the sacred knot so that the bride and the groom exchange rings.

“Leave me,” Eleanor shouts, seeing Avery exchanging the ring forcefully because Max has held her hand tight, and the poor girl has no place to escape. Another guard is shooting everything on his phone. Within the next few minutes, the priest declares them as husband and wife. Max passes a happy smile and hugs to take blessings of the same man whom Eleanor had argued with. He forces Avery too into the group hug.

“You don’t have to do it, Max.” He exclaims.

“Thanks, Kayden. All this wouldn’t have been possible without you.”

Avery's tears flowed uncontrollably, a silent testament to the despair that had gripped her. Kayden turned back to her, a hint of cold satisfaction in his eyes.

“This happens when people break promises, Avery. This is my place, my kingdom, and my people. If anyone breaks commitment, they will have to face my wrath.”

Eleanor, fueled by a surge of determination, pushed back the guards and sprinted to her friend's side.

“Avery.”

In the refuge of Eleanor's embrace, Avery clung desperately, her sobs echoing the tumult within her.

“I won't leave you,” Eleanor declared, shooting a defiant gaze at Kayden.

“You don’t have to,” he smirked. “Now Avery will go to her in-law with Max. You decide if you wish to come to your in-law now or later.”

Eleanor's expression twisted into one of annoyance as she regarded him with disbelief.

“Looks like you have lost your mind.”

“Looks like your father didn’t tell you yet,” he interrupted, huffing a humorless laugh. “You are getting married to the eldest son of Knight heirs in 2 weeks… which is ME…. KAYDEN KNIGHT.”

Her jaw dropped, the revelation striking her like an unexpected storm. Her father had orchestrated a marriage with the Royals without even a whisper of prior knowledge. Darn! How would she navigate this unforeseen turn of events?

Kayden Knight revealed in his victory, wickedly smirking at her again, before calling out to his guard.

“Arrange the vehicle for Avery and Max to get back to the town safely and another one to drop my would-be Royal bride at her father’s home.”

Eleanor's mind whirred with the revelation. Is he serious? Marriage... with HIM?