Chapter 2
The limousine glided to a smooth stop in front of the grand church, its sleek black exterior reflecting the flashes of light from the paparazzi. The camera clicks were relentless, capturing every angle, every second of Christian Royal's wedding. Reporters shouted questions, their voices drowned in the noise, but none of it mattered. This wasn't just any wedding. This was Christian Royal's wedding—an event that would make history.
Christian Royal, CEO of Royals Crest Holdings (RCH), held undeniable power. His name carried weight, and his influence stretched across New York's skyline. With control over over 40% of the city's properties and investments that reached far beyond state borders, Christian was both a target and a symbol of immense power.
The two towering bodyguards flanked the car, their expressions unreadable. Protecting Christian wasn't merely a job; it was a necessity. There were always threats when it came to someone as powerful as him.
Ruby's hand trembled slightly in his, but Christian released it without a second thought. His focus remained on the door, where one of the bodyguards stepped forward to open it with military precision. Ruby hesitated for a split second, but there was no room for doubt. She had made her decision, or rather, had been made to make it. This was her reality now.
As Ruby stepped out of the car and walked behind him into the church, her eyes briefly flickered toward her family. Her mother's smile was tight, forced, her father's gaze was cold and distant, offering no warmth, and Amber stood beside them with a worried expression on her face. Ruby felt the desire to run, to scream that this wasn't her choice, but those words died on her lips.
She waved at her family, a small, strained smile pulling at the corners of her mouth, but it felt more like a goodbye. The life she knew was slipping away, and she couldn't stop it. As the limousine pulled away, leaving the heavy iron doors closing behind them, Ruby felt the weight of the moment. The door to her past had closed, and now she was stepping into a future she never wanted.
Inside the car, Christian leaned back in his seat, his hands folding with precise indifference in his lap. His eyes were fixed straight ahead, unbothered by the woman seated beside him. Ruby's anxious gaze, her quiet unease, didn't register in his mind. Christian wasn't concerned with her at this moment. He knew exactly why this marriage existed: power, business, legacy.
For over a decade, Christian had steered Royals Crest Holdings into the position it held today, dominating New York real estate. But the public face of Christian Royal was a mask. Beneath that mask was a man consumed by revenge. The brutal murder of his mother, Alessandra, had shaped his every action, every decision. The pain of that loss had driven him to relentless investigation, the desire for justice burning within him. When the truth surfaced—that Ruby's father, Maxwell Kensington, had orchestrated her death—it had shattered Christian's world. He was no longer the man he had been before; revenge had taken over, and nothing would stop him from making Maxwell pay.
But there was a lingering question that gnawed at Christian—why had Maxwell ordered the hit on his mother? What was the motive behind it? Christian didn't know, but he was determined to find out. And when he did, Maxwell would suffer.
Christian's gaze briefly flickered toward Ruby. She was sitting there, her face pale, her eyes distant, lost in thought as the city flashed by. She was beautiful, there was no denying that, but beauty was irrelevant to him. She wasn't here to be admired. She was a pawn in a game that he was orchestrating, nothing more.
His eyes caught the glint of the diamond necklace around Ruby's neck, sparkling with an almost mocking elegance. It was a symbol of the life she was now bound to. Christian's chest tightened at the sight, a strange, foreign feeling coiling in him, but he pushed it away. Focus on the bigger picture, he told himself. Don't think about her.
Breaking the silence, Ruby's voice was soft, almost hesitant. "So… do you think we'll ever—"
Christian's eyes snapped to her, his voice sharp and cold. "Don't talk."
Ruby blinked, taken aback by the sudden force of his command. She opened her mouth, but Christian raised his hand, silencing her immediately.
"Shut up," he said, his voice flat, offering no room for argument or further discussion.
The sting of his words hit Ruby like a slap, her cheeks flushing with the heat of humiliation. She hadn't expected this—not from him, not on her wedding day. But then, it wasn't a wedding day at all. It wasn't about love or romance. It was a business arrangement, a transaction.
The truth of it settled over Ruby like a weight. This was her life now. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, unsure of what to say next, feeling small and insignificant beside him. She glanced at him, but his gaze remained fixed on the city passing by. He was indifferent to her presence, and the realization hit her harder than she expected. She wasn't here to be a partner—she was here to serve a purpose.
She cleared her throat and tried again, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't really understand why you agreed to this..."
Christian didn't even look at her. Instead, the faintest, most cynical smile curved the corner of his lips. "I agreed because I have my reasons. But you don't need to understand them. You just need to do your part."
Ruby's heart sank at his words. She hesitated before asking, "And what part is that?"
Finally, Christian's cold, calculating gaze met hers. His eyes were ice, devoid of any warmth or kindness. "Your part is simple: be the obedient wife. That's all."
The finality in his tone was like a slap, hard and unforgiving. Ruby recoiled, her hands curling into fists in her lap, fighting the urge to scream, to protest. But she knew better than to challenge him. His authority was absolute, and there was no room for defiance.
The silence between them stretched on, suffocating and thick with unspoken tension. Ruby swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her life settling on her shoulders. This was it. Her future was now inextricably tied to a man who cared nothing for her. There was no escape.
As the car continued through the streets of New York, Ruby's mind spiraled with questions, each one more crushing than the last. Was this really her life now? Trapped in a gilded cage, suffocated by his power and control?
Another beat of silence passed before Ruby spoke again, her voice barely audible. "Is this really what you want?"
Christian's jaw tightened, and his lips pressed into a thin, unyielding line. "Yes."
The finality in his voice left no room for further discussion. Ruby leaned back in her seat, the weight of her new reality pressing down on her chest. This wasn't a marriage. It was a sentence. A punishment.
And she had no idea how long she would survive in this cage.