Chapter 5

Alana’s POV. I studied Alec for a moment, his enigmatic words leaving me intrigued and slightly uneasy. What was it that I would soon find out? Should I be concerned? With Alec, one could never be entirely sure. As the limousine came to a halt, I shifted my gaze to the window, revealing a magnificent villa nestled in the suburbs. A vast expanse of lush greenery enveloped the property, providing the generous buffer of space and privacy that I had always coveted. This wasn't just any suburb; it was a gated community, inhabited exclusively by celebrities. My parents had certainly outdone themselves in securing my privacy, and I couldn't help but feel grateful. I glanced over, observing his reaction as he took in the sight of the house. With a hint of playful sarcasm, “What’s wrong? Is it too much? Perhaps we can switch the gazebo around and it will match the village cave you come out of.” His jaw clenched momentarily, and he seemed on the verge of a retort, but he opted for a tight-lipped smile instead. "Cat got your tongue?" I taunted, stepping out of the car and positioning myself beside him. Alec responded with a cryptic quip. "Only if you're the cat, Alana," he purred, retrieving the sets of keys my father had given us. He handed me mine, leaving me momentarily speechless with his unexpected charm. Alec then retrieved two small, closed-off boxes from the limousine, their contents concealed from my view. I couldn't help but wonder what he was holding. As the limousine departed, Alec and I made our way into the house. The first thing that struck me was the pleasant scent of peach cleaning products. My mother must have orchestrated that, knowing full well of my aversion to lemon-scented cleaners, whereas my father always favored the citrusy variety. The house boasted a minimalist decor, with functional furnishings and an abundance of open spaces, leaving room for my personal touch and decorating flair. I envisioned vibrant flowers adorning the living room, injecting a burst of color into the space. "We depart for our honeymoon tomorrow morning. Your mother seems to have selected the destination," Alec remarked, his brow furrowing as he inspected the envelope. "Where did she choose?" I inquired, moving closer to Alec, captivated by his alluring scent. "Not a tropical location," he chuckled. "Montana. I adore the cold. I can't wait," I replied excitedly, momentarily forgetting the identity of my honeymoon companion. "Sounds good. Just a week, right?" Alec took the paper from my hand to check the date. "What? Do you have a pressing job to return to?" I retorted with a playful snort, sensing that Alec's patience was nearing its limit. "I do, as a matter of fact. And you can drop the bratty attitude. If it weren't for me, you'd be the laughingstock of your industry. Believe it or not, your ex-fiancée left you for a younger, more famous woman. On the day of your goddamn wedding. So, you better start appreciating me," Alec's words cut through me, a harsh reminder of the cruel reality. I winced at the painful truth. "I'm the one now being insulted instead of you, and I did all of this for you, Alana. So, drop the snarky remarks and rude tone, or I walk out of this marriage," he warned, his eyes narrowing. The once-pretty green flecks in his blue eyes now seemed far less appealing. "You walk out now, and you gain nothing," I replied, my voice wavering slightly as I tried to regain my composure. "There was never something for me to gain. Have you read your prenup? I walk now, and the world will know you can't hold down a marriage. And what would dear daddy think?" Alec's laughter rang through the room, mocking me. "Are you threatening me?" "No, I'm telling you to be more appreciative." He crossed his arms, his tone unyielding. I huffed in frustration and decided to head upstairs to find the master bedroom. It was easy to spot, with its pastel purple walls and grey accent walls, perfectly matching the room's decor. The walk-in closets were filled with clothes, all in my size and exquisitely stylish. My eyes landed on a note, and I picked it up. "For my dear daughter, I'm so happy for you to embark on the journey of love. In a matter of time, you will take over the Jordan Empire, and I know you'll excel, just like you'll excel at this wedding. Love, Mom." As I read the letter, my eyes welled up with tears. My mother had written this, assuming that I was going to marry for love. Despite my father's lack of emotions and awkwardness, he had always been deeply in love with my mother. They had a marriage filled with love, and I had once believed that I would be just as lucky until Daniel decided to leave me. Taking a deep breath, I sat down at my vanity, slowly removing my makeup and then every pin and stud from my hair until it cascaded freely down to my waist, just as it always had. Carefully, I removed every piece of jewelery except for my wedding ring, placing them on the vanity. Picking up my phone, I noticed numerous missed calls from so-called friends, real friends, people who had rejected me or refused to work with me, and unknown numbers. Of course, there were also calls from Daniel. I accidentally clicked on social media and immediately came across several articles with headlines like "The Jordan Heiress Finally Public? Here's Everything You Should Know About Her!" I chuckled as I opened one of the articles, which mainly mentioned my wedding, hair color, my spouse, and my ex-fiancé. As I scrolled down, I finally understood what Alec had meant when he said he was now the laughingstock. "Alana Jordan, daughter of Richard Jordan, marries a high school sweetheart from a village. Could it be he’s only in it for the money?" I furrowed my brows as I read the headline. "Is Alana Jordan’s new husband a boy toy? Is there actual love in this marriage?" I clicked on that one and noticed they had added a few leaked wedding photos. I set down my phone and shook my head. This situation had certainly taken an unexpected turn. I got up from my chair and attempted to take off my dress. However, I quickly realized that I was stuck, unable to get it off. It had taken three people to put this dress on, and now I was foolishly trying to take it off by myself. I heard movement outside my room and rushed to open the door, stopping Alec in his tracks. "What?" He raised a brow at me. I took a deep breath, already dreading what I was about to ask. "Can you help me take this off?" Alec simply smiled, without a hint of gloating or mockery. He nodded and approached me, his hands carefully resting on my hips as he turned me around so that my back faced him. With a gentle touch, he gathered my hair and draped it over one shoulder. His fingertips traced over my bare back, sending shivers down my spine and making goosebumps appear on my skin. He expertly loosened the laces and then skillfully handled the zipper. I held onto the top of the dress before it had a chance to slip down. "Here you go." He tapped my bare shoulder, and I took a deep breath. I turned around and nodded at him, saying a sincere, "Thank you." I hurried back into my room, closing the door behind me. My phone chimed with texts from Daniel. -Seriously, Alana? You know Richard Jordan? He could’ve gotten me the part in 'Wreck Me, Love Me.' -You really tried to replace me with some other man? You hijacked my wedding and proceeded to get married to someone else? -Have you been cheating on me for a while now??? -I know you’re heartbroken, but you didn’t have to go marry someone else. This is beyond shameful. Don’t you have respect for yourself? -RICHARD JORDAN IS YOUR FATHER? YOU LIED TO ME? HOW COULD YOU KEEP THAT FROM ME? -Alana, baby, I think we made a mistake. Call me, or if you’d like, can you meet me? Tomorrow at the airport. I’ll explain myself. I frowned as I read his barrage of messages, particularly the last one. He wanted to explain himself, and that explanation could be crucial.