Chapter 3 Amy's POV

"Amy, don't tell me you are going to get married to Kai. Your fiancé's uncle?" Patricia, who just seemed to have heard the news, asked, her brow raised as she stared at me unbelievably.

I smiled faintly before replying, "This is the only decision I could make. I can't let Elliot ruin my perfect life."

I turned to face the makeup artist, who was already done with the makeup, before asking, "Have you arranged my hair?"

"Yes, I have," she replied calmly.

I stood up before taking my bouquet with me as I walked out of the waiting room. Even though I tried not to think of Elliot and how I pictured my wedding to be, I couldn't help it.

A lone tear rolled down my face as I thought about everything. Getting abandoned by the man I love and marrying his uncle of all men!

"Ha, she is here!"

The sharp voices from the guests made me snap out of my thoughts. I lowered my gaze to avoid meeting their judgmental gazes before walking up to Kai.

He looked fine compared to me, whose hands were trembling, my knuckles almost turning white.

"Don't worry, all this would be over..." Kai said, trying to calm me. I could swear he heard the sound of my heartbeat.

I smiled faintly before raising my gaze to stare at the crowd who were all amused.

They expected me to be next to Elliot-the man I got engaged to a year ago. How Kai ended up being next to me instead of Elliot made everyone curious. I could tell by their gaze.

"Before I pronounce you both as husband and wife, I want to know why Mr. Kai Linton is here instead of Elliot Linton," the official said, curiosity laced in his voice as he stared at us.

Others nodded in agreement.

Before I could take the microphone to speak, Kai had already done so. A bright smile was on his face as he spoke.

"I know most of you are surprised. You were expecting Elliot here, weren't you? Kai asked, his expression calm and calculated. "Amy called off her engagement with Elliot months ago. We fell in love with each other after a few meetings."

I felt amused at how fluent he was. He sounded as if he'd been practicing those words for days.

A resounding clap from the crowd drifted me back to reality. I didn't expect the guests to be easily fooled by a few words from Kai.

"You both are in love-that is what matters," the official's voice calmed the guests who were clapping. "Amy, do you take Kai Linton as your lawful husband?"

My breath seized upon hearing the official's question. I thought he was just going to pronounce us as husband and wife and be done with this.

But then, it seemed like the opposite.

"I... I... I..." I tried to talk, but I felt the last word stuck in my throat. Or maybe I can't bring myself to say that word.

How can I say 'I do' when I don't have romantic feelings for Kai? This wedding was just to save each other-strictly business, as he said.

"I do!" The words finally rolled out of my tongue as the guests' whispers filled the hall. I can't give them any reason to doubt us.

"With the power bestowed on me by the state, I pronounce you both husband and wife," the official announced, earning applause from the crowd.

Before I could think of what followed, I felt a force push me to Kai before his lips met mine. I wanted to push him off, but his grip was too fierce on me as he deepened the kiss.

After a while, he broke up from the kiss, smiling as if he had done nothing.

The official excused us, leaving us with the guests. Kai walked up to reputable businessmen, ignoring his father and Elliot's elder brother, who was still puzzled.

I excused myself from the wedding hall, and my breath finally returned to normal.

Outside the wedding hall, some guests were pointing fingers at me as they addressed me as Mrs. Linton. I didn't feel any excitement compared to the excitement I always feel when anyone calls me 'the soon-to-be Mrs. Linton.'.

"Amy," a familiar voice, which I knew belonged to Kai, made me turn. "I want to show you something important," his deep voice made me nervous, wondering what else I needed to know aside from this.

Aside from us getting married in the absence of his nephew?

He gestured for me to follow him. Without asking questions, I followed him.

We both walked into his private room. Since the wedding hall belonged to his family, almost every member of the family had a private room.

The moment we got into the room, Kai locked the door behind me, making me anxious. I don't know; I have a bad feeling about this...

As if he could read my thoughts, he walked up to the table before pulling out a document, which he placed on the table. "This is the document containing our agreement as we discussed earlier," he informed me, making me direct my gaze to the document.

I walked up to the table before flipping to the next page, which included our marriage terms. The first term was exactly as he said: 'This marriage is strictly business, a 12-month agreement. In exchange for supporting him with my family image and business dealings, I will also regain control of my family property-my father's legacy that I had lost to Elliot'.

I did not bother reading the rest of the terms before I reached for the pen. I held back the tears that threatened to pour out of my eyes as I signed the contract.

Kai sighed next before raising his gaze to look at me. "I promise to make sure this goes well-you will have your father's assets and go your separate way," he said, sounding like a man I could depend on.

Or so I thought.