Jasper hadn’t slept all night.
The marriage contract lay on her desk.
She wanted to tear it apart.
But every time she looked at the photo of her father, she couldn’t.
At exactly 9:00 a.m., three black Rolls-Royces stopped outside her house.
Twenty bodyguards stepped out.
The neighborhood watched in shock.
One of the guards opened the car door.
“Mrs.
Mariano, Mr.
Watson is waiting.”
Jasper refused.
“Tell your boss I’m not coming.”
The bodyguard handed her a phone.
Keifer’s deep voice echoed through the speaker.
“Look outside.”
She looked across the street.
Her father was standing beside another black car, surrounded by Keifer’s men.
He wasn’t hurt, but he clearly wasn’t free.
“Now…”
Keifer said calmly,
“Get in the car.”
Jasper clenched her fists.
She stepped into the limousine.
The drive was silent.
Keifer sat across from her, reading business documents as if today were just another meeting.
Jasper finally spoke.
“Do you always force women to marry you?”
He didn’t even look up.
“Only one.”
She scoffed.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Without warning, Keifer closed the file.
His icy gaze met hers.
“You hate me.”
“Good.”
“Hatred is easier to control than love.”
Jasper looked away.
“I’ll never be your wife.”
Keifer gave a small smile.
“In thirty minutes…”
“…you already will be.”
They arrived at a private chapel.
No guests.
No flowers.
No music.
Only a priest.
A few witnesses.
And dozens of armed bodyguards.
Jasper’s eyes filled with tears.
This wasn’t the wedding she’d dreamed of.
The priest began.
“Do you, Keifer Watson, take Jasper Jean Mariano to be your lawful wife?”
“I do.”
The priest turned to Jasper.
She remained silent.
Keifer leaned close enough that only she could hear.
“Your father.”
Jasper closed her eyes.
“…I do.”
The vows were spoken.
The rings were exchanged.
The priest smiled.
“By the power vested in me…”
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Then came the words Jasper feared most.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Jasper took a step back.
Keifer gently held her wrist.
“Don’t make a scene.”
Before she could react, he lifted her chin and kissed her.
It was brief.
Gentle.
Yet possessive enough for every witness to know she was now Mrs.
Keifer Watson.
When he pulled away, Jasper slapped him across the face.
SMACK!
The chapel fell silent.
Every bodyguard reached for their weapons.
Keifer slowly raised one hand, stopping them.
He looked at Jasper with a faint smirk.
“Interesting.”
Jasper glared at him.
“Don’t ever kiss me again.”
Keifer adjusted his tie as if nothing had happened.
“We’ll see about that…”
Then he offered his hand.
“Come home, Mrs.
Watson.”
Jasper stared at him with hatred.
But she knew one thing.
The contract had just begun.