The Strange Groom's Cursed Bride

The wedding had ended abruptly, and now Alice sat in the backseat of a sleek grey car, watching the world blur past her window. Everything still felt surreal. Her heart raced as she still clutched the bouquet of fake flowers tightly against her lap. She hadn't even been given a moment to talk to Priscilla after the ceremony.

Instead, she'd been rushed into the car with vague instructions: Priscilla will join you for a family dinner tonight. That was it. No explanations, no reassurances. Just silence.

Alice chewed her lip, nerves knotting her stomach. She was heading toward her supposed new home. Alone. No idea what to expect.

But for some reason, whenever she thought about Hades and what had just happened, anger bubbled inside her.

First of all, the very unique wedding vows.

Second... hi?

HI!?

She didn't even want to talk about the 'little girl' he kept addressing her. Even if he was a lot taller than her, she was at least average in height when compared to other women.

Third...

"You are very... abnormal," he'd said, his voice low and laced with amusement.

"HA!" She scoffed scoffed loudly as she remembered it. "The pot calling the kettle black. If anyone is abnormal, it is him!"

The sound of the driver clearing his throat pulled her out of her thoughts. She glanced up and caught his eyes watching her through the rearview mirror. Realizing she'd been so 'passionate' and forgot herself made her sit up at once. Then she forced a polite, apologetic smile before turning her gaze to the window, she closed her eyes and winced at herself.

"Stay in character, Alice," she chastised herself.

So here's what happened earlier...

----

She had ignored his silly greeting.

The announcer cleared his throat, shifting awkwardly at the front of the room. They didn't need anyone to tell him this was the most difficult job he had ever gotten. He looked like he didn't want to be there and his eyes also kept going to the handsome gunman in front.

"Ahem," the man cleared his throat, his voice shaking with forced enthusiasm. "And now...to seal their vows...the bride and groom may...uh, kiss."

Alice froze, her heart leaping into her throat as her alarmed gaze went to the announcer. Kiss?

Kiss him? She couldn't. She wouldn't.

Sure, he was devastatingly handsome in that devilish way, but that wasn't the point. She'd never kissed a man before, and there was no way her first kiss was going to be with this... this criminal.

She glanced at Hades, who was staring at her as though he could read every single thought that flickered through her face. He was thankfully not making any move.

Her mind raced. She could feel the weight of everyone's stares, the awkward tension thick in the air. She needed a way out—fast.

Then, inspiration struck.

Alice's lip quivered. She widened her eyes dramatically, her voice trembling as she began to sob again.

Eyes rolled in the crowd.

She cried, this time, making sure tears fell and clutching her chest like a heroine in an overly dramatic soap opera. "I am just so happy! I can't believe this is real!"

And with that, she dropped to her knees, sobbing into her hands.

The crowd had different kinds of reactions, but they dared not say anything.

"Are you sure Aurora didn't hit her head?" a girl—a relative of the Wildfire—asked her brother beside her. If anyone in the entire Wildfire family had met Aurora more often, it was her. They had both attended the same law school, although Aurora was her senior.

Her brother didn't answer. He wasn't the type to talk much. He simply watched the scene, invested.

As for the guests, they exchanged baffled glances. Some of them whispered to each other, unsure if this was part of the plan. Others looked downright horrified, including the announcer, whose face paled as he fumbled with his notes, clearly unprepared for this development.

Priscilla was glaring daggers at Alice from the corner of the room while the youngest Wildfire son, Van, was trying—and failing—to stifle his laughter.

As for Hades? He stood there, silent and unmoving, watching her with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief.

Alice could feel his gaze boring into her even as she continued her theatrical sobbing. But she refused to look up. If she just kept this up long enough, maybe they'd let her off the hook.

And then, much to her horror, she heard him move.

Towards her.

What the—

She peeked through her fingers just in time to see Hades crouch down in front of her, lowering himself with a smooth, almost predatory grace.

The gunman also took a step forward.

Like... chill dude!

The room went dead silent.

He tilted his head, his sharp jawline catching the light, his lips curling into what could only be described as an infuriating smirk and then, he said the words she never imagined would come from him.

"You are very... abnormal," he said softly, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

Alice froze, her fake sobs dying in her throat as she put her hands down to stare at him.

The audacity! He was calling her abnormal?

For a moment, they just stared at each other—her wide-eyed and flustered, him calm and unbothered.

And then, very slowly, he straightened up, turning back to the announcer with a lazy shrug as if to say, Do whatever you want; I'm done here.

The announcer, clearly at a loss, finally stammered out, "A-And with that, the vows are... sealed. A round of applause for the happy couple!"

Yes, very happy couple!

The guests hesitantly began clapping, though the confusion on their faces was unmistakable.

Alice remained kneeling on the floor, seething with a mixture of embarrassment and frustration as she glared at Hades's retreating back.

This was going to be a very long marriage.

***

She took in a deep breath, trying not to let that memory keep getting to her, especially now that it had made her break character in front of this driver. Who knew who would be next?

From this moment on, she would do better. She had to do better.

The car slowed as it approached towering gates with bold letters spelling out WILDFIRE. Her breath hitched.

The gates parted slowly after a thorough security check. As they entered, the atmosphere grew heavier. She could see armed guards patrolling the perimeter, their intimidating presence a stark reminder of the kind of world she'd stepped into.

"Step out for inspection," one of the guards instructed as the car stopped.

Alice hesitated, her palms damp.

What the hell is this?

She climbed out, trying to steady her shaking legs as another round of security checks began. The guards moved efficiently, scanning her from head to toe with cold, professional precision.

Isn't this all too much?

When she was finally allowed back into the car, Alice sank into the seat, her mind racing. The reality of her situation was sinking in fast. This wasn't just a family with a lot of money; this was a family with power. Dangerous, calculated power.

As the car pulled up to the mansion—a sprawling estate that looked more like a fortress—her eyes widened. The place was massive, its grandeur almost suffocating.

Her heart pounded as she imagined the implications of what she'd just gotten herself into.

What if they find out I'm fake?

What if Hades finds out?

Alice swallowed hard.

She was in over her head.

She was going to die, wasn't she?