CHAPTER SEVEN

Five days.

Five long, agonizing days Riley had been confined to the room that was once his—no phone, no contact, and no hope of reaching out to a friend who might have offered even a temporary solution.

Now standing in front of the mirror, he gazed at his reflection that stared back at him. A white tailored suit hugged his frame perfectly, a stark contrast to the chaos brewing inside him. His wavy hair, still the same as ever, seemed darker now, as if mirroring the heaviness of his thoughts.

"That's it! You're ready for your big moment." The stylist said with a smile on her face, obviously happy for him. If she knew who he's going to marry, her smile would immediately vanished.

Riley nodded and the stylist walkes out.

Now alone once again, he let fingers brushed over the lapel of the suit, and for a fleeting moment, he wondered how he ended up here—dressed like this, standing in a house that no longer felt like home, preparing for a future he didn't want. Everything just happen so fast. A week ago, he was

The sound of footsteps outside the room pulled him from his thoughts. He straightened up, his expression hardening as the door creaked open.

"Still admiring yourself?" The familiar mocking tone sent a wave of irritation through him.

Riley didn't turn to look at the owner of the voice. He already knows who it is.

"Bro, so sorry for you. You're gonna marry the nightmare of everyone in the city, not just that….." Lila deliberately trailed, "Not just a nightmare, a fool, a damn lunatic." She finished, her tone laced with mock sympathy as she leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed and an amused smirk on her face.

Riley shot her a glare from the mirror. He didn't need anyone to remind him of his messed up situation . "I'm not in the mood for your nonsense, Lila. Just leave."

"Chill. I'm just trying to be a helpful sister. You know, I can help you out if you let me."

Helpful? Help him out? Riley wanted to laugh. Of all people, see who's offering to help him. He knows this method, he always fell for it then. But now, he wasn't the naïve fool he used to be.

Riley turned away from the mirror, his cold gaze meeting Lila's amused one. "I don't need your help, Lila. Whatever you're trying to pull, save it for someone else. Just leave while I'm still quiet, I might decide to expose your sweet little secret."

Instantly, Lila's face twisted into a cold sneer. "You…you pathetic shit! …what do you mean." No, it's not what she's thinking, is it? Did Riley know about her more than she thought he did?

The creak sound of the door opening cut through their conversation. Lila's mother, Freya, walked into the room. She gazed at Riley disdainfully before turning her head away.

"Darling, we need to talk about something important." She turned to Lila, her eyes filled with something—Riley couldn't quite name it, but it wasn't the usual mockery he'd come to expect. He was grateful for that, at least there was no reminder of how pathetic he was.

They walked out of the room, not without given him that ugly look of theirs. Now, the next person he's expecting hasn't showed up yet.

Riley looked around the room and noticed the subtle change. He doesn't want to look more than he wouldn't be able to bare. His own biological parent's home has now become someone else's. and the room that he was standing in now —once his—was now decorated into Lila's taste.

"Boss said you should be outside now. It's time." Someone outside said and without waiting for Riley's response, he pushed open the door.

Riley held his right hand up, making the guard that was sent to fetch him stopped in his tracks. "Lead the way." He doesn't need anyone to drag him, he had already accepted his fate. Already made up his mind, it's just a marriage.

Now that he was on his way to the so-called wedding, Riley couldn't stop the thoughts racing through his head. How was he supposed to spend a lifetime with an Alpha who despised Omegas?

A lifetime—those words clawed at him, suffocating him. Would he even survive it? Or would the marriage become a cage he could never escape from?

He had been furious and dejected when Glenn first told him it was a lifetime commitment. At first, Riley assumed it might be a temporary arrangement—a contract marriage, bound by a specific term, something he could endure until it ended.

But no, this was permanent. Forever. As that reality sank in, his chest tightened, and the dread settled deeper. How could he possibly endure a lifetime with someone like Caspian Nightingale? A man whose very name sent shivers down his spine.

Stupid.

How could he have been so stupid? Desperation had blinded him, and before he knew it, his signature was on the document Glenn handed him. He hadn't even read it properly, assuming it was a temporary arrangement. He never thought it would trap him into a lifetime commitment.

A sharp knock on the car window snapped him out of his thoughts. Riley hadn't noticed that the car had already stopped. The door opened, and the guard from earlier stood there, waiting.

"Move. We're here."

Riley stepped out of the car, his gaze shifting to the massive church in front of him. Its towering structure loomed over him, with its pristine exterior giving it a suffocatingly grand appearance. There was no one outside. Of course, they'd taken the back entrance. He was the bride—he wasn't supposed to be seen before the ceremony.

Inside the church, Glenn was waiting. His sharp suit and smug expression made Riley's stomach churn.

"It's time," Glenn said, his tone cold.

Riley didn't respond, his expression blank as he moved closer.

As they reached the doors leading to the hall, Glenn leaned in. "Don't even think about trying anything. No stunts, no running, no sudden decisions. If you mess this up, I'll make sure you regret it."

Why would he when his signature was already locked in the legal contract? Any reckless move would have torn his one last chance at freedom into shreds. Yes, he had plans.

Riley turned to him, a sarcastic smile tugging at his lips. "Relax, Glenn. I wouldn't dare ruin your perfect image." he said, putting emphasis on 'perfect image'.

Glenn's jaw tightened, but he said nothing as he grabbed Riley's wrist, gripping it tightly before leading him forward.

As the doors opened, Riley's eyes widened. The hall was packed with people—politicians, business moguls, and the wealthiest of the wealthy. All of them were seated, watching the aisle with anticipation.

They weren't here for him. They were here to see who was bold—or stupid—enough to marry Caspian Nightingale. Riley could feel their stares—some were pitying, some surprised, others blank and indifferent.

Who would want to marry a mentally unstable person or to put it bluntly, a fool? And not just that, an Alpha that was feared even despite his condition.

His heart skipped a beat, palms growing clammy as his eyes locked onto Caspian. Standing at the altar, his posture was calm, but the twitch in his jaw and the way he played with his fingers gave him away. Something about him screamed unrest, like a man trying to hold himself together but barely succeeding.

Caspian hadn't noticed the entrance yet—or maybe he had and didn't care. But when their eyes finally met, Riley's heart did a backflip, his breath catching. Those eyes…