Chapter 3

 Despite being in imminent danger, the first thing Jay could think of was how much the pictures he had seen downplayed the Carltons features.

 They were all breathtaking- obviously inheriting their mother's genes. She was a tall woman, in her early forties, with bright brown hair, and amber eyes. She had the most beautiful aquiline nose Jay had ever seen, and could as well pass for a supermodel despite her age.

 Mr Carlton was also good-looking, but just at an average level. He had dark hair, and looked healthy for his age too. Jay could also recognize the guy who was standing right besides Micheal, he was mentioned as Micheal's cousin, although they had the same name.

 He knew who he was because of his 'stalking' sections, he had seen a whole lot of versions about how he ended up living with them. But it ultimately burnt down to the fact that he ended up living with them from a young age. So he was easily mistaken as Micheal's brother, even though Micheal was an only child.

 Then his eyes lingered on Micheal...

 Micheal was incredibly good looking. It was like he pulled the best genes from both parents, features from both resting perfectly on his handsome face. Jay had always been told he was an attractive man, but standing Infront of this family, he felt - he felt a little bit ugly.

 Jay hadn't even realized how much he'd been staring, until Michael's mother pulled him into a hug, the overwhelming smell of flower scents and candy filling his nose.

 "Welcome to the Carlton family Son!" She smiled brightly at him, and Jay couldn't hide his surprise. Had Mrs Carlton known all about the exchange all along?

 But something about her made his hair stand on end, however though she was being nice, Jay couldn't help but feel something was off. She seemed too nice to a random stranger.

 "I'm sorry about the mixup." She smiled pulling him closer to her. "There wasn't enough time to change the name tags when your father explained the situation to me."

 There was pure silence in the entire massive room.

 Jay's eyes lingered around for a moment, and he could see the look of confusion on everyone's face. They had all clearly been expecting his sister, and it seemed only Mrs Carlton knew they were being switched.

 "Oh pardon." She chuckled like it was all some funny joke, before pulling Jay over to the rest of her family. "Mr Percy told me there where some issues with their daughter_"

 Yeah! The issues being she couldn't take a few days off school, get married to fulfill the damn contract, and go back. Instead she decided it was better they sent the 'substitute' to come take her place. Jay thought with a scuff.

 "And it wouldn't be possible for her to continue with the contract." Mrs Carlton continued to explain. "But since the preparation had already been made for the wedding, I suggested sending over their son instead."

 Jay paused. She had asked for him?

 The other people in the room though still utterly confused nodded slowly, and Jay could see right there that Mrs Carlton was kind of- 'manipulative'. They all nodded in response, well all expect for Micheal.

 Micheal looked rightfully pissed.

 His face was stoic as his eyes traveled up and down Jay's face. He didn't say a word, but Jay could feel the contempt eminating from his counterance.

 "Hi I'm Liam." Micheal's cousin cut his thoughts off, and he realized Mr Carlton and Liam Carlton- Micheal's cousin, where now standing a little bit closer.

 Micheal still didn't move an inch.

 "Hi I'm Jay Percy." Jay took his hand, a little bit startled by Liam's friendliness.

"Soon to be Carlton." Liam joked, but the air was to heavy for anyone to laugh so Jay just gave a small chuckle.

 In all honesty, apart from Micheal, it seemed the other members of the family were taking it well. They didn't seem to mind marrying a man they had barely heard off until today to their family, and something just seemed off about the whole ordeal.

 "Micheal is really lucky. I mean, look at you?" Liam continue to praise with his eyes trailing up Jay's slender hair body, and Jay could clearly see he was checking him out.

 "Anyways_" Mrs Carlton began again, making the room go silent, which made Jay narrowed his eyes at their reaction. It was unusual because at home, his mother just usually went along with his father said, but here it seemed different. Mrs Carlton seemed in control.

 She turned to Micheal. "Micheal, come greet your finance."

 Micheal didn't move an inch.

 Mrs Carlton glared at him warningly, and even though she was still smiling- probably not to scare their new guest, Jay could very well tell it was a deadly glance.

 Micheal rolled his eyes, muttering some along the lines of. "I'm not even fucking gay." Before slowly dragging his feet over to where Jay stood.

 Jay's heart sank. There was something about the way Micheal muttered those words, that made him realize just how much trouble he was in. 

 Mrs Carlton smiled as both men shook hands, and she began to talk about how it was normal in the new society, and how Micheal should stop acting so old fashioned.

 "No one cares about stuff like this anymore, right Liam?" She asked turning to face Liam, who had been checking him out earlier.

 Liam licked his lips. "Sure. Male, female, I'm fine with either." He smirked cockily, his eyes trailing on his figure AGAIN. Jay frowned. Was he really checking out his cousin's fiance publicly? Where was his shame??

 Mrs Carlton nudged at Micheal to come closer, and while Jay was still watching Liam being cocky, the sweet smell of Michel's cologne filled his nostrils.

 Startled, he looked up to meet his eyes, and he felt that same surge he had felt when he first saw his picture online. Only difference was, Micheal looked better in person, and was just standing a foot away from him.

 "I'm Micheal." he forced out, his eyes trailing Jay's figure in slight distaste. "Micheal Carlton."

 Jay swallowed. "I'm Jay-Jay Percy. Nice to meet you." He tried to force a smile.

 Micheal just nodded, before leaning down towards Jay's smaller figure, his lips to his ears. "If you agree to this marriage, I would make your life a living hell." He admitted quietly, in a way everyone else would think he was just finally warming up to his new husband.

 If only Jay could tell him he was also being forced into this.

 After they were all properly introduced, Mrs Carlton insisted Jay needed to rest, and he was assisted up the huge stairs, to a guest room where his bags had already been placed. When he walked into the huge room, he realized it had already been prepared in Clara's favorite color- Sky blue, which was yet another remainder that he was just a substitute.

 Mrs Carlton came in about thirty minutes later, and told Jay that the wedding preparations were completed. They had a suit getting made in his size tonight and they would get married the next evening .

So fast???

 "I got this room prepared for your sister I'm sorry." She sighed, looking around the blue room. "But it's fine. You're only going to spend tonight here with us, as tomorrow you'll move in with Micheal."

 His eyes widened. He was supposed to move in with the guy that just promised to make his life a living hell??

 Now Jay wasn't stupid. He could clearly see something was off about the; 'business deal'. They were willing to accept a man they weren't expecting, to marry their son so easily? And the next day at that? Shouldn't they have atleast felt betrayed, or angry that his family had broken their agreement?

 And Micheal, he seemed forced too. Like he was told he's doing this for 'the family business' and all, but that didn't excuse the threat he made. He was also forced here, but he wasn't going around shooting people because of it right?

 While they were still conversing, the door pushed open, and Mansuella came in along side other servants, with different trays of food. It had about five different meals, and Jay couldn't help but oogle. He was so hungry, and with all overthinking he had done today, he hadn't had a proper meal today.

 "It's too much!" He complained, but Mrs Carlton just laughed it off, urging him to eat as much as he could as the next day was going to be a big day.

She was right

~~~~~~

 Jay's eyes were snapped open by Micheal tapping him awake, he looked around realizing the day was not as bright . He jerked up, forgetting that he was wearing only a pair of black briefs, and that the rest of his slender fair body was exposed.

 His face turned bright red, "there's something called knocking you know?" Jay snapped at his soon to be husband, pulling the duvet over his body.

 Micheal ignored him, placing a suit bag Infront of him. "Get dressed. We get married in an hour."

 Jay felt offended at Micheal's attitude. Why was he acting like it was all his fault, he was also forced into this. He scuffed. "I'm still your fiance you know?"

 Micheal spinned so fast as the words left Jay's mouth, his eyes were glued to Jay's figure menacingly. "Fiance? You don't get to call yourself that? I'm only having this joke of wedding because I have to. I don't even know you." Micheal snapped at him

 He didn't wait for Jay's clapback before storming out of the room, and Jay shut a middle finger to the closed door. Why was Micheal acting like Jay he had begged his parents to send him here. Wasn't it obvious that he was also being forced?

 Jay was still pissed at Micheal's attitude, but there was nothing he could do now. He picked up the suit, and immediately forgot about his temper when he saw the beautiful two piece in his hands.

 The material was obviously very expensive, with silver shiny stones littering the front. He was shocked! How did they get something so beautiful made in a few hours.

 He didn't have time dwell however as he needed to get dressed. He sprang up, checked his phone to see if Clara had texted back, magically admitting she was wrong and wanted to come here.

 But there was nothing. Not from his parents, or his sister. Alex did leave a text though, asking him if Micheal looked as good in the pictures.

 Alex rolled his eyes and texted back. "He's fine. But definitely not worth my wanking time. Bad attitude." He smiled as he sent it, before going to get ready.

 An hour later, Mrs Carlton was at his door with a hair stylist. She told him he needed to look his best as there were a few reporters coming to grace the occasion.

 He accepted silently even though he didn't really like random people touching his hair. But the stylist she showed him the result, he was glad he did!

 She had packed his long blonde hair into messy bun, curling the ends, with a few strands still dangling over his face. He looked very handsome, especially after she added some light make up on him, to compliment the hairstyle.

 She covered his dark eye circles, and made his grey eyes pop. He looked so good he wanted to drool. As if reading his mind, she smiled at him through the mirror.

 "You're very handsome sir. Your new husband is really lucky." Jay smiled, not letting his contempt show.

 "Thank you."

 Everything was a blur after that, but after another hour, he was walking down a pathway, to go meet his 'husband.' since the wedding was being held in the back of the Carlton mansion, and Jay could see that there was only high end guests were here. He swallowed nervously.

 However, contrary to what he'd expected, they were only a very few people here. Probably like a hundred, and for someone like Micheal Carlton-that was so small! He had also been told his parents would watch through zoom, but he knew that was just a lie to make him feel better.

 It didn't though.

 The venue itself was very beautiful and well decorated despite the short planing. There was a beautiful light pink lace canopy mounted at the bank, surrounded by the beautiful Carlton gardens. There was a fountain in the middle, before you got to the seats arranged for the guests, and the mansion side of the mansion facing the venue was beautifully decorated.

 The walkway was decorated with white lily flowers, making it looked like a very typical romantic marriage between he and Micheal, where as it wasn't. 

He wondered why they didn't just have a court wedding. It was the same thing wasn't it? Maybe they wanted to just humiliate him further. Maybe, he didn't really know, but that was how he felt.

Humiliation. Like everyone here knew he was just the end bargain if a contract. Like he was the replacement. The giveaway.

It stung.

 Some of the guests were shocked to see a groom instead of a bride, and Jay could also see some of them didn't agree with the family's choice. Some women judged him, while the others gushed about how elegant and young he looked.

The breeze blew harshly as he continued down the flowery pathway, his hair standing on end as his new life flashed before his eyes. Micheal's threats, his family abandoning him in a new country, the watchful eyes of everyone around him.

Maybe he should have just run away, he thought. Maybe he should have begged the driver to take him somewhere else instead. But all those thoughts, those worried were drowned out when he met Micheal's eyes.

Why did the man have to be so damn attractive?

His brows were clenched, his lips trying to raise into a small smile, but ended up just looking awkward. Jay knew Micheal didn't feel as happy as he was pretending to be, especially with the knowing look Micheal flashed him as he gazed into his beautiful amber eyes .

Jay didn't care about how others saw it. Micheal was too handsome to resist. And with the way the dark blue sit clung to his body, Jay couldn't help but smile a little. Maybe things were not going to be that bad. Maybe as his father said, he could seduce his new husband to be into wanting him.

He finally reached the front, his eyes taking in the full view infront of him. His husband. Micheal up close definally didn't look as happy. He also had a very subtle frown plastered on as he said his vows.

Then it was Jay's turn. And then the panic kicked in.

His heart was racing as he repeated the words after the priest, his gaze faltering under Micheal's glare. And as he came to an end, his breath hitched when their eyes met and he muttered the most anticipated words at the end of his vows ;

"Yes I do take Micheal Carlton to be my husband."