Chapter 271 - Epilogue

[1914, Madison, New Jersey - Edelsteinstal Manor]

'How did I end up married to this ... rude idiot?!'

That was the thought in her mind when Alina admired herself in the full-length mirror, again. It was a stunning wedding attire, she had to admit. Aside the stupend saphire and diamonds tiara, the dress itself sported beautiful French laces and delicate ruffles, which highlighted her small hourglass figure.

'Hourglass my ass.'

Of course there was some padding to make a bust more seductive and feminine, and also on the h.i.p.s, together with a corset. She always used them when she could. Her lean body was an advantage in her business, but not so beautiful in terms of seduction. That didn't stop her from getting married twice, apparently.

Besides, she liked her own face. No one would have ever imagined that that skinny, poorly nourished orphan girl would one day have a face like that, right? Her gazelle eyes, the color of amber, used to fascinate people, and she liked how her lush hair cascaded like waves of liquid old copper when she untied them. She was also privileged to have been born with ivory skin and enviable health, and a delicately chiseled heart-shaped face, which made her commonly treated better than her original social status would allow.

Alina took off her dress, getting rid of the enhancing accessories and tucking into her wedding nightgown. Everything was so expensive and in good taste! She liked the feel of premium fabrics on her body. The smell of Egyptian linen sheets, mahogany panels, and freshly picked gardenias in the room. The glimmer of the crystal chandeliers and vases. In fact, everything around her fascinated her, and she had never been in such a beautiful place in her life.

There was only one problem.

She couldn't stay.

She would run away as soon as she could.

Besides, her ... husband ... That insane man didn't know anything about her, did he? Especially the fact that she was not who she claimed to be.

And she was sure he would soon regret having forced her to marry him.

After all... He had heirs! Why marry a stranger in a matter of days after forcing her to accept it and basically make her one of the richest women in the country?

He had a severe case of psychiatric issues, oh yes.

It made her worry.

'He will want to consummate the marriage, of course. He already made that very, very clear…' Alina worried. She would have some explanations to give, since she never told him that she had been married before. But ... On the other hand, he deserved no explanation!

'HA! He said he didn't care who I was. He just wants me to pay for what was stolen!'

It was a weird way to make her pay, but she wasn't going to stay to see how he intended to treat her after the guests left.

Alina heard footsteps in the hall, and ran to the bed, where she sat.

Magnus von Wuttenfal came into the room, pulling on the tie from his wedding attire. 

He looked her up and down. Alina pretended to be looking at a distant point, allowing herself to be watched.

It was impossible not to have mixed feelings about this man, and his sparkling blue eyes.

'Damn, why is he so scary?' she felt her hands tremble involuntarily, and stretched them out against the bedding so he wouldn't notice.

Magnus von Wuttenfal was handsome, in fact, one of the most handsome men Alina had ever seen. Dark and tall, with impeccable and manly features, in addition to exuding an aura of personal power that Alina had never seen before. But it was impossible for her to get used to the intense way in which he looked at her after 'that'.

He stopped by a sideboard and opened a large manila envelope he had brought with him. Immediately, Alina knew she was in trouble again.

'Uff, I have to think of a way to escape this as soon as possible ... How will I find my brother, if I have to leave the state ... Leaving the state wouldn't be enough distance. I will have to go to the other side of the country! Maybe to the other side of the world!'

But... If Magnus von Wuttenfal wanted to find her on the other side of the world, he had more than enough resources for that.

"So… who are you, really? Diana Robbins, assistant to an investigator named Giorgio Donatello? Or… Miss Ella Black, the 'Escape Queen' at a cheap theater on Coney Island? Or… Alina Hearst, a survivor of the SS Titanic?"

'Wow! That was quick!' she thought, and then began to draw circles on the soft mattress, without looking at it. "Well, if you already have a dossier on me… It won't be a problem for you to discreetly cancel the wedding, will it?"

He let go of the folder and turned to her. She continued,

"And ... I promise I won't be picky about divorcing. We can let it go... This theft thing. I already said I don't know any of that. And that it's unfair for me to pay for something that someone else did… Hm… What do you think about sponsoring my show, as a… favor?"

Her husband scratched his chin slowly with his big hand, his blue eyes sparkling in his direction.

"Oh, okay, I take it back. I can leave tomorrow. The way I arrived, no less."

"You came in invading this mansion, remember?" he approached, amused, taking off his tailcoat and tossing it in a corner carelessly. Alina looked over at him, and noticed a volume hard to ignore in his pants.

'Gasp!'

"I meant… that I can leave with my clothes on, nothing more. I can change countries to save you from embarrassment."

"When you get to know me better, you'll see that ... I'm totally shameless." He got rid of his shirt, paying attention to Alina's reactions. His legs beside the bed almost touched hers, sitting on the mattress. She stretched her torso, stretching, and trying to hide the blush that took her face.

In addition to the broad shoulders and the physique that Alina was not used to seeing except for manual laborers, the banker had a huge scar that cut his chest vertically. The escape artist was a little nervous. That cut looked like something a coroner would do on a corpse.

She didn't want to think about corpses, or dead people, now.

"What's it? Does that bother you?"

"N-no ... I just think if we're going to cancel the wedding, the wedding night part could be totally ignored..."

"No..." he shook his head slowly. "Tomorrow I will consider what to do with you, you little liar. Today, you are my bride... And you need to be treated accordingly."

"Ah, Mr. von Wuttenfal, you don't have to be that threatening. I already gave my word that I agree with the marriage, didn't I? And..." 

It was hard to concentrate on what to say after, suddenly, he grabbed her around the waist and set her up on the mattress, bringing her close. It made her a little taller than he was, and the eccentric tycoon looked up at her. His hands gently caressed Alina's back in circles.

'Damn, this is good!' she thought, feeling her n.i.p.p.l.es hard suddenly. 'Stop it, you are crazy and I will run away tomorrow. If my brother is not here, as you said, nor have you done anything with him, I need to find him. And I also need to find Giorgio...'

"Look at me," he demanded, and she unconsciously obeyed that imperious voice. Hating herself for it, of course. Alina didn't want to look into those blue eyes the color of the Mediterranean sea again… and get lost in them. 

She already knew it would be a serious, stupid mistake.

But she did, and her eyes plunged into that deep sea. She knew she wouldn't be able to read them. Alina had the impression that they hid many secrets and had seen many things ... Her curiosity was piqued.

His hands tightened on her ribs in a way it was at the same time a little rough, but it made a heat spread through Alina's body. She gave a small sob, and he laughed, kissing her neck. 

Alina's skin immediately got goosebumps. She was surprised to be enjoying how he touched her. Or was it the situation in which she was involved that aroused her?

'Okay ... I might sleep with him ... He doesn't really disgust me. It's not that bad, actually.'

With her mind appeased by this decision, Alina wrapped her millionaire husband in her arms, and relaxed her body.

He wrapped her legs around his waist, and searched his wife's mouth for a kiss.

'Oh, don't kiss me. I don't want to be that close to you... ' She thought, but when her lips touched only briefly, she found herself longing for him to complete the kiss... which he didn't.

He just smiled sardonically, and laid her against the sheets of the soft bed, coming over her.

'...! Why did he stop?! What an idiot!'

He slid a hand gently under the nightdress, teasing her thighs with a featherlike touch. This sent an exciting message to Alina's brain, and she felt moist. The next touch was not so gentle, his fingers sank into her flesh with possessiveness. Why was this making her even more aroused?

'I shouldn't be enjoying this, should I?' Alina asked herself, wrapping her arms around his neck. With a tug, her husband dragged her on the bed and against his pelvis, and Alina was startled when she felt the volume under his pants pressing against her delta.

Swallowing hard, she reminded herself that she definitely shouldn't be enjoying any of this. She had a far greater commitment than letting herself be distracted by... Magnus.

It didn't help that he now decided to tease her n.i.p.p.l.es over the fabric of the nightgown ... with his lips and teeth.

"Nhg!" she couldn't resist and ended up letting out a groan of pleasure. Magnus von Wuttenfal only provoked her, seeming to be in no hurry, contrary to what she had previously believed.

"Kiss Me!" she heard the sound of her own voice demanding, and wanted to die of shame, feeling her face go red and hot.

Then her husband leaned over, to the point that her whole body and his were glued to the most pleasurable parts, and she whispered.

"Do you want me to kiss you? I can do this."

She offered her lips excitedly.

But the bastard didn't kiss her!

"You…?"

"If you want a kiss, or more than one, or that I take you to the stars tonight, you only have to do one thing."

'Oh, my God. His games again… '

She looked at him expectantly, while he rubbed his body sensually against hers. She felt him as hard as iron, and she was so wet too!

Magnus took one of her hands and flexed her fingers closed. Except for the index finger.

"Do it like the first time."

"Hm?"

She couldn't believe this. She even felt that his mast had throbbed just because he said what he wanted.

"Oh. Okay." Alina then looked at his face, admiring his face. That was easy, because he, despite being completely crazy, was beautiful.

It was just not looking into his eyes that everything would be fine.

Then she touched the spot next to his nose, as she did the first time she saw him.

Alina didn't know why she did it the first time, she just couldn't react when she fell on him and, for the first time, looked at his face.

That little beauty mark... It looked so beautiful and special. And somehow, it reminded her of something. Something elusive in her mind, but good, sweet, and comfortable. Something that warmed her heart in a way that she had never really felt.

Looking and touching that little spot on his face ...

It was like coming home.

THE END

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END?