1.1. I do… not

The first thing I saw when I entered the world was a big white altar with a man wearing a black three-piece suit standing on it. The groom was tall with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. I was walking across the aisle while holding a middle aged man's arm. I looked down at my clothes and saw that I was wearing an all-white suit.

Wait, does that means I'm the bride?

I lightly waved my hand and the world's informations poured inside my mind.

This Angel was 18 years old and the heir of Lawson & Co., one of the two wealthiest company of the country. They owned the most successful pharmaceutical company, making billions per years.

When he was 16, his father died and Angel inherited his fortune and company. Since he was underage, his uncle Richard Lawson replaced him as the director of the company and he came with his family to live with Angel.

Angel was happy not to be alone and relieved that he didn't have to take so much responsibility at a young age so he let them do what they wanted. When his uncle came to him and asked him to make him the official director of the company until his majority because his actual position was inconvenient when it came to take important decisions for the company.

Of course Angel didn't know that Richard had destroyed his father's will, that way no one would know he was the real heir.

When Angel reached adulthood, he asked Richard the company but he just told him that he would give it to him the day of his wedding, as a present. Angel was supposed to marry Kevin Herbert, the heir of a smaller company. It was an arranged wedding for business purposes but Angel fell in love with him.

The day of the ceremony, Kevin said 'no' in front of everybody. It broke Angel's heart even more when he added that the one he wanted to marry was Charlie Lawson, his cousin. Humiliated and broken-hearted, Angel went back home but discovered that his things were packed in front of the house.

His uncle threw him out of the house. Little did he know that the contract he had signed before stipulated that the company, the house and all his wealth would belong to uncle. He didn't read it to the end because he thought he could trust his family.

He ended up without money, without a roof and started to sell himself after someone who noticed him in the street proposed him money in exchange of services. Angel was so naive that he didn't thought the man was talking about prostitution and accepted the job.

Angel was beautiful so he had a lot of clients but he also looked fragile and it attracted perverted rich men who liked to humiliate or hurt him. Some of them even knew him from before and liked to see him in a pitiful state after their own company went into bankruptcy because of Lawson & Co.

When Kevin and Charlie came to visit him after almost a year, they admitted that Kevin waited until they were at the altar to say 'no' just to have the satisfaction of humiliating him in public. They mocked him and forced him to be fucked by seven men before a camera and posted it on internet.

It was the final blow for Angel who already suffered of severe depression. He killed himself the day after.

I had a hard time containing my laughter. That guy was way too naive. Even after signing a contract without reading it and losing everything he had, he still signed a slaving contract with a stranger and was forced into prostitution. But the worst was his own family.

I'll make sure they pay dearly.

When I arrived at the altar, I let go of Richard's arm with neither a smile nor a thanks. I could fell his angry stare on my back but I couldn't care less. I put my shiniest smile on and greeted Kevin. A strange and almost imperceptible glint crossed his eyes.

I chuckled.

The old priest began his long sermon that seemed like an eternity. During that time, I used the system to checkout a few more detailed informations. I closed it when I heard the priest getting closer to the long-awaited question.

"Angel Lawson, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, to honour him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

"…"

At my lack of answer, a loud gaping sound spread in the church. Kevin was looking at me flabbergasted, as if he couldn't believe the always subdued and naive Angel was able to refuse to marry such an handsome man like him.

Oh, darling. Trust me, I've seen a lot of men way more attractive than you. I'm even ready to bet that there's at least one in this room, too.

"My love? What's happening?"

"I-I'm not s-sure. I…"

He put his arm around my waist, stroking my back in a soothing manner. I shiver of disgust spread across my whole body.

"You love me, right? You don't have to be nervous just say 'I do', mmh?"

I nodded shyly. Damn, I could make so much money with my acting skills.

"B-but, you don't l-love me… do you?"

His mouth opened and closed, repetitively. But not a single sound came out. He looked like a stupid goldfish. After a while, he regained composure.

"W-what are you talking about, my love? Of course I love you."

"Then… why do you fuck Charlie every single day?"

The silence fell. It was so funny to see all those loaded people seemingly shocked when they were, in reality, enjoying the show like it was some kind of drama on TV. My uncle and aunt looked extremely displeased but the funniest were Charlie and Kevin. They seemed to be at the verge of explosion.

"Angel, why are you telling lies like that? I thought you loved me…"

"Oh? Tell me, what are your qualities that could make you lovable?"

"Huh?"

"No, I have a better question for you. Do you even have qualities?"

I could almost see smoke coming out of his ears and nose. Kevin raised his hand; I closed my eyes tightly in reflex.

"You bastard!"

Yet, nothing —I didn't feel any pain. I opened my eyes again to see what had happened. A tall man was holding Kevin's arm tightly and twisting it —Kevin seemed frightened to death. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and realised that my body was trembling slightly.

"Is that how you treat your future wife? You ungrateful brat."

"B-brother? I-I'm sorry, i-it hurt…"

The man was tall and extremely well-built. He was wearing black pants and a white shirt that let his muscles appear. His phoenix eyes were blue like a tempestuous ocean and his hair was black like a moonless night. He had a straight nose and a chiselled jaw. What could have described him the best would have been 'overbearing' and 'charismatic'.

The only thought that came to my mind at this moment was how the hell could such a gorgeous man like him be the brother of such a plain man like Kevin.

I was so dazed that I didn't realise he had grabbed my hand and led me out of the church.