Chapter 3: Unexpected Proposal.

The morning light filtered through the hotel room's blinds, casting a hazy glow over the unfamiliar surroundings. Celine’s eyes fluttered open, her mind slows to come to terms with the unfamiliarity of her environment. It was only when she felt a heavy weight around her waist that she realized with a start that she was not alone.

The scream that almost escaped her lips was silenced by the throbbing pain of a hangover, but her heart was racing with uncertainty and fear.

Celine's heart thundered in her chest as she took in the sight of the sleeping man beside her, his hands still wrapped around her waist in a slumbering embrace.

As the memories of the previous night came flooding back, a wave of shame and horror washed over her, threatening to drown her in its icy waters.

“Ugh! This is why I hate drinking,” she muttered, her voice barely a whisper, as she lay still, unwilling to rouse The Sleeping Beauty beside her and face the consequences of her actions.

Celine’s movements were slow and calculated as she extricated herself from the sleeping man’s embrace, slipping out of the bed with the grace of a cat. She tiptoed around the room, careful not to disturb the slumbering stranger as she searched for her phone.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips when she finally found the device, but as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, her heart sank.

Her hair was a tangled mess, her smudged makeup adding a smoky hue to her cheeks, and the dark streaks of her eyeliner, leftovers from the tears that had stained her face last night, adding to the disheveled look. Her once pristine wedding dress was now soiled and crumpled, a grim reminder of the events that had unfolded during her night of drunken escapade.

“I need to get out of here,” Celine whispered to herself, her heart hammering in her chest as she stole one last glance at the sleeping man. Scooping up a pair of dark sunglasses, she bolted from the hotel room, her feet thudding against the carpeted floor.

Outside, she wasted no time in hailing a taxi, her mind already racing ahead to the airport to catch her flight to Las Vegas. Italy, it seemed, had nothing but heartbreak and misfortune to offer her, and she was eager to leave it all behind.

After hours of the flight, she landed at Las Vegas. People gave her weird looks because of her appearance, but she didn’t care, all she wanted was to go home and catch some sleep.

Finally, she reached her apartment, her hand shaking slightly as she unlocked the door. But as she stepped inside, a high-pitched scream ripped through the air at the sight of someone.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

“Jesus Christ! Fiona, do you want to give me a freaking heart attack?” 

Fiona laughed as she said, “why do you look like you just got back from hell?”

“Italy was Hell for me, literally.” Celine mumbled, with a bitter smile.

Fiona’s words were a soothing balm to Celine’s bruised soul. “Oh, my poor baby. You need a hug,” Fiona cooed, her arms enveloping Celine in a warm embrace. “I got your text messages. Leo’s a real jerk. It’s his loss, not yours. I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there for you.”

“Don’t apologize, it’s not your fault,” Celine replied, her voice trembling with exhaustion. “I couldn’t have predicted any of this.”

Fiona’s expression turned into a mixture of concern and disgust. “Girl, you smell like a dead fish,” she said, scrunching up her nose. “I can handle a lot, but stinking best friends aren’t part of the deal. Go take a shower.”

Celine laughter echoed through the whole house “I gotta admit, I do smell like poop” she took a walk inside her room while Fiona followed behind.

Hours later, Celine has already freshened up, sitting on her bed with Fiona. Since the wedding, all her friends have been calling to check up on her, but she had refused to talk to anyone.

Celine sat upright, her eyes blazing with determination. “I’m going to release the video,” she declared, her voice firm. “I want to ruin them.”

Fiona frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion. “What video?”

“One of Leo and Penelope’s little love session. I’m going to spread it all over the internet. They’re going to pay for what they did to me.”

“That’s my girl,” Fiona said, a grin spreading across her face as she watched the incriminating video being uploaded to various fake social media accounts. 

Celine nodded, a fire burning in her eyes. “Done.” She leaned back in her chair with a victorious smile, the satisfaction of her revenge radiating through her.

“It’s always the ones with small Dicks always cheating, constantly trying to showcase their disabilities,” Fiona added.

“Girl…” Celine burst into laughter, “You need some filter for that mouth.” 

“The truth hurts.”

 “I just want you to heal Celine, you didn’t deserve any of this”

“Bad things happen to Good people, I just trusted the wrong people, as much as it hurts I know I am going to heal” she bit back her tears. “Six years is enough to develop an emotional attachment, and I am trying to deal with that. It’s not easy, Fiona”.

“I told you I was the best one for you baby” Fiona tried to lighten the mood.

“Of course you are.” Celine laughed as her mind went back to the man she met in Italy, he had left a mark on her mind.

Two days later, Celine was outside a chapel as she was attending a close friend’s wedding. She was one of the bridesmaids, but she was running late because of traffic. 

Sighting the bride a smile crept up her lips.

“And here comes the bride.” 

Ella shyly smiled, “you made it”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” 

“Thanks, Go ahead, I will meet you at the altar.” Ella says as she leaves. 

As Celine entered the chapel, she felt as if she were in a waking dream, flashes of her own failed wedding searing through her mind. She continued forward, her steps measured, until she reached the altar. That was when her blood ran cold.

There, standing tall and imposing, was the mysterious stranger from that fateful night, he was the best man.

“You gotta be kidding me!” she mumbled Under her breath. His eyes fell on her, his gaze unwavering. With each passing glance, his presence sent shivers down her spine. There was something unsettling about him, something dark and ominous.  

His eyes didn’t leave hers until when the bride began her walk down the aisle.

After the wedding, During the after party 

Celine decided to keep her distance, desperate to avoid any further entanglement with this man whose mere presence disturbed her to her core.

He didn’t make any attempt to talk to her, and she was relieved. 

Celine returned home after the wedding, still shocked from seeing him. “Am I cursed or what?” She mumbled removing her earrings, but she stopped in her tracks when she heard her door ball ring. 

She wasn’t expecting any visitors as she walked to the door, opening her door, her mouth hanging open as she stared at who it was.

“Y… You?”

“Hello, Wifey.” His voice was filled with mischief, his face expressionless.

“Don’t call me that!” She glared.

“Tsk! Feisty, I like my women like that.”

“What do you want?” Celine asked as she watched him come inside her house with two men who looked like guards.

“I have a proposal for you, Celine,” he said, his tone shifting to one of gravity. At the snap of his fingers, one of his men stepped forward, a file in hand. With a quick flick of his wrist, the file was placed in Celine’s grasp, her fingers curled around it in confusion.

“What’s this?” She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“Open it.”

Doing so, she opened the file and took out a paper, taking a look at it, her eyes darkened.

“What’s this about?”

“An agreement,” She raised a brow, “I will pay you 50 million dollars in exchange for a contract marriage of five years.”

Celine’s scoff was sharp, but the amusement in her eyes was quickly replaced with a frown as she realized Erammno was not joking.

“Are you serious?” she asked incredulously. “No! I don't want your money or a stupid contract marriage.”

Erammno’s expression remained unyielding, his dark aura settling over the room like a storm cloud. 

“You don't have a choice, Celine,” he said, his voice low and commanding.

“Don’t Fight this, Sweetheart.” he stepped close as she took a step back, locking eyes with him.

“This is stupid, Erammno! I don’t know you and you don’t know me, and whatever that happened between us in Italy stays in Italy”.

“Now get out of my house!”