3

Kyla Jackson

"Do you take Kyla Jackson as your lawful wedded wife?" The priest turned to Raymond and asked.

"I do" he replied curtly, his voice laced with coldness.

The priest then turned to me. "Do you take Raymond Locason as your lawful wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death?" My heart skipped a little as he finished asking me that.

I turned to look at his mother who was already looking at us with pure happiness and admiration. And my Aunt, who looks eager to hear me say the word, 'I do'

And his friends, they all held an awkward look on their faces. I'm sure, they're all stunned to see the same girl they saw at the restaurant yesterday as their friend's wife this morning.

It was a simple wedding organized by his mother- that, I'm sure of. There are also a few guests around too.

"Yes, I do" I said, in a coarse voice.

"With the power of God, I proclaim you two as husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride" The priest pronounced and I begin to have a feeling of pain again in my chest.

This is not how I had pictured my first kiss to be. I have always wanted to fall in love with the right man. The man who loves me with all his heart and would do anything in this world just to see me happy.

But, here I am. Ready to be kissed by a man who has nothing in his heart toward me except hatred.

He moved closer to me slowly and opened my white veil a little. He leans his face forward as he tilts his head to the left side, making me shut my eyes tightly.

I waited for his cold lip to meet mine but, he left a brief kiss at the corner of my lip instead. After then, a brief air wave through my face and I opened my eyes slowly but, he was already standing some feet away from me.

What have I landed myself into? This feels like, walking out of 'HELL to ANOTHER PIT OF HELL'.

Flashback

Our eyes locked for a few seconds and the next thing he did was to smirk.

"Son, this is-"

"Kyla" he cut her off, his gaze still fixed on me.

Mrs Locason look at him, surprised. "You know her?"

"More than you can ever imagine" he answered, curtly.

I look at him in shock, wondering where he got my name from. Or, could it be from the restaurant? Did he see my tag name?

"Well, that makes it easy for me and for everyone!" His mom squealed in excitement.

"So, Kyla, are you aware of the reason why we're here?" She asked.

I look at my Aunt who's already giving me the look of 'you better say yes else, you'll have me to deal with later'.

I didn't utter a word, I only end up nodding my head instead.

"Are you also aware, it was your Dad who killed my dear father?" He asked in a calm yet, cold tone.

"Raymond!" His mom yelled.

"What? She needs to know what her Dad did to my Dad, right?" He said, as his lip curled up in a devilish smile.

"Can you just stop?! I told you several times, he didn't kill your father! He was not the culprit!"

"Just so you know Mother, I'm only sticking to this because of the agreement we had"

End of flashback

That agreement between them is what I still do not know of yet. And my Aunt, not only did she sell me to save her little company but also, wants me to marry Raymond so, I can extort money from him to her.

She told me that yesterday. She also wants me to bear him an heir so, all that belongs to Raymond would become my son and, she will take everything in the end.

I'm confused. I do not know what to do or how to tell Raymond about this. I feel like telling him everything but, I doubt if he's going to give me a listening ear or even believe me. He already sees me as an enemy and, I'm to stick with him forever. I have no say or objection.

The wedding lecture continued by the priest. Later on, the engagement party begins. Everyone seems to be happy for us, including the guests except Raymond and I who had a straight look on our faces.

All these still look like a dream to me but, who am I kidding? It's happening and it's real. Our first meeting and then the next thing, MARRIAGE!

•

"Kyla, you have to take good care of yourself, okay? Everything happening is for your own good and for Ray too... I hope you understand me" Mrs Locason said before hugging me briefly.

As we broke the hug, I smiled a little and nod my head at what she just said. We all stood outside of the church in front of Raymond's car. I was told a few minutes ago that we will both be going for our honeymoon. I have no idea where we're going and I didn't bother asking.

After all, my wedding was fixed without my knowledge and consent. I do not think, I can have a say in this also.

All the things I will be needing are already packed in Raymond's car.

"Please, be safe my beautiful daughter. And, do not hesitate to call your brother and I whenever you need someone to talk to" Aunt Capella said to me in a sweet tone before hugging me tightly.

I stood there dumbfounded. How she can easily switch from being bad to good always amaze me.

"And, don't you dare forget what we both discussed. You betray me, and I will kill you! Understood?" She whispered in my ear as she threatened me.

"Understood?" She asked again, digging her nails through my skin as I didn't reply to her order.

I answered with a small 'yes' as I winced in pain. Tears already welled up in my eyes.

She broke the hug with a fake smile plastered on her face. "Please, take good care of my daughter" she said to Raymond.

"I will make sure I take good care of her" he said as he look at me. I don't know why but I have a very deep feeling he meant that in another way.

I already felt my eyes brimming with tears and I couldn't help but just keep it in. I'm sad, no one knows what I'm going through at the moment. He is such a good actor that no one could sense anything. Not only him but my Aunt too. Everyone surrounding me is evil!

I never thought of marriage any time soon and, the person I end up getting married to wasn't the type of husband I wished for. Yes, he's got the look, he's handsome and extremely wealthy but, that was just it. Nothing else was dreamy about him.

I got in his car as he ignite the car engine and drove off. I couldn't help but to start crying. It was uncontrollable as my mind drift back to my past. How I've been passing through a lot ever since I began staying with my Aunt to date.

"Stop fucking crying... It's irritating!" Raymond hissed as he drove. It's all obvious and written on his face that he's not happy with everything happening also, I won't disregard the part of him being a bad actor.

I didn't reply to him as I keep silent. I'm not in the mood to talk to him. He's also part of my problem, however, tears wouldn't stop coming out of my eyes which I don't know why.

Maybe because I just got married to the worst man on earth. I'm now going with him to get suffered because I'm sure he won't take things lightly with me.

I finally wipe away my tears before staring at the road through the car window. The thought of where he's taking me to suddenly cross my mind because I'm sure, he's not taking me to a fancy place.

"R... Raymond. Could you please tell me where you're taking me to?" I finally summoned to courage to talk to him after a lot of thought. I just can't bear sitting with him in his car taking me to a place where I have no idea of or, who knows if he's going to kill me?

I do not know what happened in the past but, he kept insisting my Dad killed his Dad. I will have to investigate that because it's so absurd hearing him said that about my pious father.

Instead of him to reply me, he takes a sharp look at me and turns back to the road without saying anything.

"I said... Please, Raymond" I said but he chooses to ignore me again.

"Is it that hard to talk to me or what? Even after pleading with you?" I burst out in a frustrated tone.

"Yes, it is! So, fucking stop talking to me! Do not frustrate or piss me off, Kira" he hissed without taking a look at me.

"It's Kyla and not Kira" I correct him.

"I don't care!" He hissed again and the rest of the ride went silent. Before I knew it, everywhere is already dark. It begins to get tiring and I end up dozing off.

•

"Get up! Hey! Hey, get up!" I heard Raymond's cold voice as he tap my shoulder roughly. I slowly open my eyes and waited for my eyes to clear out properly. I take a look at the surrounding and realized his car is around parked in front of a big, white-painted house.

Where's this place?- I thought as my eyes landed on him.

He stood there staring down at me with fury eyes.

"If you're done staring, can you get down from my car?" He asked in a cold tone.

I did as I was told and saw a man right behind him. He dressed like a gardener or something.

"Fucking get the luggage from the car to the house and stop standing there, staring like a bamboo!"

"Ye... Yes sir" the man said and quickly ran to get our luggage.

Raymond on the other hand, didn't say a word to me instead, he walk into the house without turning back. I took in a deep breath before walking through the same path he follows.

As I entered the living room, I end up standing in front of the fireplace admiring the view.

"Come this way" I heard his cold voice say. I turned to see him standing in front of a room. We aren't going to sleep in the same room, are we?

"I said, come here!" He ordered again, making me jolt in fear. This time around, in a scary and intimidating tone.