Chapter 1

"Congratulations to the both of you, sweetie!" Aunt Karol greeted with blissfulness as our cheeks touched for a contact. I giggled and thanked her before she and Uncle left.

While I was busy waving at the both of them, Karin suddenly elbowed my left side, I stared at her. "Why are you here? I thought you won't be too long here?"

Karin only scoffed. The happiness in her eyes could be traced by me. Even I'd deny that my cousin's not happy in my wedding, she really was. And the happiness in her face right now had been rubbed on my face.

"Yes, I'll be off later. I'll be seeing Mezakiel for our trip," she stated so I nodded. Good thing our guests left already. "Congratulations, Kiana."

"Thank you," I replied. But in every time I thank people who seemed so grateful that I am now married, something so uncomfortable and unpleasant still kept me bugging. "Are you really happy? That I still didn't give up the wedding?"

"Why are you talking like that? As if I was born to decide things for you anyway!" she answered. "And if you're still worried that I'm still in sober after I gave up Aspen for your wedding's sake. You are wrong."

I guess I was wrong for minding Karin's settlement from before. Months ago, I had a problem with my cousin. When we both undergo deciding and who among us should give up on our plans. Because she was into the person she liked before, while I was stuck in a serious arrange marriage for the sake of doing what my foster parents wanted. They were not my Uncle and Aunt but they were the ones who raised me like their own daughter.

So, even if being involved in an arrange marriage as what they wanted could affect Karin----their daughter, I still continued. Even if I hurted Karin, I still fought my decision to marry him.

However, Karin's now fine. She moved on from my brother-in-law and she's now committed to Mezakiel. Karin knew how much I supported her to that guy who's meant for her.

So for now, now that I was married, I shouldn't bother myself from thinking Karin's feelings. We're in different stories now. And I needed to focus on mine.

Because it's still not beginning.

"So it's okay now? That you and Aspen would be in one family?" She didn't give me a reply but her simple nods satisfied me. "Yes, what happened had happened, I moved on from him."

I smiled brightly. "I know, by just seeing how you love Mr. Soren."

"Hey! You know it's embarrasing to hear that other people mention my feelings for him!" Karin shyly returned. But she's blushing and that was her cute side.

I chuckled. "Shouldn't you be this proud that you love Mezakiel?"

"Hmp, anyway! Where's your husband? The last time I saw him was when the toast ended?"

I quieted myself, even I didn't notice that he's gone. But who cared, it's not that I should be looking at him to see where he's going all the time.

Since we're really not a sincere couple. We didn't have labels nor relationship.

The wedding was just a part of the business deal. That's why we got married.

"I don't know where he went," I stated.

"Seriously? Find him and tell him my 'Congratulations'. I need to go now," Karin said and waved her hand.

"See you then. Thanks for attending," I thanked before she stopped walking away. "Make sure you made the right decision, Kiana. I might be younger but I can tell that marriage is one of the most important part of life one takes."

I sighed but it was too light, just to make sure she couldn't feel the bit disappointment in me.

Of course, I was a bit anxious of my decisions. That I'd surely expect for complicated circumstances that would deal with my husband. That marrying Wren, the guy who just agreed with the marriage for the business' sake wouldn't be as sweet and as simple as it would be.

Because on my side, the guy I married sees me as someone who also married him for the business. He would not take me seriously, he would not love me.

That's what I believe.

And it's hurting me every time I think of it.

Knowing Wren Medina, I married him because I love him as well. No one knew my other reason. I didn't want anyone to know it.

"Yes, I am always aware of that fact. And I am prepared of whatever would happen soon, Karin. Thanks."

She smiled. "That's a good response. "

----

After all the guests who attended our wedding were all gone, Wren and his family----including Aspen left but Wren said he'd go back earlier for me. Of course, I wasn't able to question him why he needed to go back for me, because why would a wife question his husband about it?

But right at this moment, I already realized why Wren reminded me of him returning here later.

"Are you really sure? Auntie, Uncle? Grandma? Don't you think this was too sudden? That I'd be moving out to live with Wren in a new house?" I asked with so much hesitations to go and leave my parent. I mostly left our house and stay in my apartment when I was still schooling but now was different. I'd be permanently moving and live with someone.

Aunt just kissed my forehead. "You will be fine, honey. Me and your Uncle will visit you sooner, okay?"

I nodded and hugged them. I couldn't take a step back now, they all helped me from packing my things up. My loads were already waiting with me in front of our house. Which meant I'd be really leaving them already.

"I think I will be fine. But please understand that I will not get used to living with him for the first days," I told them.

"Of course we understand that," Uncle replied and fixed my hair. "If he ever do something bad. Or you will not be able to tolerate what it was contracted between you two, you can go back to us."

I didn't reply. They expected that. They didn't force me to marry him anyway, I was also eager but I kept my eagerness in my own self only. So it would be my own fault if my decisions would lead me into something worse.

So, I hope, my decision to marry him and live with him for my sake as well would turn out okay.

In my parents' eyes, they see me like I did this for the business. But for me, there're still more reasons.

We spent our minutes from talking stuffs about my new life as a wife and their advises helped me a lot. Especially Grandma's words, it inspired me.

Later on, a familiar car stopped by already and Wren hopped out to ask me from my parents. And that was very polite of him.

"Pardon? I am glad that you will let my wife to live with me as early as now. You can see us by our place," he politely told them as I was standing beside him.

"We will be happy for it. You take of care, Kiana. Okay?" Wren nodded to my Aunt as they hugged me. When Wren's chauffeur put all my lugguage in the back of the car, we already left