As I climbed the stairs, my headache throbbed. I had barely slept last night, and I was feeling the effects of jet lag. All I could think about was getting my hands on a glass of whiskey or hard liquor to ease my aching head.
As I reached the top of the stairs, I saw my mother coming out of the kitchen with a warm smile on her face. I tried to force a smile, hoping it would hide my discomfort.
"Good morning, Ma!" I said, trying to sound cheerful.
"How was your sleep?" Mama asked, her gaze fixed on me. I was torn between telling her the truth and pretending everything was fine.
But I decided to go with the latter. "It was good, Ma. Where's Papa?" I looked around, still adjusting to the feeling of wearing a dress and braiding my hair in the style of my twin, Cairen.
"Your father had to leave town to manage our grocery store and bakeshop," Mama said. "But go ahead and have your breakfast. I'll be leaving for town shortly."
I nodded and headed for the kitchen, but my smile faded as I saw who was seated at the table, eating as if he belonged there.
Zach Archer Del Fiore!
The mere mention of his name sends a wave of anger through me as I recall what he did two days ago. There he was, sitting comfortably at the kitchen table, scrolling through his phone while he ate his breakfast.
I yanked the chair out from under the table with a screech, startling Zach and grabbing his attention. He looked up at me with a charming smile, the kind that could make anyone giggle, and his face glowing like an angel with a devilish twist.
"Good morning, Cairen," he greeted me, and I scowled in response. I picked up my plate and began eating in silence.
"You look upset. Did you not sleep well?" Zach asked, his tone filled with concern. But I ignored him, not wanting to hear his excuses for what he did.
"Sorry for what happened two days ago. It wasn't my intention to tell your parents," he continued, but I cut him off with a sharp glare. Remembering how I was snarky and snobbish at him during our trip. I should be with my parents going in here. But they leave me early in the morning and Zach was waiting for me.
"I said stop talking," I warned him. It was too early in the morning to deal with his nonsense.
"You're upset, mad, angry, furious..." Zach started listing synonyms, but I interrupted him.
"It's all the same, Zach. Iffin! Just stop," I snapped, my patience wearing thin.
"Is that a swear?" he asked, feigning surprise. "Stop glaring at me, I'm just trying to be friendly." The broad smile on his face only fueled my irritation.
"Can I eat in peace?" I raised my voice, and he merely shrugged.
But my anger reached its boiling point, and I threw a hotdog at his face. "What the f*ck, Cairen!" he shouted, his annoyance clear.
"You're swearing," I noted with a smirk, feeling a sense of satisfaction as I watched Zach's expression turn sour. "Why don't you keep your mouth shut? You're ruining my breakfast."His piercing gaze met mine, but I refused to back down. Zach leaned back in his chair, his scowl deepening. "You don't know why I'm here?"
I mimed zipping my lips, daring him to speak, but he remained silent, his eyes locked onto mine like arrows. As I finished my breakfast, I stood up and began washing my plate.
Zach followed me to the sink, a sense of urgency in his voice as he said, "I need your help."
Sighing, I glanced over at him. "Is it for a good cause?"
He hesitated, "Good cause, maybe?"
"Nah, not interested," I responded, resuming my task of washing the dishes.
"It's about marriage," he said, his voice serious. "Our marriage."
I stopped, my mind spinning as I tried to process his words. "What about it?"
Zach's grin was wide and confident, taking my breath away for a moment. He was too handsome, and it irritated me. That's why I didn't like him.
As Zach leaned against the counter, his arms crossed confidently over his chest, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his arrogant attitude. "I know you dislike the idea of marrying me," he stated, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "But everyone wants to marry me, right? Our families arranged this whole thing."
I let out a huff of annoyance as I placed my washed plate and utensils in the drawer. But just as I was about to turn away, Zach spoke up again.
"You promised," he said with a hint of challenge in his tone.
I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him, my brow raised in disbelief. "Did I?"
Zach's brow furrowed as he stared at me, trying to decipher my reaction. "Yes, Cairen. You promised to help me with this marriage."
What promise? I dpn’t remember Cairen telling me about this. I felt the panic rising within me as I struggled to come up with an escape from this situation. My heart was racing, and I felt like I couldn't think straight. Just then, Zach stepped closer to me, his hand reaching out to touch my arm. I tensed up, waiting for the outburst, but it never came. Instead, he just stood there, silently waiting for my response.
I stared at Zach's face, and suddenly my cheeks felt warm. In this proximity, he was taking my breath away, and the thought of him was both stunning and dangerous. My heart raced with the knowledge that I needed to escape this situation.
"The promise," he said, his voice low and steady, "was to help me secure my inheritance by marrying me for two years. You gave me your word, Cairen. Are you changing your mind?"
"No!" I blurted out, taken aback. The promise was yet another responsibility that I had inherited from Cairen. How could she have made such a commitment without telling me?
My thoughts drifted to the past, to the memory of Cairen lying in bed, weak and tired. She had spoken to me, but at the time my mind was consumed with my own problems, and I couldn't focus on her words. I only remembered catching the phrase of her request for a favor.
"But you're planning on running away," Zach accused.
I frowned, my mind snapping back to the present. "Running away?" I asked, out of breath.
Zach gestured to the phone he had taken from his back pocket, and my heart sank as I realized it was my phone. "I read your message to Katana," he said.
"Why do you have my phone?" I demanded, snatching it from his hand. "This is not yours, and don't you know the meaning of privacy?" I was filled with annoyance, feeling violated by his invasion of my personal space.
As I gazed upon Zach, his arms folded defensively in front of him, my anger simmered just below the surface. He had the audacity to read my messages - my personal messages - without my permission.
"You read all my messages?" I cried out, clutching my phone tightly in my hand. My eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"No, not at all. I swear," Zach replied, holding up his hand in a gesture of innocence. "It was just the last message from your friend Katana."
"Liar!" I exclaimed, anger rising within me. "You have no right! This is my property, and no one should be reading my inbox without my consent." I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out.
But I couldn't, not if I wanted to maintain the dignity and grace that came with being a lady.
"I'm sorry, okay?" Zach said softly, his gaze averted. "I was just curious. But you need to keep your promise, Cairen. You won't back out, will you?" He lifted his eyes to mine, searching for a response through his misty gaze.
Why was I feeling guilty for what was clearly not my fault?
As the sound of footsteps approached, I turned to see my mother entering the kitchen, her gaze fixated on the two of us. "I heard your scream, Cairen. What happened?" she asked, concern etched upon her face.
"Nothing, Ma, just a misunderstanding between Zach and me," I answered, my gaze falling to the double dutch chocolate ice cream my mother had taken out of the shopping bag. It was Cairen’s favorite flavor.
"I see, and Zach," my mother's voice echoed in the kitchen, "Why don't you help me bring the sack of rice and cartoon inside here? If you don't mind?"Zach replied with a warm smile, "I will, Auntie," before making his way out of the kitchen.
I couldn't help but feel the weight of my mother's concerned gaze upon me. "Did you and Zach fight again?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
I hesitated before answering, "No, Ma, we're fine." The lie slipped from my lips easily, but it pricked at me inside, reminding me of the truth of who I was and what I was hiding.
My mother's squinting eyes lingered on me for a few seconds longer, as if she were searching for something in my words. But then she turned her attention to the bags on the table and gestured for me to help her. "If that's what you say, Cairen. Why don't you help me put this on the drawers?"
As we worked, Zach returned to the kitchen and joined us in putting away the groceries. Despite his usual jovial demeanor, he was quiet and reserved. As he placed the canned goods in a drawer near the refrigerator, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off between us.
Clearing my throat, I ventured to break the silence. "I am not running away," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, "I promised you that two years ago, and I will keep my promise." The promise Cairen had made weighed heavily on me, and I didn't understand why I had agreed to it in the first place.
Zach stopped what he was doing and looked at me, a half-smile on his lips. "And I do as I promised," he muttered, "The bargain we made for this marriage." The words hung in the air between us, a reminder of the lies that bound us together.
I bit my lip as I flipped through the pages of Cairen's diary, searching for answers about her promise of marriage to Zach. Despite my efforts, I found nothing. With a sigh of frustration, I stood up and walked over to the open window, seeking solace in the cool breeze. I longed to find the bargain they made, but I had no choice but to confront Zach directly. The problem was, I had no way of reaching him. Our province was plagued with poor internet connectivity, making it impossible for me to message my friends or even call Mikaella. To make matters worse, my mother had informed me that she and Zach's family were no longer friends. I was torn between my pride and my desire to know the truth. I yearned to ask Zach directly, but I was afraid of what he might say. The only option left was to seek answers from Cairen's diary, but all it revealed was her close friendship with Grace. I was left with more questions than answers, and I couldn't help but feel that there was still so much I di
"The Bargain," he said, his head nodding. "Don't tell me you forgot about the bargain we made?" I nodded, and he looked at me with a mixture of frustration and anger. "Did you suffer a memory loss or something? This isn't a joke, Cairen." "My expression didn't indicate that I was trying to be humorous. Is that…" I trailed off, hoping to find a good excuse. But he filled in the gap. "You agreed out of sympathy and never gave it another thought, did you?" Taking a deep breath, I wondered why I hadn't written this down in my diary. My twin sister always seemed to know everything about our lives, but I felt lost in the dark. I didn't know how to fix this mess. "People change," I gestured with my hands, glancing over at him. "Sometimes, memories fade in our minds. Haven't you ever done something and forgotten about it because your mind was...?" "I'm not dense, I understand," he interrupted. "So what would you like to change?" He sat with one leg bent, resting on the couch, and one arm
"Are you serious?" I shout in disbelief. "I am serious, and I really need your help, Cairen. Just this time," he sighs, "And I promised Carter that I had a surprise for him.” I don't know what to say to him. Iffin! How can I hide the fact that Zach was expecting me to sing on his friend's birthday? Just because Cairen knows how to sing, not just know, she had been joining a singing contest before. But Cairen never told me. My hands got cold and I lost my ability to speak. I sit on the soft couch and grab the lemon juice made by her cousin who left with her manager. I didn't hear what the manager and Zach conversed about. They were in the library earlier. While I was looking around the apartment, Samantha was being nice to me showing me the place. She then realize after telling her my name that I was the granddaughter of Elise Verdan, the one going to marry his cousin. Zach's family and relatives have known about it. Samantha is just like Mikaella's version, except for Sam's passio
Biting the piece of a chocolate bar as I wait for Grandma to answer my call. It keeps ringing. Why would Uncle Tyrone think Giovanni is the one I am marrying?Grandma told me it was Zach, or did she not tell me the truth?I look at Giovanni's photo on the internet through my laptop. He is handsome, having similarities to Zach though the man is lean. His pierced jade eyes stared at my soul. A type of man you don't want to mess with. He doesn't look friendly. Rather I see him as that rugged man. Though I prefer Zach, being easy with his calm, pleasant countenance and outgoing one. It seems Gio is a specific man who talks less and has that deep voice you'll be afraid of.Mika was right. No mention of his other family on the internet besides his father, from whom he inherited his eye.'Hello, Sweetie?'I looked at my cell phone. Thanks, she answered my call."Are you busy, Grandma?" I lowered the half chocolate and leaned my back in my chair.'No, I am striding in my garden. The weather is
"Why did you never tell me anything about this, Cairen?" I mumbled in the air, wishing she was there, filling me in on the half of her life she forgot to tell me. I was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and exhausted from enjoying the town with Mikaella. Fortunately, she went with Mama to help with the grocery and I can have my alone time. However, I can't forget what Evan said before he gave his number. "You can't easily mend what is broken, Cairen. We face consequences whatever decision we make, and I am glad to see you again.” I watched him leave, and the two chatted outside. But he never told Grace I was there before they left. I don't know what Evan was trying to mean with his words. Is it hard to forgive? Maybe, Cairen has done so much for me that it depends. I want to laugh at that thought. I was about to close my eyes when I heard my phone ringing. I felt it next to the bed with my eyes closed and answered the call. "Hello?" 'I am outside your house.' Zach is on
I stared at myself in the mirror, wearing a dress that Mikaella chose.Zach had left after consuming the juice, and an hour later Mikaella came telling me about the invitation and dragging me to the local shop to look for a dress.It is an amber strapless gown, and Mika wraps it around in a chignon bun, and I apply light makeup but she redoes it because it doesn't suit me. I paired it with cream wedges that matched the complexion of my skin and the dress.But I've been restless for a while, so it's going to be official. And I want to withdraw but remembering Zach's words, I feel guilty for what I am doing now.Why can't Grandma tell them the truth about Cairen? But I know the answer, they want Cairen not me. I blink away the tears in my eyes and get out of my room before tears decide on their own out of my will.When I got off the threshold, my parents were already there. My mother was looking beautiful with her square neckline long sleeve blue dress. Her hair has a long wispy front. W
My thoughts were outside the glass window of the café. Will Evan come? I’m not sure. Maybe he changed his mind. It’s been three days since Zach and I saw each other after the engagement party; that was the last time. We should meet when he has to make his date with Grace. I took a deep breath and almost finished the watermelon juice I had bought. He’s not really coming. Why should I hope he would come when he said we would meet? I get on my feet and grab my juice. More customers were coming, and what was quiet earlier was now noisy. He looked up at the door, and from there, Evan entered with a hurried walk, and he was sweaty. I stopped walking away from the table. Our eyes meet. “Sorry, Cairen, if I’m just now. I just arrived in town.” “It’s okay,” I said, ignoring that I had been waiting for almost an hour. “Have you been here before?” he asked, sitting on the chair across from me. “Yes, but I understand, Evan,” I said with a smile. If it were just me, I would really confess to t
"Is this a date?" Zach asks, smirking as he strides and stops at our table. He grabs the chair at the next table where an adult man is sitting alone. His gaze fleeted at Zach before continuing eating his pizza.Zach sat next to me, and looked between us. Waiting."What does it matter to you if we are having a date?" Evan answered, strained. He doesn't like Zach, and the feeling is mutual with Zach.I clear my throat, and say something but Zach quips, "It is impossible a date for Cairen won't be having a date with her friend. He may rather choose my brother than you in that regard.”My eyes widened and looked at Zach. So Zach knew of Cairen's feelings for her brother. And Evan knows Grace as well. Except me. I taste the bitterness of the realization.Why would Cairen have feelings for Zach's brother? What did Cairen see with that man? Well, Gio is handsome but I don't see my twin liking anyone like him but rather to Evan.Evan glared at Zach with his hardened expression, and tense jaw.