"You've got it all wrong, Ms. Lewis. It isn't me but my client who's going to marry you," he said while chuckling.
"Who is he?" Kirsten asked with a frown adorning her beautiful face.
"I can't tell you," he said, he looked at her tenderly, his nonchalant face before, now filled with concern.
"Can you please speak to whoever your boss is. Tell him that I can't marry him until my brother comes out of the hospital." The decisiveness in her tone gave the impression that it was not a request but an imposition.
"Okay, let me call him." Mr. Tornwell was about to dial his client’s number but his phone went off.
"She's already here," he said without waiting for the man to speak.
He nodded his head while listening to the man at the other end of the line.
"Ms. Lewis wants the wedding after her brother got discharged from the hospital," he said, holding his breath.
Kirsten looked at Mr. Tornwell expectantly, wishing that her unknown groom would agree.
Kirsten's heart fell at the bottom of her stomach when a frown appeared on Mr. Tornwell's face. "Okay, I understand."
The call eventually concluded, after a few minutes of speaking to the man.
Mr. Tornwell seriously looked at Kirsten, heightening her edginess.
"My client agreed," Mr. Tornwell saw the relief in Kirsten's face. "But!" The word he added was like a needle pricking a balloon. Kirsten's shoulders drooped down, feeling defeated.
"Someone will pick you up tomorrow,” Mr Tornwell added.
Listless, Kirsten walked out of the lawyers office. As a law student, she knew that the contract was binding once she signed the contract. There was no escaping this.
If her dad did not die when she was just a child, then this thing would have not happened to them. She looked up at the sky and asked God, “Why?”
Kirsten looked down and walked absent - mindedly on the pavement and had not noticed the black Maybach driving slowly following her.
If she could only make the day longer, Kirsten would do it so that this dreaded day would not come but unfortunately, she had no power to prolong the day. If she has no power to prolong a day then she absolutely has no power to stop time from moving.
***
The day she feared eventually came, no matter how hard she wished that it would not come.
The acoustic band played a romantic song in the background as Kirsten waited beyond the curtain, concealing her from the guests and her mysterious groom.
The pounding of her heart nearly broke her chest and she could hear the loud thudding of her heart was louder than the music.
What if her groom is older than her mother? Or perhaps a psycho? Or even if he's young but looks like a frog?
There's no need to lie to herself, of course she wanted to marry a good looking man. Desiring to be married to a good looking man was just a normal thing for a woman.
When the performer started to sing the first line of the song, the curtain separating her and the very few guests was lifted.
Sea wind blew gently as Kirsten walked shakily on the sandy aisle with red rose petals scattered along the aisle.
Only three people were present at the wedding, one of them was Mr. Tornwell. They admiringly watched the bride walk down the aisle.
It took all of Kirsten's strength not to run away as she spotted from afar a scrawny man in black suit, waiting down the aisle.
Kirsten had to convince herself that it's worth the sacrifice as her brother could now live a healthy and happy life. He could do all the things young children at his age do. She could see him smiling and out of pain.
Eventually, whatever she did to prolong her march, she was now standing face to face with her groom. Kirsten swayed, feeling dizzy.
'Oh no, I would be waking up everyday for one year with this man,' her mind screamed.
Despite herself she gave her groom a bright smile. He was her benefactor, her brother would be dead by now if he hadn't helped her.
'He might be a frog prince but he's with a golden heart,' she consoled herself.
Her eyes and Steven's eyes met making her clench her wedding gown.
Kirsten wanted to run away but she reminded herself and said, ‘You are doing it for your brother.’
A lengthy discourse was given by the minister regarding marriage which the groom groggily listened to.
He yawned several times while the minister spoke, Kirsten had to hold herself back on pinching her groom.
‘This is humiliating,’ she complained to herself. She embarrassingly looked at the minister who was delivering his talk.
When the minister was about to officiate the marriage, a voice came to Kirsten's ears. "I'm sorry for being late."
The mimister smiled awkwardly at the man standing behind Kirsten.
"Mr. Roosevelt," Kirsten's groom beamed upon seeing Matthew as if he was being rescued from being sent to a death row.
"Thank you, Steven," Matthew said and Steven gave way to Matthew. Leaving the dumbfounded bride. She looked back from Matthew to Steven in confusion.
‘What is going on here?’
Her eyes grew wide seeing the handsome man towering over her. Kirsten's neck hurt a little looking at the man, he was really tall. She was already wearing three inch heels adding to her five feet and three inches height.
Kirsten didn't know if she would be relieved or worried that the scrawny man wasn't her groom. Her whole body tensed up as she remembered that he was the man she had offended two weeks ago.
Is he going to get revenge for spilling the soup over him? Will he really get revenge over a trivial matter? Why did he help me if he wanted revenge? A multitude of questions flooded Kirsten’s mind.
Kirsten followed everything the minister said in a haze, not understanding any of it. Even the vow she uttered didn’t register in her mind. Everything seemed to happen in a blur.
"You may kiss the bride," the pastor said.
The minister’s word snapped her back from her trance and Kirsten blush furiously. Not only did her cheeks were tinted with color but her fair neck was stained red and the color spread to her earlobes. Matthew slid his forefinger down Kirsten's chin inclining her head up and slowly his face descended, his sexy lips connecting with hers ever so gently. The contact sent thousands of tingles, washing over Kirsten's body, who for the first time was kissed in her whole life. Kirsten shuddered at the new and foreign sensation she felt all over her body. She was terrified at her body's reaction towards the kiss. A big question mark left floating in her mind. She couldn’t comprehend or name the feelings she had experienced when Matthew’s lips settled on hers. While Kirsten was yet to come out of her daze, she felt being lifted in the air. At once, as her initial response she reached for something to hold on. And she found herself clasping Matthew's neck. "Hold on tightly," Matthew co
Returning to their room after answering a phone call, Matthew was startled to hear sobs coming from the bathroom. The advantage of having long legs was, with just a few big strides he had reached the bathroom door. At once he held the knob, turning it and pushed open the door. His eyes narrowed to see his wife on her knees, crying. She wasn't wearing anything, on display was her fair skin full of his marks. Quickly, taking a robe and putting it on her, he lifted her from the floor. Kirsten didn't stop crying even when she was settled on the bed. Matthew, confused by the mixed feelings crowding his chest, went out for a walk, leaving a crying mess, Kirsten. Bawling until fatigue overtook, she drifted off to sleep. Thinking that he had given her enough time to cry, Matthew came back. There he saw his wife, curled up at the edge of bed like a frightened kitten. She was sleeping but was sniffling in her sleep. Matthew sat down beside her. He lifted his hand and brushed away th
'Beep, beep," the medical instrument connected to Kirsten’s body, continuously sounded, greeted Kirsten as she woke from coma. "She's awake, Dr. Townsend," Kirsten heard a woman speak, her voice tinged with excitement. "Water," Kirsten was surprised how hoarse her voice sounded to her ears. The nurse quickly took water and put a straw in the cup of water, holding it before Kirsten's mouth. Feeling so thirsty, Kirsten completely emptied the cup. "You have been in a coma for three days," the doctor informed her sensing that she had no idea why she was in the hospital. Memories came flooding in, she remembered she was enticed by the sea and the voice…Whose voice was it? Who saved her? "Who took me here?" Before she could stop herself from asking, the words already came out of her mouth."Mr. Roosevelt, brought you here. He was here a while ago and left for a business meeting," the nurse answered her question. The doctor did several tests on her before she was finally released to
In the dimly lit room, her tears sparkled as light reflected in them. Matthew caught sight of this and his agitation dissipated right away. Matthew slid his hand up her head and pressed the side of her face against his chestHer ear was pressed against his chest enabled her to hear the erratic beating of his heart. She was utterly confused why his heartbeat sounded like music in her ears and liked hearing it. It was Sunday the following day, Matthew already left when Kirsten opened her eyes. Kirsten wondered about her husband's whereabouts. It's Sunday today, he should be home today. She mused on if she married a workaholic. Kirsten took her phone to call Matthew, however, indecision caught her up. After a long time of deliberating with herself if she should or shouldn't call, finally, she decided to call. Her heart galloped like a buck as she heard the ringback. But the call was unanswered. She retried and this time the call was rejected. Like a deflated balloon, Kirsten ploppe
When the bowl was nearly filled, Matthew put it down on top of the table. Kirsten stared at the bowl of soup before her. She wasn’t sure if the soup was really for her. She didn't touch the bowl of soup in front of her and observe Matthew. He took the empty bowl before her. Filled it with soup, then he placed it before him and started to eat. So it was really for her. He didn't accidentally place the bowl of soup before her. A smile broke through her face and she said, "Thank you." But her happiness was mixed with a bit of dejection that he didn't make as much of a grunt to respond. The meal was spent in a very uncomfortable note as Matthew just ate without glancing at her nor tried to make small chat with her. As a law student, Kirsten was used to talking with people. She was trained to have a good skill in communicating with people because she has to talk to clients and she'll need it during legal counsels and legal proceedings such as court hearings. But facing her husband
"Kristen? Did I hear the voice of a man?" James asked, a gust of anxiety and jealousy flurried into his heart. "I have to hang up, I'm still at work." Kirsten ended the call before any of the two men could speak again. Matthew was displeased to hear her lie. "Who is that and why did you lie?" Matthew asked, his cold voice made Kirsten tremble. However she quickly recovered and answered back. "A friend. And I wasn't lying, remember I am working for you. Am I right?" She responded and sidled away from him, completely forgetting her reason why she came to the kitchen. Matthew watched with a scowl as Kirsten walked out of the kitchen. He followed her to the bedroom and she was already under the sheet. Her eyes were closed and her back was facing his side of the bed. She didn’t move a bit even when she felt the sheet being lifted and he climbed onto the bed. All of a sudden, a hand was pressed against her shoulder and she was turned to face him. Too sudden, leaving her stunned
“She’s my –” Kirsten interjected, not letting him finish and greeted him nonchalantly. “Good evening, Mr Roosevelt.” “Good evening, Mrs Roosevelt,” Matthew answered, throwing Kirsten into confusion. Except Matthew, everyone was shocked. Taking advantage of Monalisa’s shock, he freed his arm from her grip and pulled Kirsten from James' side to his side. Now, Kirsten was standing beside him with his hand resting around her tiny waist, displaying a possessive gesture. “Hi, I am Kirsten's husband,” Matthew said to James, whose lips were pursed into a thin line. He reached out his hand for a handshake. James accepted the offer and shook his hand. Only the two of them knew how much force they used in the handshake. They were trying to crush each other's hand. None of them winced and the handshake was broken after a while. ‘No wonder why she was wearing a brand that only wealthy people could buy.’ James thought. James felt as if his heart was being wrung like a washcloth. He had b
Matthew looked down at the woman in his arms. His face looked even more lugubrious than usual. He wanted to open her skull and look at her brain. Isn't she a law student? Why is she dumb? Lifting her chin using three of his fingers, he spoke slowly with a low voice while keeping his annoyance at bay. "Did our contract say we are going to keep our marriage secret?" Considering her health he couldn't bear to scold or berate her. While they were in a contract marriage, still, she was his lawful wife. He must take care of her as he didn’t want to look for another pawn to marry. It would complicate things even more if another woman was involved. This time he would make sure that before this marriage was over, everything would be in its place as he had planned. "No, but since we got married in secret you want this marriage kept hidden." Her lawyer's instinct kicked up, defending her case. "I have no intention in keeping this marriage secret, my little wife." He has his reasons why he