“You’re so beautiful, Ma’am Rose! I’m sure that Mr. Zeno will fall in love with you!” the stylist said.
If only they knew how rude he was, they would not tell that to me. However, since his looks are captivating, I bet that they will not believe what they see and they will eventually defend him rather than the victim. That’s how people think. Once they see how handsome and powerful they are, they will be on their side, even if they are the ones who did something bad or unforgivable.
It’s kinda unfair for us, who don’t possess that kind of status, but what can we do if that is what they want? Funny, right?
“You think so?” I asked, trying to enlighten the mood so people wouldn’t think something about our relationship.
Since he’s the most influential entrepreneur, I can’t taint Rose’s name and my face, of course. I need to ride on their topic because they will surely be on his side once I do something off, so I should make my act more realistic so they wouldn’t sense it.
“Ma’am Rose, he will! Look at you!” she said and placed the mirror in front of me so I could examine my face. “You have an innocent yet beautiful face. You have perfect eyes, nose, and kissable lips and you don’t need to use lip fillers.”
I can’t use my face to tame the most vicious man in this town. I tried my best to make everything okay, but this man doesn’t like this arranged marriage. He’s just doing it because of the contract that Rose’s grandfather agreed to.
Maybe, after a few years, he will file an annulment, saying that our marriage didn’t go as well as we were expecting and he will force me to sign the annulment papers because he’s done with this kind of setup. If that happens, at least, I will make my face become famous by using the other’s name, the actual bride.
Will they recognize me as Annalise or Rose?
Now, thinking about the possibility that they will recognize me with my real identity, they will surely throw hate at me. Saying that I’m using Zeno’s status, that I’m after his money and properties, that I’m desperate. Damn! That will be a big mess.
What kind of situation did I choose?
I took a deep breath, looking at the gigantic door in my front, waiting for it to open. Sweat is dripping from my hands as I hold the bouquet of red roses. My heart is pounding so fast that it’s making my breath unstable. My mind is also so clouded that I can’t even think straight because of fear, regret, and sadness. I wanted to run away, to escape everything, and to go back to where I am, writing novels just to achieve my dream most simply, but I knew it was too late, especially when I saw his face.
He didn’t even dare to look away when the door opened and met my eyes. I didn’t even know if he was clenching his jaw and his eyes became intense, as if he was examining my soul and mind or I was just hallucinating. I’m not sure, but all I did was follow everything in the contract that I’d agreed to.
‘Annalise Ysia Villareal ought to marry Zeno Myer Mercedes and use Rose Vergara as her name since she offered herself to be the substitute bride of Zeno Myer Mercedes.’
“Do you take Rose Vergara as your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?” the Priests asked.
Zeno cleared his throat and looked at me with his dazzling and intense eyes. Without thinking twice, he said, “I do.”
He didn’t even look away after saying those words as if he meant that. I’m confused, but I feel my tummy reacting to what I just heard. I know, this is only an arranged marriage, but why do his eyes say something that I can’t even understand but I shouldn’t assume, right? This is a bait. All of this was just an act since all of his relatives, family, friends, business partners, and even the media were looking at us, so why would I assume that all of this is real?
“Do you take Zeno Myer Mercedes as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?” the Priest asked me but I was just looking at the man in front of me, who’s holding my hand and caressing his thumb on my knuckles as if he’s comforting me. He even smiled at me, genuinely, which is hard to believe.
We didn’t have a proper conversation when we were at his house because he always threw hurtful words at me, but why is he acting like this? Why is my heart pounding so fast? What caused my vision to blur when I looked at him? Why are my lips quivering? Why does my stomach feel strange? What is the reason for my suffering?
I can’t understand it. Something’s wrong with me and I can’t figure it out. This isn’t me and this isn’t him. We’re not like this. He isn’t gentle. He didn’t even care about me, so why was he acting like this? Why does he keep giving me mixed signals?
“Rose Vergara?” The priest called my attention because I didn’t answer his question. All of them started to whisper, but Zeno didn’t take his eyes off me. “Do you take Zeno Myer Mercedes as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?”
My lips trembled as my tears fell on my cheeks and said, “I do, Father.”
“Congratulations to the both of you, man! I’m so happy that you’ve finally found the right one,” someone said, and if I’m not mistaken, it’s his friend. After the wedding ceremony, we rushed to the wedding reception. Zeno was driving his car seriously and didn’t even bother to glance at me after entering the driver’s seat. His eyes were on the road and I could also see his jaw clenching since I was looking at his side profile. He still looks handsome and I understand why many women were admiring him as if he’s like the Prince Charming of their life. Who wouldn’t have thought that? His face is so handsome, he also has an athletic body and height. But you can sense his coldness with his eyes. My eyes landed on his red and pouty lips. That lip met mine when the priest announced to everyone that the groom could now kiss the bride. I admit, that kiss was sweet. It only took seconds, but he managed to brush his lower lip to mine, kissing me passionately in front of his friends, relatives,
It’s our honeymoon month, but we never communicated nor had an interaction aside from eating together. However, I can feel his stare as if he’s observing me, but I’m trying my best to ignore it since I can’t stare at him back because my heart keeps pounding fast for unknown reasons.It’s always been like this whenever he’s around. My heart keeps pounding so fast that I’m afraid that he can hear it. He’s been occupying my mind lately after the kiss that we shared at the wedding ceremony. I’ve been hearing rumors about him when Ciara, my friend, talks about how cruel he is, which is true since he loves throwing hateful words at me, but lately, he’s been quiet. He’s not making any noises when he knows that I’m here, which I think that it’s the best decision that he made.It would be easy for me to stay here and act like Rose if he didn’t create any mess or conversation with me. At least, I’m doing my duty here at his house by not minding his existence or business, but why is my heart ach
It’s been weeks since we got married, but we never talked again after that night when he was waiting for me to come home. We became strangers again but we always ate together just like before. We treat each other as a wind whenever our paths cross.But I’m the one who always avoids him because of what happened that night, where he cornered me with his arms and I don’t even know how to get out. If he hadn’t let me go, I might have been hypnotized by his eyes.“You’re spacing out, Annalise,” Ciara uttered. I mentally shook my head and blinked my eyes many times, trying to regain my senses before smiling at her, who was now chewing.We’re at her restaurant since we both decided to work here and have some conversations again about our daily lives. My bodyguards are nowhere to be found, but I know that they’re just giving me space like they used to do.I just can’t understand why they are protecting me, as if my life would be in danger. As far as I remember, I don’t have enemies, but since
I suddenly woke up when I remembered that Zeno had come to my room and fallen asleep there because he’d been wasted, but my forehead creased when I realized that I was now lying on my bed. As far as I remember, I didn’t sleep here because I placed Zeno here.I tilted my head a little and shook my head before deciding to take a bath. I glanced at the clock beside my bed and saw that it was already 7 in the morning and we were having our breakfast together.Suddenly, a scene came to my mind when Zeno had been calling my name many times. I don’t even know why he called me by my legal name, but it’s weird. I felt something kick my heart that made me happy, but I need to remember the contract and my role here.I’m the substitute bride.“Good morning,” Zeno greeted me without looking at me. My mouth parted in shock and I froze in my seat the moment I heard him greet me, which is unusual.When I came back to my senses, I smiled at him and said, “Good morning.”I don’t know if I just hallucin
It’s been a week since he treated me like his wife. He’s been caring for me and keeps on sending messages to my social media accounts. I wanted to ignore the feeling that it was starting to grow, but deep inside my heart, I couldn’t. It’s getting deeper and deeper every day because of what he’s doing and I’m afraid I can love him freely without acting like Rose.I mentally shook my head and focused on my novel. I’ve been revising the chapters because I’m not satisfied with the scenes as if it happened too fast and I’m not a fan of that. I want it to be slow-paced because I want to build it slowly.“How’s your relationship with him?” Ciara asked.We’re currently having a FaceTime because she knew that I can’t get out of my room because of my novel so we’ve been talking to our social media so we can’t miss a thing in our daily lives.“We’re good. Everything went smoothly but sometimes, he’s sweeter than usual and I can’t help but feel awkward because I’m not used to that,” I replied.“T
“Rose,” Zeno said while I was typing on my laptop.We just had our breakfast a while ago and I went straight to my room after that since a scene popped into my mind that will fit in my story. What confuses me right now is Zeno, because as far as I remember, he has a job, but why is he still here?“Yes?” I asked while my eyes were on the screen of my laptop. I heard the door close and a few steps away from me, but I ignored it and kept on typing on my keyboard.“You seemed busy,” he uttered.“I am. I’m working,” I replied nonchalantly. I’m trying my best to focus on the scene that popped into my mind. I need to detail everything so I can get the outcome that I wanted.“Later, we’ll be having our lunch in a restaurant,” he informed. “I already booked a reservation for us.”I stopped what I was doing and turned my back to him because of shock and confusion. He was just staring at me as if he already expected that I would look at him.“What? You booked a reservation?” I asked again becaus
Third-Person Point of View Zeno and Annalise decided to drive home right away. Zeno’s having a second thought about calling his friend, who had a profession as a doctor, to report what happened these past few days. He knew what was happening and he couldn’t just let it slide. He glances at Annalise, who’s now playing on her phone to check if she’s now okay. Annalise felt someone staring at her, so she immediately glimpsed at Zeno, which caused him to avoid her gaze and focus on the road. “Why?” she asked, then placed her phone on her lap. Annalise seemed confused at his actions lately, especially when he began to accept her as his wife. She admits that it makes her heart flutter, but she doesn’t even know what was the reason behind his actions. “I’m just checking you out if you are now okay,” he simply retorted. His hands are still quivering, but he tries his best not to make it obvious. He cleared his throat. “Do you want to eat something?” Annalise was astonished at what she hea
“I’m going to meet my friend,” Annalise said while eating her breakfast.Zeno’s forehead creased when he heard what she said. “Friend?”Annalise nodded her head in response and swallowed the meat before talking. “Yeah. She’s Ciara Savannah Corpuz.”Zeno froze in his seat the moment he heard that name. For how many years had passed, this was his first time hearing it again. Thoughts suddenly filled his mind that he forgot to react to his wife’s reply.“Zeno?” Annalise called his attention, but he didn’t react. He was just looking at his plate, thinking about what he would do if there was a time that their path crossed again.“Zeno? Are you listening?” she asked, then placing her tiny hand on his wrist, causing him to get surprised.“Yeah.” He shook his head and smiled for a second. “What time are you going to meet her?”Annalise seemed confused at his sudden reaction, so she tilted her head for a second and furrowed her eyes.Zeno felt her stare, so he glanced at her. “What? Why are yo