SCARLET
I take in a deep breath as I put my hand in Devan’s.
“Actually,” he says as if he just realized something.
“This is not how I should treat my wife.”
Before my brain can process his words, he lifts me off the floor.
Oh wow.
I think Devan’s arms will be my favorite form of transport.
“You’ll see her soon,” he tells my father.
“We need a short honeymoon.” The mention of that makes my cheeks heat up.
This is not the time to get reactions, Scarlet, I scold myself as I try to regain control.
And just like that, we leave the wedding.
My wedding.
Leaving behind a perplexed crowd.
That just happened.
Should it be put as the wedding of the century?
Once we’re in the car, Devan looks at me and smiles, making my cheeks heat up even more.
“What?” I ask.
“You’re the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.”
His complement goes straight to my stomach.
To the butterflies in my stomach.
He leans in, making my heart skip a beat.
And then he runs his thumb on my cheek.
“That fucker didn’t deserve you.”
His act is simple but it still makes my heart race.
“You said you had an emergency?” I ask, trying to regain momentum and rearrange myself.
“I need to make sure you’re alright first. Where do you want to go?” He pries.
I scoff.
“Honeymoon?”
A smirk forms in his face.
“You want to go on a honeymoon?”
“I didn’t think…”
“I’ll take you anywhere you want,” he cuts me off.
It’s such a great offer.
With everything that’s unfolded, a break would be good for my mental health.
But a tiny part of my brain is still protesting for some reason.
“That will not be necessary.” I say.
“Why?”
“Uhm, because this whole marriage is fake.”
“Then we can go on a fake honeymoon.”
“Okay, let me think about it,” I stall.
Who even says no to a free vacation?
Me, because I’m an idiot enough to fall for Kelvin’s schemes.
How could I not have noticed any red flag?
Or maybe I did and chose to ignore it because I was so stupid in love.
I think about it and I want to slap myself.
“It’s not your fault, you know,” Devan says.
He just read right through me, didn’t he?
I’m an open book.
“He’s the idiot here,” he adds.
“And he didn’t deserve you.”
I take in a deep breath, not willing to talk about Kelvin.
Especially not with my brand new fake husband.
“I just want to rest. It’s been a long day.”
Devan drives me home.
Yes, home.
The Galloway mansion will be my home for the next six months.
There’s so much my mind can’t handle at the moment.
When we arrive, we’re met with Christina’s worried face in the living room.
“Thank God you’re here,” she walks to meet us half way as she shifts glances between me and Devan.
“I need an explanation before I run mad.”
“I’ll fill you in, mother.”
“You said that ten years ago. And now I see your…” she glances at me and then back at Devan.
“Whatever she is to you, is trending as the bride of the century.”
Oh my God.
Is that what they’re calling me now?
“My wife needs to rest. I’ll be right back.”
Once we’re in his room….our room.
I quickly take off the six-inch heels that have been killing me.
And the next thing will be this humongous wedding gown.
I was so in love with it, but now I want nothing but for it to disappear.
It’s a reminder of what my life has become.
I’m about to take it off when I remember Devan is in the room, staring at me with widened pupils.
I sigh and sit on the bed.
“I guess it’s time for me to leave,” he says.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” He adds.
“I’ll be fine.”
“If you need anything, call me. Apart from that, everyone in this house is at your service.”
That makes me smile.
“Yes boss.”
He narrows his eyes.
“Please don’t call me that again.”
“What do you prefer?”
“Anything but boss…unless…”
He pauses and a mischievous grin spreads across his face.
“Never mind.”
Now I want to know what dirty thought ran through his mind.
He doesn’t let me.
“I have a situation to take care of,” he says, walking towards the door.
“See you later, wife.”
I smile as I say, “See you later, husband.”
_____________
When I open my eyes, everything around me feels strange.
It takes a while for me to process my surroundings.
A while later everything comes rushing and I want nothing but to crawl back to sleep.
What time is it?
My phone is on the nightstand. This story is hosted at g.com.
I quickly take it.
Matias helped transfer all the data from my old phone to this new one, since my husband insisted that it should start my marriage life with a new device.
It’s 8pm.
I don’t know if Devan is home.
He said everyone is at my service, but he’s the only person I’m comfortable with in this humongous mansion.
I’m about to get off bed when a knock resounds at the door.
I stare at it for a few seconds before I yell, “Come in.”
It’s Christina.
She walks towards me wearing an awkward smile which makes me wonder.
Did Devan finally tell her the truth?
She sits bedside me and asks.
“How are you feeling?”
“Less tired,” I say, trying to lighten my mood.
“Dinner is ready, but I wanted to be the one to fetch you.”
Uhm…
I’m not sure how I should respond to that.
“Because I wanted us to talk,” Christina adds.
My heart sinks.
I’m not sure what type of mother-in-law Christina is.
Would she play loving mother-in-law if she knew this marriage was fake?
When I don’t respond, she proceeds.
“This morning, I was so happy. I thought my son had finally let someone in.”
So Devan told her everything then.
It’s confirmed by her next words.
“And then I found out it was all a show. Just Devan putting the syndicate matters first.”
At this moment, I want to be anywhere but here.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to lie to you.”
“No. No. It’s okay. It’s not your fault. But you’re an innocent person being tossed into our world.”
She sighs and then takes my hand.
Her eyes bore into mine.
“Do you think Devan can be saved?” she asks.
My brows furrow.
“What do you mean?”
Because…does Devan need salvation?
“I’m talking about his avoidance, the way he shuts people out. He’s been like that since…”
She pauses and I immediately know what it is.
His father’s death.
My heart breaks again.
“I’m just scared he might end up alone.”
My first instinct is to tell her that I would never leave him.
But again I remember, we are in a contract marriage.
Probably my feelings getting the best of me.
The door suddenly cracks open.
I was hoping for it to be Devan, but it’s not.
It’s Miranda, and she has worry written all over her face.
“Devan is home,” she reports.
Okay, and why does she look worried?
“You should see him. He’s injured. He’s…bleeding.”
Yeah that’s why.