“I don’t want to marry you,” I sneered at the man in front of me.
He’s the man that my parents wanted me to marry because he’s the son of their most important business partner—the Guzman’s—who owns the biggest power plant for solar technology in the whole of America.
My parents will probably do everything to make this happen—a marriage for convenience as a sign of a vow between the two families. But it’s probably something that I can never stomach.
How could my parents let me, their only child, marry someone I don’t love? Someone I don’t even know! This can’t be real!
The man in front of me smirked. Oh, damn! I hate that smirk of his! “You already did,” he uttered in an incredibly low and sexy voice. But that won’t make it to the cut.
I squinted my eyes at him and gritted my teeth. “That was nothing! It’s invalid! I was drunk!” I was already shaking in anger.
He chuckled lowly and shrugged. “The marriage was filed. It’s valid.”
I inhaled a deep breath, already annoyed at the presence of this man in front of me. “I have grounds to invalidate the marriage,” I told him.
I was drunk, yes. That alone is a huge ground for disqualification of our “marriage”.
He raised his brow as he c****d his head to the side while he looked at me, amused, and with a huge grin on his lips. “You cannot invalidate it without my consent,” he replied. “If you want, you can file a divorce. That’s easier.”
I pursed my lips, trying to collect my cool so I wouldn’t explode in anger. He really has the guts to say all these things to me? Why is he telling me these things? Does he like to be caught up in an arranged marriage with me? He doesn’t even know me!
“That’s how you escape from me, Jelia.” I could feel goosebumps with the way he called my name. “But that is if I will allow you,” he whispered and his low raspy voice sent shivers down my spine.
“Why are you okay with this?” I asked in between gritted teeth. I wanted to run. I want to let go and stop everything. If only I could turn back time. I wouldn’t have made the same decisions I did.
He arched his brows before shrugging. “I don’t know. Maybe because I am sick of having girls around me. I want to have someone that’s not temporary.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “That’s it? That’s your reason?” I asked in disbelief. “If you wanted to have someone that wouldn’t just be your temporary pleasure, you should find a girlfriend! Not marry a woman that’s intoxicated with alcohol!” I was already hysterical and angry and I made sure that he is aware of that.
He blinked before smirking. “Why are you so angry about it? Do you have a boyfriend?”
I pursed my lips and froze on my spot. “Why do you have to know?”
He raised his brow. “Oh, does that mean you do?” His voice is menacing and I hate it! I hate him! I hate everything about him!
I don’t want to live in hell with him. Oh, please! Let this be a dream so it could be over when I wake up!
He looked at me from head to foot as if scrutinizing my whole body. “You’re not bad actually,” he commented.
My eyes widened as I scoffed in disbelief. Me? Not bad? I could not help but feel trampled on. Not to be that cocky person but I am a model. I have been a cover girl in the magazines and this is the first time that I heard someone comment that I am “not bad”. I believe I am more than that!
When he finally read my expression, he burst out in a loud laugh before shaking his head. “I’m sorry. My comment must have brought your confidence down a little,” he spoke which only angered me even more.
“If you have nothing good to say, then, shut your mouth,” I shot back. “Besides, what we’re talking about is not about my body or your rating on how I look. This is about our marriage that is invalid!”
Stupid! I am stupid! How can I let loose and act recklessly like that?
He nodded and crossed his arms against his chest. “Look, Jelia,” he began and it feels so awkward to hear him utter my name like we’re close friends. “It’s you and your family who needs the merger more than us. You should be elated that you got married to me. If I was sober, I wouldn’t have even glanced at you.”
I glared at him. “Don’t act like this is a blessing in disguise because it is not!”
“Then what? Are you just going to let your company suffer the losses?” he questioned. “Did you even know about the multi-million-dollar scam that happened because your father failed to recognize that the person he was transacting with is a fraud?”
My eyes widened and he shrugged.
“See? You have no idea how important this is to your family. So please, stop acting like you can live on your own. As I said, you can divorce me. But then again, it will cost you your whole family business.” I was speechless. I hate the fact that he’s right. “So, Jelia, what are you going to choose? Your freedom or your family?”