The CEO's Fated Mute Lover

Rose Set in a dimmed light room blinded with a quite aura. The curtain blinders were left out as breeze cascaded through it giving the room a bit rays of sunlight. My brown hair took charged with the breeze. You won’t call me white rather a fairly complexion. The way I hugged my body with my arms will tell you I’m perceiving the cold. However, that didn’t make me shut the windows and the curtain blinders. I find solace staring through the quite street of our neighborhood. To cut things short, I prefer to be alone. In my comfort zone. Lost in my own thoughts. No one understands me or my opinion. After all, I can’t let them out aloud. I can only use a sign language which not everyone will be able to understand. I am mute. And no, I wasn’t born like that. I had an accident when I was a child and since then, I lost my voice. The same accident I lost my mother in. The doctors said it can be cured but due to how shocked I was and the fact that I was a child, the chances became slim. However, I still have hope. My voice will come back to me. Even though no one care. One of the reasons why I lost the only man I grew up to love. The one man my heart longed for. I couldn’t express my feelings. I never had the courage. But then, that doesn’t make me a weak person. I lived my life like every normal person. My lips curved up into a smile. That smile that hides away my sorrows. It is the only way to assure myself that everything will be okay. The noises formulating through the walls caught my attention. Although I can’t hear them properly, it sounds like an argument to me. Closing the windows, I spread over the curtains and made a walk out. As I neared my father’s study room, the voice began getting louder. “I’m not marrying a blind man!” I was abruptly blinded by a pearl-studded wedding dress as I pushed open the door, making my face tingle with the piece of clothing. All eyes turned to me as I stepped in stopping at the door. My elder sister, Ariana face was held in a frown as she rested her hands on her waist. Our father, Mr. Owen Jacob standing across her and my step mother, who is Ariana’s mother was standing by our father. The look plastered on their faces tells me something is going on. It was Ariana’s wedding day. They are supposed to be busy making preparations. “Ariana, I know Nolan is not the man he used to be anymore. But he’s still the man you love. Just because he lost his eyesight doesn’t mean we would back out. We have been looking forward to this day. You know we can’t afford to mess with his family.” Father exclaimed trying to persuade Ariana. “I don’t care. Where is the love? Do you want me to be chained down to take care of him for the rest of my life? I’m not going to marry a disabled man! You can marry him if you’re scared of them so much!” Ariana exclaimed smashing one of father’s favorite vase on the marble floor. “I don’t care. There’s no way I will marry a blind man. You should know better father. This isn’t the kind of life I want to venture into. I want to be free. Free as bird. And have my freedom like always. Not succumbing to any blind man demand” “Honey, we both know our precious daughter deserves better.” My step mother chirped in holding her father by the arm. What a warm family, the doting parents, and the spoiled daughter. And I am just like an outsider. A bitter smile found its way out of me. Ariana has always been the loving daughter. She gets everything she wants without having to suffer in getting it. She got Nolan on a free platter. Now she’s trying to back out. While I’m left to bottle up my feelings. "The car is waiting outside," father pointed outside of the window, He looked like he was going to have a meltdown. Ariana can’t just back out at last minute. "Ariana, my princess. Are you trying to give your father a heart attack?" He commenced again after a moment of silence was maintained. “You know the position I want to get at the company. This is the chance for your father to get out of the shackle” It has always been about business. I knew father always has his motives. But for Ariana, I don’t know why she wants to back out. Just because Nolan is blind. Don’t she love him? Can’t she think about his feelings too? "Let her marry him then. She can be the bride." Ariana pointed at me. The way my heart took charge with beating couldn’t be measured. I felt like my heart will rip out of its socket. Me and Nolan? Marry him? I tried as much as I can not to let my emotions out. "But she can't even talk. The family won't accept a mute. How about Nolan? How do you expect her to act as you" "I've never said anything before Nolan. He should think I'm a mute. After all, he’s blind" Ariana explained excitedly. "Why?" Father raised an eyebrow in question. "Daddy, it doesn't matter," Ariana huffed, "Just make Rose the bride. She's a mute and he's a blind man. They are perfect for each other." She wiggled her hands in the air. Hearing that, they both casted their gazes on me. "Honey, I think it will work," mother nudged father with her elbow, "Nolan can't see and Rose can't talk. Guess this is the only way." Father casted me an apologetic look. I know the look "Rose, sweetheart…" Pressing the wedding dress to my chest, my eyes widened as I looked at the faces of my family members one by one. The pearls on the wedding dress somehow stung me, and so did my so-called family's attitude. When my eyes met Ariana, she looked away, as if she was afraid to make eye contact In as much as what they said doesn’t make sense, it somehow made something twitch inside me. The undying feelings. Can I say I want to be selfish enough? To grab the opportunity. I don’t know what lies ahead of me. But I want to embrace the golden opportunity. After all I will be with my love. "Rose," father sighed, "You know that-" Before he could speak further, I gestured at him with sign language. "I will marry him" I sunk in a deep breathe like it was the hardest thing for me to say. There’s no time to think about it. It will be like killing two birds with one stone. I will get to be with the love of my live and father’s business will boom too. The frown that was once on my sister’s face was replaced with a smile. And that of my father’s. A contented smile was dancing all over his face. I didn’t utter any word instead turned on my heels and quietly went back to my room to start getting ready. I have been longing for this day, marrying Nolan. I had been secretly in love with him for many years. When I was still a child, I had some happy moments with Nolan. And Nolan had promised me that he would marry me when we I up. My heart had been taken away since that promise. Although he might have forgotten his promise and somehow ended up falling in love with Ariana, my elder sister half a year ago, I still can’t stop loving him. I was heartbroken seeing my beloved man becoming my sister's boyfriend, then her fiancé. But there was still a glimpse of hope hidden in the deepest part of my heart, that one day, Nolan would remember his promise and marry me. Now that I have gotten the golden opportunity, saying no will be the biggest mistake I would ever make. Nolan would marry me today. So, whether I will be a substitute or not doesn’t matter anymore. The dress was a bit heavy and oversized. But I smiled at my reflection in the mirror as I sat before the dresser. I know Nolan is blind now and would no longer be that powerful man, but I would still give the world to be his wife. Walking out of the gate of our house, I stepped in the car gracefully with a wide smile on my face. The wedding probably wouldn't have feasts or guests, but I know Nolan is the man I truly love. And that is enough for me. As we embark on the journey towards Nolan's mansion, I fell into deep thinking. Nervousness crept into me. What if Nolan finds out that I was not Ariana? But I was also full of expectation, picturing what my future life would be with my beloved, Nolan. I took a deep breath. I felt a bit uneasy for not knowing what would happen next. The car stopped before a gigantic black gate of a big mansion. When I stepped out, the car drove away in a flash. No sign of any guest or anybody around, so I navigated my way inside knocking on the door. “Mr Hendrix is waiting for you on the second floor, the second room on your right hand.” A scrawny middle-aged woman said impatiently not sparing me a good glance. When I walked in, I was almost choked by the surrounding before me. The decorations and furniture. I have never seen such extravagant decorations in my life. The house screams luxury. The wall frames will definitely cost millions of dollars. Is Nolan really living here? Even as a former CEO? I thought to myself as I neared the said room. “That bride is quite pretty. But she marries a blind. What a shame.” I heard the middle-aged woman's murmur and froze. I turned around and cast a glare at the woman. The woman looked away pretending as if she wasn’t the one who spoke. When I finally arrived at the door of the room, I took in a deep breath. Even though the man I love couldn't see anymore, I still wanted to get myself prepared before seeing his face. However, the moment I raised my hand, it froze mid-air as a series of laughter resonate out of the door through my eardrums. "Just subscribe, bro. Seriously" “This is the real former CEO of the Hendrix Group. Look, do you see his face?" The laughter continued. “We're not joking, man. Over 10,000 subscribers. We'll give you guys a show, how a former CEO becomes a glutton” Anger took the better of me as I pushed the door open and stormed in angrily. How could they say such horrible things to Nolan? My eyes landed on the two men taking a video of Nolan. He was seated on a royal chair by the window, in a thin shirt on such a cold winter day. They didn't even give him a coat! His face was still handsome and impassive, but also as pale as a ghost's, his lips dry and cracked. His once bright and dazzling eyes were hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. He looked so indifferent and isolated. My heart was broken at the sight. The two men cast me a look. “Who is she?” One of them asked. “The new maid, probably.” “That loser is basically like a dead walking now. Why does he still need servants?” They didn’t care whether it will get to Nolan. They are that careless. They didn’t cast me another look as they turned their focus to what they were doing before I came in. “We need to figure out something more interesting.” “How about you get some s**t here and feed him?” They were humiliating her beloved Nolan! Hot anger was boiling in my veins. Can’t he hear them? I stalked towards them, slapping their dirty hands making the phone to drop on the floor. "What do you think you are doing b***h! Do you think we can’t beat the s**t out of you because you're a woman?" One of them exclaimed angrily. "She got a pretty face. We should strip them both naked and make a tape!" The other man barked out a laugh. “Young masters, how about leaving them alone today? After all, it's Mr. Hendrix's wedding day.” The door was suddenly pushed open and came in the butler. “Oh?” The two men looked me up and down like a piece of dirt. “So this is the bride? Quite pretty though” Maybe they are also blind not to see the white dress I was wearing. “But our dear cousin is blind now. He can't see it. What a pity” I swallowed a lump. I shouldn’t break down so fast. “Why don't you greet us, cousin-in-law?” “She is a mute.” The butler explained. “A what?” The two men laughed out loud, “A f*****g mute! A mute and a blind. What a perfect match” The room was filled with disgusting laughter, but Nolan was still seated motionlessly, looking into the distance. He was blind, he couldn't see anything. “Hey, cousin, you hear that? Your wife is a mute.” “Oh man, their wedding night will be so boring. How about we help them?” “Any idea, bro?” “Let's strip them naked and have a wedding night live stream! Isn't it great? Even better than p**n movies!” “Awesome! Let's tie the blind up and strip him first!” The two men strode towards Nolan while laughing. Still Nolan didn’t make a move as if he didn't hear anything. That made me worried. Can’t he hear them? Can’t he answer all the insults they are throwing at him? Is he unwell? Or too sad about his blindness? I noticed the two men weren't joking at all, I was shocked. One of the men pressed Nolan on the chair and the other one was trying to unbutton his shirt. I instantly rushed towards them, shielding Nolan. They will have to go through me before they can touch him. It doesn’t matter whether I’m mute or Nolan is blind. I’m already betrothed to him. I will stick with him in sickness and in health. I closed my eyes readying myself for whatever the two men are going to do, only for me to found my body been hauled away.