Marry Me, Stranger

Chapter 4: To Some Place

Zyrone angrily took a swig of brandy on the glass he was holding. He was facing the glass wall of his house, looking at the sunset.

His chest was burning in anger and disappointment. And his veins were pulsating with so much hate. Why wouldn’t he? Audrey just ditched him on their wedding day!

Should he had known Audrey would do this to him, he would’ve chosen another woman for him to marry. It’s not that he forced her to marry him. She agreed… willingly!

Kung nagsabi sana ito na hindi na nito gustong magpakasal, baka nagawan pa niya ng paraan. Hindi ‘yong ganito. Na bigla na lang itong naglahong parang bula.

He took the glass of brandy to his mouth again. This time he finished its content in one gulp. He wanted to punch something or beat the s**t out of someone! He’s sure should someone bother him right now that he’s on his penthouse in Gold Hotel-Manila, will be in so much trouble.

He huffed and raked his fingers on his hair. Grandma Eve’s words, his father’s mother, were echoing in his ears.

“You need to get married now, Zyrone. I am dying and I want to see that your life is finally settled and that our line will continue with you.”

That’s what his grandmother told him four months ago when she was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He would’ve just ignored Grandma Eve’s request for him to settle down but his grandmother threatened him that if he would not heed to her request, she’d sell the Gold Hotel International and he and his parents will not get any penny from it.

And while he knows that Grandma Eve can really do that since she’s the Chairman of Gold Hotel International at kahit na hindi naman talga sila maghihirap ng pamilya niya kahit na wala silang makuha sa pinagbentahan ng Gold Hotel—still the threat struck a nerve on him because Gold Hotel International was his grandfather’s legacy. They are not the Craigs without the Gold Hotel.

At imbes sana na mag-concentrate siya sa pagpapatakbo sa Gold Hotel at pagsiguro na nasa maayos na kondisyon ang lola niya kahit paano, he had spent the last three months looking for a bride—a contract bride.

Yes, that’s the only solution he had come up with to heed his grandmother’s request.

He’s not ready to get married yet. Idagdag pa na wala rin siyang karelasyon ngayon. At kahit na siguro may karelasyon siya ngayon, hindi pa rin niya papakasalan. He’s just 31 at ayaw pa niyang matali sa kasal. He’s in his prime and enjoying living his life as the most sought after bachelor of the country. Besides, he doesn’t really feel the need for him to be in a hurry when he’s rich, powerful and can have any woman he wishes to have.

And he wouldn’t ruin that by being stuck in a marriage. Moreso when that marriage was set-up by his parents who, like Grandma Eve, already wanted him to settle down with the girl they’d pick for him.

When his parents learned about Grandma Eve’s request, his father wasted no time to pair him up with the single daughters of their business associates. And because he knew that his parents would want to trap him to a real marriage with the girl they’d pick for him, he’d decided to look for a contract wife.

His exes were instantly eliminated from his choices. He doesn’t want any emotional connection to his would be wife- that would just mees things up when they'd part ways. And so he searched amongst his friends and acquiantances. Until he found Audrey to be the best choice. He had met and partied with Audrey a couple of times in the past. She was a perfect candidate because not only she was sort of a friend and wasn’t his type, she’s also an actress. He knew she would play her part as a loving wife to him well.

When he told his parents that he’d marry Audrey, he and his father had a big fight. He said that they already had a bride for him. But he remained unfazed. Agad-agad niyang tinawagan si Grandma Eve, na noon ay nasa bahay nila sa Reno, Nevada at ibinalita rito na ikakasal na siya. And that after the wedding, lilipad sila ng mapapangasawa niya patungo sa Reno at bibisitahin ito.

Itinuloy niya ang paghahanda sa kasal. People and the media went crazy with the news of him and Audrey getting married. People even dubbed their soon-to-be nuptials as wedding of the year. Why wouldn’t it be? He had spent hundreds of millions for it just to make it believable.

But then…today happened.

Muli siyang napabuga ng hininga at mariing pinisil ang pagitan ng kanya mga mata. He’s trying to rein in his anger. Kung siya ang masusunod, siya mismo ang maghahanap kay Audrey kung saang lupalop man ito nagpunta at kung sino ang kasama nito.

Audrey was already 30 minutes late on their wedding when James, his assistant, told him that Audrey’s parents found a note on their daughter’s room saying that she cannot marry him and she had had ran away with someone.

He was instantly livid when he heard the news. But like all unfavorable and hateful business transactions he had in the past, he maintained his composure and faced the humiliation head on.

His father was silent the whole time of their travel back at Gold Hotel-Manila. His mother was crying hysterically thinking of the shame his bride had brought to their family. And he, he remained quiet too—thinking of ways they could lessen the damage.

He instantly called his IT people to insure that any information about the news wouldn’t leak on any social media platforms. His mother immediately called for a news blackout to make sure that the news wouldn’t reach Grandma Eve. And his father pulled his connections to look for Audrey.

The matter is somewhat controlled but then again its effects will linger for only god knows how long.

Maya-maya pa bumukas ang pinto ng bahay niya. His parents quickly entered his house even though he had instructed his employees that he doesn’t want to be bothered by anyone tonight. But then again his mother knows the passcode to his door, so that instruction really doesn’t bear any weight when it comes to his mother.

Iniwan niya ang mga ito kanina sa opisina ng Daddy niya habang dumiretso naman siya sa penthouse niya. Mukhang tapos nang mag-usap ang mga magulang niya at handa na siyang pangaralan.

His father went straight to the bar and poured a glass of brandy for himself. Ang mommy naman niya, tensiyonadong umupo sa sofa. His father took a sip of brandy from his glass before he turned to speak to him.

“The incident is under control at the moment but we’re not sure for how long,” anito, frustration is still in his voice. Tumitig ito sa kanya bago tumawa, sarkastiko. “Didn’t I tell you, that girl you wanted to marry is junk. But you said no and gave that fool’s speech about love and commitment. Well look at you now, Zyrone! Look where you’ve brought us because of that girl!” singhal sa kanya ng Daddy niya.

“Richard!” Agad na tumayo ang Mommy niya, tensiyonadong pinaglipat-lipat ang tingin sa kanila ng Daddy niya. “Son, please don’t answer him back. The stress of this incident has all of us shaken. We need to stay together and solve this problem like a family--”

“A family? Tell that to your husband, he doesn’t seem to know what that word means. Here I am drowning in this fckin humiliation and he still blames me for it.”

His father scoffed, took a couple of steps towards him. “At sinong gusto mong sisihin ko? Ako? Kami ng Mommy mo? Marrying that girl was your choice. It’s your damn fault that you’re in this situation right now, Zyrone! It’s your damn fckin fault!”

When his father was about to charge at him, his mother quickly stood in between them. “Richard, please!” his mother cried.

“Tell that to your son who doesn’t know the meaning of respect! Kung nakinig lang siya sana sa atin, hindi hahantong lahat sa ganito!” Naniningkit ang matang sigaw ng Daddy niya.

He balled his fists and shook his head. He knew the argument will be endless kung sasagot pa siya. That isn’t what he needed right now. Agad siyang nagdesisyon, he’d better go someplace to think.

Agad siyang pinulot ang coat niya at humakbang patungo sa front door.

“Zyrone, where are you going?” sabi ng Mommy niya.

He didn’t reply and just stepped out of his house.