Five

Raven's POV

He ran his hand through his hair, clearly agitated. "Look, I'm in a tough spot, and I’m not asking for a lifetime commitment. Just a temporary one. I promise you that once things settle, you’ll be free to do whatever you want. There won’t be any strings attached."

I stood there unable to comprehend the nonsense this man was sprouting from his mouth. Who in his right senses would ask a girl he doesn't know to marry him? My only theory was that this dude had lost his senses. Thank goodness his madness only started and not while I was alone with him in his car.

"I'll pay you, any amount. Whatever you want, okay?" His voice tinged with desperation. "My fiancée isn't here, and I need to get married today, or I'll be forced to marry the girl my parents have chosen." He explained, sounding desperate. "P... Please." The man standing beside him gasped like he just did something special. So he has a fiance.

"I don't even know your name, how do you expect me to just marry you?" I asked. "For all I know, you could be a serial killer or maybe even worse."

"Mason," he said quickly. "My name's Mason. I'll buy you a house, a car, a private jet, just tell me what you want." He begged. "You're not going to spend the rest of your life with me just a few weeks until my fiance arrives."

"So you're asking me to be a substitute bride?"

"Exactly."

I can't believe I'm even considering this. The offer was undeniably tempting. I have nothing to lose, by the way, so it's worth the risk. If I'm married, my mom can't force me to marry that old man.

"So what do you say?" He asked eagerly.

I thought about his offer, it was good. I mean, I've been cut off, and I need to move out soon. I need a house and a car and the opportunity is right in front of me. This guy might be a serial killer or something but here I was, about to accept his offer. Call me crazy or whatever, I don't care. I'm not committing any crime, just getting married temporarily. He looks rich and is willing to give me anything I want.

"Anything?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

"Yes," Mason confirmed, his eyes locked onto mine with a sense of pleading.

"And you promise not to ask for anything else from me?" I needed to be certain.

"I promise." His response was immediate, filled with earnestness.

I was aware of how reckless this seemed, but who cares?

"Fine, I'll take the house and the car."

Mason's relief was almost palpable. "Alright, now let's go." He started pulling me towards the door.

"Wait a minute. I'm still working. I can't just leave."

"Don't worry, no one will fire you." He assured me. But how could he be so sure?

"How are you so sure?"

"I own this restaurant." He said nonchalantly, his casual tone making me pause. My heart sank. I had spilled food on my boss and now I was marrying him?

~~~~

Outside the courthouse, I waited for Mason, my new husband. That sounds foreign to me. Earlier, Mason had taken me shopping for a new dress, insisting I needed to look the part for our temporary marriage.

I didn't even bother looking at the certificate because I know it's only temporary, so what's the use? I just dumped it in my bag.

He approached me, extending his hand for my phone. "Give me your phone," I handed it over, and he typed in his number. "Send me your address when you get home, I'll send someone to pick you up tomorrow."

"Wait" I called out as he turned to leave. "How long are we gonna stay married for?"

"You have nothing to worry about," Mason said without looking back. "Once I get things sorted out with my fiancée, we'll get a divorce. Let’s say... a week or two."

"What if it takes longer than that?" I pressed, anxiety gnawing at me.

"Then I'll make sure to compensate you for your time." He got into his car and drove off, leaving me standing there with a mix of frustration and disbelief. What an asshole. Just moments ago, he was pleading, and now he was driving away as if our arrangement was a mere inconvenience.

~~~~

I returned home to find my ex-boyfriend, Jamie, loitering outside and it made my blood boil. What the hell was he doing here? He's probably here to see Blair, the both of them are so shameless. I tried to walk past him but he grabbed my arm.

"Jamie, what the hell?"

"Please baby, just hear me out." He pleaded, holding onto me with a grip that only heightened my anger.

"Have you lost your mind? Who are you calling baby, you asshole? Let go of me before I lose my temper."

"I swear, I don't know what came over me, Raven. Your sister seduced me, you know I would never do anything to hurt you."

"You're here because you found out she's getting married, not because you're sorry. So get your stupid self away from me, we're done. The next time you come near me, I'll file for a restraining order. Piece of shit." I yelled before going inside. The nerve of that guy.

He took my love for granted. Why do they keep doing this to me? It would be better if they cheated with a stranger, but every time, it had to be with her. My sister.

The memory of seeing them together still haunts me. It's been two months but I still can't get it off my mind.

~~FLASHBACK~~

I just got back home from lectures, tired and hungry but I decided to freshen up first. Yeah, you heard that right. I go to college from home. One would think it was because I had overprotective parents but it's the exact opposite for me. My mom and I had an agreement, she was going to keep paying my fees as long as I remained close. Those were her words, not mine; she doesn't care what I do, but she wants to know what's going on in my life at all times.

It's weird, but I kept telling myself that it was just her own fucked up little way of showing she was worried about me.

Jamie, on the other hand, lives near our college. I don't get why she wouldn't let me stay on campus like everyone else, it's not like we see each other every day. Even while living here, it feels like we're in different worlds.

As I made my way upstairs, I heard strange sounds coming from my room. "What the hell?" I thought, moving faster toward my room. I decided to listen properly but I couldn't make out the words the person was saying.

"Blair, are you in there?" I called out but got no response. I decided to go in, besides it's my room. Don't tell me she's having sex in my room.

"Blair are you..." My words got stuck in my throat as I saw my very own sister in bed with my supposed boyfriend, Jamie. I know, I should have gotten used to it already but I've never really caught my sister in the act before. The guys just break up with me and the next thing I know, they're dating her.

"Jamie?" The word came out more like a question. I didn't want to believe it even though the truth was right in front of me.

Startled, Jamie pushed Blair aside and rushed towards me. "Baby, it's not what it looks like." He tried to touch me but I just swatted his hand away. I felt disgusted by him.

"Of course it is; she's not blind," Blair said so casually like it was a normal thing. But who am I kidding? It was a normal thing in my life. Jamie’s face was a mix of regret and confusion, but Blair’s cold, detached voice cut through.

"You're not blind, are you? Jamie and I  were having fun before you interrupted us."

My heart ached as I took in the scene before me. I'd always been a fool for believing Jamie’s lies. Seeing them together like this was a brutal confirmation of what I had feared would happen from the beginning.

"If anyone's blind, then it has to be you, Blair; this is my room. Of all the rooms in this house, you chose to have sex with my boyfriend on my bed." I yelled trying not to show how hurt I was.

"Baby... I promise I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I was waiting here like we agreed before she came in and seduced me." Jamie explained.

I had forgotten about our little arrangement. Today, I was finally going to lose my virginity to Jamie, and I asked him to wait for me in my room when he arrived. But that doesn't justify anything.

"But it did, I was wrong about you. You're just like all the rest. She bats her fake lashes at you and you fall for her." I laughed dryly.

"Baby, please, I'm sorry---"

"Get out. I don't ever want to see you again." I yelled, holding back the tears that were threatening to spill. Jamie was about to apologise again but Blair interrupted him.

"Stop whining. It's not like this is the first time we've had sex. You didn't feel guilty when you kept coming back for more." What the actual fuck!

"How long?" I asked the question so casually.

"Excuse me?" Blair asked.

"Jamie, how long have you been sleeping with my sister behind my back, you pig?" I demanded, my voice wavering.

"I... I can't answer that." He quickly dismissed it but I knew Blair would want to rub it in.

Blair smirked, unrepentant. "It's been exactly 4 months and 11 days but who's counting?" She replied chuckling, no sign of remorse for what she did.

The words stung like a physical blow. "If you were so in love with her, why bother with me?"

I kept hoping that I would be able to hold back my tears a little longer. Wouldn't want to give them that satisfaction.

Jamie’s answer was a cruel reminder of my failures. "I'm a guy with needs Raven. Fine, here's the truth: I never actually had feelings for you. I only asked you out so I could sleep with you but you were just so difficult. Every time I try to get intimate with you, your phobia for sex gets in the way and it's tiring. So since I wasn't able to have sex with you then it's only right I let you go now."

What the... Was he being serious right now? Let me go?

Blair added her insult. "Look, Raven, I know it's hard on you but you should have known this would happen. As long as you have a sister who's as sexy as me, no guys would want you. So I suggest you stop trying to find love and try to work on your pathetic life."

I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. "You know what, you two deserve each other. By the way, Blair, if those sounds were your moans, then you need to work on that. You moan like a dying pig."

The look on her face was priceless but I decided it was only going to hurt me if I stayed any longer. So I stormed out, leaving them to keep enjoying each other's company.

"Are you sure she won't do anything drastic?" I heard Jamie ask.

"She'll probably cry herself to sleep, that's all." I couldn't help but smile at that.

"Oh, I'll cry, but it will be tears of joy for finally realizing just how overrated love is," I whispered and proceeded to the kitchen with my mind made up on one thing: I was done with relationships.

~~END OF FLASHBACK~~

Returning to the present, I realized that Mason’s offer, no matter how insane, was a way out of my current mess.