It had been nine years, they were both 27 now. He had waited long enough to play his game but now…it was time.With a single kick, he’ll eliminate the double obstruction in form of Luca and Merlione, and free Joan.*Joan stared into the night, a glass of orange juice in hand."You've been there for over thirty minutes now, I can't help but worry.""I'm fine. This helps me meditate." She replied, not turning to face him.Merlione stared at her back before letting out a slight chuckle, "The wedding is in two weeks.""I know.""You should seem less sad about it by now. Am I so horrible?"She slowly turned to face him, meeting his eyes."Maybe, maybe not." She replied, "you alone should know. I've made my decision and I don't intend to back out. You don't have to worry."He smiled, not seeming convinced."We just have to have talk right now. I don't just need your word, I need your heart, soul and I don't see you giving me that. We're going to be one in two weeks, Joan, what more do you
"I'm worried you're taking too much sugar.""I'm not.""Let's go for a test tomorrow, I don't want you suddenly getting sick."She gave him a knock, "Have I ever suddenly gotten sick?""Ow" he grunted with a smile, "that's because I always make sure you're healthy. If not for me...""Liar."She glared at the almost finished cake.Merlione smiled.*"Who's in? I thought I was to get a grand welcome party.""Why would I do that when you obviously came to gloat." Luca answered, emerging from a room.Isla tisked, looking around his extravagantly furnished mansion far away in the hills of Sanviena where he hid away from Vincent. This was a new house, purchased off his account so Vincent could not track it. The entrance alone and the first floor glittered of gold. He sure didn't like to spare any expense when taking care of himself."It's good you know what I came for. Get someone to bring my bags in." She ordered, her heels clicking lightly on the marble floors as she ventured further into
"Well then, I'm free to poison you when I wish, huh?" She teased lightheartedly.He wanted to kiss her in that moment, he was getting desperate but she had also refused to let him kiss her until the day of their wedding. She was frustrating. He just had to make sure nothing went wrong till their wedding. Four days. He just had to make sure nothing went wrong for four days.*That same day, King looked through all the information he had stored on Joan, Merlione, and those around her. His heart tightened whenever he recalled it was just four days till her wedding and he had three days to do whatever he wanted to do.He shook off the disturbing thoughts and got to work. Even if she got married to that man, as long as she said the word, he'd still take her away.She was a therapist. She had her clinic where she worked from 8 am till 5 pm each day except on weekends. She owned a school for the blind where she made casual visits thrice a week. She sometimes visited Merlione at his company,
"She thinks you killed Luca, she'll trust you because of that."He gritted his teeth, "I trust her. Don't try anything funny."Vincent casually prepared his bowl of cereal."I won't. It's your life anyway but don't forget the sacrifices your family made to make this possible.""What do you mean?"*"King!" Isla called cheerfully on seeing him come into her office."What are you doing?" He queried, seeing her going through numerous photos, all of young men."Oh, checking out who my husband will be" she answered innocently, pouting her classic red lips, "you see, I was infected by Joan. You know, she's so righteousness conscious and she does everything right..." She pushed a stack of photos away with a shake of her head and began going through a new stack, "she attends Mass so religiously... So I decided to emulate her. I now go to SS Joachim and Anne and I'm trying to mend my ways. One of them is abstaining from premarital sex. It'll shock you to know I'm still a virgin. Uhuh, I see yo
She took a step higher and came face to face with...Those eyes... They weren't Merlione's. She had seen them so many times on TV and...King!He smiled at her.Her mouth fell open.*"Mr. King Johannson, do you take..."She almost laughed at the way the Priest whispered his name so the congregation wouldn't hear.She was sure if the others heard his name, the Church would erupt in chaos. His name was forbidden among the Fritzgetalds."Yes."She stifled her laughter again at his perfect imitation of Merlione's voice."Miss Bernadette Miley Yusuf, do you take...""Yes."As the others wondered why the microphone was having problems..."I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride."She melted in King's arms and let him remind her of their love, once old but now reignited.★A day before...King paced restlessly in his bedroom, his eyes running aggressively through a document."No... no... no.."He hadn't realized how deep the trap Merlione had set for them. He had known all
"I married King Johannson, you hear me!? I married him! The Priest mentioned his name, not yours! I said yes to him!"Merlione's grin widened if it was possible. He spun around, withdrawing a file from the top of the vanity, and held it up for her to see."Whose name is written on our marriage certificate?"*She rushed to him but the certificate disappeared."Destroying it won't make a difference. I'll just get another from the registry."She collapsed, her tear glands finally functioning.She was finished, everything had gone down the drain. Nine years of waiting for the right moment so she could free herself just disappeared in a puff. She just lost everything, she just lost her freedom and... Her sobs increased. She just lost him, the hope she had clung to all these years. She just lost King Johannson."I'm sorry," Merlione's voice broke through her bitter haze, "I had no choice. It was the only way I could get you to truly be happy on our day. I had a hunch you still loved him an
"Merlione" She called drily, "there's no need to apologize because you got what you wanted. It's fine to have desires. We're married now. You're happy and you feel very great for getting it done, that's good, that's great. Please help me get the plate washed. It's part of a married man's duty." She smiled at the last word then walked out. She paused halfway."Since we're married now and you have nothing to fear, I'm free to contact whomever I like, right?"She didn't wait for his answer.*Merlione shrugged after she left, a pleased smile present on his handsome face. It would take a while, he thought, taking the used plate to the sink, but she would eventually come around. She couldn't possibly hate him for life. She'd grow to love him and then they'll have the most beautiful family. He whistled happily.Joan took the first car she saw and left the irritatingly gigantic house she now lived in. It took her a thirty minutes drive to get to Vincent's house and walking up to the door, sh
She always swallowed everything in and cried till her body was drained of fluid then she got up and pretended everything was fine.She looked up to Heaven and vowed. Even if it was the last thing she did, she'll fight for her and King's freedom.Making that decision, she got off the floor with a smile. The Fritzgeralds family had it coming.*"I told you; I told you! I warned you not to add that in the agreement yet you did. Look at the outcome now!" Merlione hollered, in front of his aunt and uncle."Stop being such a kid," Josephine snapped, "do you really think she'll never divorce you? Don't believe her religious crap.""Well, yes, I believe her. That's why they fought so hard so we'll never get married.""But you're married now," His uncle, Steve, reminded him.He fought the smile that forced its way up his face. He sighed, taking a seat on a side stool."I hate that I had to use such methods to get her. It's annoying seeing the hatred in her eyes whenever she looks at me which i