Chapter 3 Get Used to It

Annabelle could distinctly smell the faint aroma of cedar, mixed with a faint smell of alcohol, coming from Kendrick. Combined with the dim light in the car, she felt that the atmosphere was way too erotic.

She felt her face getting hotter and hotter. When she tried to push him away, he grabbed her wrist.

Kendrick clutched her slender wrist as he raised the corners of his lips, looking discontented.

"Ms. Sanchez, we're getting married, and yet you won't even let me see your face? That's not very sincere. Don't you think so?

Annabelle thought, 'It seems that I just can't get away from it. Fine, then. I'll show him what he wants. Sooner or later, he's gonna see it anyway'.

She sighed silently and said, "Step back a little, please."

Kendrick grinned as he let go of her wrist.

"What? You don't wanna scare me?"

While he was teasing, she had already taken off her veil.

Kendrick was stunned.

He had a feeling that she wouldn't be ugly, yet he didn't expect her to be that pretty.

With fine features and fair skin, her face was impeccable. Let alone burn scars, she didn't even have a single mole.

Kendrick was overwhelmed by her beauty.

She was slightly blushing, perhaps because he was staring at her. Shy and embarrassed, Annabelle was on the verge of getting mad. These mixed emotions made her face even more vivid.

"Haven't you had enough?"

Annabelle glared at Kendrick and was about to put the veil back on, yet he stopped her.

"Why would you hide such a pretty face up?"

Annabelle frowned, took her hand out of his, and put the veil back on.

"I don't wanna cause trouble."

Being pretty had never brought her convenience. Instead, it had repeatedly put her in danger.

After her appearance was restored back then, she was molested several times by visitors to the temple, which left a deep psychological shadow on her.

From then on, she never unveiled herself, just to leave others the impression that she was ugly. She never took off her veil even in front of her family.

Kendrick's eyes darkened as he caught the sorrow in her tone.

He thought, 'She must have suffered something terrible when living alone in the mountains.'

At the thought of that, he felt bad for her.

"From now on, I'll be there for you. You won't get into trouble again."

Annabelle wanted to remind him that they didn't have a future together. After she cured his illness, they would be divorced. Their marriage wouldn't survive six months.

Yet she admitted that she felt warm upon hearing his promise.

Yet just when she felt grateful that he was being considerate, she heard him say, "So, drop the veil when you're with me."

She paused for a second before she said, "I'm not used to it."

Kendrick smiled. "You will be."

'Well, I might be a bit domineering,' Kendrick thought to himself, 'yet it's such a shame that I can't see my wife's face, especially when it's so pretty.'

Annabelle wanted to turn him down again, when he said, "Great, then. We have a deal now. Agree with me, or I won't marry you."

Annabelle didn't see this coming.

'What a rogue!' she thought, 'Just when I thought he was a gentleman!'

She was complaining deep down in her heart, yet she couldn't flare up right now, as she needed Kendrick's help. She had no choice but to give a little given the current circumstance.

At the same time at Stellar Bar, Marvin was drinking and chatting with a group of his friends.

"Marvin, your fiancée is going to marry your brother!" One of Marvin's friends exclaimed while holding his phone.

Marvin puffed a smoke ring and snorted, "Bullshit!"

He thought to himself, 'A guy as aloof and proud as Kendrick will never be someone's backup plan."

"I'm serious. See for yourself if you don't believe me." That friend of Marvin, who also came from a rich family, had already handed Marvin his phone.

Marvin glanced at the phone screen and saw a report from some entertainment media.

"Grab some popcorn! The engagement scene of a wealthy family turned into a dramatic plot twist, straight out of a TV show! Marvin, the second son of the Gregory family, publicly rejected Annabelle, the third daughter of the Sanchez family, and she turned to Kendrick, the eldest son of the Gregory family at once. They danced and took a fancy to each other. Reliable sources claimed that they were planning to get married on an auspicious date!"

There was a video attached, in which Annabelle and Kendrick were dancing.

Marvin curled up his lips in disdain and thought, 'Didn't expect that bumpkin to be so versatile. She can even dance. Yet Kendrick? He just took over the woman I ditched? What for? To win Dad's favor? So lame. I would never fawn on Dad by sacrificing my marriage, not even in trade for the inheritance!'

Yet at that time, Marvin had no idea that in the near future, he would soon regret his decision.

Right now, he was in a great mood. He tossed away the phone, banged the table, and said loudly without hesitation, "It's all on me tonight! Everyone, have some fun!"

For a moment, the bar was filled with joy.

That night, Annabelle went home tired and went to bed at once. Her parents probably came back much later, so they didn't have the chance to talk.

The next morning, as soon as she was dressed, Gavyn and Briley brought her ID card to her room.

Gavyn instructed, "After you marry Mr. Gregory, be nice to him. Smile more."

Briley looked at her sideways. "Keep your veil on during the daytime, in case you'll frighten him. It'll be too embarrassing for us if you get dumped again."

Gavyn cleared his throat and said, "Your mom has a point..."

Annabelle was so sick and tired of their lecture. She said coldly, "I'm about to go out if you'll excuse me."

She had no appetite for breakfast, so she left directly.

That fire back then destroyed the Sanchez's old residence and ruined Annabelle's face.

Later, a mysterious man came to the door and told Annabelle's parents that she was a jinx and that they ought to send her away as soon as possible. They'd better cut her off for good.

To Annabelle's surprise, her parents bought the man's word. They left her in the temple alone and never visited her for more than a decade.

Now that the global financial crisis had hit the Sanchez Group hard, they wanted to cling to the Gregory family through marriage. However, their eldest daughter was married already. Although their second daughter was unmarried, they did not want her to be the victim of an arranged marriage. That was when they remembered their third daughter, who was living alone in the mountains.

Annabelle's heart was still filled with bitterness every time she thought about how cruel and cold her parents had been as well as how lonely and helpless she had felt during those days.

Now, she just wanted to repay her parents once and for all through the marriage.

'I don't owe them anything from now on,' she thought to herself.

At 8:30 a.m. the following morning, Annabelle arrived at the city hall on time.

Kendrick was already waiting for her at the door. He wore a dark blue blazer, which made him stand out even more, drawing the attention of the passers-by.

Annabelle stared at him, momentarily stunned. It still felt unreal to her that he would soon become her legal husband just one day after they had met.

What was more, she still did not know whether he was a gentleman or a beast.

What he had said the night before came to mind. He wouldn't marry her unless she took off her veil when she was with him.

Annabelle took a breath and took off her veil, though unwillingly, before walking over to Kendrick.

"Morning, Mr. Gregory."

The second Kendrick saw her, he was amazed.

Annabelle wore a white floral vintage dress, her hair loosely tied up at the back and secured with a mustard yellow silk scarf, giving her a graceful and demure appearance.

Her fair and tender face was even more beautiful in the sun. He could barely look away.

'She wasn't wearing the veil!' He thought, 'I guess she takes my words from yesterday seriously. That's my girl!'

Kendrick could not help but reach out to rub her head, and yet she immediately frowned at him and backed away.

"What are you doing?"

Kendrick felt a little embarrassed since he didn't expect that. Thus, he had to pretend to be calm and said, "You don't have to be that defensive! It's just you had something on your hair. I got it off for you."