Chapter 3

Celeste kept tossing and turning around to sleep but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't fall asleep.  Sighing, she kept looking at the white ceiling. She couldn't fathom this situation out no matter how hard she tried. Everything seemed like a blur for her. Just a few days ago she was in the gift shop with her grandma selling gifts and having fun with the tourists but then all of sudden she found herself lying on a bed in a house she never came before while waiting to be married she never knew before. How ironic!

How did it take such a turn?

She was afraid of how these people would treat her after the marriage. She could tell her soon-to-be sister-in-law didn't like her much. One dinner with her she already figured it out by her expression.  Also, she couldn't understand why a handsome, rich and successful person like Liam Rodriguez would agree to marry a girl like her. She agreed she was a bit beautiful. Everyone in Elora praised her for her beautiful looks. Her grandmother told her she looked exactly like her father but she had her mother's dark brown hair and deep blue-green eyes. She didn't have those models like figures nor she was rich; instead, she had a small 5'5 feet tall slim build. She sometimes felt frustrated with how skinny she was. No matter how much she ate, that food would get her nowhere near some curves. Though she was grateful that her bones didn't show like a sick person. She didn't have a fair complexion but a golden complexion from the huge amount of time she spent outdoors. If it's not for looks, not for money then what?

Liam's grandmother also passed away a few months ago so they didn't have to stick to her wish. Maybe her grandma's words were true. Mr Rodriguez truly loved and respected his mother that's why he wanted to fulfil her last wish so eagerly by getting her married to his elder son.

After having a deep sigh Celeste brushed aside her thoughts and got up from the bed. She then decided to head over to the terrace for a while to get some fresh air. She didn't know the way to the terrace clearly but Clarissa had shown her when she gave her a little tour of the mansion.

She moved through the hallway and reached the staircase. She was careful not to wake anyone up. It was almost 11 in the night so everyone was already sleeping by then. The house wasn't completely dark but few dim lights were on making it easy for her to move around without making any kind of noises. She reached the entrance of the terrace in the meantime and heaved a sigh. She frowned when she noticed the door of the terrace was left open.

Weren't they afraid that some robbers might enter using it?

She got her answer when she entered the terrace area. Her eyes went wide when she noticed a tall figure was standing over near the railing. She didn't know how to react when she realised someone else was also present beside her and that person was smoking with their back on her. Maybe that person had noticed her presence too so he turned around and looked at her. For a moment Celeste had thought she should leave before that person noticed her presence but it didn't happen.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know someone was here. Ummm, I just came here for fresh air but I will just leave you here. Don't mind me" She said hurriedly in a panicked voice and turned to leave. She couldn't see who it was because of the darkness. 

"No problem. You can stay here." Came a deep masculine voice from behind her. She instantly recognized it as Liam's. She didn't know why all of sudden her heart started to beat so fast. With nervousness flowing inside her she turned around. At that moment she could see his face a bit clearly under the dim light of the terrace. She moved quietly where he was standing. She could feel his eyes on her looking at her every step closely. It made her more nervous. She also noticed he had already thrown the cigarette he was smoking. It made her a bit relieved as she couldn't stand the smell of cigarettes. It made her nauseous. 

"Couldn't sleep?" Liam asked in the deep domineering voice making her a bit intimidated. She stood stiffly beside him and shook her head in negative.

" Uhm No. I am just not used to sleeping without my Grandma." She replied in a low soft voice while looking down on the floor. She could feel his eyes boring a hole into her. 

"You still sleep with your grandma?" He asked if his tone was somewhat amused. So she looked up to look at him. As she predicted he had one of his brows raised perfectly with an amused expression. 

"Yes. It's a habit since my grandpa died." She half lied. She couldn't just tell him she was afraid of darkness and got nightmares frequently. He was practically still a stranger to her.

"Oh, I see." He mumbled and turned around to face the railing. He rested his hands on the railing while lowering his height a bit. Celeste also turned around following his action. It was a bit cold outside. She still felt a bit cold even when she was wearing warm clothes. She rubbed her hands to keep them warm. Then she looked at him and noticed he was wearing a thick black hoodie with some sweatpants. The atmosphere fell into an awkward silence. None of them knew what to say next. Celeste wanted to ask him a few questions but she couldn't understand how to say it first. After debating with herself for a few moments she decided to ask him. 

"Why did you agree to marry me?