Audrey's Pov
I clutched the marriage papers in my hands as I stared at myself in the mirror, looking at my reflection. Xander and I had signed the marriage certificate a few hours ago and it was already time for the engagement party. Sighing, I carefully placed the certificate into the drawer and glanced at the invitation letter on the bed. “The party must have gone into full swing by now.” I muttered to myself, still staring. Then my gaze went to the sleek black dress that was on the bed. Xander had sent it earlier. It was elegant, bold and commanding, all the things I wanted to be tonight. With a sigh, I put it on along with some dark makeup to compliment the dress. There was no room for hesitation now. With a deep breath, I grabbed the invitation to Amelia's engagement party and left. When I arrived, the villa was bustling with conversation. I could see Amelia in the distance along with Zachary and both of them were talking to people. Amelia was with her mother while Zachary was with friends. Amelia's dress sparkled, her hair was styled to perfection, and she was basking in the attention of the guests, until she saw me. The smile on her face froze, her eyes narrowing in disbelief and confusion. Her mother, my step mother, standing not far from her, immediately stiffened. The two of them exchanged quick, confused glances before looking back at me. I smiled and stepped forward, that little action of mine made me the center of attention. “Hello, Amelia, mother… It's nice to be here.” I greeted, leaning forward to kiss Amelia on the cheek. “Audrey,” She said, her voice sickly sweet but filled with venom, “I wasn't expecting you to my engagement party.” She muttered. Her mother, standing stiffly by her side, gave me a cold, disdainful look, like I was a stain on her otherwise perfect evening, “Audrey.” She said coolly, “I thought you wouldn’t show.” “Oh, I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” I replied, my tone dripping with sarcasm. I looked them both up and down, not even attempting to hide my amusement. “It’s such a special occasion, after all. Family should be here to celebrate and you did invite me here. Although I shouldn't blame you, you didn't think I'd show up to the engagement party between you and my boyfriend. Very shocking isn't it?” I smiled at the gasps that rippled through the crowd around us. Amelia's face paled, her facade slipping away instantly, “Your boyfriend? Audrey, you should stop saying things like that.” She moved closer, placing a hand in my arm and pinching it, “You should really stop saying things like that without context.” “Oh I'm sorry… I only remembered that I just found out that the both of you were sleeping together while I and Zachary were still dating, so out of anger, I stormed off and we hadn't broken up yet. Silly me. However, so you won't become the talk of the century, I'll break up with Zachary right in front of everyone.” Amelia's grip tightened, her eyes growing wide. Her mother, sensing the shift in the room stepped forward with a tense smile, “Audrey dear, you must have had too many drinks. Why don't we…” “Oh, I am just getting started.” I cut her off, pulling my arm away from Amelia, “You see, I wasn't going to make a scene, I was going to the civil but then without why should I, after all, I wasn't the one who betrayed her own sister by sleeping with her boyfriend.” I smiled brightly now that the crowd was watching more intently. “Audrey…” Amelia clenched her fists at the side, her mouth opened harshly. “Oh don't be like this, Amelia. I'm trying to do you a favor, so I can clear this up once and for all. So, right now, I'm going to say this. Zachary, I am breaking up with you, officially. Consider this our final goodbye as partners, though, you'll still have to continue seeing me though, but not as your sister in law. I have moved on to better things.” I turned to face Amelia with a wicked smile. She blinked, her eyes clouding over in confusion, “What are you talking about?” She questioned, fear and panic rising on her face, “Audrey! What are you trying to do?!” I turned towards the doors in anticipation of what was going to come. Right on cue, the doors opened and Xander walked in, commanding and aura filled. He wore the male version of my black dress and walked slowly towards me, the crowd parted for him naturally. Amelia's face twisted in shock as her gaze darted between Xander and me, “No… no, you didn't.” She whispered, barely able to get the word out. But her shock turned into rage and she yelled out, “You didn't!” “Oh, but I did.” I said, my voice filled to the brim with satisfaction. I walked towards Xander, who wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close, “Everyone, I'd like you to meet my husband, Xander Clarkson.” The air in the room was practically charged with tension as I introduced Xander. Amelia looked like she was about to faint while her mother's carefully composed mask slipped. Zachary dropped the drink that he was holding, he looked like a fish that was struggling to breath after jumping out of water. “You… you're married?” Amelia croaked out, “To… To Xander?” Her voice was shaking in disbelief. “That's right,” I replied sweetly, “While you were busy scheming, I was signing a marriage certificate. That's a win for me, right?” I shrugged, going closer to her to whisper, “You should have never messed with me, Amelia. You know exactly the type of person I am. I might have been a lovesick fool, but there is a reason I am the CEO of one of the most famous companies in the world. There is a reason why I am known as the eldest daughter of this family.” I moved back, taking pleasure in her frozen body and angry look. Zachary looked like he was about to say something else when a booming voice sounded from the top of the stairs, “What is happening here?!” And all eyes turned to the person who had come in, it was my father, Eric RedHall. A general even in his old age, a man amongst all men and the one who made me who I was even after my mother died. I smiled at his appearance and rushed to help him down the stairs, “Dad, you are here.” “I am. I heard commotion from where I was and I decided to show myself, but what do I hear? Amelia, I didn't know that you had done something like this. How very shameful of you!” Eric slammed his cane on the ground, his body shaking. “Dad, don't tire yourself out. It's not good for your health.” I said softly and helped him sit down. Once he was seated, Xander came forward and bowed his head in respect. “General Eric, I have heard so much about you. It's nice to finally meet you.” Xander said respectfully. “Ah… So you are my daughter's husband.” Eric mumbled, although he really didn't know who Xander was, I could see approval in his eyes. So before I could even say anything nor ask about the inheritance and how I had fulfilled the conditions, Eric took my hands in his, and declared. “I declare this today and all of you here are my eyewitnesses, my eldest daughter, Audrey RedField will become my heir, everything I have will be given to her. Everything, including control of this household. I will repeat myself again, Audrey RedField is my heir!” “Nooo!”Audrey's Pov “Nooo!” It was clear to me who had just yelled, or so I thought. It was supposed to be Amelia, all red faced and angry, however, Zachary was the one who yelled, his eyes wide with anger and despair. “You can't give it to her! Amelia is the real owner of the inheritance, we are getting engaged to be married! Audrey’s marriage is just a sham!” Zachary walked up to my father to declare. Eric furrowed his eyebrows and so did Xander who was quieter than I expected. The way Zachary acted was confusing, he had no say in the sharing of the inheritance so why was he acting this way? I glanced at Amelia who was trying to pull Zachary away, and then at her mother who was white as a sheet. Her eyes showed everything she was thinking about, she was like an open book. And then I realized. Zachary and Amelia just weren't sleeping together, they had planned from the start to do this so they could have the inheritance. And from the looks of it, Amelia's mother had suggested this. I
Audrey's Pov He leaned back on his chair and intertwined his fingers with his elbows resting on the armrest, “Should we make this official or do we keep it on a low and see how it goes? I can arrange for a proper marriage ceremony and send out invites, if you want that” He stated and I sighed deeply thinking about what kind of scandal this could bring, everyone knew about my relationship with Zachary because I was a fool for love so I flaunted him. What a waste of time!!“We can keep it a secret for now, if they start spreading rumors those people who attended my sister's wedding know the real story, I wouldn't be surprised if a reporter was there. Let's just keep it under wraps for now, we can make it official later” I concluded and he nodded in understanding, now to address the elephant in the room. “You said I should move in with you right?” “Yes, I'd advise you to do that if we want to convince your family that we are together” He replied curtly. “You are not bothered by the
Audrey's Pov I declined the call but she started calling again so I picked up and faked a sleepy yawn, “Do you want me to tell you a bedtime story, little sister?” I mocked and I could imagine the ugly scowl on her face. “You pathetic thing, you think you've won but you don't know what is going to hit you” She retorted, her voice shaky and filled with hatred for me. I giggled at her frustration, it's funny how the table turned so fast and to think she thought she could frustrate me. I'm a businesswoman. I will always find a way to deal with any situation, “You and your idiotic mother planned to outsmart me, I must say you got me for a minute there you were not as stupid as I thought. But you are not as bright either” I hung up on her before she could start screaming and cursing at me. I'm the biological child of my father. I don't know why they think they can just come in and take what belongs to me, something I worked hard for while Amelia was busy wasting away in one party or an
Audrey's Pov Xander escorted me to my father's mansion and I felt a bit irritated by his overprotective attitude, it's not like Amelia will come at me with a knife. Okay hold that thought she might, but I will expect that from her mother because Amelia might be a little witch but her mother is the destructive one. The car halted and I opened the door proceeding to step out when I felt a firm grip on my hand, I turned to see Xander holding me. “Be careful in there, if it was up to me I would have followed you in but you said you wanted to do this yourself, just call me if anything occurs” He articulated in a serious tone then he did something out of the ordinary. He pressed a chaste kiss on my forehead and I froze in shock, I wasn't expecting him to be this worried or concerned about my wellbeing, our marriage is based on me using him for revenge so I didn't get why he seemed so cool about it. Still lost in my head I headed inside my father's house and the moment I walked in it f
Audrey's Pov We settled on having breakfast and my supposed doting husband sat beside me, Amelia looked red and angry while her mother just glared at my soul from across the table. They probably wished I was dead now, unfortunately, I don't plan on joining my mother anytime soon. I'm still stunned by the stunt Xander pulled out in front of them, not that I do not appreciate it but we never really discussed anything like getting intimate.My father sitting at the head of the table cleared his throat and everyone diverted their attention toward him, my stepmother wore a concerned look but I knew it was fake. “Are you alright Dad?” I asked and he nodded waving it off in a dismissive manner, I beckoned at a maid standing on the threshold of the kitchen. “Is there enough milk? Bring some for my father” I ordered and she rushed to go get some milk, my stepmother was still glaring at me like I did something wrong but I just ignored her. “You didn't have to, I'm not going to die anytime
Audrey's Pov I wasn't expecting my boyfriend to be Zachary, I was more than disappointed because it wasn't who I thought it was. My assistant brought him in and he wore a remorseful look, okay here we go again. “Hey, I... Um I just wanted to let you know that I didn't want to do it I was only following Amelia's introductions, she threatened to kill me if I didn't give in to her. She would never be like you and you know I love you too much” He finished his rubbish speech with his sad puppy face. “Are you done? Cause you need to leave” I affirmed and he went down on his knees like the pathetic asshole that he is, I roll my eyes at his facade. “You know how much I love you Baby please, I don't know what Xander told you but I know him, he lies and manipulates you to do things you don't want to do. He is using and the same way he did with your sister, just listen to me this one time and I swear I will never do you wrong again” He begged looking like a clown to me, “Are you still going
Audrey's Pov I left home earlier than I planned to the next day, not because I was running away from him but because I didn't know what to say to him. I don't need a soothsayer to tell me he meant those words he said to me, I don't even know what is his endgame in all these. But those words he said kept replaying inside my head all day long, I got a text when it was time for lunch and it was from Xander. Asking if we could have lunch together I badly wanted to say no but that would look weak so I accepted, “Ma'am you have a visitor” My assistant announced with flushed cheeks, I wouldn't blame her Xander is the kind of good-looking that slaps you on the face. Do I find him attractive? Yes, but I have no interest in claiming him. I don't even know what that means but it sounded so scary and possessive. He was standing outside my office with a bouquet of roses and my eyes widened, now I know why my assistant was giving me those looks. “Uh.. What's the occasion?” I asked as soon as
Audrey's Pov My blood boiled as I glared at the excessive amount of makeup on her artificial-looking face, she looked like she got some work done on her nose. She also looks like she got work done on her face with her plum lips looking like a duck, Xander turned at the last minute and she kissed his cheek instead. “Sarah, it's also nice to see you again. I guess you haven't changed much” He said in an exhausted tone, I just watched the interaction ignoring the thought feeling in my chest. I might have thought of leaving the table for them but I'm not a chicken and it will make it too obvious that I'm pissed at her for disrupting us, I'm not jealous I just hate the fact that he is paying her so much attention. “You know I love..” “Ahem” I cleared my throat interrupting her speech in case she forgot there was someone else there, she averted her gaze from Xander and her blue eyes fell on me with a frown on her face, then it was gone in a blink as if it wasn't there in the fi