CHRISTOPHER
"I got married to you because of my father's company", I said to her and she furrowed her brows at me in confusion.
I knew that sooner or later, I would have to talk about this with Adele. Ever since I first saw her at the dinner meeting with our parents, I knew she would be one to inquire about my reasons. I mean, what girl wouldn't?
"Do you mind explaining what you mean by that?", only when she said that did I realize that she had been waiting expectantly for me to continue.
"Uh, I have to be the next CEO of the company", I said again and looked up at her to see if she was still listening to me.
"So? Become the CEO then. What have I got to do with that?", she asked quickly in one breath and her face tells me she is frustrated right now.
"Calm down, it is not that simple", I said gently and she huffed at my words.
"You are really impatient", I said with a smile and she rolled her eyes at me this time around.
"Okay, so?", she asked after a while.
"My Uncle Jeffrey is my father's younger brother but since the company was passed down to my father by my grandfather, my uncle Jeffrey gets to stay at the company too", I started before resting my back against the couch.
"Now, it is my turn to inherit the company from my father and Uncle Jeffrey seems to have a problem with that"
"Oh", Adele said all of a sudden and I turned my head to look at her.
"He wants the company for himself", she stated with realization vivid on her face.
"Then, how do you come in?", I asked back with a helpless grin on my face.
She thought about it for a very short while and her relaxed face immediately went into a frown.
"How do I come in?", she questioned back and I chuckled.
"My Uncle doesn't want the company for himself", I replied to her with a chuckle.
"He believes I am not capable and competent enough to become the next CEO of the company and-"
"Are you?", Adele asked with a raised eyebrow and it was my turn to frown.
"I am. Everyone knows that. I have been working in that company since I finished college", I told her immediately, the tone of my voice raising higher a little bit. She nodded but she still held that doubtful look on her face.
"Anyways", I continued and stopped to take a deep breath before breathing out loudly.
"My Uncle Jeffrey met up with the shareholders of the company to discuss-", I started again and I groaned in frustration when Adele cut me off again.
"Cause he could not do it alone, could he?", she asked and I rolled my eyes before looking at her again.
"He could not do what alone now?", I asked back boringly.
"He couldn't stop you from becoming the CEO of the company alone. So, he met up with the shareholders, so they can remove you from your position together. That is more power", she replied with wide, curious eyes.
Her expression almost brought a smile to my face but I suppressed it.
"You are right- and you are also wrong", I told her and she slanted her lips at me.
She does that a lot, I have noticed.
"He met up with the shareholders to give them a reason why I wasn't fit to become the next CEO instead", I told her and she raised a brow at me.
"As he had said, which is actually true, I have not borne any other person's responsibility before. I have only had myself to take care of"
"He convinced them that if I were to get married and successfully stay with my wife, then I should be given the position. My father told me he married my mother before he was able to attain the CEO position as well. So, my uncle Jeffrey only dug up the buried and forgotten norms of the company", I explained and shook my legs continuously when I finished talking.
"Oh", she said and I nodded.
"Yes", I replied.
"Well, that explains a lot"
"What about you?", I asked and she looked at me with sharp eyes.
"What about me?", she asked back and I gulped before asking again.
"Why did you agree to this marriage?"
"What do you mean?", she asked with a frown on her face and I sighed. She is really stubborn.
"Like how I get to become the CEO of my father's company, what are you going to get out of this union? What are you gaining from it?", I asked slowly and this time around.
Adele looked at me, then she tilted her head up a bit so that she looks deep in thought. I don't get it though. How is she just thinking about it? Is it not why she agreed to the marriage in the first place? Or did she not agree on her free will?
She tilted her head back down and turned her gaze to me.
"Just for fun", she replied with a shrug and I frowned.
"So, you are being secretive now after knowing my reason for marrying you?", I asked in disbelief as I raised a brow at her with a frown on my face.
She shrugged at me again before replying, "I am going upstairs then"
She stood up immediately after she said that.
ADELE
I got up after the talk with Christopher. I need to unpack my my suitcase and I feel so tired too.
I walked towards the suitcase and placed my hand on the plastic holder. But immediately after I did that, another warmth engulfed my hand that is on my suitcase's handle.
I pulled my hand away immediately I saw it was Christopher's hand before looking up at him.
"I wanted to take it up for you, that's all", he said to me with a cool, gentlemanly face.
I snatched the handle from him quickly and he looked at me in surprise.
"It's fine. I can take it up myself ", I told him before walking away in haste.
"Do you need help with it on the stairs?", I heard him ask as I was about to take the first step, so I turned back to look at him.
"I can take care of my shits, Christopher. I don't need your help", I told him harshly with the most serious face I could muster.
He stared at me without saying anything and I turned back before going up the stairs with my suitcase.
I have no problem with Christopher. I only need him to understand that I am not a child and I am not weak. I can do things on my own without his help.
I got into the bedroom again and I dropped my suitcase on the bed before opening it. I turned the suitcase over and all of its content spilled out of it.
'Mother and Veronica indeed did a good job in packing this up', I thought with a roll of my eyes.
I started folding the clothes neatly and properly when his words flashed in my head again. His words never fail to.
'Like how I get to be the CEO of my father's company, what are you going to get out of this marriage? What are you gaining from it?'
I frowned immediately after I was reminded of it. Why did I agree to this marriage exactly? Why-?
A memory suddenly flashed in front of my eyes again and my thoughts were cut short. It is a memory of the week before I agreed to go to that dinner meeting with the Marvins.
"I am not getting married", I said sternly and clearly to her as I looked up at her.
"Adele-", Veronica started and when my eyes snapped towards her as well, it finally dawned on me.
"Wait, that's why you are here unannounced, isn't it?", I asked immediately, cutting Veronica off.
"That's why Brandon isn't here", I added shortly as my voice went low.
"Well, it is a very important family matter", Veronica's voice came again and she ended her sentence with a sigh.
I looked at mother's face, then Veronica's, then father's. They all look serious, too serious that I could not help but burst into laughter.
"Like seriously, you guys", I started with a chuckle as I looked down at my fingers before looking up at them with a serious face now.
"Who am I supposed to marry exactly?", I asked as I looked at their faces one after the other.
Mother opened her mouth to say something, but then it went back to it being closed.
"Cause I can't seem to think of anyone who would be willing to marry someone like me", I stated with a frown.
When the silence was getting too intense, I folded my arms against my chest with a frown on my face, the plastic nylon containing my drawing supplies making a rumbling sound.
"That's why we found you a husband", mother said curtly and my eyes went wide at her.
Did I hear wrongly?
"What?", I could not stop myself from asking.
"Yes, like you said. Someone willing to marry you", she added again and I scoffed.
"You know I don't appreciate you making jokes any longer, mother", I rolled my eyes rudely as I said that to her.
Mother frowned at my words but I don't care right now. Why would she say something like that?
"Oh! But I am not joking, honey", Mother said to me, making me turn my gaze back to her once again.
I stared at her and she stared right back.
"I guess I am going up first", I said as I stood up from my seat. I am not going to have this sick conversation with her any longer.
"Veronica is pregnant!", Mother said loudly I stopped dead in my tracks. The realization of that hit me suddenly like I was unaware of it before. The plastic bag that I held in my hand fell to the ground without me knowing.
Mother stood up from her seat and walked towards me until she reached my side. She stopped beside me as she looked at the side of my face and I heard her voice once again.
"Your younger sister, Veronica is pregnant, Adele! She is", mother said the last two words in a very soft tone I turned my head to look at her.
Her eyes are staring intently at me but it is so misty. One meaning. She is pitying me again.
Her right hand is pointing at something and when I traced it, my eyes landed on Veronica's baby bump. Seeing that only made three words ring continuously in my head.
Veronica is pregnant.
Veronica is pregnant.
Veronica is-
The tears I have always tried to keep away from anyone else are threatening to fall again. The tears do nothing other than make me look so weak and pitiful.
I sucked in a very sharp breath, trying to keep myself in control and perfect order as I turned to face mother and spat those words out.
"I am not getting married. I am not getting married to someone I do not know. No, that is not going to happen", I said very clearly this time and I saw a tear drop from my mother's right eye.
"Do you not get it? You have no choice in this. You have no say in this!", Mother said sternly, ignoring the tears that continue to fall from her eyes.
"And I wonder why that is", I replied with gritted teeth.
I was starting to get annoyed at my mother's words. What exactly is going on? Why would I get married? What does she mean by them finding a person who is willing to get married to me?
Mother gulped as she cleaned the tears away from her face and looked back up at me, only much more boldly this time.
"Have you forgotten how you were treated after the incident?", Mother asked and I took my gaze away from her.
"After Daniel died?", She said again and I turned my head to look at her in surprise.
It's been long since mother or anyone else had dared to mention his name, talk less of reminding me of him.
"You were the bad person back then, Adele", Mother said softly before placing her hand on my left arm.
"You were called all sorts of names because they believed you had been the cause of it but I believe you weren't", mother said and I can feel a huge lump in my throat now.
"We all believe that", mother added as she gestured toward Veronica and father.
I looked at them and they have that sullen look on their faces. I bat my eyelids continuously, still trying to clear up that invisible lump in my throat before turning to face mother.
"And believe me when I say this, Adele", mother started again as she placed her right palm against my left cheek affectionately.
"It is time to let go", she said and I gulped for the umpteenth time.
I closed my eyes, not being able to contain it all and I was not quite surprised to find my eyelashes wet. I tried to think about what mother said but I was not even able to. Those memories are back, flashing in front of my eyes again. Those sweet memories that I wouldn't trade for anything.
I gasp as I pried my eyes open immediately and the realization dawned on me. It might not be the right time to let go.
I had made a promise to myself that I would remain and die alone. I am not going to break that promise over mother's words.
I removed my arm from my mother's hand and picked up the plastic bag on the ground.
I looked around the room, at their faces once again. They are all pleading with me and I wonder why. It is my life after all, not theirs.
I walked slowly away from mother and she did not make any advance to stop me this time around.
"It is for your good", I heard father say after all this while and I smiled bitterly as I continued walking towards the stairs.
That day did not go well at all. I thought about what mother said for a long time after that. It became the only thing I thought about and if you would ask me, I would choose that conversation as the reason why I agreed to marry Christopher Marvin.
All that mother said to me that day was true and I knew it. I know it till now.
I could not remain single forever.
* * *
CHRISTOPHER I walk into my study room with my laptop in hand. I grabbed my laptop, shifting the computer on my study table to the back, so my laptop can sit properly on the table. I checked out a few reminders from work before checking the time. It's past six already. We should be having dinner by now. I shut down the laptop and was about to stand up from my seat when an image flashed in front of my eyes. The image of when Adele had held onto her suitcase and I had reached out to take the suitcase as well, only for our hands to touch. The way she had removed her hand from mine was like I was a bad allergy or something. I understand that she is getting used to this strange and sudden arrangement but the least we can do for each other and better growth is to treat each other with care and respect and not like dirt. I sighed before getting up from my seat and going out of the study room. I walked quickly to the bedroom and pushed one of the doors open. There she is, lying down at th
ADELE I stood by the sink as I washed the plates. Truth be told, I will find a way to ask Chris to make me this dish again. It was so delicious. It is like the food just melts in your mouth but with a little spiciness in it which makes it only much better. Chris asked if I liked it and I acted like I did not. I don't want to act so casually with him, so... And I have that drawing to figure out. I should try out 'his' drawing tomorrow again. I don't know why I keep forgetting how to draw his face. I finished washing the plates and as I walked out, I met Chris sitting on that middle couch that is facing the television in the sitting room. "You are here", he said when he finally looked up at me and I just stared back at him. "Do you want to sleep? Do you feel sleepy?", his questions came again and I raised a brow. "No", I finally replied and he nodded. "I thought so too. It would be weird if you said you wanted to sleep, depending on the fact that you just woke up an hour ago", Ch
ADELE Today is Sunday. My second day being a married woman. I watched Chris as he made us some toast. He said we are going to have it with tea and I shrugged at him when he said it. I am still amazed though. I mean, out of all the married women in the world. I am graced with one who won't forcefully have anything intense with his wife without her consent. He is like a gentleman. He is rare, I can say that. He is like- Daniel. My lips twitched a bit and my eyes stung when I realized that. He is just like Daniel in that part. "Are you ready to taste the best toast ever made?", Chris asked with a smile on his face, bringing me out of my thoughts. I have noticed. Christopher like being playful with me for reasons that I have no idea about. I wonder how he always managed to do it though. I mean, he can't be that comfortable with living with someone strange. Can he? I looked down at the island table as I ignored him and a plate of toast landed in front of me. 'Toast is just toast'
ADELE Time flew by so well because the next thing I knew, Christopher and I had had dinner and were already preparing for bed. "I am going to work tomorrow. Will you be okay at home alone?", I heard him ask from the couch as I tried to lay properly on the bed. Why wouldn't I be? "Yeah, I would be", I told him anyways. "I have your phone number. I will call you during lunch break tomorrow", he said again in his soft, deep voice. "Oh! So, you had my number?", I asked immediately without thinking and I heard him shuffling on the couch. I brought my head up to my head and slap myself on the forehead. Oh no! "What do you mean? Am I not supposed to have my wife's number?" I sighed before raising my upper body on the bed as I supported myself by placing my hands on the bed behind me. I looked towards the couch and apparently, Chris is sitting down on the couch as well. "I did not say that", I replied with a roll of my eyes and he frowned at me. "Why did you ask that question
CHRISTOPHER I walked into the house and it is silent, except for the faint sounds coming from the television that is on. Where is Adele? I walked further into the house and when I turned to go and switch off the television, I saw her. She is on the couch that is facing the television, the couch I always sit on. She is sleeping on her left side with her hands on each other, under her head and her face facing the television, only she is fast asleep. She is in a teal green gown and it has moved up to her mid-thigh. I looked up at her face and her brows are close to each other in a frown. I smiled at that. She is frowning even when she is asleep as well. I shook my head at her action before placing my suitcase on the table silently. I left her in bed when I left for work in the morning and now, it is her sleeping face I am still looking at when I got home. I frowned when I thought properly about it. She must have been bored. I walked forward to tap her on the arm but my hand hung
ADELE I sat on the bed as I placed the clothes I would be needing at Chris's Uncle's house in my suitcase. Today is Friday, we leave for his house tomorrow. I raised a brow as I remembered the conversation I had with Chris on that day. "We would have to sleep together as well", he had told me and my eyes widened. How will that be possible when we have never slept in the same bed before? Chris said his uncle would suspect that something is wrong if we ask to sleep in two different rooms and I agree with him. The door to the bedroom clicked open and I looked up from where I sat at the foot of the bed. Chris walked in with his work suitcase gripped tightly in his hand and he has a tired look on his face. He raised his head and when his eyes met mine, he gave me a small smile. Hmph! "Hey", he greeted me when he was about to reach where I was. "Hey", I replied before running the zip of my suitcase. "You packed up already", he stated as he sat down on the bed as well with the suitca
ADELE We finally arrived at Mr. Jeffrey's house and the gate was pulled open for us immediately. Liam drove us into the compound and as soon as he dropped our luggage by their front door, he drove off. The front door opened all of a sudden and a woman with black hair like mine rushed out immediately. She pulled me into a hug and the tip of her short hair kept tickling my face. "I have heard so much about you. I couldn't wait to meet you", she said as she hugged me tightly and I gasped for air loudly. Trust me, I did not mean for it to come out loudly. "I am sorry", she quickly released me and I forced a smile. "It's fine", I replied, my voice coming out hoarse. "Pardon me. I am Christopher's aunty-in-law but you can just call me aunty", she said with a sweet smile on her face and I smiled back. "And I am Adele. Pleased to meet you", I replied with a smile. "Hi aunty", Chris greeted in his deep, alluring tone before wrapping his arms around my waist. I gasped shortly in shock b
ADELE Chris continued swimming over to my side and I paddled backward. The moment my back hit the cold tile of the internal skimmer wall, Chris's brought his head up from the water. I gasped in shock and quickly asked him, "What the fuck are you doing?", I asked quickly with a frown and he gave me a smile in return. "My uncle and his wife are watching us right now", he replied and my mouth went open in surprise. "So, what do we do?", I asked him immediately. I was about to turn my head back to look at the balcony upstairs but Chris just turned my head back with both hands and stared intently at me. "We give them a show", he replied as he got closer to me and I got confused. A show? A show? What's he talking about? I was about to ask him what he meant by a show when he brought his head down to the side of my neck. His cold lips met with my exposed neck and I felt that tingling sensation instantly. I gulped. I brought my hand up to stop him from doing anything further but then
ADELEIt's been a week since the competition. Everything is back to normal and Chris has even gotten up to prepare for work today as well.Oh yes, Bianca's modeling job went down because of what happened at the competition. Apparently, someone had been filming all that happened. She got out of the police jail not long after she was placed in it but I think she has learnt her lesson. Chris walked out of the walk-in closet and I sat up immediately to look at him. I felt a sharp headache and I hissed. Chris got in front of me- at the foot of the bed- in no time as he asked. "Hey, are you okay?" I pushed my hand in front of him to tell him to stop talking. I don't know where this headache came from all of a sudden. "Yeah, I am fine," I replied with a smile as I looked up at Chris. My stomach started making some disturbance and I winced when I suddenly got a stomach ache. I bent forward on my seat on the bed as I clenched the cloth holding my stomach tightly in my hand. "Adele?""So
ADELE"So, why did you do it? Why did you take my artwork?" I asked and she moved in the tight grip of the investigator. She brought her face in front of mine as she spat those foolish, unkind words. "Because I hate you," she replied as she looked into my eyes and I frowned. She moved back as a loud hysterical laugh escaped her lips. The investigators moved his feet while he pulled Bianca after him. She stopped laughing all of a sudden and screamed at the top of her voice. "I can walk on my own!" She demanded to the investigator who held on to her right arm and he let her go immediately. She walked in the front while the two investigators walked behind her. I released a deep breath as they went out of my sight. Chris arrived backstage with the two men who had collected my artwork from me outside the hotel yesterday. They were both carrying my artwork."You are here," I said as he reached in front of me and he nodded. "And let's welcome Mrs. Marvin to the stage!" I heard the Ma
ADELEThe investigators arrived some moments later in a black round-neck top and jean trousers. Two of them went into the hotel while others stayed inside the car, not far away from the hotel. I welcomed them into my hotel room and shut the door. I am only thankful that the event has started, so all the artists are in there. Chris asked me to take my seat on the bed while the two investigators stood in front of me. Chris stood on my left, not far away from the bed and not far away from the investigators. "When last did you see the artwork, Mrs. Marvin?" The nice and calm looking one of the investigators asked. "Uh, yesterday afternoon when I brought it here in my husband's car," I replied and the other one wrote something down. "Your husband explained to us that two men collected the artwork from you," he said and I nodded. "That's right," I replied and the other man wrote something down again. "Can you describe those men?"I nodded and tried to make a good description of them
ADELE"Bianca?" I asked as I squinted my eyes at her and she giggled. "Surprise!" She said back cheerfully and I furrowed my brows at her. What is wrong with her?"Oh right, I did not know you would be here as well," she added in her normal self as she slanted her lips at me. I must say, she is still looking beautiful as always. "What are you doing here?" I asked and she sighed. "I am here for the art competition," she replied and my mouth went round in surprise. I thought she was a model, how can she be here? Or does she perhaps paint as well?"Wha-? How?" I let out uncontrollably and she chuckled again. "Well, I might have lied to my new boyfriend that I know how to paint. Then, he signed me up for this and here I am," she said with a shrug and I nodded at her words knowingly. Well, that sounds like her. "Nice to see you again then," I greeted as I forced a smile at her and she smiled back instantly."Same here," she replied and I hummed before getting into my room. "I wil
ADELE"Chris? What are you doing here?" I asked with my eyes wide in surprise. "Can I come in?" He asked and I moved away from the door immediately. "Of course," I replied as Chris pushed his body in with a sigh. I closed the door and turned around to look at Chris immediately. "I called your phone," he said with a sigh as he sat down at the edge of the bed. "My phone is dead," I replied as I moved forward and stood in front of him. "Oh, I got so worried though," he breathed under his breath and I took my seat beside him. "I know"Chris pulled me into a hug immediately I sat down and I gasped in surprise. I became comfortable in his arms and just hugged him back tightly. "I missed you," he breathed into my neck and I chuckled. "I missed you too," I replied as I rubbed his back with my right hand. We stayed like that for a short while before he finally let me go slowly. "How are you?" He asked as he held my hands in both of his. "I am fine," I replied with a small smile on
ADELE"My artwork?" She asked and I nodded. "Some guys asked for my painting when I got in front of the hotel-," I started panicking as I explained but she cut me off midway. "Oh, those guys. I forgot about them," she replied and I took in a deep breath, waiting for her to continue. "They collected mine as well, saying they had somewhere allocated for each artwork," she added and I released the breath I was holding. "I guess that is how it works then," I said with a smile and she nodded. "Yeah"She faced the stage before turning to look at me again. "I am Veronica," she introduced herself as she stretched her hand which had three rings on them towards me. "Wow," I said out in amazement anyways and her expression turned into one of deep confusion. "You have the same name as my younger sister, that's all," I replied quickly before taking her hand. "I am Adele, Adele Marvin," I said proudly and her eyes widened. "I knew you looked familiar," she said cheerfully with a huge smil
ADELE"He knew my name, it was pretty weird," I came out to Chris as I furrowed my brows at the direction the men had gone in. "Oh?" Chris asked back and I turned to look at him. "Yeah," I nodded and Chris raised a brow. "You realize that is not strange, right?" Chris asked with a chuckle and I frowned in confusion. "And how is it not?" "Because you are pretty popular. At least, a bit." Chris explained before using his index and thumb to hold his jaw as if he was thinking about something."Uhn?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. I am still confused. He brought his focus back to me before explaining more clearly, "You are Mrs. Marvin, remember?" He asked and my mouth went round in shape in realization. "Oh yeah! Yeah, that's true. I almost forgot," I said the last sentence as a silly joke as I chuckled but I don't think Chris understands. He is looking at me in surprise and confusion at the same time. "Come on, I have to get my baggage out of the car," I said as I hit him playful
ADELEIt's finally a day before the day of the competition and I am very excited about it. Chris is carrying the little baggage I packed into the car. The baggage contains the little necessities I might be needing during my stay there. He returned to the art room and I took my gaze off the covered artwork- that is standing against the wall- to him."I seriously can't peep at it?" Chris asked and I rejected the idea immediately. "No! It is going to be a big surprise," I replied with a tired sigh. "Help me get it out of the house?" I asked and he walked closer to where I stood. "Sure!" He replied before holding the artwork from his side. He tried lifting his side and he dropped it back down instantly. My eyes widened in fear when I heard that slight sound it made against the tiled floor. "Don't you dare hurt that thing, Chris, or I am going to get angry at you," I warned with a frown on my face as I pointed my index finger at Chris and he chuckled. "I seriously don't know why you
ADELEI have moved back into my art room since the moment I started working on this competition project. I don't want Chris to see what I am making or it would ruin the big surprise. The competition or event is in two weeks and Chris has really been helping me a lot. He has been buying all the art supplies I ask for while I collect them from him, just at the door of the art room. Then, I shut the door right in his face. It had been fun to shut the door in his face in the beginning but now, I miss him so much, that I close the door slowly. A knock sounded on the door and I raised my head from the painting quickly. Chris is here. When did he get back from work?I dropped my brush in a can before walking to the door. I pulled it open and Chris's face appeared in front of me. "Hey," I breathed out and he smiled. "Hey," he replied before pushing his hands into his pocket. "Dinner is ready," he added as he took his left hand out of his pocket and pointed behind him. "Oh oh, I will b