Chapter Three:- Don't be deceived by what you see

I caught sight of these grey eyes that had been staring intensely at me since I joined the family breakfast. He didn't look familiar but I was hypnotized by his rare beauty. 

Using handsome to describe his beauty would be an understatement to describe how magnificent he looked. He had all the definition of man but yet, his eyes were giving off a different vibe. 

His gaze gave me emptiness and sadness or was I reading it wrong?

He had everything - judging from his looks to how he groomed, someone could easily tell that he lacked nothing but what was the meaning behind that gaze?

Trying to find meaning, my mother suddenly called my name which diverted my attention, "Claire" She called my name in a sweet voice. 

This made me anxious for some reason I couldn't fathom. 

"Meet your husband, the eldest son of the McMillan Family" My mother pointed to the man sitting opposite me.

 My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. 

" He is Damien McMillan? " I couldn't believe it but I didn't know why I was so surprised. 

I've never seen him on TV before neither have I seen a picture of him. This man was rare but he was sitting before me with those looks I find hard to describe. Damn, he looks like a celebrity or even more pretty.

I knew my behavior was childish but I was part of the people who crushed on K-pop idols or actors. But this man here was on another level. 

"I'm Damien McMillan. It's Nice to see you" The man husked and I smiled. 

Unlike any other smile, I was finding it difficult to control my smile. I don't know why my mood was lightened but I felt like I'd seen one of my dream celebrities.

"I'm Claire" I simply said, still staring at him. Our eyes met several times during breakfast and it only made me smile at myself. 

 "Love at first sight. Is this it?" I questioned myself. I never for once believed that that kind of love was ever real, but today, I was being skeptical.

I was feeling excited just by seeing his face and studying him. I didn't know if he knew how I felt about him. But I didn't know if I should call this love because everyone would surely behave like me when they saw someone endearing. 

"My daughter, Claire... Why don't you have a little discussion with your husband" Marvin said to me and then, I turned to Damien.

The word 'husband' made me blush realizing that after marriage, this man would be all mine. I guess I was forgetting something.

Damien's gaze was back on me after what his father had said. He quietly stood up and left the dining room, heading outside. 

I followed him.

----

Damien and I were alone in my family's garden. We were surrounded by beautiful flowers and to be honest, the view was mesmerizing. I've never had the time to appreciate God's creation because I was never given the chance to.

The sky was bright and beautiful, and the flowers looked healthy and colorful and I was in the middle of the garden with my soon-to-be husband.

I couldn't tell if he was enjoying the view but all I knew was that he kept staring at the flowers intensely.

"You don't want this marriage, right?" He suddenly spoke, which caught me unaware. 

I stared at him, my mouth closed while my eyes kept blinking.

Even if I could speak, I wouldn't answer that question because right now I didn't know what I wanted. I didn't know if this marriage was something I wanted or not.

Just yesterday the thought of it was devastating but after meeting him, it felt like I wanted this marriage more than anyone else. Why? Was it because of his looks or was it love at first sight?

"I don't know what you are thinking, Young Adamson..." He husked, his deep voice tickling my stomach. "But just know that it is something far more dangerous than knowing your enemy" He completed. 

I didn't know what he meant or what he was trying to say but the word 'dangerous' wasn't something good. 

"Don't be deceived by what you see" After those words, Damien turned to leave but halted in his tracks when he saw his brother, Clyde. 

His brother approached us with a bright smile on his face but the look on Damien's face was the opposite. "What an intense stare!" Clyde jeeringly said to his brother and then, he turned to me. 

"Hope he didn't hurt you, sister-in-law?" He said, his eyes beaming with the brightest smile. I shook my head even if what Damien said was still on my mind. 

What was I expecting? A fairy tale love story? I was getting married to my family's enemy and I was expecting a love story instead of thinking about how to survive on my own. 

I didn't know if Damien cared about me since he warned me about what to expect but all I knew was that he was right but I was still sad. 

Clyde wrapped his hands around my neck and my brows knotted. 

"If you feel sad about this marriage, you can always cheat because he's a jerk," Clyde said to me and my brows furrowed.

As if Damien knew what was on my mind, he pulled me away from his brother's embrace.

"Enough of your jokes and get lost!" Damien said. 

"Easy brother. It's not as if you love her. You are just cleaning after my mess" Clyde said with a sarcastic laugh. 

"You find this funny, don't you? Just keep laughing in the meantime, Clyde, and I promise you, you won't get away with this" Damien threatened and Clyde mimicked crying. 

"Oh, brother. I've always gotten away with everything I do because I have people backing me up but who do you have? Father? Mother? A friend? Or this you little naive wife who can't even speak!!!" Clyde mocked.

My heart tightened. Perhaps I got the story wrong. Damien was also an outcast like me who cleaned up after his family's mess. Was that why he told me not to be deceived by what I see? Why does his brother hate him this much?

I had a lot of questions but getting close to the answer made everything more complicated.

"That's enough, Clyde" Another voice interrupted and it was Clyde's father, Mr. Marvin McMillan.

He walked down to us, glaring hard at Clyde. Clyde bowed his head in embarrassment.

"We are leaving now," He said after staring at the way Damien firmly held my hand. Damien immediately let go of my hand and walked away without looking back.

"Your wedding date has been set. It's happening soon, so please, stay strong and healthy" Marvin McMillan said with a humble smile and I returned the smile with a nod. 

"Let's go home," Marvin said to Clyde and they both left. 

I was left alone in the garden. Different questions suppressed my feeling but there was no answer. 

I went back to the house only to find my sister yelling at my mother. 

"Mom! I can't let this marriage happen. I don't want my younger sister to get married before me. I don't want it! "Veronica yelled to the top of her voice, surprising me.  

"What's the meaning of all these, Vero? You wanted this marriage yesterday so what's happening now?" My mother also looked lost as to why Veronica was suddenly against the marriage idea. 

" I just came to my senses, Mom. I don't want Claire to get married before me. That would be an insult to me before the public and my friends" 

" Since when did you care about what others think of you? Look, I won't tolerate more yelling from you. The marriage date has been set and everything is going as planned, don't you dare ruin things for me." My mother warned. I could see those evil stares on her face as she warned Veronica.

"Then let me be the bride, mom. I will be the one to get married instead of Claire. Let me be the one wearing the wedding dress." Veronica suggested, startling my mom. 

"What has gotten into you, Veronica?"

"Nothing's gotten into me, Mom. I'm,... I am in love with Damien McMillan, Mom. I love him and I want him. He's mine and not Claire's." She smiled remembering how Damien looked. 

"What?"

"Claire isn't fit or worthy to get married to such a rich and handsome man. I am the one who's supposed to be in her place. So please Mom, let me get married to him instead of Claire." Veronica begged.

I stood there speechless and shocked. I didn't move and they didn't notice my presence. I knew my mother was going to give her what she wanted and the thought of it made me sad. 

For the first time I wanted to fight for something but I didn't have the strength to do so. Veronica was trying to take what was mine. Nobody owned Damien but I wanted him. 

I felt that we were connected probably because we were facing almost the same struggle. I believed that one day, we would be able to survive this cruel world and stand on our feet together.

Even if he felt unloved, I believed that I would be able to shower him with the love he wanted and he would be able to love me back. That was my thought of our story but what if something I wasn't expecting eventually happened?

I remembered my father's death ten years ago. I could still remember the voice I heard. The person that killed my father was his very close friend and the thought of being betrayed made me tremble. 

What happens if the story takes another turn? I've always believed my life to be a story. I was playing the role the author asked me to but I've always wanted to live my own life. I wanted a perfect life, someone choosing me over anything else. 

"I choose to get married to Claire Adamson," Someone said behind me.