twelve

Being too naïve in this mortal world can be detrimental to some people. The idea that good things will come to good people is almost impossible. Something sacred can quickly turn into something broken without much thought. Like marriage, the holy vow of "till death do us part" between lovers—it's just a promise that could end at any moment.

This is what Zaylee is experiencing right now. She is just a tool for those in power, used as a stepping stone to reach their goals. Zaylee doesn't think Griffin married her because he felt responsible for her pregnancy. Instead, he married her because he could use her for now and discard her once his needs were fulfilled.

"Come on!" Angela called to Zaylee, who had been lost in thought and staring at her reflection. She now looked elegant in her wedding dress, which fit her perfectly.

Zaylee snapped out of her trance, gently wiping her tears so they wouldn't ruin her light makeup. She smiled bitterly. She never imagined she would marry so soon, under such circumstances, and most importantly, to a man she had hated for years after what happened a few years ago.

Silence. That was the word to describe the atmosphere on this bright morning. Everything went smoothly. Griffin and Zaylee had officially married today, becoming a couple until the day they both had agreed upon.

Unlike Zaylee, who was lost in thought, Griffin kept taking long breaths, trying to ease the tightness in his chest that wouldn't go away. This temporary marriage made him feel a little nervous. Even when their lips met, Griffin tried to hide the pounding of his heart, which felt like it would explode at that very moment.

Angela and Dicky exchanged glances as the awkward tension grew between Griffin and Zaylee, who were still silent, both of them avoiding eye contact when their gazes accidentally met.

"Umm... Griffin! Do we need to have lunch together?" Dicky asked politely, trying to break the silence.

"No need, Dicky! Just take us to the apartment," Griffin answered without looking away from the window.

Dicky pressed his lips together tightly, not daring to speak another word. The atmosphere could have been more conducive to conversation. Angela focused on watching Zaylee in the rearview mirror. The girl had been quiet and lost in thought since their departure to officially become husband and wife.

"Do you want to come inside for a bit?" Zaylee offered Angela when they reached the ground level of Griffin's apartment parking garage. Angela smiled and gently shook her head.

"Maybe next time, Zaylee! I'm going shopping with Dicky!" Angela said, giving Zaylee's shoulder a light pat, which Zaylee returned with a faint smile.

Griffin remained silent as he got out of the car, giving a glance to Dicky and choosing to enter the apartment first, leaving Zaylee to follow behind him.

The couple watched Griffin and Zaylee from the car, puzzled by their interaction. They were both unusually quiet, especially Zaylee, who usually expressed her emotions when near Griffin. Instead, she wore a neutral, silent expression.

"Did they marry because they wanted to? Then why do they look like they've got a huge burden on their shoulders?" Angela murmured to Dicky, who only shook his head slightly. He didn't understand the look on Griffin's face today, which seemed anxious.

"I don't know! I also don't understand what's going through their minds!" Dicky replied with a sigh, lamenting his friend's dramatic love life.

"Anyway, if they didn't want to marry, they could have just written an agreement about the child," Angela added, still confused by the complicated thoughts of Zaylee and Griffin.

"It's all Griffin's idea to marry Zaylee. His plan was always to marry one woman, and that woman is Zaylee, his ex-girlfriend," Dicky muttered, making Angela turn to him, narrowing her eyes. Dicky just shrugged, not wanting to continue his sentence.

Griffin slammed the apartment door shut after Zaylee entered. She shot him a sharp look. He was someone who couldn't control his emotions. For a brief moment, he would act kind, but just minutes later, Griffin would turn into someone temperamental.

"What's with that look on your face?" Griffin snapped, grabbing Zaylee's arm to pull her into the bedroom.

"I'm tired, Griffin! Can we not argue right now?" Zaylee replied flatly. Her mood was clearly in turmoil.

Griffin stared deeply at Zaylee, who was beginning to feel uncomfortable under the gaze of the man who had just become her husband. Zaylee tried to pull away from Griffin's grip on her arm, but he only tightened his hold.

"Griffin!" Zaylee snapped angrily. She couldn't take his irritating attitude anymore.

Griffin dragged Zaylee into his bedroom, throwing her body onto his bed. Zaylee was about to rise, but Griffin swiftly pinned her down, making it impossible for the small frame beneath him to escape.

"If you really don't want to marry me, just get rid of the child!" Griffin said coldly, his gaze directed at Zaylee's stomach.

"Then why do we have to get married? Because of this child? You could just let me go and let us live!" Zaylee shouted, releasing all her frustration from their time living together. To her, Griffin's reason made no sense at all. Zaylee could only resign herself because this man was the one who could protect her from Alex for now.

"I should let you give birth to this child? What if this child ends up ruining my life?" Griffin asked with a devilish grin, his words dripping with venom. Zaylee stared back at him blankly, her eyes full of vengeful tears. How could Griffin say such cruel words so quickly?

"How can you say that, Griffin? This child doesn't hold any grudge against you!" Zaylee snapped, trying to push his shoulder away to get him to back off.

"Why? Isn't it possible? Maybe one day you'll use this child to destroy my life! After all, I don't even know who you did this with!" Griffin accused, his toxic words growing even more uncontrollable.

Zaylee pressed her lips together tightly, trying to hold back the pain in her chest that felt sharper with every word. Her tears fell as she heard Griffin's accusations. Even though they were now married, his attitude toward her had not changed.

"Why are you looking at me like that? I know you're cursing me in your heart!" Griffin said, wiping away the tears streaking down Zaylee's cheeks.

"The only regret I have in life is knowing you!" Zaylee murmured to Griffin, her eyes filled with sorrow, making Griffin's heart flutter, even if just a little.

"GRIFFIN!" Zaylee's scream sounded choked as Griffin attacked her with a kiss on Zaylee's neck, making her feel a sensation that made Zaylee unable to hold it back, like butterflies flying in her stomach.

Hearing Zaylee's scream did not stop the man. Instead, he cupped Zaylee's tiny face with both hands, crushing Zaylee's tiny lips, not allowing the girl to reject him.

Zaylee, who was under Griffin's control, was unable to rebel. The girl closed her eyes as Griffin's passionate kisses slowly turned soft. Griffin gave sweet kisses on the neck that slowly went down to the girl's shoulders.

Griffin's hands quickly unbuttoned Zaylee's shirt, exposing something that should not have been shown to her. Zaylee was stunned to feel Griffin's kisses go down and touch her chest. The girl held Griffin's shoulders back to move.

"Griffin! Stop!" she said softly; no anger like before made Griffin stop his actions.

"Sorry!" Griffin said softly, then got up from Zaylee's body and disappeared behind the bedroom door.

Griffin's cellphone ringtone interrupted the man's reverie; his eyes glanced at his cellphone screen, which displayed the contact name of his best friend. Griffin frowned, then answered Dicky's call.

"Fin! Anna is looking for you at my apartment!" Dicky said without opening words.

"And then?" Griffin asked, massaging his temples slowly. The news of his marriage to Zaylee reached the Robinson family's ears.

"She asked me to take her to Zaylee's apartment."

"Just take her! Until she gets tired of finding us!" Griffin said, then hung up the phone call.

***