CHAPTER 3

Heart watched her husband walk out of the door and his figure disappear before she turn her attention to the table where she put their contract.

“So tiring, that wedding is my dream wedding but it's exhausting. This contract is also... What a drag,” Heart said, picking up the folder as she stand up and stretch her limbs.

‘What am I even doing with my life?’

Heart was about to go to the kitchen to take her glass to the sink when her phone suddenly rang.

After seeing the caller ID, Heart's face pale. 

‘I'm dead now.’

Heart accepted the call and slowly raised her phone to her ears. “H-Hell—” Heart's nervous greeting was interrupted when her friend shouted.

“WHAT THE FUCK?! WHERE ARE YOU?!” Danica shouted from the other line.

Heart instantly pulled her phone away from her ears, her heartbeat speeding up.

‘Oh, no. I think she already knows, what should I do? Damn. How did she know?!’

“H-Hello! Danica? Why did you call? Is something wrong?” Heart said, her voice shaking because of fear.

“I told you last day that we are going to the beach to clear up your mind! Where are you?! I've been waiting for five hours?! What the hell, Heart!” Danica answered, completely enraged.

“I-I'm sorry... I forgot I'm just taking a walk. I felt bored and alone in my house, I'm sorry.” Heart lied, trying to save herself from her best friend's wrath.

‘I feel so bad lying at my best friend! I know she'll be angrier if she found out that I'm lying but I have to do this, I can always make a new and detailed excuse later! Please, guide me!’

Heart heard her friend sighing from the other line. She assumed and think that Danica is just trying to calm herself so she also think about more lies that will back her up.

“Where are you? Do you want me to go the—”

Heart didn't let Danica finish her sentence and interrupted her. “No! I-I mean no, you don't have to go here. I am fine, don't worry. I just want some time alone, thank you for worrying about me,” she said, sincerely thanking her best friend.

“I'm still talking, that's rude.”

“What?! You did it first!” Heart defending herself.

“So, how are you feeling?” Danica asked, ignoring Heart's words.

“I don't know... I honestly don't know how to feel... He died,” Heart paused, “yesterday, I came straight to his house and a group of males talked to me. They said... He owes them money,” she added.

“He owes them money? That's weird. He has a high-paying job, so how much is it? Is it okay now?” Danica asked Heart from the other line.

“H-He owes them a million dollars,” Heart said.

“HOLY SHIT! A MILLION DOLLARS?! HE OWES THEM THAT MUCH?! WHY?!” Danica asked, her voice full of shock.

“T-That is another question for me and then... I found the reason why... He uses it on his lover... Danica, h-he cheated on me,” Heart said while stuttering.

Heart doesn't know how to feel, the events from yesterday and the shock is still there, it's not gone.

Danica didn't respond, there is a few moments of silence. No one dared to speak.

After a few minutes of silence Heart's best friend finally, speak. “He cheated on you and you just found out?” she said, “how long? How long has he been cheating on you?” Danica added, her voice is deadly calm making Heart shiver in fear.

Danica's calm voice didn't go unnoticed by Heart, she felt more nervous because Danica being like that is like a calm before the storm.

“T-Three years... He's been cheating on me for three years,” Heart said, her voice shaking and her body trembling feeling cold.

“Three years?” she paused, “do you know where?” Danica added, asking her scared friend.

“W-Where? What do you mean?” Heart asked, wondering what is her friend talking about.

“WHERE IS THAT SON OF A BITCH AND HIS BITCH!” Danica shouted, making Heart pull the phone away from her ears for the second time today.

“WHAT?! BOTH THAT SON OF A BITCH AND HIS DUDE IS ALREADY DEAD!” Heart yelled, matching her friend's energy.

A loud gasp was heard, making Heart look at her left. The maids stood there, looking at her in shock, their wide eyes and mouths wide open.

Heart mouthed a quick 'I'm sorry' and ran upstairs. She entered their room and immediately lock the door.

“Dude?! What the fuck do you mean?!” Danica asked her friend, confused.

“THAT SON OF A BITCH IS GAY! HE TOOK A LOAN UNDER MY NAME FOR HIS LOVER'S TREATMENT!” Heart shouted, trying to hold back her tears from falling.

Danica paused for a minute before she responded. “He took a loan under your name? He took a million dollars loan under your name for his lover's treatment?” Danica said, “You are telling me that he took a motherfucking loan under your name, not to mention that it's a million dollars, and for what? For his motherfucking lover's treatment?! Are you fucking kidding me?!” 

“YES! YES, HE DID!” Heart yelled, crying her eyes out.

She doesn't care if her eyes got swollen again, she wants to cry and no one can stop her!

“TELL ME WHERE THE FUCK ARE THEY BURIED!” 

“W-Why do you want to know?” she asked her friend, still crying.

“I will dig their graves and kill them again! Those mother fucker deserves to die slowly and painfully!” Danica said, her anger is evident in her voice as she mumbled how is she going to kill them again.

“That asshole asked me to pay half of the expenses for our wedding, I even used my savings for his funeral, and then he-he have the nerve to do this to me,” Heart said as she continues to cry, “he also used my restaurant as collateral!”

“WHAT?! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?! YOU USED YOUR SAVING, YOU LOST YOUR DREAM RESTAURANT, YOU HAVE A DEBT TO PAY! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?!” Danica's anger vanished and was replaced by panic and worry.

“I found a solution but it's hard and risky... I want to tell you about it but I can't. If you ever found out, I hope you understand the reason why I did it,” Heart said.

Danica immediately yelled from the other line. “HEY! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN?!” she asked, “Don't even think about something dangerous!” she added.

“I-I'm sorry... I have to go now, thank you for being a good friend. I will always guide you even if I'm not with you,” Heart said, trying to sound like she is going to die.

“W-What are you saying? A-Are you crazy?! Don't joke around! If you die... I-I will dig your grave and kill you again! I swear I will do tha—”

Heart didn't let her friend finish her threats and ended the call.

‘I am so sorry, I feel so bad for doing this but if I didn't end the call you will push this topic and I will eventually tell you about the truth. You will fucking kill me if you found out that I got married for money.’

“STOP! Stop it, Heart. Don't think about it anymore. You are tired and you have to rest. Stop thinking about other things and give yourself a break.”

Heart takes a deep breath and slowly crawls on the bed. She covers herself with the blanket and slowly closes her eyes. 

‘I'm married now but not to the man who promised to give me a good and happy life. You fooled me once, shame on me but I won't let you fool me twice. I will make sure that I won't be fooled this time. I will use this to my advantage, once I cleared the debt and I have a comfortable life Percival and I will divorce. I will live a happy and easy life!’

Heart smiled and calm her mind, after a few minutes of her laying on the bed while her eyes are closed she felt herself slowly drift to the dreamland and she finally fell asleep.

HEART's eyes flutter open, she slowly sat up and stretch her arms as she yawn. “Noisy, why is it so noisy?” she groaned, trying to look where the sound is coming from.

The continuous notification sound from her phone wakes her up.

‘Why does it keep on ringing? Is it broken?’ Heart thought as she reached for her phone and open it.

She saw a lot of messages keeps on flooding her social media accounts. A lot of messages come from strangers and her old schoolmates.

Heart was about to open one of the messages when her phone suddenly rang, making her flinch.

‘It's Danica again, why is she calling me in the morning?’

Heart answered the call and lazily raise her phone to her ears. “Hello? Why did you call?” she asked, her voice nonchalant expressing that she is not interested.

“YOU ARE FUCKING MARRIED?!” Danica started, “WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING TO YOUR LIFE? IS THIS WHAT YOU MEANT BY SAYING IT'S RISKY?! WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK, HEART SALVACION?!” she added.

“H-How did you know?” Heart said, her panic is evident in her voice as she immediately sat up.

“You are asking me how did I know?” Danica said, “you married a famous businessman who is notorious for being a woman-hater! It's on the fucking news! I will send something to you, make sure to check it out!”

Heart froze in her place as she nervously wait for the message her friend's going to send to her.

‘Damn... I'm so stupid. Did I seriously not think about this fact?’

She heard a notification from her phone, she slowly open the app. She close her eyes and took a deep breath before she read the message.

She saw the message Danica sent her and it was a link. She click the link and read the title. “Percival Reddson, the only son of Reddson Family is now married? Who is the lucky woman?”

‘Lucky? Do you think they are lucky? That's too bad because you are super wrong.’

Heart scrolled down and read the article. All of her pictures are blurred and some are taken from her back so it doesn't show her beautiful face. She continued to scroll and she found some comments about the article.

PotatoChief06: Wow?! Is that real? Is he really married? I'm so envious of his wife! You go, girl!

Coloredo_143: Lucky bijj...

Catrina_Gara: Heart Salvacion? I think I know this woman. She's just our maid! I am Percival Reddson's real wife!

BoraKai05: What is the sense of blurring her face when you gave out her name and basic pieces of information? I mean, we can search for it. I just found it super stupid? Anyone with me?

xJansen_Senjanx: I search for her social media and saw her photos. She looks ugly, I feel bad for Percival. He has to wake up in the morning and start the day with an ugly duckling.

“What the fuck?! If I'm ugly then at least I have a decent username! xJansen_Senjanx? Seriously?” Heart exclaimed, super annoyed at the last comment but she continued scrolling and reading them.

MoonsoonBaby25: Congratulations! I want to ask how long it is?

“Heh. Probably shorter than my patience? Am I patient? No!” she said, snickering.

KikikikingofmeeeAn07: The wedding is aesthetic. Congratulations!

“Your comment is not offensive but what's wrong with you? KikikikingofmeeeAn07?” Heart continued to laugh, mocking the stranger's weird username.

IamYoU123: Percival is good at handling business but not good at choosing a partner. Look at her hair! Does she even know that hairbrush exists?!

“Well, yes! I know that hairbrush exists but what's wrong with my hair? I look good, does she even know what is she saying?” Heart pouted, slowly combing her hair using her fingers.

Iambeetch01: Ugly! 

Iambeetch02: So ugly!

Iambeetch03: Super ugly!

“Yeah, right. These are definitely from one person using multiple accounts. Thank you for your effort, buddy! You are deeply appreciated!” Heart said and she threw her phone while she laughs as loud as she can and sat down on the bed.

‘Beetches,’ she thought to herself making her laugh harder as she slap her legs and shake her head.

Heart's laugh died down when her eyes accidentally landed on the closed windows. “It's too dark and hot, I should open the curtain and window,” she mumbled as she stand up and walk towards the window.

She was about to open the curtain when she saw a glimpse of what's happening outside. “Holy... What the fuck? What's happening?”

Heart peek at the side of the window as she lightly pulled the curtains to the side and saw a bunch of reporters waiting outside. Cameras, microphones, notebooks, and ballpens in their hands.

“Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh shit! They are here for me, shit, shit, shit, what should I do?” Heart said, pacing back and forth as she bit her nails because of panic.

Heart immediately turn her head towards the bed when she heard her phone ring. She hurriedly grabbed her phone on her bed and look at the caller's ID and she saw that it was an unknown number.

Heart gulped and hesitated to answer the call. “W-Who could it be? Is it the paparazzi? Oh my God! How did they get my number?! I-I should not answer this!” Heart stuttered as she declined the call with her trembling hand.

Her phone rang a few more times when she got annoyed. “So noisy! Is this what being a celebrity feels like? It's not good and fun at all!”

Heart was about to turn her phone off when she heard a knock on the door. 

‘Did... They got in? No, no. That's stupid, Heart. This house has tight security so that's impossible... Is it?’

“W-Who is it?” Heart asked, making sure it's not a paparazzi. 

‘It's better to be ready than to be sorry,’ she thought.

“Mrs. Reddson? Sir Percival's secretary called. He asked me to tell you to answer your phone,” the maid from the outside shouted, enough for Heart to hear.

“O-Oh! All right! Thank you for telling me and sorry for bothering you!” Heart yelled back before she called the unknown number.

After a few rings, someone answered the phone. “Mrs. Reddson? I'm sorry if I wake you up. Mr. Reddson asked me to call you and inform you that he sent someone to pick you up from the house,” Kio formally explained, his tone sounding so professional.

“Pick me up? T-To where?” she asked in confusion.

“Mr. Reddson wants you to go here at the company. Please, use this time to prepare.”

“O-Okay, I understand. Thank you for informing me, sorry for not answering your calls. I'll hang up now,” Heart mumbled with a small voice, still embarrassed.

She ended the call and look at the table beside the bed.

“Is he telling me to come over because he's worried even though our marriage is just a contractual marriage? Well, that's nice. I'll give him that. I should prepare now,” she mumbled to herself, “I guess I will put a light makeup.” Heart took her time getting ready. 

Assuming that her husband is worried for her she tried to put more effort as a payment for his gratitude but oh boy, she's so wrong. She shouldn't have assumed and expected anything like what Percival told her.

A big surprise is waiting for her in the company, something stressful and exhausting.