Chapter 3

Olivia

"I can't find the reason why you didn't tell me the truth, Olivia! I thought we're best friends. Didn't we promise each other that no matter what happens, no matter how difficult the situation is, we won't keep secrets from each other?" Matthew said with a distant look and a serious face.

I could only sigh in response to what he said. Even I, until now, am still confused. But no matter what I do, I can't turn back time, right? It already happened and there's nothing more I can do.

"What got into your mind, huh? Why did you suddenly get married? We're often together but you never once told me you had a boyfriend." He added and then turned his gaze towards me.

"I didn't have anything to tell you!" I replied curtly. I caught his attention with that statement. He looked at me with confusion, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Am I dreaming? Slap me!" he said, taking my hand and slapping his face with it. "I'm not dreaming. This is really happening."

I took my hand back from his grasp.

"Are you serious? Or is this just a prank? Wait, I'll call dad. You two are good at this!" After saying that, he stood up and started heading inside the house to do what he said, but I quickly grabbed his arm to stop him.

"This is not a joke, Matthew! You're not dreaming. We really got married yesterday, and all the images and videos taken will arrive in a week," I said, then sighed.

It seemed like he still didn't believe because he resisted my hold.

"That's not true, Olivia! Don't lie to me. I don't believe you!"

I finally let go of his arm. I let him do what he wanted. He stood still for a few seconds before turning his gaze back to me. He took my left hand. The ring on my finger slapped him.

"How did this happen? What's the reason, Olivia? Why did you suddenly get married?" he asked, his tone deep with sighs.

"It's because of my dad! I don't want him to go to jail, so I'd rather do this than see him suffer inside prison."

"I don't understand. Why would Uncle Oliver go to jail? Did he do something wrong?" he asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"He owes a lot to Uncle Richard. Even I was puzzled. I was also wondering why he would have daddy jailed even though they are friends. But your dad said that what daddy doing is an addiction, and putting him in jail is the only solution."

After I answered, I sighed deeply. I swallowed hard while looking into the distance.

"But what does that have to do with you? That's his debt, right? Why did you marry my brother?" he asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"I was the payment for daddy's debt! It's painful, isn't it?" I replied, forcing a smile. "I had no choice because that's the only thing I could do to prevent daddy from going to jail. You know how much I love him, right? You also know that I don't want him to suffer, so here I am, accepting my fate."

"Do you want me to talk to dad? Let's ask him to find a way to annul your marriage. I'll help you. We'll find a way!"

After he said that, he held my hand, but I pulled it away and avoided it.

"No, let's not. It's not necessary."

"But why? Don't you want to go back to your old life? I'll help you find a job to save up money. Not like this. Not like being a debt payment to someone you don't even know well."

"Let's not, okay? I'm here! Don't bother anymore because I've made up my mind."

"I don't understand! I'm already helping you leave here, right? You don't know the life you've entered. You don't know how bad my brother's personality is!"

"I can't because I've already signed a contract!" I said loudly as I replied.

"A contract?" he raised his eyebrows in question. I took a deep breath before speaking and answering.

"Yes."

"What contract?"

"It's proof that I agreed to marry your brother. The contract will be invalid after two years."

"Why do you need a contract, huh? I really don't understand what's happening! I'm still confused."

"Even me is in confusion right now. I don't even know how long I can survive here. On our first day as a married couple, he immediately gave me resentment, and physical and verbal abuse."

"He hurt you?" the tone of the conversation seemed to change after he heard what I said.

I saw that he almost saw my arm, so I covered it but it was too late! He removed my hand holding my arm and saw the large bruise caused by his brother. He held my arm tightly earlier, leaving a large bruise.

I didn't even notice that my arm had a bruise. I only saw it when I looked at it because I felt a bit of pain in that area.

"Come on! Let's go to him and talk to him. It's not right for you to just be hurt by that jerk," he said, waiting for me to stand up. He reached out his hand to me. I just looked at it and sighed. It seemed like he was also wondering why I remained seated.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go,"

"No, Matthew! I don't want more trouble, so if possible, let's just let him do what he wants!"

"Let him?" a deep sigh followed his statement before he continued. "Are you really going crazy? Are you just going to let that jerk hurt you, Olivia?" he said with a raised voice.

I sighed and looked at him before speaking.

"Why? If you go there, what do you think will happen? Will this bruise disappear? No, right? It will just cause another fight! If you want to go to him, I won't stop you but don't expect me to come with you because I don't want to add to my resentment just because of your arrogant brother!"

I rolled my eyes after I said it. Even Matthew could only sigh and look at me. He hesitated to speak. He knew my temperament. He knew I didn't want trouble, so he couldn't do anything but understand that.