“Hey.” He greeted me after coming out of the car with a smile for a while. “Hey.” She greeted back. He went around and opened the car door for her. She did not like bothering others and would have told him not to do that if it was some other time, but he looked and acted kind of strange that day. It was not his outfit or his face…his behavior seemed different. And the smile also felt empty. Perplexed by his expression, she went to take her seat. He started the car and drove quietly. It was a bit awkward. He always talked or had some soft music playing on the radio, but he did not do any of that. As much as he annoyed her sometimes, she wanted him to fill the silence. But they reached the restaurant without a word spoken. He led her to the same table they sat at the other night. She suddenly remembered the kiss. Her cheeks flushed just thinking about how confidently he came forward, grabbed her face, and planted his lips over hers. She had not been kissed a lot. She only had one b
As soon as he entered the condo, he felt a presence. It was weird because he was always the only one in the condo except when his friend, Mike, came over. But he was not even in the city at that moment. He came to the living room and saw who was there. “Grandpa?” He asked with surprise. How did he get there? He did not give him the keys to his condo. He looked as good as ever. Even his grey hair and wrinkles could not hide the fact that he was handsome. He also exercised daily. That was how he managed himself. Otherwise, why a seventy-two years old man would be that good-looking? It was late at night. He went to the club after dropping Olivia off. He wanted to be alone and think about what to do. It was strange how one would find comfort and alone time in a bar or club when the drinking and dancing bodies coupled with loud music would provide the opposite environment. Talk about irony! “Thomas, sit.” He told him briefly having a grim expression on his face. “How did you get here?
“Wow! She could not help but be in awe. She had never been to a house like that before. She had never tried to find out how rich he was because she did not care, but the thing was that his wealth was beginning to make her hesitant. Did she do the right thing by agreeing to the marriage? Sana came to their apartment that morning as she had called her to decide on an outfit for her. She was so shocked to see the number of gifts he had sent her. Her mother and Mary were also surprised. She had to tell them because her tiny room was filled up with boxes still. She did not have a big wardrobe to fit them all in. Sana was insisting to let her know his name. Upon her insistence, she told her his name. She pulled out her phone and typed something on it. She suddenly let out a gasp. “What happened?” She was worried at the sudden gasp. Her face looked like she had seen a ghost. “Olive??? Do you know who he is?” She asked with shock. She seemed surprised. “Yeah, he told me he is a billionai
“You look lovely, Olive.” Sana cooed looking at her best friend in a wedding gown. She had never thought the day would come so soon when she would be getting married. She was just twenty-one, and she hardly showed interest in someone. She even refused the blind dates Sana wanted to set for her. She was always so busy and now, she was getting married. As fake as the marriage was, she could not help but feel emotional seeing her in that dress. Sana knew that only she was aware of the fact that it was a contract marriage and she had not told anyone about the secret. God knew, how much she wished it was a real wedding and real happiness for her lovely and innocent friend, but she could not control her life. It was her life and she had every right to decide for herself. “Thank you, Sana.” Olivia smiled gratefully, “Sana, I am nervous. What if I make a blunder? What if everybody comes to know that this is all fake? My mom would not be able to take the humiliation.” She could feel the corne
Thomas then slid the wedding ring onto her finger and Olivia followed suit. Thank God Sana was beside her. She feared she would have collapsed otherwise. “With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The priest announced as the crowd cheered, “You may now kiss the bride.” He announced. Thomas’s eyes lit up while Olivia looked at the crowd with a nervous smile. It was hard for her to digest that he was going to kiss her again—that too, in front of all those people. Thomas knew how she disliked his kiss. It was an opportunity for him to do that again. It would serve her right to always pick fights with him. He could say from the helpless expression on her face that she did not like the idea. He pulled her gently towards him with her eyes widening. The attendees were whistling and yelling with excitement. They were all such wealthy and powerful people, so she thought the reaction was a bit strange. But everybody enjoyed a display of affection for a newlywed, di
“Oh wow!” She heard someone say out loud as she tossed her bouquet. She looked at Mike who was looking behind her with an interesting expression on his face. The two men were standing side by side while the girls had lined up to catch her bouquet. She turned around to see in whose hands her bouquet had landed only to find out it was Sana. She smiled from ear to ear looking at her best friend beaming with excitement. She always wanted to get married. She must have been so happy that the bouquet had landed on her lands. She gave a curious look to Mike who was staring at Sana with a smirk. Was he already interested in her? She shook her head at him with a smile. And Thomas had noticed the glance. He did not like it. It was beyond him why he was getting uncomfortable if his supposed wife looked at someone, but the smile she had on her face while looking at Mike was not appreciated especially when she did not caste him a glance when both the men were standing side by side. They had just
Her persistence and self-respect were the two driving forces that made him want to push despite her not giving in to his offer for a long time. He thought that she was not a gold digger like others, so he would be safe. But the same two traits were now getting on his nerves. She ignored him like a plague throughout their wedding ceremony. The photographers had to instruct their time and again to be close, but she was acting as if his touch would burn her. He had never been treated like that before. He even saw women giving them envious glances at the wedding. She did not understand who she had gotten married to—albeit, on the papers. He was the most sought bachelor in LA, but she made him feel like he was someone who should be despised. He could not understand what his fault was. He sighed as he got into the shower and changed into a casual shirt and a sweat pant. It was a long day for him as it was for her. He did not want to get married either. If it was not for his grandfather’s
“Where have you been?” She asked as soon as he was back. She had been so restless inside the new place. He had left her there alone for hours. It was already getting dark outside. She was sitting on the kitchen counter while thinking what to do when he finally returned. She abruptly stepped down from the counter. He placed a bag on the kitchen counter beside her, not even looking at her once. He seemed to be avoiding eye contact with her. But why? Was he still mad at her? It should be her who should be mad, she thought with annoyance. “I brought some Chinese food. You should have your dinner. I already ate.” He said glancing at her and disappearing like a passing wind into his room. She was baffled. What the hell was his problem? He had been the one to say such hurtful things to her and raise his voice at her earlier, but now, he was being an ass. She did not deserve that. She looked at the bag which consisted of her food. Finally, he remembered that she was alone and hungry, and
Everything felt blurred. She tried to open her eyes, but even that little task hurt her head. She winced as she finally opened her eyes.The sudden light compelled her to close her eyelids again.“Olivia?” She heard her name being called. The voice…she recognized the voice.She opened her eyes again. This time, it felt less hurtful. The light was too bright for her liking though.“How are you feeling?” She heard the soft familiar voice again, but the voice sounded panicked for some reason. She adjusted her eyes and was finally able to look at his face.The face that she loved to look at… Why did he look like he had grown his beard? He always had this 5 o’clock shadow. It looked quite rough now. His hair was also ruffled. She wondered if he even took care of himself. His eyes looked concerned.She saw him opening the door of the room and calling for the doctor.“Olivia? Are you hearing me?” There was concern written on his face as he came to stand beside her. He looked quite happy but
He was terrified as soon as he heard the scream. It was as if someone had pulled out his heart out of his chest. He had experienced such kind of feeling only once in his life and that was when he got the news of his parents’ accident. He was never the kind of person who would get scared easily. However, at that moment, he was scared to no end.He rushed in the direction where he had heard her terrified voice calling his name. A few steps inside the woods, and he reached there.He saw her plastered against the tree with no shirt on and with her hands tied. He saw that lunatic picking up a piece of wood and getting ready to hit her.How dare he!His blood boiled, and all he saw was red.Thomas did not know where he got the superpower to launch himself on Joe in a second, but he did. He smacked his face and threw him on the ground. He attacked him before he could do any more harm to Olivia.“You bastard! How dare you touch her.” He blew punshes after punches on his face. He was not aware
“I don’t know Mark. I have decided to let her go.” He sighed leaning against his chair. He was in the office when he received her text. He felt devastated to type the reply he sent to her, but he had no other way. He had to free her after all the suffering he put her through during their contract marriage. It was about time he put a full stop to all of that.But why did his heart feel like it had just been pierced? Even the thought of letting her go hurt him to no end.“Listen, man, it is not her fault that her father had been involved in the accident that happened years ago. Don’t get mad but it is not her father’s fault either. Nobody can control an accident, Thomas. He also lost his life. His family has also been suffering just like you have been suffering all these years. Let go of this hatred, Thomas. It will destroy you and your relationship with Olivia.” Mark said trying to make him see sense. He had seen him being engulfed in that hatred for too long. Due to this hatred, he wa
“What did you just say?” He growled as he came closer to her. His eyes looked bloodshot. His hair had also fallen from its perfect position. He visibly shivered with anger as he yanked her hair again. This time, it was even harsher.She yelped as she felt like her hair would be pulled out of her scalp. Even in that state, she rose a little and looked challengingly in his eyes.“I said you are a pathetic piece of shit.” She spat at him after saying it again. She was so angry. He was so eager to see her crumble before him and shudder with fear. He thought he would get rid of her without any fight from her side. He was in for a surprise.She was well aware of her situation. She did not have anything with her to defend herself in that state. She had lost her phone when he started dragging her down the road and into the forest. Nobody knew where she was. Joe was looking at her murderously, and she was sure that he would not let her live another minute after what she said.However, he would
She got up after what felt like hours. She started walking toward the exit of the park. The sun had already set and darkness was slowly engulfing the surroundings. She did not want to move, but she knew that she had to.She was so devastated. What would she tell her mom? She was so happy that her daughter had finally found someone for herself who loved her and cared for her. In front of her, they put up a perfect picture of the happily married couple. She would not be able to take such a harsh piece of reality.Olivia knew that her pretended marriage would have to come to an end sooner or later, but she was not aware that it would be this soon.What hurt her the most was not that he had decided to call the fake wedding off. Her heart had broken into pieces because she thought he might feel something for her. She thought that he would somehow reciprocate her feelings. She thought that he would not blame her father anymore for an accident that happened years ago. But he did not stop bla
She was tired of the push and pull. She was tired of playing the double life. It was not her.The life she was living was not hers. She detested lying to everyone about her relationship with Thomas. She hated that their pasts were connected in such a twisted way.Life was so unpredictable. If she had not lost her job, she would have never agreed to such ridiculous terms. Neither she was happy nor was Thomas.When they got closer after separating for a while, she thought that everything would be all right now. She thought that maybe for once, she would have the life she desired to live with Thomas. Although it was a contract marriage, she could not deny having intense feelings for him.It was true. She never imagined herself wanting to live with a man, craving his touch, desiring his presence so much as she wanted with Thomas. He was the first and only man she had opened up so much. She had opened her heart to him unknowingly. Now, it was hurting her like hell. She was sure he was hurt
“Thank you for today.” Olivia smiled as the car stopped in front of the mansion. Seeing her mom’s face was indeed what she needed after the long, torturous days of being away from her mom. And now that she knew that her mom was being taken care of, she was satisfied.It was all thanks to Thomas.“My pleasure.” She saw him smiling as he also got out of the car and came around to open her side of the car door. She got out and was about to go inside when he grabbed her wrist and made her stop.“Are you okay now?” He asked with an expression of concern on his face. She was confused at first thinking why she should not be alright when she remembered that she was upset earlier. He was undoubtedly referring to that.At that moment, standing in front of him and under the moonlight, her heart felt at peace. She felt like everything was alright for once. She did not feel so miserable anymore.She had no idea what came over her as she closed the distance between them and put a soft kiss on his c
“Olivia?” She whispered as soon as she saw her daughter. She was so sad for the past few days that she did not come to visit her. but she knew her daughter. She knew that she must have been caught up in something. Otherwise, there was no way she would not have come to visit her, especially after her surgery.“Mom, how are you feeling?” Olivia sat down beside her and kissed her cheek. Her mom seemed healthier than before. Mary said that she had been eating well. She had gotten sick the previous day, but the nurse had made sure to take care of her. Olivia felt like her heart would explode with pain. She was not there with her mom when she got sick.“I’m okay, darling. How have you been?” She asked her instead. Olivia smiled. There she was asking about her when her health was not in good shape. She had just had her surgery.“I am fine, mom. Did you miss me?” She asked with a smile. She wanted to make some jokes so she would not ask her why she was absent in the last week. As much as she
Olivia had just gotten off the phone when Thomas entered the room. He had left for work in the morning and just returned. He wanted to see if Olivia had listened to what he had said to her.He still remembered the conversation.“Olivia, I have a request to make. Please don’t leave the room. Stay here.” He had said as he was about to leave the room.Olivia was still sitting in the same position on the bed. The pounding of her head had eased a little, but she still had no strength to leave the room. Besides, she was waiting for him to leave before she would go to her room as she did not want to argue with him when her head felt so heavy and she still felt a little nausea.But he had just told her not to do that. Why would she listen to him?“I will do whatever I want.” She had replied without sparing him a glance. She heard him sigh. He was holding the door open but closed it.He turned around, “This is our room. Grandpa is already suspicious. He might use this opportunity to misbehave