Chapter 2: Acknowledge

“Are you sure? He executed people who dared not to follow him. I’m afraid that you can survive if you become his wife.”

“I’m sure, and that’s impossible. He can’t kill people. All of that is just fiction or hearsay. You don’t have any evidence,” I uttered and waved my hand at her.

She was just looking at me, shocked and hesitant. She blinked her eyes many times, trying to regain her poise. “This is not a simple situation—”

“Every situation isn’t easy and yet I’m true to my words. If you’re going to agree, I offer myself to become a substitute,” I said firmly while looking into her eyes.

I saw her let out a deep sigh before nodding her head. “I agree, but there’s no turning back. Are you sure about this?”

I smiled at her to assure her, “Yes. I’m sure about this.”

....

“So you are saying that you wanted to be the substitute?” Rose’s father asked.

Rose, the woman I saved from ending her life by jumping into the deep river, invited me to their house to talk about the offer that I had made. She was hesitant and thought that I was just blabbering something, but after hearing how I talked to her parents, the hesitation in her face disappeared and it became desperation.

If I were in her shoes, I would be like her especially if I didn’t want to marry a man that I didn’t love which is understandable for her side and I don’t have the right to judge her if she’s now trying to help me from his father.

“Yes, sir,” I politely answered. After all, I’m talking to one member of the Elite family, so I need to be polite.

“What comes to mind that you offered yourself? Do you know how hard the situation is and what will happen if this kind of negotiation spreads? It will taint my name, my family!” he shouted.

Rose stood up in front of me, to defend me from his father, who was now furious, “Dad, don’t shout at her! She was just trying to help me!”

“The agreement between this family will forever be a secret. No one will know aside from us. I will never do anything stupid to taint your status and family, sir. And I’m doing this for your daughter because she wanted to live peacefully, marrying the one that she loves. So if you are going to agree with me, you can make a contract for your peace,” I answered with confidence.

Everyone cut their tongue when I said those words. All of them were just looking at me, trying to digest everything, but I remained professional. If this is what they wanted, they should be happy, but given that I will use their daughter’s name and her social status, I understand why they are angry.

Without any noise, her father stood up and prepared something. Rose’s mother was just looking at me as if she was examining my entire existence, which I don’t mind. I’m the one who offered me to her in exchange for their daughter’s freedom. So it’s okay if they are observing me because I’m just a nobody. A woman who got rejected for her books and her boyfriend leaves her because she’s so stuck with her career for her future.

“Once you sign the contract, you can’t back out.” I just smiled at her father when he lent me the contract. “If you have any suggestions about the contract, we can talk about that.”

However, upon reading the contract, I was shocked because they would be giving me money with jewels as a token for being the substitute bride, but in exchange, I would go to my groom’s house and marry him.

Without thinking twice, I immediately signed the document because they already offered me a huge amount of money with jewels, so what’s the point of dropping this contract, right? I will be the happiest woman once I claim the prize, the money, and the jewelry because this is what I want for my future.

“These are the prizes that were written in the contract. Make sure you’ll follow what you signed,” he warned, but I just smiled at him.

“Yes, Sir. Thank you for this,” I uttered, but Rose’s mother shook her head while her eyes glistened because of the tears.

“No, we should be the ones to thank you, because it’s not because of you. We wouldn’t be able to breathe just like before,” she said, which made me smile, a genuine smile.

.....

Upon arriving at the address that they gave me where he was staying, my eyes widened while staring at the house in front of me with a huge and glamorous gate. “What the heck? This is not a house! It’s a freaking castle!”

Gosh! I can’t believe how rich my groom is. I thought, he’s just a simple Elite but while examining how elegant his house’s exterior was, I almost fainted. Is he a multi-billionaire to own this kind of house?

I decided to enter the palace, no — his house, but a guard blocked my way when I was near the entrance of the gate. “Excuse me, Ma’am, but who are you? Do you have any appointments with my boss?”

I cleared my throat and mentally shook my head for not thinking about this. I forgot how powerful my groom is not to have tons of guards in his house. Am I stupid enough not to notice it?

“I apologize but I don’t have any appointment with him can’t you just rely on my name?” I politely asked him and tried to imitate Rose’s attitude.

Thankfully, she gave me some tips on how she talked and advised me to act naturally as if I’m the real Rose here, so it’s not that hard. Besides, no one knew about Rose’s features because she didn’t want to reveal her identity. So it would be easy for me to act like her.

“All right. What’s your name?” he asked.

“I’m Rose Vergara, his soon-to-be-wife,” I answered, which made him bow.

“I apologize for blocking your way, Ma’am. No one knew what you looked like,” he explained.

Because of what I heard, I smiled mentally, “It’s okay. It’s my fault too that I didn’t even reveal myself to everyone.”

“You can now enter, Ma’am. I apologize again,” he said and gestured his hand to his subordinates, who were looking at us. He even used his radio to talk to someone which I didn’t even pay attention to.

While walking, guards have been following me until I reach the main door of his house, my groom’s house. But what shocked me the most was the maid, who was anticipating me entering the main door.

“Welcome to the Mercedes Residence, Ma’am Rose Vergara,” they said in unison.

“Thank you for your warm greetings,” I said.

But I was stunned when a handsome man was looking at me with intense eyes on the second floor of the house, puffing his cigarette vulgarly while wearing tight business attire which caused his firm and broad shoulders to appear.

I thought he was cruel, but why am I admiring this man when I just accidentally roamed my eyes in his house? His aura isn’t that harsh and I can feel how gentle his eyes are. It’s just that it is so intense that you will feel uncomfortable because it feels like he’s reading your soul and mind.

His face is so mesmerizing that I can’t even look away. We were just there, standing while looking into each other’s eyes, but then my heartbeat skipped when I saw how the corner of his lips curved before turning his back and walking away.

“Ma’am Rose, we’ll guide you to your room. Sir Mercedes was anticipating your appearance this week because he knew that you already know about the marriage,” someone said, causing me to look at her.

“Yes, thank you,” I said when the maid took the bags I was holding and led the way for me.

My mind is flying because of our first interaction. Although, we didn’t talk the way he stares at me and says it all that he’s not that cruel. I can also see how his face softened and his authoritative face was just dominating it, especially when you met his blazing eyes.

Well, I don’t even know the reason Rose said that he’s cruel, because I can just see that he’s very powerful and formal. But maybe, it’s too early for me to judge so I shouldn’t end this kind of impression. Besides, I don’t know what kind of person he is, so I shouldn’t feel at ease because he’s handsome and hot.

I also need to stick to the contract and my plan because that’s my priority for now. I should set aside everything just to focus on my goal. I shouldn’t taint their name and social status just because I saw how handsome he was.

“I guess this will be the start of my life and I will be looking forward to the next chapter of my life. Hopefully, I will get what I wanted,” I whispered and let out a deep sigh.

But before I could enter my room, I heard someone shout and I don’t know where he was, but it seemed like he was kinda near. “Did you see how she looked at me? Damn! Does she think that I will acknowledge her as my bride? The hell! In her dreams!”