The contract marriage ( identity disguised)

pte

se Victoria er

e's sent me to this same l

ter, my hands gripping the steeri

d it's testing my patience. I'm ten minutes la

t going to refl

nearly miss the truck heading straight fo

rgg

him. "ARE YOU BLIND, CAN'T YOU SEE, YOU WANT TO GET KILLED?-blah blah blah, bl

wn the road. Goosebumps litter my ski

'm 20 minutes late, and the steakh

home. Telling father that I didn't go because it was too late

e road like a fugitive on the run with mot

ive at the

urant thing. Taking deep bre

'd find him, should

s Cal

me is a nondescript, bla

are

u to your table, my boss a

o's you

, and then gestures toward the l

at's Mr

I don't end the night with a no

the rest of the resort, beautifully arranged

g the cake with my eyes that

beautiful, my groom but a marria

say, sitting down

d for a handshake. He completely ign

o the point then" I f

you do too, but if we both object to

ally looking at me. He has great thas great hair, I expected someone younger. He

to get married

l, so don't take it per

r

. I beg of you, there are several ways to boost the pa

ou envisioned your life, le

ds me

ste, this union is necessary for your family a

I look outside to stop the tears

ding is

d, my eyes wid

th the date?" His voice i

happened to consulting me and ensuring I was okay with

doesn't matter," he

an feel my anger boili

earlier guy approaches our tab

d lays it on the table before b

d the details of this agreement for you," M

out the bride being present?" I demand, clenching

tead. According to this, he would be my husband in jus

close it, realizing how every

dusts off his suit, behaving as if

e, but not tomorrow," I assert, grabb

midnight. I won't tolerate being kept waiting again." He turns to ex

m, but he ignores me, signaling hi

rusty and... and OLD!" I shout af

without looking back. "I w

my irritation igniting further as

manage to break free, snatching

ind myself as I walk back to my car, cake in hand, de

****

day m

t to the wedding on time. It's 9:48, the ceremony starts

er?" I demand, frust

yself, but that's clearly a mistake. I can he

ell myself, though it feels lik

know, who I suspect might be one of t

y. Please let it be the designer, I think a

a, my be

ncouraging smile. Emma has always been my rock.

ideal situation," I repl

You're marrying one of the hottest bache

ist of Mason's qualities that sh

a gentleman. You'll b

is an assh

a hug and kissing my cheeks. I felt the wa

up," Sh

ily, the perfect figure, and now the perfect

perfect, right?" I reply

he pushes a glass toward m

ll love you, and everything will wo

tch her rolling her eyes from the corner of my vision, a gesture that feels patronizing

it will,"

ything," I say,

ys be here for you," sh

s arrival, ma

the door, a bit too quickly, and I feel

ight," I manage to say,

te, lo

rs, and I feel myself si