Marriage of convenience
“Is Shawn somehow connected to your decision to return home?”
Yvonne averted her gaze immediately, maintaining a solemn silence.
Stella’s eyes widened in disbelief, her voice filled with shock and frustration. “Unbelievable! Are you crazy? Have you completely lost it? Did you forget why we were forced to live here in the first place? After all this time?” Her anger surged, making it impossible for her to contain her emotions any longer.
“You, girl, are trying to stir up trouble again, and I’m not going to allow it! I will not be a part of this!” Stella declared, rising abruptly from her seat and walking away.
She couldn’t believe that she had convinced her husband to bring them here for their wedding anniversary vacation just so her sister could spend time with her, only for Yvonne to start spewing nonsense as soon as they met. If she had known this would be the result, she wouldn’t have come here with her family.
Yvonne remained seated at the dining table, staring into space with a silent sorrow. A tear slowly escaped from her eye as she wrestled with her emotions.
After a while, she mustered the courage to join her sister in the lounge. Stella was absentmindedly staring at the game her son was playing on the TV. Yvonne sighed heavily and sat beside her, seeking solace in her sister’s presence.
“I’m sorry for bringing it up,” Yvonne apologized, her voice filled with genuine remorse. “I won’t be going back with you. I promise.”
Stella immediately turned to face her sister, and Yvonne nodded, trying to assure her. Stella breathed a sigh of relief, understanding the pain her sister must be going through. Being alone in a foreign land, surrounded by strangers, was a difficult burden to bear. But sometimes, enduring hardships was the only choice one had in order for peace to be maintained.
—
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Time flew by quickly, and a new school week began for Mia. Exhausted from the stress of school, she had slept throughout the previous day. When she finally woke up, it was already late in the evening. After taking a refreshing bath, she went downstairs to have her meal. Then, she returned to her room and continued her sweet slumber, barely seeing her husband at all.
When Mia woke up the next day, she felt thoroughly energized and refreshed. She went about her usual daily routine and headed downstairs for breakfast. It was there that she finally laid eyes on him, after several hours-her captivating husband-sitting at the dining table like a statue, emitting an intimidating aura.
Since the chaotic dinner they had two nights ago, this was the first time Mia was seeing Shawn. And she couldn’t help but admire him. He looked impeccably elegant, already dressed in a navy blue tuxedo for work.
Mia took a moment to admire the demigod from the doorway as he focused on the tablet in his hand, exuding an air of nobility. She had never seen such refined and reserved beauty before. He seemed so far above everyone else, so regal. But amidst it all, Mia was overcome with the tempting urge to bridge the gap between them and consume him whole.
‘Wait, what? Mia, control yourself,’ she chastised herself inwardly.
“Are you done?” Suddenly, Shawn’s icy gaze swept over her, his thick, long eyelashes making her nervous.
Mia bobbed her head nervously and quickly took her seat, biting her lip in embarrassment.
After a while, she finished her meal, while Shawn merely picked at his food before setting his fork down.
It was then that the cold man on the other side of the table spoke up abruptly, “I’ll be coming to pick you up after school today.”
‘Really?!’ Mia squealed with joy internally, her eyes almost bulging out of their sockets.
“Don’t flatter yourself. We have somewhere we must go together,” Shawn’s cold words flushed Mia with embarrassment, and she bit her lip once again.
Observing the girl, the CEO shook his head disapprovingly. Without further ado, he rose to his feet. Then, something flickered in his eyes, and he turned to face Mia. “Grandpa’s birthday is this weekend. We’ll visit him in the morning and attend a banquet at night, so-”
Before Shawn could finish his sentence, Mia hastily interjected, “Of course, I’m not allowed to attend the party, as we don’t want the public to know we’re married. Not to worry, I’ll hide myself very well.”
Shawn’s gaze darkened instantly, his teeth gritted, and his jaw tightened. Without wasting any more time, he stormed out of the dining area.
The audacity of the girl, her brazenness-it infuriated him. She didn’t even let him finish speaking; she was rude. Did she really despise their marriage that much? Must she continuously remind him that their union was one of convenience? Damned girl!
The CEO seethed with anger, and his mood soured for the rest of the day.
—
After the demigod left, Mia’s gaze lingered at the doorway. She was speechless. He left so abruptly, appearing angry. Had she done something wrong? Was it the way she spoke?
Aish. She must have said something he didn’t like. But what could it be? In fact, if anything, Mia should be the one who was angry and upset right now. The man made it clear that she could only accompany him privately to wish his grandfather a happy birthday in the morning, but come nightfall, she was not allowed to show her face because he didn’t want people to know he was married to someone like her-a fool. He was a bad, bad man.
Pouting, Mia grabbed her bag and headed off to school. As she sat on the bus, she wondered where she would be going with the infuriating demigod later in the day. Despite her efforts, she couldn’t come up with any guesses. She would have to wait and find out.
—
Classes began smoothly, and in the afternoon, Mrs. Babington went around the school advising the final-year students to start studying as the National College Entrance Exam (CSAT) was fast approaching. The students, Mia included, were relieved to know that their days in high school would soon be over. She secretly prayed to pass the exam so that she could pursue her dream job while in college. That way, she could start repaying her husband.
However, being a TV host and a college student at the same time would be challenging. Mia was lost in thought when suddenly, a hard strike landed across her face. It was so sudden and unexpected that she almost lost her balance and fell off her seat.
Blinking away the pain, her hand cradling her stinging cheek, she glanced up at the person who had struck her, freezing instantly.
The one who had hit her was her father-Arnold Thompson-the man who had disowned her without a second thought.