I've committed numerous wrongdoings in my lifetime, and amidst all of that, I've been able to acknowledge them to myself and those I've wronged. It's given me a sense of peace and a stable conscience.
However, I feel this sin, this secret, might now be my undoing. For reasons unknown, I sense that even though everything that happened that night was accidental, I am truly to blame. I should know what transpired on that fateful night.
And now, I find myself trapped in his arms. It's just that simple, and I can't do anything about it.
Love
Don't dress too formally. Casual attire will suffice.
I smiled as I read that text from Ares once more. I couldn't help but smile whenever he texted. Aside from the fact that I could almost hear his voice, his grammar was impeccable. The apostrophes were in the right places. This guy was truly an almost perfect man—an ideal man, indeed.
To Love
Do you have a meeting outside the office?
After I sent that, I began searching for something to wear. I was contemplating my clothes in the closet when my phone rang again. Assuming it was Ares, I hurried to read the message, but I was mistaken.
Unknown Number
Why won't you reply to me? Is this how you treat your husband?
My forehead creased in confusion. I went back to Ares' previous texts, which were playful, and realized I hadn't replied. Should I? Why should I? Who does he think he is? An idiot, I presumed.
I tossed my phone onto the bed and settled on a black sheath turtleneck dress. My guess was that Ares had a company gathering today. It wasn't on his schedule, so I wasn't entirely sure. What could it be?
Once I finished getting ready, the door slammed, and my mom's voice followed, leaving me puzzled.
"Ana! Ares is here! Aren't you ready yet?"
I smirked and checked my appearance in the mirror once more. Satisfied, I rushed out. I almost forgot my phone. Glancing at it, I saw three missed calls from that man and a text message.
Unknown Number
Still not replying, huh? See you.
My eyebrows shot up as I read that. I stared at it for a moment, feeling a nervous flutter before finally stepping out. As I left my room, I noticed Agatha approaching Ares. She seemed to say something to him, smiling. I thought that would be the end of it, but my frown deepened as I watched my sister kiss my fiancé on the cheek.
"Oh, you're ready. What took you so long? I need to pay the utility bills, and your sister's tuition fee is due today," Mama informed me.
I stayed silent, handing her the money she needed. When Ares saw me, he came over and smiled. By his side was the grinning Agatha, who quickly made her exit.
"As I expected," Ares remarked, taking in my appearance. "You're glowing," he declared.
I simply smiled and clung to his arm, still trying to shake off the confusion from earlier. I pinched myself lightly and turned my gaze to Ares. It was then I noticed he wasn't in his corporate attire either. He wore a gray button-down and black pants.
"Do you have an important appointment today? I might have missed it in your schedule—"
"No, we're just going to meet our wedding coordinator. Your wedding gown is ready," he cut me off, and I quickly looked at him.
I could feel my heart racing.
"R-really?"
Instead of responding, he stopped walking, causing me to halt as well. He leaned towards me, taking both of my hands. He even placed a gentle kiss on them, making me smile at the sweet gesture. Ares was truly thoughtful and caring. What more could I ask for?
"I know it's sudden, but I want our wedding to happen next week. Dad wants to accelerate the plans, so I'm following suit," he announced. My mind was thrown into a whirlwind of confusion.
"W-what?"
But I'm already married...
Ares's eyes widened as he stared at me. Before I could say anything, his phone suddenly rang. I heard a sneer in his voice as he answered the call. We headed to the car.
"What, Dad? I thought we had this settled. Why are you still pushing this?"
I glanced at Ares upon hearing the frustration in his voice again. These days, he seemed constantly angered and in a foul mood. I had also confirmed with Nikki that what Elena mentioned yesterday was true—that his brother had returned and the Galvez family had a proposal for him. But until now, Ares hadn't discussed any of it with me.
"I can find a way! I've been here for six freaking years, and he just shows up—I can't believe you!"
His shout startled me a bit. I felt a pang of fear, especially seeing his eyes blazing with such intense anger. I reached out to hold his hand, but he abruptly started the engine, leaving me to sit in silence.
"I'm sorry, Love. Something urgent came up..." Ares said softly, trying to sound calm. I looked at him, and he glanced at me momentarily, his brow furrowing.
"I'll drop you off at the boutique first. I'll be back in 30 minutes or an hour. I'm so sorry," he said gently. Yet, I could still sense the irritation in his voice.
I wanted to ask what was bothering him, but I knew it would only add to his annoyance. So, I just nodded.
After Ares dropped me off at the boutique, he quickly left without going inside. I was relieved he left me in the care of the staff, saving me from embarrassment.
A few more minutes passed as I was getting measured for the gown, and an unsettling feeling of being watched crept over me. I scanned the entire boutique, but nothing seemed amiss. Just as I was engrossed in my phone, it buzzed with a text.
Unknown Number
You look stunning in that wedding gown. Should we repeat our wedding so you can wear that instead?
My eyes widened, and I quickly looked around once more after reading that. I paused, looking at the opposite boutique across the street from where I was. There, I saw a man who looked like a model just standing and staring at me, a creepy grin on his face.
I wasted no time and alerted the staff who were present, then hurried towards the man. I could barely speak when I faced him and he lowered the wayfarers he was wearing, staring at me intently.
"W-what are you doing here? Are you stalking me?" I asked him directly. His grin widened, but then he suddenly turned serious.
"You're not replying, so I thought you might want to talk to me in person," he said seriously, reaching for my hand. I quickly pulled away.
"W-what… What are you doing? Why are you here? Why are you following me?"
"Why are you getting measured for a wedding gown? Where's your ring, Anastacia Solei?" He asked, sounding annoyed instead of answering my questions.
I was taken aback by his words. Suddenly, my heart raced as his intense brown eyes bore into me, sharp and piercing, seeming somewhat threatening. I found myself at a loss for words, unable to meet his gaze, and turned my eyes away.
"W-we're not married, so please stay away from me. That night was just a mistake—"
"You asked me to marry you, and that's what you're going to tell me? You think you can get away with this easily, huh?" he interrupted.
I quickly turned to him, startled. "What? No."
His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized me, his jaw clenching. The shape of his jaw became even more defined with his expression, causing me to swallow nervously. He glanced around for a moment before focusing on me again.
"Let's go somewhere else. Stop resisting and just come with me," he urged, pulling me away from that place.
It was too late to avoid him now. I realized I was in the car of a man I barely knew. I didn't even know his name, yet he knew mine in full. And why was he claiming that I had asked him to get married? I didn't recall anything, making me wonder if he was fabricating a story...
"So, you were supposed to get married in Vegas, but your fiancé ran away?"
He looked at me solemnly and managed a brief smile. I felt his grip tighten around my waist as he rested his head on my shoulder, his breathing heavy.
"Then let's get married…"
I bit my lower lip and gripped the seatbelt tightly. It was just a fleeting moment, but I knew it was real. We were dancing in the midst of the night, succumbing to the music's rhythm. Why had I said that?
I stole a glance at him. He drove with a serious and quiet demeanor. His elbow rested against the window, hand near his mouth, brow furrowed as if something troubled him. Thoughts of Ares and our upcoming wedding suddenly flooded my mind. I shook my head vigorously and averted my gaze.
"I will file for an annulment as soon as possible," I stated directly to him, staring out the window. Then, I heard him let out a deep sigh.
"You can't fully provide for your family's needs. Your mother and brother have significant debts, and you're the sole breadwinner, still sending your sister to school. Why bother filing for an annulment when you can't save some for yourself?"
My mouth fell open at his words. I wanted to look at him, but I didn't want him to see in my eyes that what he said struck a chord.
"B-because I am marrying the man I truly love!" I couldn't hold back the frustration I felt any longer. "And you can't do anything about it. Just leave me alone."
"Fine. You can marry the man you claim you truly love…"
I quickly turned to him upon hearing his words. Suddenly, the car came to a stop. He tilted his head, glanced at me, and then smiled.
"If you can…" he threatened, winking at me. He looked down at my lips and licked his lower lip.
Oh god. What have I done?