"Please give me a hint as to how dangerous my circumstance is right now."
'The main problem is the risk I have to go through as his wife, and being a pawn depends on his number of enemies.'
Yuna had to look at the threat she was facing.
"Zack and his relatives' relationship isn't good, to the extent that they tried to kill Zack countless times. Furthermore, the daughter of an oil business tycoon, whom Zack's parents arranged for him to marry, is a self-assured woman on the verge of mental instability.
Victor was explaining while driving smoothly; suddenly, Yuna realized something strange.
Yuna's eyes narrowed as she looked at him. "You're addressing yourself in the third person, Mr. Zack. Why?"
Victor beamed as he stopped the car engine and gestured to Zack, signaling that they had arrived at their destination.
Victor's smile remained in place as he turned to Yuna.
"I am Victor, Ms. Yuna," he said smoothly. He then handed her a stack of papers. "Please sign these to officially marry Zack." The marriage ceremony will be this afternoon."
Yuna's mind raced as she realized her mistake; she had confused Zack for Victor. The weight of this misunderstanding hit her hard, almost making her miss the crucial detail Victor had just shared. "The wedding ceremony will be the same day," his words barely pierced through the fog of her confusion.
Yuna's beautiful face was framed by her rich brown hair, cascading softly around her shoulders. Her brown almond-shaped eyes, filled with confusion, shifted toward the papers as Victor snapped his fingers to get her attention.
"Miss Yuna Collins, these are your important documents, including your passport. Please sign."
"To marry legally? Why do I need to sign these documents? This passport and these other personal documents—they're so real, it's as if I'm being reborn as a new person."
The horrifying truth hit her like a tidal wave, causing her to feel suddenly lightheaded.
When Yuna first heard about the marriage, she had convinced herself that it was merely a public spectacle, a pretense with no intention of becoming official. But as the truth sank in, she felt a cold wave of panic and disbelief.
The realization hit her with a force she hadn't anticipated: everything was real. The marriage would not only occur but also be officially registered. The weight of this revelation was crushing. Her vision blurred with tears as her mind struggled to process the seriousness of the situation. The certainty that her life was about to change irrevocably left her feeling numb and disoriented.
"Ms. Yuna. Are you okay?"
Victor expressed his worries.
"I am not."
She diverted her gaze from Zack, who sat calmly on her side and couldn't have cared less about her reaction.
"Are you willing to marry someone you don't know just to carry out your plan?"
"Trust me when I tell you there are countless reasons why, and deeper than you think, the actual meaning of marriage."
Zack replied in a deep tone with a stern face.
"Give me one reason, then."
The words jumped down her throat.
Zack stared at her, his eyes intense and calculating. Then, a slow, unsettling smirk spread across his lips.
"You will know."
Yuna swiftly completed all the necessary signatures since she knew there was nothing else she could do.
"Careful..."
Yuna's bloodshot eyes glared at Zack with undisguised hostility. "I know," she muttered, her frustration barely contained. She didn't rip the papers, though. Instead, she tossed them back to Victor and slumped into the rear seat, her head resting against it in resignation.
Victor beamed, his tone light and teasing as he announced, "I now pronounce you husband and wife!" With a final, playful glance, he left them alone in the car.
Her naturally shaded brown hair tumbled over her shoulders in soft waves. Her small, delicate-featured face was marked by a subtle glower as she dozed off from exhaustion, her beauty undiminished by her weariness.
"You make your own choice, buddy. But always remember, your fate depends on it." The familiar voice echoed in Yuna's mind as she napped, her father's counsel seeping into her dreams. Perhaps she longed so much to be saved by him that she conjured his comforting words in her sleep. "However, I believe you always take the right path."
Yuna sighed softly, realizing it wasn't just a dream but a memory of her father's reassurance after one of his stern scoldings.
'Father, what should I do? she thought, despair washing over her. It's not for me to decide anymore.'
Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Zack's voice, pulling her back to the harsh reality.
"Are you finished dreaming? We barely have four hours until our wedding ceremony."
Yuna's heart pounded wildly when she heard the word wedding again.
"Do we have to go to that length?" she asked, her voice tinged with desperation.
Zack's gaze was piercing, as if he were searching her soul.
"Yes," he muttered with quiet certainty.
Taking a deep breath, Yuna reached into her pocket and retrieved a small object.
"I don't have anything to trade for my freedom right now, but I'm betting on my luck with this game." She handed Zack a beautiful, uniquely colored stone, her eyes fixed on his.
"Without motivation, the game is dull. So keep this precious piece hidden, because if I get it back, I'll declare myself the winner."
As she spoke, Yuna's almond-brown eyes glistened with determination and mischief. Her honeyed-pink lips curved into a confident smirk, a hint of defiance flickering in her expression.
"Hee! Unfortunately, you are only a piece on my game board."
"I'm making my own game for myself to enjoy! And..." Yuna's voice trailed off as she boldly placed her hand on Zack's abs and chest, gently stroking them. Zack's eyes widened in surprise, caught off guard by her unexpected move.
"Don't tell me this perfect heavenly booty isn't mine after marrying me," she teased, her voice laced with playful mischief.
Zack immediately leaned back, his hands instinctively covering his sculpted chest. Her touch sent an unfamiliar sensation through him, making his skin crawl. He quickly moved to the other side of the passenger seat, his fingers fumbling to secure the buttons on his dark blue coat, clearly agitated.
Meanwhile, Yuna burst into hysterical laughter, the sound filling the car just as Victor returned to the driver's seat, oblivious to the tension that had just unfolded.
Victor gestured his hand to ask Zack what happened.
"I felt molested! Fuck!"
Zack responded through hand motion.
"I am blessed with a handsome husband. After all, it isn't as bad as it might be."
Yuna winked flirtatiously, grinning from ear to ear.
She moved her butt to get closer to Zack and entwined her arm to his as she whispered in his ear.
"Forget about picking out a gown. Let's rest a little for our honeymoon tonight. I like it wild."
Victor savored Zack's humiliation secretly. With a round dimple on his face, he suppressed his laughter himself.
"Bitch! Do not have a ball at the idea that you're married to me. Do not forget you are nothing but a pawn."
Zack's voice trembled. Yuna's actions made him appear as if he was afraid that she would eat him whole.
Releasing his hand she slid back into her seat. "You married a bad bitch, dear. Congratulations!" she quipped, her voice dripping with mockery.
For the first time, Victor realized that laughing could cause stomach pain, the hilarity of the situation was almost too much to bear.
...
Zack intended to do more than humiliate his family. Every step and action he took was meticulously calculated, each move a part of his larger, complex scheme for revenge. Yet, he was still far from reaching his main objectives.
In his classic dark tuxedo, Zack exuded an air of elegance and attraction that was impossible to overlook. His broad grin only enhanced his flawless face and well-proportioned body, making him appear even more handsome. He surveyed the room and was satisfied with the guests' reactions to his marriage.
He walked carefully up to the elegantly dressed woman. Even in her fifties, she is magnificently beautiful.
The woman discreetly henpecked Yuna who was seated quietly at a round, white-clothed table.
Yuna was dressed in a simple, modest slip dress in a sophisticated light hue, perfectly complementing her immaculate, classic beauty. As she sat quietly, her presence exuded a refined grace that contrasted sharply with the tense atmosphere around her.
"What are you talking about with my wife so affectionately, Mother?"
Zack's voice cut through the air as he grinned, placing his glass of wine on the table. His hand moved with calculated gentleness as he put his palm on Yuna's back.
The elegantly dressed woman, Zack's mother, turned to him, her expression a mix of disbelief and anger. "How ridiculous is this, Zachary? Are you so upset that your mind has gone insane? How could you do this to your family?"
Zack smiled lopsidedly. "Is this how you bless our wedding, Mother?" he asked, one eyebrow arching as his grey eyes glistened with amusement and satisfaction.
"Zack, you've already won! Aren't you satisfied with your position in Avere Group?"
"So, for Avere's sake, please don't let a wretched beggar into our family."
Her words were sharp, dripping with disdain as she desperately tried to appeal to what she thought might be left of her son's reason.
"And you, Victor, did nothing to stop him but organize a party and invite the world's most esteemed people to witness the family's shame?" Zack's mother's voice cracked with fury, her eyes burning with accusation as they fixed on Victor.
Victor, however, didn't even glance her way. His expression remained impassive, his disguised features revealing nothing of his thoughts.
Zack gave a sarcastic grin, savoring the turmoil he had unleashed. Yuna, meanwhile, stayed vigilant, her attractive almond eyes assessing Zack's mother with a mix of curiosity and caution. She could see the depth of the animosity between mother and son, each interaction a wound waiting to be torn open further.
"How much does my son pay you? I will double the amount. No, I will give you four times how much he promised!"
She already heard it several times.
Yuna met her gaze, her almond eyes steady and calm, though her heart raced beneath her composed exterior. "You don't understand, Madam," she replied, her voice soft yet firm, maintaining the courteous tone she knew was expected in the face of such power.
A flicker of confusion crossed the older woman's face, quickly masked by renewed fury. "I don't understand what? Zachary, what is it? You hired a person who isn't even able to talk properly?" Her pale skin flushed with rage.
"I apologize for not seeking parental consent," Yuna said. The gesture was sincere, her voice filled with a quiet dignity that contrasted with the storm swirling around her.
"But..."
Her lovely almond eyes shifted briefly to Zack before taking her earnest gaze on his mom again.
"It's too late to tell me to leave him because our flesh becomes one as soon as we sign our marriage agreement and take our vows at the altar." So whether you like it or not, I have no choice but to be a loving wife and care for my husband until death do us part."
Victor, observing the exchange closely, couldn't help but be amused. His raven eyes shimmered beneath his disguise. His posture was rigid, his lips pressed tightly together as he fought to suppress the laughter bubbling inside him. The contrast between Yuna's calm grace and Zack's mother's mounting frustration seemed almost too delightful for Victor to ignore.
"As long as he doesn't commit adultery, I couldn't demand a divorce either."
She made it seem as though everything she said had come directly from her heart, which left Zack speechless. Additionally, they gave her no instructions regarding what to say or do.
Her pleasant manner and gracious response would embarrass everyone who would respond rudely. So Zack's mother suppressed her rage as many prominent people gathered, nosy to catch an excellent story to gossip about.
"You should check your blood pressure, mother." The news that you were taken to the hospital during your son's wedding night celebrations will make the front page tomorrow."
Zack lowered his knees slightly as he covered Yuna's back with his coat and stood at his mother's side, motioning with his hand to accompany her outside so as not to generate a stir.
"It is absurd to speak about your marriage vow that you did not marry him out of love."
She talked slowly, but if she had the chance, she would have thrown a glass of wine into Yuna's face.
"Neither of your actions shows love for your son."
She lifted her chin and focused her gaze on her blue eyes.
Amalia exited the table speechless and enraged.
People were quietly chatting, betting on who would be the next to show up and cause a commotion.