"Lucas, I told you this is a mistake. Why did you even agree to your father's ridiculous idea?" His mother's voice raised an octave higher as she pointed out her disapproval of his marriage.
Of course, he was aware of his mother's dislike of Andy. He was not blind. He had seen how indifferent she had been to his wife.
Whatever his mother's opinion about his wife would not affect his decision. No one could dictate what he should do or not do. Not his mother nor his father.
"Mom, stop!" He had enough of his mother meddling with his affairs. Like his father, his mother had a way of manipulating people to do her bidding.
He believed marrying Andy was the perfect alibi to fend off all the women his mother kept setting him up with. Hopefully, it would finally end his mother's delusion of marrying him to her friend's daughters.
"But you can't settle with that girl. She's a nobody, a pariah in our social circle." His mother insisted.
"She is a Bennett, Mom. It is unfortunate what happened to her family, but her father is Dad's bestfriend." He would not accept the way his mother looked down on his wife.
He would not deny that the Bennett family had faced a terrible crisis. But they once held a top position in their social elite.
Andy was not a nobody. If they only knew the truth, they would never look down on her like that. But for now, he had to protect her, just like his father had been doing since he took her under his wing.
"And I'm lucky that she agreed to marry me." He added that only angered his mother more.
It would be a lie if he said he did not find his wife attractive. She had grown up to be a gorgeous woman. It was no wonder many men flocked to her to win her attention.
Sadly, she only had eyes on Jeremy. That bastard friend of his did not deserve her. But she was too innocent and naive to realize that.
Damn! If he would let him get back into her life.
He believed if he did not marry her, she would only end up back in the arms of Jeremy, with her heart broken over and over again.
"If you think I will sit and wait till this woman ruins our family, then you are mistaken." Liza furiously expressed her intent before she walked away from him.
He did not doubt that his mother was capable of being vicious. However, he would never allow her to hurt Andy. He intended to protect her as he had promised in his vow.
"How are you holding up?" He asked as the song finally came to an end.
After his emergency call and a short, unexpected discussion with his mother, he immediately returned to his wife's side, finding her dancing with his younger brother.
Of course, as a new couple, everyone expected they would have their celebratory first dance as newlyweds. Their wedding might be fake, but nobody knew that.
"Truthfully, my feet are already killing me." She whispered into his ears as he ushered her away from the dance floor and back to their table.
Since it was a small and intimate ceremony, they opted to have the wedding at his parent's home. They also limited their guests to close family and friends.
Most importantly, they avoided letting the press know about their union. For now, they were keeping the wedding under wraps. It was one of the conditions Andy added to the contract.
"Don't worry. In a few more minutes, it will be over." He held her hand firmly.
Soon enough, he escorted his wife to the awaiting limousine after saying goodbye to their family and friends.
It would take them to his penthouse suite, where they would stay temporarily. Then, they would move to their new house when Andy finished its renovations.
"Will it?" Andy asked. "... be over? I feel like it is just beginning." She sighed as she rested her head on the backseat of the car, visibly exhausted after the long day.
He could not blame her for feeling that way since he shared the same sentiment. The ceremony might be over, but their married life had hardly started.
"Two years is not a long time. Before you know it, our contract will be over." He reminded her.
Hopefully, by that time, he had arranged everything for her. Then, he could set her free to live her single life according to her wishes. She could live her life comfortably.
"Yeah! I guess you are right." She glanced his way before she turned to the window, staring at the bright lights outside.
For the rest of the ride, silence enveloped the car. They both stared at the darkness, deep in thought, lost in their memories.
Then, he felt her head as she slumped uncomfortably in the backseat. She must have dozed off from exhaustion. He could not help but stare at her beautiful, angelic face.
So young and full of life.
He remembered the first time he saw her. It was the first time that the Bennett family visited their home. He had been friends with William in school, but that was the first time he met her.
She was so shy and innocent. She hardly said a word the entire meal, barely looking at people as she kept her head low.
"What are you doing?" He asked when he accidentally found her alone in the garden.
Suddenly, she pulled her hands away from the roses. Then, she kept her hands behind her back as if she had been hiding something.
But he already knew what it was as her cheeks turned red as the roses she kept out of his sight. He thought it was the most adorable thing he had ever seen.
"Nothing!" She finally answered. But then again, she slowly revealed the rose. "I'm sorry. It was just so beautiful. I did not mean to kill it."
She must have accidentally broken the stem as she played with the flower. Then, she felt guilty and afraid someone might get mad at her.
"That is ok." He assured her as he took the flower in her hand. That was when he noticed the blood in her fingers. "Oh! You're hurt." He surmised that the thorn might have grazed her delicate skin.
Quickly, he called for Mrs. Perkins to help clean her wound and put a bandage on it. Afterward, he wiped her tears, seeing that the antiseptic must have hurt.
"It's ok. Don't cry." He tried to comfort her.
He grabbed the rose, carefully removing the thorn. Then, he placed it behind her ears, inserting the short stem through the strands of her hair.
"Come on, now. You will look like Mrs. Perkins if you don't stop crying." He jokingly said. Their housekeeper only shook her head before leaving them alone.
Nonetheless, his effort paid off as her face slowly brightened up the room, revealing a stunning smile. He thought he had never seen such a beautiful face before.
Now, staring at her sleeping face reminded him of that little girl he once admired. He guessed he still had not forgotten that day until now.
Watch it!
He suddenly chastised himself, prompting him to tread lightly. He did not need to complicate their relationship by adding emotions to their agreement.
"It is just a contract."
Nothing more.