Chapter 5

• George.
• The wedding march began, and everyone was focused on the woman who started walking with a big smile on her face. She posed with every step to be photographed from the best angles.
• I looked at the time and knew she was about to arrive. Tej looked at me and nodded, while Aiden just observed me impassively, clearly disagreeing with what I was doing. Isabella, his wife, looked at my action without understanding.
• "There won't be a wedding, father," I announced. The elderly gentleman looked at me without comprehension, but that was all I received. "I am already married."
• I raised my hand, showing the ring I had put on hours ago, which Marina also wore. The whispers grew louder, and photographs were taken in an instant.
• Marlene stayed halfway with a smirk wanting to reappear, and I just walked past her, ignoring the murmurs and the discreet request for my name from the woman in white.
• I reached the entrance of the chapel, the car stopped, and I approached it, my gaze fixed on the door that opened.
• Marina's figure, with a tense gesture and a pristine white dress, the bouquet in her hand, and her beauty without much detail, only her lips carrying a hint of shine, filled my sight.
• "You could have ended it and told her that you knew everything," she reproached as I adjusted the veil in the vehicle to sit beside her.
• "She could have also told me that she was having an affair with my cousin, but she didn't," I argued in a gruff tone. "Now play your role very well, wife."
• We had gotten married hours before with the help of Tej, as Aiden refused to support what he called madness, and now it was time to leave. The commotion grew even bigger when the media saw me, running towards the vehicle that surrounded us. I asked the driver to move forward, and he did, while Marlene appeared with a red face of anger, embarrassment, and cursing me for what I had done.
• We traveled enough distance to lose them, and my phone kept ringing, but I didn't answer any of the calls. I had a party to attend.
• Everyone made way for the limousine, the music started playing, and I led Marina by the hand, who smiled throughout the party, acting like a fearless woman because she was celebrating a wedding in someone else's place.
• "You should stop this," Aiden suggested with clear annoyance. "Don't you have any pity for that girl at least? Do you know what you're forcing her to do? She has to smile even when it's obvious she doesn't want to," he pointed at Isabella, the only one accompanying Marina. "George, enough of this. I don't care if you get angry, I'm going to put an end to this senseless celebration."
• "Do whatever you want. I've already gotten what I wanted. The lawyer with the evidence of my marriage has left, the journalists are receiving the statements of our 'great love.' Everything has lost its charm. I'm just going to fulfill the role of a husband, as she fulfills hers."
• "If you tell me that you're also going to force her to consummate the marriage, I'll punch you in the face, you idiot," he threatened angrily.
• I watched as Marina took off her veil, fed up with the situation, and then she noticed me. She walked over to where I was sitting, with the music still playing and everyone watching us, paying close attention to everything that was happening.
• "On your right is Angelo Diheston's partner," she discreetly pointed out, indicating the person who had just entered. Zac, completely unaware of what was going on, arrived and looked at me, searching for Marlene with his eyes, freezing when he saw Marina.
• He would also be one of the people responsible for informing his partner about who my wife was, but I received the documents he had given me days before and waited for him to arrive.
• "Can you explain to me what's going on? I don't understand why the runaway bride is with you instead of Marlene," he exclaimed.
• "Because she's my wife. Although I find it curious that you don't already know that, considering how well Marlene and you get along," I said, placing the folder on his chest. "Our partnership is canceled, Zac. You are no longer part of my construction company or anything directly related to me."
• His face turned pale instantly.
• "What are you talking about?" he looked at the woman behind me. "I don't understand anything. And our partnership can't be canceled because everyone already knows about it. You can't do this to me."
• "But you were able to sleep with my fianc茅e all this time," I said disgustedly. "That's how things work, cousin. One day you have them, and the next day you don't." I took Marina's arm, and she continued with her role. "Don't go back home because by now they must be removing your things from the family house."
• "Gregory wouldn't agree with this."
• "We'll find out later. Now I'm going on my honeymoon because I can't afford to lose a few days away from a couple of traitors," I turned around to go to the exit, where no journalist could pass by my order.
• There was a bit of drama, as expected, but nothing more, since after their photos with Zac were published, the journalists would be following Marlene to ask questions.
• "Don't you think all of this is too rushed?" Marina questioned as she got into the car. "No one will believe in a wedding that happened so suddenly. They won't believe in a love between the two of us because they'll see it as an act of someone hurt by betrayal. Far from the truth."
• "They'll believe what suits them, and with all the details they make up, they'll give us the story we're going to complete," I affirmed, starting the vehicle. "For now, just play your role as a loving wife. It won't cost me anything to do the same."
• I should have thought carefully about my words, but it was what I said without paying attention to the internal dilemma I had.
• "Why me?" she asked again. "You could have chosen someone else. Someone you completely trust or a woman you actually like and could have a real relationship with, even if it's just for a few months."
• "Because that's exactly what I don't want," I argued, looking out the window for a moment. "I don't want any contact with any woman right now. I just want to get the inheritance that is rightfully mine, immerse myself in my business, and have my wife distract herself with her own things until the contract is completed."
• I felt her eyes silently scanning me.
• "Pretending to be a happy married couple all that time, even though we won't speak or see each other," she concluded for me. She seemed displeased, but she accepted the deal, and it wouldn't be for free. She had no choice but to look away and ignore me, just as she would for the entire trip that had just begun.
• "Exactly," I confirmed.
• That's exactly what was planned.
• From the very beginning, it was meant to be fulfilled until the end.