Amber Pov
"Night bar?" suddenly asked the handsome man who didn't seem to like what he heard.
"Yes, Mr. Salvatore. My stepsister works at a night bar," Ruby answered. "We don't want her to work there because her work is dirty and it could ruin her reputation but she doesn't want to listen to us. She is very hard-headed. She says that money is easy and fast to earn at the night bar where she works, especially if her customers are gallant," Ruby's lengthy explanation to the man she called Mr. Salvatore. I couldn't help but to raised my eyebrows again to the highest level after I heard what my stepsister said."There's nothing wrong with me working in a night bar. What's wrong are the people with dirty minds and narrow-minded just like you," I defended my job. I feel like Ruby wants me to look bad in front of the man called Mr. Salvatore and I don't know why she did that.
"Amber is right, Ruby. Don't bring your behavior there into our house. And are you not ashamed of our visitors and you are proudly claiming that you're working in a night bar? I think you should go to your room because we are talking about something important here," Uncle Roman told me. I was even more confused by their actions. I can feel that they want to chase me away in front of their guest."Go to your room, Ruby, and don't argue with Amber anymore. She has a visitor and it would be embarrassing if you showed that kind attitude in front of her guest," said my mom. As usual, she sided with Ruby again. But that's not new to me, so I just shrugged my shoulder at what she said. But I noticed that she also called me Ruby as the father and daughter called me. I felt that there was something strange around me. Why are they pushing me away as if they don't want me to hear what they are talking about with the two guests? Is it a secret that I can't be allowed to hear it?
"Sorry if I disturbed your conversation with your guest, Uncle Roman," I immediately apologized to my stepfather. But it was out of my nose. "But why did Ruby and I suddenly exchange our names? Did you secretly baptize me again while I was sleeping so my name became Ruby?" I asked him with annoying tone.
Now, I am sure that something was wrong with them when the two guests frowned and moved their eyes to Ruby and then change at me while the three people who lived in this house seemed to turn pale. Their expression seems like they are caught while doing something bad.
"What are you talking about, Ruby? Don't talk to your parents like that," said Ruby, who seemed to be the first to compose herself."Excuse me, Ruby. I only have one parent among them and she's my mom because the other is your father. Also, why are you acting like that? Do you want my name that much so you are claiming it?" I asked her annoyed. Her face becomes pale again and then she looks at my mom as if she is asking for her help. And of course, my mom is always ready to help her stepdaughter."It's not a joke time, Ruby. Go to your room—""Who is the real Amber Cruz between the two of them?" the bespectacled man asked as if he couldn't stand it anymore. His voice cuts my mom's words.If I will base his looks and outfit I will think he is a secretary. The male secretaries of a CEO that I used to watch in Asian dramas are like him with well-combed hair that goes all the way to the right, wearing thick glasses, and holding an attaché case.
"I am," Ruby and I answered at the same time. The man's look became even more confused while the handsome man's eyes suddenly narrowed as if he didn't like what was happening."Don't you hate my name, Ruby? Why are you claiming now my ugly name? Did you find some gold or gems in my name that you wanted to own even if you hated it?" I teased my stepsister."That's enough, Ruby! Go up to your room and take some rest," she ordered me in a high voice, her eyes suddenly widening as she throws a warning look at me. And just like I often feel, I felt pain because she took Ruby's side again as if she was her child and not me. I thought that I'm used to this kind of treatment of my but I was wrong. I still feel hurt inside. And what is wrong with my question? I just want to know why she claims my name.
"Okay fine. I don't care if she wants to claim my name. If she wants it then she's free to use my name," I said before turning my back on them and walking."Wait a minute," the handsome man interrupted just as I was about to leave. "Grandpa told me that Amber had a necklace with a pendant ring. Who has it now?"
After I heard what he said I unintentionally holds the necklace I was wearing. The pendant of my necklace is a ring. Dad gave it to me when I was little. He said that this necklace is a gift to my dad from his kind boss and dad gave this to me as a gift on my upcoming tenth birthday. Dad died after I celebrated my tenth birthday. This necklace is my remembrance of my dad. But does this necklace of mine have a connection to the purpose of the two visitors? And also why Ruby is pretending to be me?"That's my necklace, Ruby! Why do you have my necklace? Give it back to me right now," shouted Ruby who suddenly stood up and approached me. She was about to rip off my necklace but I quickly dodged her.
"You can claim my name for all. I care but not the necklace that dad gave me," I spoke firmly to her. If she tried to snatch away my necklace again she will see what she is looking for."Give me back my necklace!" Ruby shouted. She grabbed my bag and threw it on the floor. Because of what she did my school ID came out of my open bag. Ruby's eyes widened when she saw my ID and was about to pick it up quickly but the handsome man was ahead of her in picking up my ID."Pauline Amber Cruz," he reads my full name then looks me seriously in the eye. "You're going to be my wife."
My heart almost fell from what the handsome man said. Did I hear it right? This handsome stranger wants me to be his wife? What kind of nonsense is he talking about?
Amber PovMy eyes widened when I heard what Uncle Roman's handsome guest said. My expression was shocked but I quickly calmed myself down. Maybe this handsome guy is just kidding me. Don't he dare to kid me something like this because he will taste my strong kick in his golden balls."What nonsense are you talking about, Mister? And why would I be your wife?" I asked him in disbelief.Only then did the man stand up straight and I discovered that he would pass as a basketball player. He is too tall. I'm not short but if you compare my height with his, we will look like beautiful David and handsome Goliath. I still have to look up at him to see his face."Didn't you fight that you are Amber because you want to be my wife and not your sister?" the man talking to me raised his eyebrows. His face was serious and could also read the way he look at me that he looked down on me. Why? But whatever his reason was I didn't like it."You know, Mr—""Phil Salvatore," he quickly cuts what I was goi
Amber PovI still can't believe how fast things happened. Two days ago, my marital status was still single but now I am already a married woman. I feel like I'm having a nightmare. Yes. It was a nightmare for me because I married a man I didn't know very well. And I am just eighteen years old. Too young to get married. I never thought that I will marry a stranger and enter into a contract marriage. Even if it was just a contract marriage and we will divorce after six months, I still got married and I will become a divorced woman at a young age. But as of now, I am Mrs. Pauline Amber Cruz-Salvatore.After Phil Salvatore talked to me and convinced me of the marriage contract he offered, we quickly flew to Hongkong to get married there. I don't know why we have to get married in another country when we can get married here in the Philippines. But then I suddenly thought that it was better that we got married abroad because it will be easier for us to separate when the contract we signed
Amber PovWhen I married Phil, I expected that we would sleep in different rooms since we weren't a real couple. We are just a couple on paper and in his grandfather's eyes. That's why I didn't expect that we would sleep in the same room and especially in the same bed. Even if our marriage is fake, he was still a man and I am a woman. I guess I'm at a disadvantage in this situation."Can't I just sleep in another room? There are many rooms in your mansion so there's no need for us to crowd into your room," I suggested to Phil. I was secretly praying that he would agree."How can we convince people here that we're a couple if we sleep in different rooms? My bed is big so even if you roll your body you won't fall," Phil answered me. He has no intention of granting my wish. "And if you're thinking that I'm going to climb to your side, then don't worry because it won't happen. I'm going to be honest with you, lady. You are not my type," he told me frankly as if he didn't care if I get hur
Amber PovI woke up when I heard a loud knock on the door of Phil's room which was now my room as well. I quickly got out of bed to open the door. I saw the maid Carmen outside the room waiting for me with a frown on her face. Her eyebrows rose after looking at me from my head to my feet."Our bosses have been waiting for you for a while, but you were just sleeping," she said gruffly to me. It's obvious that I just woke up because my hair is frizzy and maybe it's obvious on my face too.After I put my clothes in the closet earlier I decided to take a shower while I waited for Phil to come back although I already took a bath in the hotel where we stay after our marriage. But after I took a shower, I suddenly felt sleepy. I didn't sleep well last night because I was wondering if I made the right decision. I slept without combing so my hair is still frizzy."I fell asleep after taking a shower. I was sleepy because I didn't sleep much last night. You know, Phil and I are just newlyweds s
Amber PovWe just finished eating our lunch but I still feel hungry. I was not able to eat properly because the people with me stared at me all the time except Phil. Who will be able to eat if all those in front of you have their eyes focused on you? The truth is I almost choked my food earlier but it's good that I didn't choke. I will become a laughingstock if it happened. But I felt very awkward. I feel like a specimen being observed under a microscope. Phil seemed to be the only one who didn't waste his eyes on me while we were eating. What he did will definitely raise doubts in the minds of the people who live in this house. Because Phil is not sweet to me just like normal newlyweds who can hardly be separated from each other."Phil, are you sure that this woman is your wife already?" Aunt Aloha asked her nephew impatiently after she wiped her mouth with a table napkin. My intention to stand up was interrupted when I heard that question from his aunt.Phil didn't answer his aunt's
Amber PovI gasped as soon as Phil and I entered our room. I feel like I can breathe properly now. The people inside this house make me feel tense. I feel like packing up my clothes and running out of Phil's house. But I'm not that kind of person. I don't back down no matter how difficult the situation is. I enter this deal so I will finish it no matter what happens."You have met Uncle Jigo, Amber. You should be careful when you talk to him," Phil spoke to me after sitting on the long sofa. "He will certainly do everything to prove that his suspicions against us are correct.""It's not just your uncle that I have to watch out for but also your aunt. She's too suspicious. I feel like she'll find out the truth at any moment," I answered Phil. I also sat on the long sofa but far away from him."She won't know if you're careful with what you say. And don't forget that I'm your husband," Phil answered quickly.I couldn't help but feel annoyed by what he said. He should remind himself that
Amber Pov "Where are we going, Phil?" I asked him as we walked down the stairs. He just told me to get dressed because we were going somewhere. He didn't say where we were going. So as we went down the stairs I couldn't stop myself from being curious so I asked him. "At the hospital. We're going to visit my grandfather and I'll introduce you to him as my wife. I'm sure he'll be happy when he sees you," Phil answered without bothering to look at me. I suddenly felt a little bit nervous when I heard what he said. I don't think I'm ready to face Phil's grandfather as his wife. I'm not good at acting. I was afraid that my tongue might slip and the old man would realize that only contract marriage bonded between me and his grandson. I stopped walking because of that. When Phil felt that I didn't follow him, he quickly turned around. He approached me with a frown. "I'm nervous, Phil. Maybe—" I didn't finish what I was going to say because there might be ears close by and hear what I h
Amber PovWhen we arrived inside the hospital room where Phil's grandfather, Don Fidel, was confined, Karen immediately hugged the old man lying on the bed as if she missed him so much. I secretly cringed and raised an eyebrow because Karen's reaction seemed to be OA. She looks like she is the granddaughter of Don Fidel and not Phil his real grandson. And I think Karen just wants to show me that she is very close to my husband's grandfather than me and wants to intimidate me.Meanwhile, Phil was standing near the door and let the two talk first while I was standing next to him and just looking at Karen as if she wants me to envy her and wanted to make me jealous purposely. But if she thinks that I will be jealous of her closeness with Phil's grandfather, then she is wrong. As far as I can see, the old man only treats her like a real granddaughter, so I don't have a reason to feel jealous. Because if Grandpa wanted Karen for Phil, he would have asked the latter to marry her long ago.