AVERY
I blinked at the man whose eyes were kept solely on mine... Looking deep into my soul. I suddenly felt naked with him looking at me that way.I blushed scarlet and I immediately averted my eyes to hide from him when I heard,"The groom?""Do you have a problem with your ear? Or do I need to repeat that as well?""Insolence!" My father yelled suddenly getting up from his chair. I'm shocked he's just standing though. He had always had a bad temper."Oh please, Mr. Roosevelt... Spare me the lecture." The man replied and my father let out a sharp gasp his eyes scrutinizing the man in Armani Suit like a hawk watching his prey."So you do know who I am? And you still have the guts to say that to me?""Do you know who I am?" The man questioned in return and I turned my head to him.Who exactly was he? There are a few men who can stand up to my father in this country and this man, whoever he was, definitely wasn't one of them.But what I'm looking at... I really don't know what to make of it."The nerve! Guards, I want this man out of here right this moment!"Instantly, I heard cocking of guns. All guns were pointed at my replacement groom. Before I could utter a word, more guns filled the room. Guns pointed at my father's guards.Gasps filled the room as mutters could be heard from every corner of the room.Okay, what is going on? This was supposed to be a marriage, not a bloodbath!The man that the gun was pointed at didn't seem unfazed. Like he witnessed this every day of his life!"Come here, Avery." He said looking at me again.I gulped hard on my spit once I saw my Father's piercing gaze on me as well as my mother's intimidating look. Like they were daring me to move near him.I let out a shaky breath as I gently but shakily stepped down the stairs. I walked with no word towards the man who was still staring at me.'God please, let him be a good person. Don't let him be a kidnapper. Let him have the power to save me out of here unscathed. Lord, I sincerely plead with you.' I pleaded in my head."Where do you think you're going?" Father asked suddenly and before I could even blink, he had grabbed my arm in a tight iron grip."Let me go," I mumbled while I tried to pry my hand out of his iron grip."Who is he? Was he the man from earlier? The one from the car? Don't tell me you have a secret boyfriend?" He questioned and I shook my head vigorously.His animal intuition was starting to show."Unhand my to-be bride." We heard suddenly and I froze.I immediately turned my head to the man whose lips were pulled into a tight scowl. I blinked at him before I looked at my father who looked even more furious."And if I don't?""I really didn't want to do this..." The man mumbled in return while he brought his hand up.He suddenly moved towards us swiftly and before I could comprehend what was happening, my Father was lying on the ground with a broken nose as blood oozed out of it.I gasped at the sight of the blood. I looked back at the man who was now cleaning his clean hand with a blue handkerchief.Immediately, shots were fired and I instantly bent down with a scream. My hands were covering my ears in an attempt to block out the sounds."Come on." I heard when my sister and Mother knelt beside my father with worry written all over their faces.I was yanked up with a yelp as we swerved and dived with Armani Suit man beating a few people on the way and finally, I was outside.I let go of his hand and bent over my knees to take a deep breath while gasping for breath."That... was... the... craziest... thing... I've... been... in." I gasped out pointing behind us."Are you okay?" He asked without any difficulty."I need water.""You'll get it in the car. Let's go." He said and without waiting for me, he marched towards his car."Now?" I questioned running after him.The door to his car was wide open with a man who had gold-rimmed glasses on his face that looked like they covered half of his face."Thank you." I gasped out and he gave me a stiff nod before he slammed the door close after me."Okay..." I let out at the man's attitude before I turned to the Armani Suit man.Oh, the name? I don't know his name, so well... Armani Suit for now."Here." He mumbled stretching a bottle of water to me."Thank you," I said snatching the water from him. I opened it and gulped down the water till the last drop."Can't you be less noisy?" I heard making me pause the last gulp of water. I blinked at the squeezed bottle before I turned to him dropping the bottle from my mouth."Sorry," I whispered looking down at my finger."Where to sir?" The driver, Gold Rimmed Glasses, questioned."The Bureau of Civil Affairs.""Sir?!" He asked with a loud voice turning his head to the back.His eyes met with mine directly and he swiftly gave me an eye roll before he looked at Armani Suit.I also turned my head to the man who was looking out the window. He didn't seem like he was going to repeat himself.I pursed my lips and dropped my gaze back to my fingers resting on my lap. With a low grunt, the man sat straight and brought the engine to life. The car roared and he drove off.I didn't know what to say so I kept my mouth shut. But there was still one question bugging me, why is he deciding to help?Before I could control my over-curious character, I had blurted the question out."Why are you helping me?"Even Glasses looked at me in the rearview mirror before his eyes went to the side mirror looking at the man's face and waiting for his answer."I'll have your head along with your next two year's salary if we get involved in an accident because of your overbearing curiosity, Carter." The man spoke after a few seconds.I pursed my lips again while the man, Carter, replied with an, "I'm sorry sir."He didn't say anything to the man in response and only turned to me and I knew cause I felt his gaze on my body."Look at me." He called and I blinked before I slowly raised my head turning it around to him."What you told me earlier... Was all that true?" He asked and I immediately nodded my head before I slowed down pursing my lips in embarrassment."I could easily destroy your family with that information." He mumbled making my eyes twice their size as I immediately yanked my head towards him."What? No. I don't want to destroy them. Don't destroy my family." I pleaded shamelessly.They might have abused me and made me fear them, but, they are still my family."Your family?" He repeated coldly and I gulped."Did you say your Family, Avery?" He questioned again with the same monotone voice.My mind drifted to the beatings and the abuses and tears welled up in my eyes. My heart clenched when I remembered the look my mother would give me, the words that would come out of my Father's mouth, and the disrespect and disregard I earned from my younger sister.I blinked back the tears that threatened to fall freely anytime soon. I tried to push the lump that was blocking my throat. I tried to push out the voice in my head that kept yelling at me to get revenge. I tried to push away the devil on my shoulders that kept whispering hurtful words into my ears.I tried... I really did. All to no avail. The dam broke loose and I found myself sobbing again.Pathetic Avery.Weak Avery.Dumb Avery."Stop," I whispered as more tears fell from my eyes.You'll never find love.You'll never be respected by your Younger Sister.You'll never be loved by anyone."Stop," I repeated shaking my head with my hand covering my ears in an attempt to block out the voice in my head.You'll never find love from your parents.Everyone hates you.Your family would never recognize you as their daughter."Stop."You'll forever be abandoned.No one would help you.The world would be a better place if you just died in a ditch somewhere."Stop!" I yelled out suddenly with loud sobs. I squeezed my eyes shut while shaking my head hysterically."Stop the car." I heard suddenly and then the screeching sound of the tires that brought the car to a halt."Come here." Someone mumbled pulling me into his chest. My hand was still blocking out my ears but the smell that assaulted my nose was that of freshly peeled tangerine.The scent instantly made me calm down as my shoulder shook when I held in my sob by biting my lips."God, you're been made so weak, I can't help but want to protect you. We'll get married. You'll be under my protection. I'll protect you. I'll help you get revenge on your family. They should pay for making you like this. And they would."AVERY"And, do you, Avery Roosevelt take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? In sickness and in health? In rich and in poor-" The man's words were cut off by my to-be husband's snicker. I frowned and turned to him but I immediately fixed my face when I remembered the promise he made to me. But, hold on, does he think he wouldn't ever be poor? Like ever in this life? I mean, even his name doesn't ring a bell. Maverick. He didn't give a last name. I wonder why that is though. Perhaps, I'll ask him after the wedding. "I do." I cut off the man who was about to start the vow from the beginning. All over again. Funny enough, this isn't how I visioned my marriage to be. Though, I was locked in there... I still visioned my prince charming on his white horse coming to save me from my bondage. Then we would fall in love and live happily ever after. Not this kind of marriage. "By the power of the law, I now proclaim you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride." My eyes widene
"You bitch! You have the guts to show your face here again?!" "After disgracing the family like that?!" "I would kill you today!" "I can't believe you did that, sister.", were the words I was faced with immediately I stepped into the hotel. Right now, I'm laying down on my bed curled up into a ball. My crying eyes looked up at the white huge gown on the floor. My fist tightened at the scene that flashed before my eyes. Remember when my sister said I knew what would happen if I didn't get married? Yeah, it happened. On my back are uncountable strokes of where the whips landed. According to my father, the Gallardo's refused to reschedule the wedding ceremony when they found their son beaten and tied up like a goat at his wedding. And it was my fault. All my fault. And yes, you guessed right... No dinner for tonight. I remember the look on my sister's face. Oh, she so hates me. And so do I. I hate her. So much. I hate my so-called Mother. I hate my Father. I hate this family
MAVERICK "Do you think she's there?" I asked Carter who was standing in front of me. "Who?" He questioned in return, stupidly. "You know who I'm talking about." "I don't mean to be rude but may I ask why you want to help her? As far as I know, you can easily destroy her family with that information. And more, she's the daughter of your rival!" "I could, couldn't I?" I questioned in return. With a chuckle, I added, "But I won't." Immediately, the sky rumbled with thunder. I looked up at the closed window by my right to see drops of rain sliding down the window pane. "Come on," I said standing up from my leather seat. "Where to, sir? It's pouring heavily." "To get my wife," I replied vaguely as I strode out of the study room. "Get me an umbrella," I commanded the first maid that greeted me. "Yes, master." She replied with a deep bow. I slid my hand into my pants pocket. Why am I helping her? I don't actually know, I just want to help her. She seems... weak. The maid ret
AVERY"When did you say she was going to wake? It's been three days straight and she still has shown any sign of waking up. Ramon, I'll kill you with my own hands if she doesn't wake." Slowly, I tried to pry my eyes open to see where I am but I can't. I feel weak all over. I'm in pain, especially my backside. I feel like a truck ran me over. My head is pounding like someone is drumming inside my head. I don't see anything nor do I remember anything. Even the voices I was hearing just now can no longer be heard. I feel too weak to carry my seemingly heavy body. I see the light but I can't seem to move toward it. Something is holding me down. Restraining me from moving forward. I tried to fight it to no avail. I just want to sleep. Again, I succumb to darkness.The next time, I was feeling much better. With a groan, I raised my hand to my head to massage it. I feel tired. With a heavy groan, I open my heavy eyelids. I'm thirsty. Parched."Avery?" I heard someone call.That's my name.
AVERYI laughed. At my husband and his friend's banter. When was the last time I laughed? I can't remember. I, in fact, don't have a memory of my laugh.There was nothing to laugh at. Would I laugh at my Mother's biting words or my Father's deathly whips or my Sister's sinister smile? Would I laugh at the days I was starved?My own laugh sounded so unfamiliar to me. I remember pausing as I looked around the room wondering where the sound was coming from.The two fighting men's eyes were on me as my eyes darted around the room. I blinked at them and Maverick stood up straightening his gray sweats. Ramon had stood up as well with a snicker directed at his friend.Ramon checked up on me and finally left. That was when I found out Maverick had seen my back. My ugly scarred back.Since Ramon left, he hasn't said one word to me and me? I don't have the courage to even make a sound. My back was resting on a soft fluffy pillow that was resting on the headboard so I was sitting up. A silky du
AVERY"Why not? You're my wife." "Doesn't mean you can see my bare body! We haven't even consummated our marriage. And this was only a marriage of convenience. We don't like each other. I'm pretty sure we'll divorce-""No Divorce." "What?""That's my condition to help you. No Divorce even after I've helped you to get your revenge.""What?" I asked turning my body to him. Way too fast cause I winced in pain immediately after."And... You can't tell anyone the reason why we married in the first place. Our marriage will be a secret only known to the people within the walls of this home. Deal or no deal? The bureau would be open in a few hours.""Woah. You didn't tell me this before I signed the book. Hell, we don't even like each other! And you want to stay together forever?" I asked in disbelief."Do you want revenge?"Of course, I do.My expression seemed to have given him a reply because the next he said was,"Then, to keep my end of the deal, you have to keep yours. Do we have a de
AVERY"What is wrong with you? Don't bathe me. I can do it myself." I stuttered out trying to cover myself. Why the hell is there no water in this fucking bathtub?! I looked up at my Husband who was looking at me with one brow raised. In his hand was a small pink sponge and on top of the sponge was a bar of bathing soap that was a lighter shade of pink compared to the sponge's Pink color. He shrugged and then started walking again. "Don't come here!" I shrieked bringing my arm up to cover my breasts even if it was just a little bit. My back pricked at me in pain but like always, I ignored it."Fine... I'll close my eyes while the water fills up the bathtub. Then, I'll bathe you." "No... I'll open the tap myself. Just direct me on how to do it. Close your eyes, and squeeze them tight. Don't you dare peek. If I catch you peeking, you're dead.""Dead? Oh pray tell, how do you plan on doing that when you're naked?" He asked with a smirk crossing his arm.I... He's correct. I'm at a l
"What did you just say?" He asked in a cold voice. Immediately, I shivered. It's like the room temperature dropped drastically low. I brought my hand up to warm my bare arms up.Oh God, why am I only dressed in a goddamn towel?! "Avery, what did you just say?""I said I was sorry," I mumbled and he stood from the bed walking towards me. He raised his hand and I immediately closed my eyes with a slight wince embracing myself for the slap that was coming or maybe it was a blow. My arm was up beside my face as a defensive act. Something I was beaten for while I was home. They said I wanted to beat them back. Hell, I would do that anytime! Either way, I'm ready.Two seconds passed, nothing, three... Four... Five... Six... Seven... Eight... Is he going to do anything? Slowly I peered my eyes open to see him looking at me with a neutral expression. My eyes subconsciously averted to his arm to see his hands in his pants pocket."I'm not an animal. I don't and won't beat women." He said in a