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 widened at his words. How could I forget this part?! My first kiss... Not to him.He just wants to help me!"Avery." He called and I blinked before I slowly turned to him."Yes?" I answered in a whisper-like tone."He said I should kiss the bride."I heard! Just because he said you should do it doesn't necessarily mean you should!Before I could utter a word, his lips met with mine. My eyes widened at the unexpected gesture.Why is he kissing me?! My hand went up to his chest as his lips stayed on mine. Not moving or anything.Was this how a kiss was supposed to be? I mean, Eleanor Roosevelt used to fantasize like a mad person over a kiss. Most especially her first kiss.Why is my first kiss so... bland and normal? Either way, he should get off me. If I have a boyfriend in the future, our kiss together should be my first kiss!Before I could mount pressure on my wrist, he has gotten off me causally turning to the clergyman."Is that all?""You need to sign these papers and that would be all."With no word, he drawled his signature on the paper the man gestured at and stretched the pen to a frozen me.How is he not unfazed by the kiss?! I mean, I'm not, but am I that bad of a kisser? God, help me!"Avery?" He called and I blinked. Once. Then twice."Huh?""Signature. Your signature." He said gesturing the pen at the paper."Oh! Signature." I mumbled collecting the black pen from him. My hand hovered over the place where I would sign my name.If I signed this, I'm married to this man. Maverick. Whom I know nothing about. Yet, he wants to help me.It's not a win-win situation. I'm the only one that's going to win in this marriage. With a sigh, I scribbled over the paper appending my signature.Well, I'm married. Happy Married Life to me.I turned to my husband... Seems so weird saying that word, who was talking to the driver, maybe? The one that hates me. For some reason unknown to me.Maybe he thinks I'm someone he knows? Who has hurt him in the past? Oh! Maybe like a girlfriend or a lover or something. Cause I really can't think of another legible reason to hate someone as soon as you set eyes on them."Let's go." Someone said and I looked up at my helper's straight face."Oh... Okay." I replied with a nod.Without another word, he walked away with his hand in his pocket. I immediately gathered my gown in my hand and followed after him.I looked down at the red book in my hand. The proof I was married. Legally. My eyes darted unconsciously to the ring that was still sitting elegantly on my ring finger.I guess it's time to get rid of you.I stopped once I got to the car, pulled the door open, and slid into the car closing the door behind me with a little bit of force.All eyes turned to me. Okay, maybe a lot of force."Sorry," I mumbled with a smile and my husband shook his head while the guy in the driver's seat snorted lowly but I still heard it.I swear, that guy hates me. Really really hates me."Home or Office sir?""Home."I pursed my lips dropping the red book on my lap. I turned my head outside to see the scenery while we passed and my finger played with the ring still in my hand.I'm going away. Away to another life. With a man, I don't know. A man who is my husband. Funny, a man who is your husband is someone you were supposed to know, right? Not my case."Is that the ring your fiance gave you?" I heard suddenly and my hand and body froze.Why this happens every time he opens his mouth is a mystery to me. Really. I slowly turned my neck to him meeting with his tight jaw.His eyes were fixed on the ring that I feared they would burn a hole in the ring. I gulped before I nodded my head in response."Let me look at that." He mumbled grabbing my left hand easily. He slid the ring out without another second wasted.His lips twisted in disapproval? Or disappointment?"What's wrong?" I managed to ask while biting the inner skin of my mouth. Shut your mouth for once!"He couldn't even get you the real thing. I thought his family was wealthy?" He asked turning to me.My eyes looked at the ring in his hand before I nodded my head looking at his face."Yes. According to what I heard, his family is wealthy."He scoffed at my words and I blinked looking down at my hand."Should I throw it away or you'll do it?" He asked"Don't throw it away!" I yelled in return and he tilted his head at me."Why not? Don't tell me... Don't tell me you've fallen for him?""W-what?! Of course not. That's absurd. I don't know anything about him!" I stuttered my heart slamming against my ribcage that I feared it would jump out of my chest."Then why is your heart beating erratically and your face beet red?" He asked.I didn't reply to him and only transferred my gaze to the ring still in his hand."Fool." He muttered."Let's go back to the Hotel. We're taking her back home.""Sir?""Have you gone deaf?""I'm sorry sir."The car turned around before I knew he wasn't joking. My eyes widened in return... I didn't even like Felix!"I can't get have a wife that's still hung up on her ex-fiance. You can as well go to him and ask for help." He said to me before he slammed the ring into my hand."No... Please... I beg of you. Please, help me." I beggedHis head turned to me slightly."I thought you were just saying, fifteen minutes, ago that you didn't want to get revenge on your family?""I-"Do I want to get revenge for how they treated me all these years? Yes, I do. Oh, so badly.But do I have the guts and courage to take revenge on them? No, I don't."Exactly. It's more like I'm forcing you to do this. Go back home, Avery. When you're ready to let go of your past relationships and face reality, you can call me again by then." He mumbled.Immediately, the car skidded to a halt and my side of the door opened slightly. All I needed to do was push it and get out of the car.Goodbye to my revenge."Go home." He repeated in a hardened voice.I didn't need to be told twice as I opened the door and slipped out of the car. I closed it behind me, softer, this time around and immediately like before...I turned around to look up at the RV logo sitting elegantly on top of the hotel. Well, home sweet home."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
"You can open your eyes now." I said placing Avery on her feet. She held on to my back and slowly opened her eyes. She fluttered her eyelashes slowly adjusting to the light. "Thank you." "Hn." I replied walking to the table. I heard her walk after me and I let out a low inaudible sigh. It's going to be very hard to make her strong. Strong enough to face her family. Because whether she likes it or not, she has to face them in days even months to come. Thier meeting is inevitable. They would clash into each other especially the younger daughter. And she is so weak. She is broken. How do I repair someone that is broken? I'm going to be needing help. From her. First thing first. Trust. I need her to trust me then we can proceed with the her self esteem. She needs to place herself above others. She needs to know she's in a high untouchable place. "Are you sure I can eat all of this?" I heard someone whisper to my right. I turned my head to her only to freeze. She was so close to me th