Ch8 - Mr. and Mrs. Cruz

David and Mariane were riding in a car as they were heading to the mall. “What kind of wedding do you want?” David asked suddenly, which made Mariane frown.

“What are you talking about?” Mariane wrinkled her nose as if she found him ridiculous at his question.

“I mean... What kind of wedding do you want? Intimate, simple, fancy? Do you want us to televise our wedding?” David asked again.

Mariane laughed in disbelief at David's question.

“If you ask me, it would be better if there was no marriage. And I don't want my name attached to you. If you intend to tell the world that I am your possession, then don't be. I want a quiet life. So I can walk freely.” She stated.

“That is not possible, my lady. You will marry me whether you like it or not.” David sternly said.

“I know. That’s why I came here with you. Because I don’t have a choice.” Mariane said as a matter of fact.

“Okay then. Let’s go to the mall first to buy you clothes, then will head after to the civil registrar’s office. And have our wedding done.”

After their conversation, Mariane went silent for the entire trip and never spoke to him again. She closed her eyes to fall asleep, but suddenly the person next to her reached for an envelope, making her frown.

“What is this?” she asked.

“Open it. As discussed, I found your father. It contains information about the man who abused your mother.” Mariane immediately opened the file.

There was a mixture of regret on Mariane's face as the person she was supposed to avenge was probably dead. Because he wanted to punish the person himself, but on the other hand, he was still happy because of what happened to Andrew Morgan at the hands of Ethan Reed.

“So he’s dead,” Mariane muttered as she remained stoic.

“Yes. He got killed before the day you were born.” David said.

“Good for him,” she coldly said, before giving the envelope back to him.

David never thought he would see Marian be this cold. That you could feel her hatred toward the person she wanted to punish.

‘Her innocent face has a devil's side as well. And it makes me love her more.’ David thought as he stared at Mariane.

They arrived at the mall, owned by David. He immediately ordered George to block their path, so that no one would see their arrival. They also blocked the internet signal in the entire area, so that no one could post his pictures in case a customer saw them. They went to the dress shop.

“Have her try all the white dresses available here,” David ordered his sales crew as he sat in the waiting room.

The three sales ladies prepared the available white dress, and they pulled Mariane inside the fitting room.

“Try this, ma’am.” The sales lady gave her a pleated square neck long sleeves bodycon dress that reaches her mid-thigh.

Mariane came out from the fitting room and showed her outfit to David, to which David frowned. He looked at Mariane from head to foot.

“Too much skin. Next,” he commented, which made Mariane’s shoulder fall and she heaved a sigh.

Mariane tried another set of dresses, but all of them didn’t like David. David always says it’s either too short, has too much skin, or is too sexy. Until Mariane got tired of all the fittings she made.

She groaned. “Why don’t I wear simple pants and a shirt, then?” she asked sarcastically.

“Just try one last time,” David said.

Mariane sighed exasperatingly. But she still went to the fitting room and tried on the last dress left. She tried the Chiffon V-neck maxi dress that reached below her knee.

‘I think this is better,’ she thought as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Mariane came out of the fitting room and showed herself to David.

“Ma’am, this dress fits you well,” Sales lady (1) said.

“You looked dazzling,” Sales lady (2) giggles.

“Really?” she asked the sales ladies with a smile plastered on her face, which made the crews nod in unison.

David stared at the girl for a long time, while carefully looking at what she was wearing. He stood up from his seat and approached Mariane.

David snaked his arm around her stomach and pulled her closer to him, making Mariane stunned. She felt shivers down her spine when her face was a few inches away from his as David whispered something into her ear.

“You looked gorgeous, and I wanted to kiss you right here, right now.” Mariane’s face reddened.

She immediately pushed David. “Can you stay away from me?!” she looked at him in disgust. And she ran inside the fitting room to change her clothes, making David smile.

“You don’t have to change your clothes. Because we will go to the registrar’s office right away.” David reminded her.

“I will pick the dress she’s wearing now. And packed the clothes she wore earlier.” He ordered.

“Yes, Sir.” Sales lady (1) said.

“Sir, you’re girlfriend is so beautiful,” Sales lady (2) said, making the other sales lady poke her in the arm.

“She’s my wife.” David simply said. And the three sales ladies widened in shock.

They never thought that the great David Cruz was already married. It was a piece of shocking news to them.

Mariane hissed as she heard what David had just said. She looked at her face in the mirror and she still noticed that her face was as red as a tomato. Mariane fanned herself with her hands.

‘Damn this guy. I can’t stand him. Why did he have to announce that I’m his wife?’ she groaned at her thoughts.

After she calmed herself, Mariane came out of the fitting room, holding her old clothes.

“Make sure this will not spread. My wife was a private person, she doesn’t like to be the talk of the town.” David informed them.

“If ever you spread this news, you’ll get fired right away. Understood?” He warned them, which made the three ladies nod.

David saw Mariane approaching them, and he reached for her hand to hold it, but Mariane refuse to hold his. Instead, she walked past him, and David shook his head when he followed her from behind.

David and Mariane headed right away to the civil registrar’s office. Fortunately, David was friends with the officer who will facilitate the registration of their marriage.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.” Mariane’s face reddened again at what the officer had just said.

Suddenly, David pulled her closer to him, making Mariane’s eyes widen in surprise. David took the opportunity to kiss Mariane and it left her dumbfounded.

“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Cruz,” the officer congratulated them after they kissed.