NEXT DAY
Dera groaned as she turned off her alarm, sitting upright and stretching her body.
"Why does my alarm have to ring at this time? I was having a sweet dream about becoming the CEO of my own business," she yawned and ran her hands through her scattered hair.
She stretched her hand and grabbed her phone from beside her pillow, checking the time, and a gasp escaped her lips.
"Damn, I'm late for my own wedding," she said mockingly as she ran to the bathroom to do her morning routine.
Within twenty minutes, she was done. She wore a floral peach gown and let her hair fall over her shoulders. Applying some light makeup, lip gloss, and eyeliner, she checked herself in the mirror and picked up her phone and handbag before walking downstairs.
Downstairs, she found Luciana preparing breakfast in the kitchen, so she walked up to her.
"Hey, bride-to-be," Luciana said, and Dera frowned.
"Stop it, Luciana," she said, but Luciana couldn't help but laugh.
"I wouldn't have done this if I had a choice," Dera muttered sadly.
"Come on, girl, just be happy. At least, Mum will be okay, and moreover, it's just for six months. Dad won't know about it, alright?" Luciana consoled her, and she nodded.
"Breakfast is ready," she added, and they both walked to the dining room.
After twenty minutes, they were both done eating so Dera assisted Liciana in cleaning up the dishes before walking out of the house.
She boarded a taxi and went straight to his mansion. Upon arrival, she found him already seated in the living room, waiting for her.
"Good morning," she greeted, and he nodded and stood up while followed him immediately.
He turned and gave her a look of, ' why are you following me?'
She bent her head in embarrassment.
"Why are you following me?" he asked.
"I thought we were already going," she muttered, but he said nothing and walked towards the parking lot.
He entered his red Lamborghini and waited for her to come in, but she didn't. He rolled down the tinted glass. "Will you remain there like a statue?" he scoffed coldly.
"I thought I wasn't going to go with you," she muttered, but he heard her.
"Was I going to leave my contracted wife behind?" he asked, but she only bit her lips.
She got in and sat in the passenger seat. She fastened her seat belt, and he drove off immediately.
It was a twenty-minute drive from Henry's house to the registry. His car came to a halt in front of the registry, and they both alighted, walking inside.
People who knew Henry were gasping and whispering to each other.
** "What is he doing in the registry with a beautiful lady like her?"
** "Wow, she's so lucky to get married to a billionaire."
** "How I wish I was the one."
The girls who were present in the registry and outside gushed.
Dera smiled as she heard those compliments from the girls outside. For the first time in her life, she was the center of attraction, she couldn't be more happy.
Inside, they met a few people waiting for them and Dera became nervous, her palms sweating.
Henry noticed her nervousness and held her hand, pretending to be a caring husband. He wasn't doing it out of genuine care; he was only doing it to create the illusion that they were real lovers.
A light gasp escaped Dera's lips when his cold palm made contact with hers. The witnesses couldn't help but gush over how caring Henry seemed towards her.
Soon, the registrar gave them the registration form to fill. Henry was the first to complete it and after he was done, he handed the form to Dera to fill. She held the pen tightly, trying to conceal her nervousness as beads of sweat started forming on her forehead as she filled out the form.
She began to recall her dad's words about marriage. 'Marriage is sacred,' his voice echoed in her head. She shook her head to dispel the thoughts. 'Marriage is sacred,' his voice rang again, and she hissed in pain, using her left hand to hold her head.
"Are you okay?" Henry asked, and she looked at him. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said, turning back to the form.
She managed to complete the form, and almost immediately, they were pronounced husband and wife. Under normal circumstances, she would have been the happiest woman on Earth to get married but unfortunately for her, it was a contracted marriage, and she felt no happiness.
"Now it's time for the exchange of rings," the registrar said, and two rings were brought forward. The registrar handed a diamond ring to Henry, which he immediately slid onto her finger. She received a ring and hesitated before putting it into Henry's finger but then again, her dad's voice echoed in her head.
She closed her eyes tightly for a few seconds. "Are you okay?" he asked, staring at her.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, sliding the ring onto Henry's hand fully, and almost immediately, the witnesses started clapping, and the couple turned to acknowledge them with a fake smile.
After what felt like ages, they left the registry, and Dera was able to calm down a bit.
As Henry drove to his house, Dera kept staring at the diamond ring, which glittered like a star in the night sky.
She had always dreamt of a bright and elaborate wedding, not a wedding with just four witnesses. However, she had to sacrifice her happiness for her mom's life.
"Send me your account details," Henry's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Okay," she muttered, taking her phone from her bag. Almost immediately, she gasped when she saw ten missed calls from her dad; her heart skipped a beat. She dialed her dad's number, and he picked up after the second ring.
"Hello, Dad," she said softly.
"Princess, your mom is deteriorating rapidly. She can't talk or eat anymore," her dad said, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Dad, I promise to send the money today. Just give me some time, and please tell Mom not to give up now. I can't live without her," she said, her voice breaking.
"Dera, please hustle and get the money today, okay?" her dad urged, and she nodded, as if he were there with her.
"Okay, Dad. I love you," she said and hung up. She sniffled, wiping away her tears, and started fidgeting with her wedding ring.
Throughout, Henry remained silent, not offering any comfort or consolation. He focused solely on the road.
Although, Dera hadn't expected him to console her, but she had hoped for a shred of concern from him. She didn't anticipate a cold man like Henry to be caring, but even the smallest sign of empathy would have meant the world to her.
Henry transferred the twenty million dollars as promised, and she immediately sent it to her dad, and the surgery started.
She wasn't herself since her dad called to inform her that the surgery had begun.
She could be seen pacing to and fro inside the sitting room with her phone in her hands.
Luciana sat down looking at her friend. She was also worried to death but had to bottle it up so that she could console Dera.
"Calm down, Dera, okay? Mum will be alright," she said, and Dera stopped pacing and sat with her on the sofa. She pulled Luciana into a tight hug as tears slipped down her eyes.
"I just hope all is fine," she muttered as she sniffled while Luciana patted her hair.
"You need to be strong for her, okay? So stop crying," she said, and Dera continued sobbing on her chest.
"I am so scared to death, Luciana. What if the surgery isn't successful?" She said, raising her head from Luciana's chest and staring into her eyes.
"Gosh! You worry too much, Dera. Nothing bad is going to happen, I promise. I have faith in God," Luciana said, and Dera rested her head on the sofa.
They both sat for almost an hour before Dera's phone rang, and she picked it up immediately when she knew it was her dad.
"Hello, Dad."
"Hello, Cherry."
"How was the surgery? Was it successful?" she asked, rushing her words.
"Yes, it was, and she is in the ICU. The doctor said she might wake up anytime soon," he said, and she smiled.
"Thank goodness," she heaved a sigh of relief.
"Uhhm? Dera, where did you get eight million dollars from?" her dad asked.
"Dad, the little savings I have, with money I borrowed from my colleagues at work and the money Luciana also borrowed from her friends and colleagues, that's what we sent to you," Dera lied, and Luciana frowned immediately.
"Tell Dad about your contract marriage," she whispered, and Dera shot her a glare which she immediately shut her mouth.
"So how do you plan to pay now?" he asked.
"Dad, my monthly paycheck, I will give it to them every month until I am able to clear up the debt," she said, and her dad sighed.
"Thank you, princess. I am supposed to be the one working, not my precious daughter, but things are not going well for me," he said, a tear dropping from his eyes.
"Dad, I told you not to worry, okay? I am your only child, and you're already too old to continue working. Will I fold my hands and watch Mom die right under my eyes? No! I can't, so please do not blame yourself," she said.
"Dad, call me when Mum wakes up, okay? I really need to video call her," she said, and her dad nodded as if she was there with him.
"Okay," he answered and hung up.
Dera stared at her phone and let out a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Luciana was still glaring at her.
"Why didn't you tell him?" She finally voiced out.
"Tell who?"
"Dad. Why didn't you tell him about your contract marriage? At least he should have a hint instead of lying and keeping him in the dark," Luciana said worriedly.
"Are you crazy, Luciana? Don't you know what Dad always says? 'Marriage...'" she was cut of by Luciana.
"'...is sacred.' I know. But at least he should have a hint of what's going on, because he'll eventually find out and if he eventually finds out, hell will break loose," she said.
"You don't have to worry, Luciana. He won't know, and moreover, it's just for six months. After that, we both go our separate ways."
"I hope that six months doesn't turn to forever till death do us part," she mocked, and Dera rolled her eyes.
Luciana's eyes caught Dera's wedding ring, which was glittering and shining under the electric light in the sitting room.
"Wow, your ring is very beautiful, a diamond ring. This ring must be really expensive," she said, touching it with shining and bright eyes which made Dera hissed loudly and removed her hand from Luciana's grip.
"I wish it was a real wedding and a real diamond ring," she muttered.
"My problem is that I hope you don't get stuck in this contracted marriage forever," Luciana suddenly blurted out and Dera scoffed.
"You also believe in love? Come on, Luciana, that word doesn't exist in my dictionary, so come off it already," she shrugged and waved it off.
"Because I have watched and read many books concerning contracted marriage, the female lead ends up falling deeply in love with the male lead, and then it becomes one-sided love."
"You know me too well. I'm not romantic, and neither am I a fan of love, okay? All my dream is to grow to be the CEO of my own company, get married, and have kids, not to be in a fucking and goddamn marriage. But I just have to endure until the six months elapse."
"I don't believe you, Dera. You will end up like the female lead in those novels and movies," Luciana said, worried, and Dera sighed.
"Why are you getting worked up? Fine! If I fall in love with Mr. Henry, which I know I won't, I will give you one thousand dollars. And if I don't before the six months elapse, then you're giving me one thousand dollars." Dera stood up and winked at Luciana.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"Going to prepare. I am leaving for my new husband's house," she said from inside her room, and Luciana couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Arrange your box quickly, Mrs. Royals," she said mockingly to get her pissed off.
"Fuck you, Luciana!! I hate you, I hate everyone, and finally, I hate myself!" she shouted from her room and threw herself on the bed, scattering her hair all over.
"But I love you, babe," her friend said and stood up, heading to her room as well.
She stopped at Dera's door. "Should I come to help you pack up?" she chuckled.
"Are you pursuing me already?" Dera said from inside.
"No, just want to help the newly wedded wife," Luciana burst into laughter, and almost immediately, she opened the door.
"If I get hold of you, Luciana, I will tear you into pieces before I leave," she said, chasing after Luciana, who kept laughing and running around the whole sitting room.
Their laughs, giggles, and chuckles could be heard all over the sitting room. They got tired and sat on the sofa.
