THE TRIAL MARRIAGE

10pm, one chilly night.

After drinking too much at the bachelorette party, Zuri's fiancée picked her up and brought her back to her apartment. Finally coming to her senses, she forced opened her eyes, holding back the excruciating headache. As her vision cleared, she could make out the figure of a man and woman kissing passionately under the dimly lit room.

Like being struck by lightning, Zuri looked at the two of the in shock as they continued to kiss by her bedside. The anger inside her began to boil...

''Avery, stop messing around, Zuri only just fell asleep!'' the man warned as he restrained the woman in his arm by the waist.

''What? Are you afraid your fiancé will wake up?'' Avery responded in an annoyed tone, ''you are getting married tomorrow. Why don't you give yourself to me tonight?''

''Babe, you are such a troublemaker, let's go to another room.'' the man smiled seductively.

''No! I want to do it here! I want to do it right in front of her!'' Avery swiftly unbuttoned the man's shirt as their lips once again locked.

Zuri tries to hold back her tears but could feel them slowly trickling down her cheek. Who would have thought, the man she was to marry the next day would be cheating right in front of her.

''Behave, let's go to the bathroom. Isn't the bathtub your favorite place?''

''Fine then, you go in and fill up the bathtub first...'' Avery nudged the man's chest towards the bathroom. As soon as the man left the room, she sauntered over to Zuri. Leaning over with a cold smile, she whispered ''Zuri, I'm not going to let you, and Zack get married tomorrow, I'm pregnant, he's mine and nobody would be able to stop me from becoming Mrs. Avery Baldwin!''

Zuri tightened her hands into a fist as she held back her emotions – careful not to let out a sound. It was not until the moaning sounds of the couple coming from the bathroom did, she feel her world had fallen apart.

Two years ago, she was once Italy's top model. But because of this man she had not only given up everything, handing over her hard-earned position to Avery. As it turns out everything, she did merely went to preparing someone else's wedding dress No! This must be a dream, just one horrible nightmare, everything would go back to normal by the time... she gave a low weak bitter laugh as she shuts her eyes tightly, the image of her disappointed grandfather flashes through her mind.

It was already 2am when Avery complained of feeling unwell as she led Zack out the apartment.

The sound of the door opening and closing breaks Zuri's thoughts, she gets out of bed and stumbles to the bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror she smiles bitterly at how she had become a joke.

The next day, as planned, Zuri drove to the Civil Affairs office with a nervous smile. As she stepped out of the car, she gives Zack a call. The voice on the other side answered coldly ''Avery was injured on stage; I have to deal with urgent matters first. Let's postpone the registration to another day.''

There is no 'another day', I was only giving you this last chance Zuri told herself. As she puts on her sunglasses ready to leave disappointedly, a black Rolls-Royce pulls up in front of her.

The driver gets down and opens the back door, looking down Zuri could see a pair of perfectly straight legs alighting from the car with a freshly polished brown leather shoes which glistened when the sun reflected off them, looking up slowly Zuri couldn't help but notice the fitted dark blue retro suit which complimented the masculine body underneath and out of the chest pocket, the corner of a wine red handkerchief could be seen peering out subtly. Looking at the face of the man Zuri couldn't help but be stunned.

This man...had such a strong presence, like that of a medieval king!

Especially as he got closer, although he was wearing sunglasses... his perfectly chiseled face and sexy lips were enough to drive any woman crazy.

Zuri recognized this man, he was the CEO of Bright Star entertainment – Lian Atticus Grant. When she was still famous, they had met once at a ball.

Is he also getting married today?

''President, Miss Shane has not arrived on time... she is late by 10 minutes!'' the assistant behind him reported

''ring the Shane family and tell them: if they can't even be on time to a wedding, then don't bother coming at all,'' the man responded coldly.

''but the chairman said you must get married today, no matter what. Even if you were to marry a transvestite he wouldn't care...'' the assistant replied timidly.

''Then, just randomly pick a lady from the socialite families... I'll give you half an hour...'' the man ordered. He seemed a bit unreasonable.

Oh... so he is faced with a similar dilemma... even though its slightly different.

Liam grant had so much power, he could simply choose any woman he wanted. And as one of the most eligible bachelors, love was not his priority, his priority was to deal with the pressures from his elders to get married.

Suddenly, an idea came to Zuri's mind. Taking off her sunglasses, she walked in front of the man and gently suggested, '' President grant, your bride hasn't arrived, and my groom has run away... May I suggest we get married?''

Liam grant's assistant froze in disbelief, how is this woman so brave...?

Zuri stood straight with confidence; she had gathered all her courage to do this.

Liam grant removed his sunglasses, revealing a pair of ink-like eyes; his pupils glimmered like a diamond. After a short moment, he turned to his assistant and ordered, '' give me her details!''

Of course, Liam grant's assistant already knew who Zuri was. He quickly grabbed his phone, did a quick search for Zuri's name and offered the findings to his boss. Two minutes later, the man's lips twitched ever so slightly as he responded with one word ''Okay!''

Zuri felt meeting Liam was the luckiest thing that could happen to her. He had no reason to use a woman, nor did he require love and the best of all, he had no shortage of woman to sleep with.

Ultimately, she wanted Zack Baldwin to regret his decision!

The couple's wedding procedures were processed quickly. In just half an hour, Zuri held the marriage certificate in her hands. From now on, she was a married woman.

''President Grant, may I have a few words with you?''

''Get in the car!'' Liam Grant put on his sunglasses back on as he walked out of the registration hall.

Zuri followed closely behind. After getting into the Rolls-Royce, she nervously looked at Liam Grant before requesting, ''Thank you for marrying me. If you need anything from me in return, please tell me, I will do anything. However, I have two simple requests I hope you can promise to abide by.''

''Speak!'' Liam Grant responded tiredly as he loosened his collar.

''Firstly, unless you have no choice, do not reveal our relationship. Secondly do not interfere in my personal matters. Do not worry, since we are married, I will not get overly close to another man.''

Afte listening to Zuri's requests, Liam gave a slight smirk. A dangerous aura swept through the car, '' I promise you... but, after I give you some time to tidy up your past, I want us to have a trial marriage. After 5 months I will publicly announce our marriage.''

''Thank you!'' Zuri nodded

''Also... I don't believe a married couple should live separately! I'll give you three days to pack all your belongings and move to a place if my choice. My assistant will be in touch with you.''

Zuri had no objections. Since they were now married, a request like this was reasonable. So, she obediently nodded her head as she replied,'' I agree!''

''Good!''

After the two made their verbal agreement, Zuri got out of Liam's car and left. Laim's assistant sat himself in the driver's seat and looked in the rearview mirror, ''President, shall we return to the office? Or would you like to return to the mansion to tell the chairman the news?''

''Follow Zuri and report her every move to me!'' Liam ordered before stepping out of the car.

Suddenly asking him to marry her, something must have happened!

As the president of an international entertainment agency, of course, he had heard of Zuri before. Once a famous model in the industry, two years ago she suddenly rejected an offer from the top entertainment agency, flourish, resulting in her being blacklisted. Eventually, she announced she would be signing with Chi Long entertainment and became a hot topic with the boss, Zack Baldwin.

And thus, begun the fall of a supermodel....

But, from the looks of things Zuri's story did not end there.