Chapter 3 I tried to Fall in Love

Julia let out a deep sigh as she reminisced the words of her mother, and father.

"Well, I understand that they will not let Sofia marry a man who is in his vegetative state. I am also safe because this man will die soon. I can resume my studies then, somewhere far!" She turned and looked at the scholarship letter that she had received from the prestigious college of her country.

"I won't ever get this opportunity. Sigh, my dream to become a renowned drama writer will get delayed," she murmured.

"Julia! Julia! Open the door," Victoria said from outside the door while banging on the door.

"I don't want to talk to anyone," Julia loudly said and didn't open the door.

"Julia, at least have your dinner." She heard the voice of her dad. "It is your last day in this house. Have dinner with us," he urged. She could feel the sadness in his voice. Probably, his hands were tied too and he was unable to do anything.

She rubbed her eyes and stood up. She walked to the door and opened it. Her father and mother were standing in front of her. No matter what Victoria told her earlier, she also cheered for her in her tough times.

Julia outstretched her arms and hugged her both parents. "I really don't want to marry. However, because it is for the Sanchez' family, I will put a stone on my heart and accept it. Thank you for giving me so many things. Thank you for becoming my family." Tears streamed down her cheeks as she clung to them.

Both Victoria and Andres caressed her back. "You are always the daughter of Andres Sanchez. Forget what your mother said earlier," Andres told her. They stayed in that position for a while before withdrawing away from the hug.

Andres wiped the tears from Julia's cheeks and took her to the dining hall for dinner.

~~~~~~~

"So, your plan finally worked," Eliot, the younger brother of Marimo, said.

Marimo, who was on a velvet tufted solid puffy stool in front of the dressing table, pressed the temple of his forehead. "It didn't work according to my plan, Eliot. Grandpa threatened this General Manager," he asserted.

"Well, you took four years to find a suitable bride for yourself. Grandpa was suspicious of your sexuality. He still thinks that you are into guys. That's why he told this lie. Well, my sister-in-law's parents didn't either ask for money from you. So, it is a win-win. You have succeeded in finding a woman, who is not after your money," Eliot explained to him.

"Ah, your wedding suit is here," Eliot said and put that on the bed.

"I will change first," Marimo said and stood up, telling the hairdresser to wait for a while. After some time, he came out of the dressing room.

"It suits you well," Eliot said and walked to him. He adjusted his bow tie and patted on his shoulders. "The social media is going to crash because of your handsomeness," Eliot remarked, which made Marimo chuckle.

He sat back on the puffy stool and the hairdresser started to do his hair.

"Your bride is getting ready in the other room. She is gorgeous among the ladies whom you dated till now," Eliot informed Marimo, who ended up smiling. "I wonder how she will react upon seeing you standing straight in front of her," he muttered.

"She definitely will be happy and fell for me at the first sight," Marimo said with a confident tone.

"I am surprised that you aren't bothered to know about her. I will go for a love marriage unlike you," Eliot said and folded his arms.

"I tried to fall in love, but what to say? All seemed like gold diggers to me. At least, those whom I went on a date with four years ago. That's why I had to come up with this plan," Marimo stated. "But Grandpa created a blunder in that plan," he added.

"You don't try to fall in love. You just fell into love," Eliot corrected him. "Stop looking at marriage for benefits. The relationship of a husband and wife is a holy one, without seeking benefits from each other," he asserted.

"I am afraid, but I don't agree with your words," Marimo said and chuckled. "The biggest example is our parents. Dad and mom separated ten years ago. They both agreed to marry to spread their business and they indeed did it! It was all for benefits. Bringing us two into the world... everything was a business in their eyes," Marimo proclaimed.

"I don't think so. They indeed cared for each other. That's why they separated their paths after finding that they both need love," Eliot said.

"That's why they refused to stay in the marriage!" Marimo again chuckled. "They turned selfish and didn't even think of us. Let's not talk about them anymore. It is quite strange, I need to see them today with their respective partners," he said with annoyance.

"You get ready. I will be with Grandpa in the backyard." Eliot left the room while Marimo picked his phone and scrolled the feeds on it.

"Marimo, you look pretty handsome today!" Marimo's father, Javier Martinez, came to the room where Marimo was dressing up.

Marimo looked at the reflection of his father in the mirror and asked him when he returned from London.

"Last night," Javier answered, "as soon as dad told me about your marriage. You finally have selected a bride. Are you sure that love is not required while being in a marriage?" He asked.

"What does Dad want to say?" Marimo asked his father to explain. The hairdresser was done making his hair and the makeup artist came forward to apply light makeup to Marimo's face.

"It is not needed. My face is good without makeup." Marimo refused to apply any makeup. He looked at the bowtie and adjusted it well.

Standing up, he put on the black blazer of the wedding suit and turned to his father.

"Marriage isn't a business, Marimo. Indeed, your mother and I made mistakes, but you should not let it happen to you. That's what I want," Javier explained to his son. Marimo didn't say anything as he knew it would lead to an argument between his father and him.