Chapter 2 Marry me

"Lilah. Wait!" Mirabel shouted after me but I was way too fast. I ran out of there, into the street. I kept running until I got to a lone road. Far from where Mira could catch up with me. My long legs did the job. Sadness engulfed me. I sat on the bench by the road and cried. "She's the one!" "The groom has refuse to marry her because he caught her cheating" "He proposed to her younger sister immediately" I looked up. The gazes that everyone else had shot me was filled with scorn and disgust, stabbing into me like thousands of needles. I wondered why the stares.

Did the news of my cancelled wedding out? "Almighty!" I broke down in more years . I felt as though i was being swallowed in the darkness. No matter how hard i tried, there was simply no escape... I wish it was all a dream but I knew it was no dream. Beads of sweat formed upon my forehead as i paled dramatically. Without realizing, my whole body had begun to tremble uncontrollably. "Hi" I heard a hoarse voice. Turning my neck off to the side, a pair of dark, fathomless eyes watched me. His features were so perfect that they would take anyone's breath away. Sharply defined brows that rested on a chiseled face, it looked as though his face was sculpted out of marble. He emerged resembling flawless masterpiece. Despite the simplicity of his white dress shirt, the design accentuated his lean, yet powerful build. I sneered. I'm I really checking this man out? Phew! "Can we talk, Miss Delilah?!" He asked. My eyes twitched. How did he get to know my name? Did he also know about my ruin marriage? "Miss Delilah!" He called again bringing me out of my thoughts. His sharp gaze was fixated on me as he added placidly, "I like going straight to the point" "Miss Delilah, Would you please marry me?" A crisp voice made my eyes widened, dragging me out of the darkness that was threatening to swallow my whole world. .It was not until the man repeated his question that i snapped out of the daze that i had fallen into. "What?" "I could not help but noticed your dress. I saw everything online. I can help save you from all the harassment. Today can still be your wedding day, but to a different person" My breath was stuck in my lungs at his words, as humiliation and distress swept through me. Not waiting for me to reply, the man continued in an indifferent tone. "What a coincidence. I need a woman. I'm in an hurry to get married. I'm in the same boat. Since our goals are alike, why don't we lend each other a hand?" The way he said it made it sound as though he was talking about a business deal, not one of the most important events of life itself. "You're crazy, aren't you?" I asked and bite on my lip. "Yes. I'm going crazy right now!" He muttered. With furrowed brows, i coldly said, "I'm not a doctor. I don't provide treatment." "I'm being serious here, Miss Delilah. Let's get married" At this point, i finally understood that this man was being serious about us getting married.Nonetheless, we've only just met! Getting married right off the bat is far too outrageous! "Mister, we don't even know each other! Don't you think that you're being a little too hasty and impulsive?" I said. "You didn't know those men whom you went on blind dates with either." His reply was calm and straightforward, catching me off guard and leaving me speechless. How did he know? "Oh, I get it now. You're looking down on me because you think I'm not rich, aren't you?" "Of course not!" - was my automatic response. I caught sight of the small glimmer of amusement in my dark orbs, i realized that i was doing exactly what he had wanted me to. "Miss Delilah." He rubbed his temples before he fixed me a burning gaze. "I'm pretty certain that you need this marriage very badly. If you miss out on this chance now, what makes you think that you'll get another?" I had to admit that he was very convincing. He's right. I desperately need this marriage. Truthfully, it's probably more accurate. I will have a new home to live. I won't have to see my stepmother and sister faces. I wouldn't get to stay in the same roof with the same betrayal. Seconds ticked by as i stared at the man in front of me for a very long while. At long last, i squeezed out, "Are you a permanent resident here, in Suville City?" His lips curled up into a small smirk. "Yes." Once again, i fell silent.. Oh Delilah! "Hasn't your sole aim for the past years been to get married to a local resident as fast as you can? Now, the opportunity to do so is practically leaping into your arms!Why are you still hesitating?" I scolded myself. Conflicting emotions swirled within me. In the end, i bit my lip and nodded in agreement. "Alright, I agree." The registration office was closed to where I sat. We only walked in together. "We won't be having any children." I was at a loss for words as he blurted out. "Why?" My brows furrowed at my sudden outburst. He stared at me eyes- wide. "Never mind!" I said immediately. "We'll divorce three years later. I'll give you a sum of money which will be enough for you to live the rest of your life. Is that okay with you?" He asked and I sadly nodded. "Alright." Once we were inside, we first went to take pictures together. "Can't you guys get close to each other and look sweet? Also, sir, please smile." The cameraman said. I guessed he wasn't satisfied by our post. An evident impatient look crossed his face. I immediately hooked my arm around his, then said with a smile, "His facial nerves have been damaged, so don't force him anymore. Just let him be." "What?" His mouth went agape and I smile again. He shot an icy glare at me but I still kept on wearing a cheery smile. "Just for the camera" I tiptoes and whispered into his ears. He froze but remained silent. After we were done taking pictures, we headed to the first floor to register our marriage. It was only when he took out his citizenship certificate that i finally learned his name-Zachary Shun Ten minutes later, the marriage certificates were issued. I felt a twinge of sadness but found this to be incredible at the same time. I was sad cause I actually thought I will get married to the man I really love. I dreamt of having the wedding of my dreams but here I am, married to a complete stranger. I clutched the marriage certificate in my hands. I felt as though i was floating on air as if everything had been nothing but a dream. Never had i ever thought that i would one day suddenly marry a man that I'd only met by chance. Perhaps this is fate? Lowering my eyes, i gazed at the photo of us sitting side by side. His expression was blank, while mine evidently displayed the unease and reservations I felt at that moment. Beneath the photo were both of our names. How absurd is it that I've only just come to learn of my new husband's name? A simple but fitting name for a man like him. "Delilah Houston?" He pronounced my name slowly. He was also staring at the marriage certificate. The low timbre of his voice causing it to roll off his tongue smoothly. The way he uttered it sent shivers running down my spine. I was still reeling from my change in marital status when a hand suddenly appeared right before her. A card was pinched between its two fingers. "Delilah, I'm aware that having a wedding and getting a wedding ring are some of the most anticipated events for a woman. Unfortunately, I'm sorry to say that I don't have the time to deal with all that. If you'd really like a ring, you can choose one yourself." He explained. Tilting my head backwards, i met his unreadable gaze. "There's no need for that." I hurriedly waved my hands in refusal at him. "I don't care for such formalities." Even if I want such romantic gestures, I know I still can't get it just like my dreams. So it's best we leave it this way. More importantly, i did not want to feel like i had owed him anything, even though he was lawfully my husband. "At the very least, get a ring." With that said, he grabbed my wrist, as he stuffed his card into my hand. The moment our hands brushed against each other, the slight difference in our temperature sent a jolt, rushing through me. I was rather surprised by his warmth. "Fine then." I said. Since we were newlyweds, i did not want to get into an argument with him over his good intentions. Hence, I accepted the card and kept it inside in my bag. "I have a meeting in the afternoon, so I'll be leaving first. You'll have to find your own transport." His tone of voice was as neutral as ever. "Okay." I had not held any hope that he would actually treat me like a real wife, someone who he would love and spoil. That was why i was not disappointed at all that he was leaving me there. She still also need to go home and get her things. Abruptly remembering something, he spoke up again, "By the way, I'll send you my home address later today. Just move in when it's convenient for you." "Here's my contact number" he jotted his number on a piece of blank paper for me and I did same. "I'm expecting you!" He said. "I'm not in any hurry!" I quickly responded. Although it made sense that we would need to stay together after marrying, the truth was that i was simply not prepared to live under the same roof with a stranger just yet. Perhaps he noticed the rejection in my tone. Zachary lifted his head to glance at me. I flushed a little, in embarrassment. "If there's nothing else, I'll be taking my leave now." He said turning to leave but as if he remembered something, he immediately turned to me. "By the way, don't disturb Dave." "Dave?" I gasped. "You already have a son?" He raised his eyebrows. "Take good care of him." Once he finished his sentence, he left straight away. I was so shocked that i forgot to close my mouth that has went agape. Although i had braced herself to marry him, i was not at all ready to be someone's stepmother. I stood at the roadside for half an hour. I thought of all that happened.