Chapter 4 The Crossroad

I walked back to the party as Nora was already sending me a couple of text messages and my mom too was calling me continuously. I knew I had to go meet everyone now while still thinking of what to tell them about Ares's whereabouts.

To my surprise, Ares was already making a toast calling everyone's attention to only god knows what.

"I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has graced my wedding today with their presence and I would like to make a toast to my lovely and beautiful wife Mrs Ariana Hidalgo!" He smiled at me as I approached the entrance decorated specifically for the both of us. It was nothing short of luxury as each detail was made with gold.

I stared at him in disbelief knowing that he was playing a charade up there. This is the same man I caught having an affair with my sister earlier. He is also the same man I had a heated spat with earlier and he is up there professing his fake love and emotions.

"I guess he is a good actor but then, two can play this game," I said as I walked up to the stage with everyone staring at me with lots of side comments going around. I remained unfazed as I smiled at him.

"How do you feel?" He whispered into my ears with a tone of mockery.

"This is how I feel," I replied as I pecked him on his cheeks which made the whole crowd grin from ear to ear.

I could see his expression as he was not expecting that I would do what I just did which I can tell did hurt his ego a bit. The anger he had towards me doubled seeing that I did beat him at his own game but he knew well enough to keep his cool. All eyes were on us.

"It's time to give the final dance as a couple before you both head off to your honeymoon!" The official host of the party announced.

Ares extended his hand toward me, his eyes filled with a mixture of contentment and defiance. Reluctantly, I placed my hand in his, steeling myself for what was to come. As we stepped onto the dance floor, I could feel the eyes of our guests upon us, eagerly waiting for the spectacle to unfold. But what they didn't know was that behind the facade of our graceful movements lay a torrent of conflicting emotions.

Even though I hated him, there was an undeniable chemistry that crackled in the air, drawing us together like moths to a flame. He could not stop staring into my eyes, looking at me like he was searching for something. The image of how I met him with my sister kept on playing in my head as I tried to maintain my gaze on him, smiling back at him.

But as quickly as it had begun, the dance came to an end, but this time, he ended it with a kiss on my lips and I felt a sense of emotions gush through me while I was also pissed at him for that. I was happy to be finally out of his embrace and I could see the satisfaction on his face like the kiss was a payback for what I had done earlier.

It was time to take pictures and we had to take pictures with every member of the family which ended with the both of us taking personal pictures as we both smiled at each other every step of the way.

"You both look perfect!" My mom said, smiling at me.

At that moment, I just wished I could tell her everything but I knew that was not the right time.

"Ares, don't forget the purpose of this marriage. Whatever happens, you have to maintain your marriage with Ariana. This union is very important for the growth of the company" Mr Hidalgo said.

"Father." He replied with a smile and I knew this marriage was a business purpose but I had to play along until I got my rights back at the Cruz and I would not think twice before I divorce Ares.

"You will be leaving for your honeymoon tonight." My father said as he handed the tickets over to Ares.

"Take care of my daughter. She means the world to me." My father added.

"I will do that sir," Ares replied.

For a moment, I hoped my father meant what he just said and he was not just saying it for the sake of the marriage.

"You should go rest a bit. The driver will be here soon to take you to the airport." My mom said as she hugged me tightly.

"Sure," Ares replied as he held my hands and led the way to the room.

I watched as Ares entered the room without saying a word to me. I was also not interested in talking to him. I had work to do. The company's passcodes have been sent to my mail and I would need to attend to it as soon as possible.

As I settled in to start working, I heard a knock on the door. I had to go check who it was myself as Ares was in the other room.

Valerie? What are you doing here?" I was surprised at the bag she was holding.

"Oh, you are here already," Ares said as he joined us almost immediately.

"What is going on here?" I asked while still trying to understand what was going on. Maybe she was not aware of the fact that we would be leaving for our honeymoon tonight, so I decided to keep my cool until I knew exactly what she wanted again.

"I am going with Ares tonight also." She said confidently.

"Yes, she is," Ares said, showing me the extra ticket he already got for her before I could say anything.

"Just so you know Ariana, I am pregnant," Valerie said, smiling at me sheepishly.

"And how is that my business in any way?" I asked while hoping fervently that the worst would not happen right now.

"Because Ares IS THE FATHER OF MY UNBORN CHILD!" She said as she threw the test result at me.

I was short of breath the moment she said those words. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought that my step-sister would be pregnant for my husband. I ran out of the room not thinking of where to go next, but I knew I did not want to spend another second with both of them.

I found myself in the restroom and I cried my eyes out. My eyes were red, teardrops clinging to my lashes and tracking down my flushed cheeks with each sob and hiccoughing breath.

"Ariana?" My mom called out as she entered the bathroom. She came just at the right time when I needed her. I hugged her tightly as I continued crying, I didn't know what to do anymore but I knew my mom would help me out.

"What's wrong?" She inquired curiously as I could sense the fear in her voice.

I narrated everything to her while I kept on crying. I needed someone to talk to and she is the only one I trust at the moment. But her reaction was something I never expected from her.

"Ariana, you can't go back now. You are already married to him regardless of everything that is going on right now. You are on your own now and you have to deal with it the smart way, don't forget the purpose of this marriage. You can't back down now." She said sternly and it felt like it was a different person talking.

"Mother." I managed to say while still telling myself that she would help me out.

"You can't back out Ariana, you are married already. You have to deal with it." She repeated.

"But..."

"Ariana, the driver is here already. We have to leave now." I heard Ares's voice calling me out.

I cleaned my face while my mom exited the restroom. I am stuck in a marriage that I don't want and I also can't get out of it.

"Shall we?" Ares said as he took my hands in his leading the way to the car where we would be heading off to our honeymoon.