Married But Strangers

Rebecca sighed as she sat down on a wooden chair. It wasn't even steady enough, but what could she do anyway? She was the only daughter of her mother, and her step-father abandoned them, saying they were nothing but a curse. She's starting to believe it, because why not? She finished college early due to her high level of intelligence, but sadly she couldn't find a job. She decided to do menial work to try and make ends meet, but nothing was working. "What do I do?", She asked no one in particular, staring into space as she ran her finger through her dry, disheveled hair.

She finally remembered her dad's words. "If you need something, you have to use what you have to get what you want." Those words always echoed in her mind every day, but what could she do? She had nothing except her body and she didn't want to be anyone's temptress. Rebecca stood up, her head pounding as she walked to the kitchen. It was small and uncomfortable, but it prepared meals and whatnot, so she just had to deal with it. She poured herself a glass of water as she swallowed a pain-relieving pill and pushed it down with the water. She rinsed the glass and put it back in place as she headed to her mother's room. Milan has stage two brain cancer, and she needs to be operated on fast. Her health keeps failing as the day goes by. Rebecca walked into the dark room and felt chills run up her spine. She quickly went to open the blinds as the sunlight illuminated the whole room, her mother was on the bed, her face was pale, her hair kept falling out at any slight movement, she couldn't move at times, and she was very weak, she looked as if the wind could blow her away. "What have I done to deserve all this?", Rebecca asked herself inwardly as she sniffed. Her mother was suffering pain, but her father was there doing well in business, and he had abandoned them. She couldn't blame her mother, her mother was blinded by love and this was the consequence of it all. Rebecca left the room after a while, as she walked into her own room, she couldn't help but think about something. She should probably go ask her father for some money to treat her mother, because he is responsible for her even though she isn't his biological child, he still needs to take care of his wife. She quickly freshened up, put on one of her shabby but nice dresses, she combed her hair and rolled it in a cute bun, carrying her purse and phone, she wrote a quick note placing it beside her mom before she ran out of the house. The Nixon Mansion was owned by her father. He wasn't particularly rich, but he sure knew how to throw money around. His best quote is "you only live once", and Rebecca believes that he might die due to his ignorant lifestyle, but she couldn't care less about him. As she paid for the cab by stepping out of it, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. She was the only odd one here, even the maids and guards' clothes were better than hers. "Miss Becca, what a surprise, what are you doing here if I may ask?", the gatekeeper who had always been nice to Rebecca said as she approached the door. Rebecca smiled as she gave the man a slight hug. "Sir Charles, how have you been? I'm actually here to see my father, is he in?" Rebecca asked as Charles smiled slightly. "Well, Sir Phillip is in. You may come in. I believe you know your way around?", Charles said as Rebecca smiled, nodding, Charles opened the gate as she walked into her former home. She remembered how she stayed there and had to bear with her father bringing different women home, but she couldn't do anything but cry. She had always been weak but this time she really needed the money. As she stepped into the living room, nothing in particular had changed except the one black couch, which was now light blue, which seemed kind of cute. "What brings you here Becca?", a familiar voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Turning, she saw her father seated on one of the couches as a lady was snuggled up in his arms. It wasn't an odd thing for Rebecca, but it all felt totally embarrassing. "I need to talk to you", she said, she wanted to add dad, but Philip had warned her not to call him that word since he didn't have a daughter, or at least, a filial one at that. "Ohh she's serious", Philip mocked with a small laugh as she waved at the girl snuggling close to him. She pouted as she glared at Rebecca before walking away. "Take a seat", Philip said as he lit a cigarette, he took a drag as he let it out through his nose. He sipped his glass of whiskey as he stared at Rebecca. His gaze was cold and cunning and Rebecca knew not to provoke him. "I'm here concerning mom's case, her health is deteriorating fast, and I don't have any money on me to treat her or for the operation. I just paid off my student loan, please we need it", Rebecca said, trying to sound as pitiful as she could. "You could've just said you needed money, what is all the story for?", Philip said, glaring at Rebecca with nothing but disgust. He didn't like her from the start. He just loved Milan because of her beauty and brains, but he got tired of all her smartness. "Yes, I need money", Rebecca said with her voice laced with disgust. She was not only disgusted by her words but also by the man seated in front of her. "Okay, I'll give you the money as much as you want", Philip said as Rebecca's eyes went wide open. "Thank you sir", Rebecca said, but it was too early to rejoice. "But on one condition", Philip said as Rebecca squinted in confusion. "What is it?", Rebecca asked as Philip laughed, his laughter was sinister and dangerous. "Your step-sister Cecelia, is supposed to get married to one of my business partner's son, but she's too special and calm to marry such a man of no status, so I want you to marry Kilian Edward", Philip said as he looked at Rebecca, her eyes went wide like saucers as she stared at her father. Kilian was the son of a rich billionaire, but on his own, he was a poor and almost useless man in their society. How would Rebecca marry such a man? She who is poor cannot marry a man that is also poor.

"I will do no such thing, if Cecelia is the one meant to marry such a poor man then let her go ahead, I won't marry such a man on behalf of her", Rebecca said angrily. This man wasn't even her biological father yet he wanted to marry her off to some broke guy. "You can leave if you don't want to accept it, I'll find another person and give them the money, but don't come running back when Milan kicks the bucket", Philip said with a dark chuckle as he stared at Rebecca.

He was right, if she loses this opportunity that's the end, there's no one out there that's willing to help her or without an exchange of something, and marrying this man couldn't be that bad, could it? "Can I have some whiskey?", She suddenly asked as Philip chuckled, taking a glass as he poured her a shot. Rebecca took it as she downed it in a blink of an eye. If she wanted to think straight this was the only way. "I'll do it, but before I do it, can you start mom's operation? I don't want her to be here and see me getting married to a man I know absolutely nothing about", Rebecca said as Philip nodded in understanding. "Now you're talking like a true business woman. The wedding will be held tomorrow, since your sister was supposed to attend. You'll go in her place. Don't make a fuss when you do it's just a small wedding, would I even call it a wedding? It's just signing of the marriage papers then you'll move in with Kilian", Philip said as she could only nod, she didn't have a say in this she just had to obey and her mom would be perfectly fine, that was her top priority. "Good, I'm heading upstairs, my assistant would take you to pick a dress, and when you get home your mom would have been transferred to a hospital", Philip said standing up as he glanced at the bottle of whiskey in front of them. "You can as well finish that up", he said as he strode away heading towards the stairs. Rebecca sighed as she slumped into her chair weakly. She released the breath that she never knew she was holding. Well she's getting married, she said trying to convince herself that she was going to be fine but she wasn't too sure about that. Soon a lady dressed in a cooperate suit and short burgundy coloured hair walked downstairs, her make-up was messed up and she looked like someone who just did some vulgar act before coming down, it irritated the snot out of Rebecca but she just put in a polite smile. "You must be Rebecca, aren't you?" Ann, Philip's personal assistant said as she ran her gaze from the top of Rebecca's head down to her shoe as she scrunched up her nose in irritation. "Uh yes I am, you're his assistant?" Rebecca asked the lady slightly nervous by her scrutinizing gaze but Ann just chose to be mean. "Isn't that obvious already? anyway, let's go", Ann said as she walked ahead of Rebecca who had no choice but to follow her. As we got to a large boutique, Rebecca suddenly felt nervous and out of place, her clothes are either from thrift stores and her mom's old clothes so she never really had a proper taste in clothes. As Ann stepped in, two of the staff walked in to greet her. "Good day ma'am, you can browse through the dresses you would like in our store, then we'll pick out a wedding dress for you", One of the staff approached Rebecca as she spoke calmly. Rebecca wanted to get out of the whole scrutinizing party so she nodded. The second staff escorted her as she picked a few things she liked, finally she selected a simple wedding dress that hugged her curves with flower embroidery in it. Getting back home, she was so tired as she dropped her shopping bags on the couch stretching out her tired lumps, the house was awfully quiet which wasn't really a surprise she had been used to the silence for years now. She walked up to her mother's room taking off her hair that was pulled in a ponytail as it fell over her shoulders softly, as she opened the door expecting to see her mother's pale feets, she saw nothing, she quickly opened it only to see her mother wasn't there it seemed as if she had been done for long due to how cold the bed was. Her mother couldn't walk, so who took such an old lady? Rebecca asked herself until she remembered Philip's words. They had already come to take her, he had always been a dominant and selfish person and she couldn't blame him, she sighed as she left the room, she took the things to her room as she packed her belongings, leaving behind the old tattered clothes but taking her important things. As she showered hopping into bed, she couldn't wait to see what life had in store for her the next day.

Rebecca stood In front of the mirror as her stomach flipped with nervousness. She was dressed in a totally different dress, she didn't pick this but it was ordered by Philip. The dress was a long flowing black dress that hugged her curves too tightly, there was a long net in the front exposing her cleavage and flat stomach, the arms were bare allowing her milky skin shine, she wore black heels that made her look slightly tall, her hair was pulled into a slick bun with heart shaped pins holding them into place.

A black sequin veil was placed on her hair as it covered her face, the make up was light with a striking red lipstick adding to the look. She wore black diamond jewelries, in total everything she wore was black which was slightly odd. "It is time", Philip bursted into the room as he grinned at her dress, his eyes stuck on her cleavage. She wanted to protect herself from this man's lecherous gaze but she couldn't find the confidence to do so. "The stylist did an amazing job I must say", Philip said as he held out his arm to her, Rebecca was disgusted in herself but she just had to do it for her mom. She hooked her hand with Philip's as they left the room, approaching the hall, the sound of the wedding chorus filled the air as the guards opened the door for them. The hall was filled up to the brim which was slightly odd, Philip said Kilian was a nobody but with this she had a doubt. No one seemed fascinated by her black dress, the altar was decorated to stupor but it was beautiful. Then her eyes moved to that of the groom. Kilian was a man of 6'4 foot tall, his black hair was slicked to the side covering part of his face that gave him a mysterious look, he had piercings on each of his ears, his green eyes were dimmed as he stared at her, his red thin lips didn't even muster up a smile, he just gazed at her boringly. As Philip got to the altar, he handed her arm to Kilian who accepted it, he nodded at Philip who walked away to sit at the front row. The ceremony soon started, the readings followed by words of appreciation, they said they're vows and soon it was time. "You may kiss the bride", the priest said as Rebecca's heart raced in fear, she was expecting Kilian to raise her veil but he just glared at the priest. "By the power invested in me by God, I hereby pronounce these couples husband and wife", the priest said as the crowd clapped. Rebecca couldn't erase the embarrassment and disgrace that was engraved in her heart. Kilian immediately left the altar pulling her along, he didn't even allow her balance herself he just dragged her out of there with a gasp. Rebecca sat in the large limousine as Kilian was on a call with some lady, she couldn't help but feel stupid and jealous. She married a man who probably has a mistress and couldn't even kiss her on their own wedding day. She looked up at him and their eyes jammed briefly, she looked away with a flushed face. Soon the car came to a stop, Kilian got out without opening the door for her, she shook her head trying to get over the feeling of déjà vu. The door opened up at it was a young man, he had blonde locs and deep blue eyes and a charming smile. As she stepped out of the car, she was mesmerized by the talk fortress that stood In front of her. The whole fortress was painted black with large dark fences protecting the place from whatever was beyond these walls. "Hi, I'm sorry about my brother's behaviour, I'm Kyle", Kyle said as he offered his hand out to Rebecca for a handshake, she accepted it nervously but his palms felt warm as she looked up at him, she suddenly felt a force pull away from Kyle. "Stay away from my wife", Kilian said as Kyle gazed at his twin brother with a playful smirk. "Calm down dude, I'll see you later?", Kyle said Indirectly asking Rebecca for her name. "I'm Rebecca", she said without hesitating but she felt a chill run up her spine, as if someone was staring at her. "Alright Becca I'll see you later", with a smile Kyle went into a black car as it zoomed out of the fortresses gates. Rebecca felt nervous as she brought herself to look at Kilian who was staring right back at her. "Let's go", he said as he walked into the house, Rebecca's feets were killing her due to the heels and the long dress she was putting on. The sitting room was extravagant as expected, Kilian took off his coat as he stared at her. It was their wedding night after all they were now married. "You don't have to look so nervous, I'm not going to do anything to you, I just got married to you so my father could keep that deal, I don't marry girls against their will", Kilian said as he walked away going up the stairs.