Mr CEO Accidental Bride

DELILAH'S POV "You are the most beautiful bride, Lilah! Today is going to be awesome!" Mirabel, my best friend said and I couldn't help but giggled. I sat in front of the vanity mirror with my slender figure gracefully dressed in a white wedding gown. My elegant makeup brought out the exquisiteness of my pale complexion. I looked as delicate as a budding red rose. Yet, there was an uneasiness in my almond-shaped eyes. There was only another twenty minutes until the wedding ceremony, yet I felt so much uneasiness.

I was frantically sliding my fingers across my phone screen, anxiously awaiting a call from my soon to be husband. He promise to video call me before heading to the venue. It's only twenty minutes to the wedding and still, he haven't call. I was more than worried. Did he forget? Mirabel immediately squeezed my hands. I guessed she noticed how nervous I've become. "Okay, okay Lilah, you need to breath... Can you do that for me??" Mirabel asked. "I can breathe," I said to her, "I just need Richie calls right now and I will calm down." She looked at me wide-eyed. "Uh, Lilah... what if he forgets and have headed to the venue?" "Then I will have to check and confirm it." I muttered. "What" her jaw dropped. "You can't do that. It's twenty minutes to the wedding already. I'm sure you're gonna meet him there!" She said but I shook my head. I just got this crazy feeling that I should go and check. "Just call him instead!" She suggested and I rolled my eyes. "Do you think I haven't done that!" I threw my hands into the air. "But still, Richie apartment is a thirty minutes drive from here. When are you gonna get there!" She said. I paused. She was right but I'm not gonna buy that as well. I could wait no longer. I rose from my seat, clenched my hand around my phone and ran out of the room. "What do you think you're doing?. We're gonna be late for your wedding!" She said, running after me. I hurried down through the back corridor and froze in my tracks as i walked past one of the rooms. "Faster! Harder!!" I could hear someone's moans. I frowned. "I want you, honey. Go deeper." "Oh babe, you're so wet." sounds of intimating movements popped into my ears. The voices were familiar. I stopped and stared at the slightly ajar room door. My mouth went agape. "I bet my dumb sister will be waiting for you to go to her. She's too gullible to see that you've been using her. Did she really expects you to marry a naive girl like her?" Elena muttered. Elena was my younger sister. "I really can't imagined the embarrassment she'll face when she noticed her groom is no where to be found!" A loud laughter from her cause my heart to sink. "Do she really think I will go this far and marry her?. She must be a joke" Richie, my fiancé said as he held Elena in his arms and nuzzled his thin lips against her neck. "I can't wait to see her humiliated and disgraced. Did Delilah think she can surpass me?. Nah" She snickered wickedly. "She will lose her mind if she finds out that you left her for me and she will go crazy when she finds out that your relationship with her was all planned and you never loved her for the start" I felt a violent buzzing in my head. I took a step back and almost lost my balance but Mira caught me I never knew she was behind me all this why. I clenched my fists around my gown and held back the tears in my eyes. I have known Richie for two years now. I have met him just when I finished college. He approached me and propose relationship to me. I accepted him at once. I've never had a boyfriend despite all the blind dates I've went to. I thought something was wrong with me cuz no guy has approached. I was dying to have one. I wanted to feel how to be loved. Ever since my father married another woman, he have always favored my stepmom and her daughter forgetting I still exist. My mother left i and my dad just when I was five. She left her marriage of 10 years for reasons best known to her. I could still remember the argument that day when she left the house. Ever since that day, I've never set eyes on my mother again. Dad brought another woman and a little girl. He told me she was gonna be my new mother and the little girl was my sister As little I was, I just nodded but ever since then, dad loves towards me changed. He gives more attention and love to his other woman and girl but treats me differently. Desperate for love, I decided to give Richie a chance when he approached me and I eventually grow to loved him more. I was even the one that introduced him to Elena. I never knew they have know each other's. They both fooled me. What i least expected, was the fact that my fiance who said he loved me would turn around and betray me with my sister! They both used me. But for what reasons? What did I ever do to them? As the voices in the room intensified, i clenched my fists, and my eyes turned ice cold. For years, i endured my stepmother and stepsister's bullying for my father's sake. I suffered through all kinds of injustices for the sake of the ones I called family. I was too stupid and naive. I trusted him, but in a matter of seconds, that illusion had been utterly shattered into a million pieces. He cheated on me. Betrayal sears through me. I was horrified, tears were already rushing down my face as I couldn't help but scream their name. "Elena!!!" "Richie!!" Shock evident on Elena's face as she jumped from Richie body and immediately covered herself with the duvet. "Delilah?" Richie called shocked. "What...what are you doing here?" His murmured. I scoffed. Of course he ought to be surprised. "How could you two do this to me. I love you Richie and Elena, you're my sister. How could you do this to me without feeling guilty?" I inquired. "Oh spare me Lilah. Stop acting so innocent. You love thinking high of yourself right?. You think you're better than me in so many ways?. Your biggest offense was you trying to surpass me. You're so foolish Lilah!" She said, not even a hint of guilt evident on her face. "It's not my fault that I'm the woman Richie truly loves, Lilah." "It's also not my fault that he doesn't love you. So,you don't expect me to feel guilty and apologize. I did nothing wrong Lilah" She said and I shook my head. How could she say that. Is my wedding day today. What's gonna happen to all the guest I've invited? What's gonna become of me? That the groom and bride didn't show up on their wedding day? I could feel the excruciating pains in my chest. "And less I forget Delilah, Richie propose to me early this morning. Isn't it lovely?" Elena flashed her fingers, showing me her diamond engagement ring. I gasped. Hers was more beautiful than mine. A cold wind blew by, and i felt that the wind was not as cold as my heart. "No! Elena, how could you... he's my fiancé. My husband to be!" My eyes were red as i stared at my sister. "Delilah, let's make it clear. Right now, Richie is my fiancé." With that being said, she purposely displayed the huge diamond ring on her hand. The tears streamed out of my eyes and I didn't make any effort to stop them. With a smile on her face, she leaned beside Richie and placed a kiss on his lips. I stared at them in disgust. Anger sneered through me. I wanted to run away but my feet failed me. They were glued to the floor. I watched everything. Every single act they did in my front. She broke the hot kissed they just had and stared at me. "Delilah, are you satisfied with the wedding gift I gave you?" She asked. I shook my head as more tears rushed down my cheek. "Will you still stand there or will you love us to have a threesome. It should be our parting gift to each other" Richie said and snorted in disgust! "I hate you! I hate you both!" I said. My heart was shattered. I couldn't take it anymore. Why did they have to do their affair here? Couldn't they have gone to his apartment? "The feeling is mutual and thanks for giving me your virginity and letting me fuck you for a year. It was incredible!" He said. Tears has blurred my vision. I balled my fist and rushed out of there, barely catching a glimpse of where I was going and too heartbroken to care as I bolted to no where.

"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.

THE NEXT DAY I came out of the hotel I lodge the previous night. Yes! I didn't go home. I wasn't ready to face any of my family members. I stared at the new Diamond ring in my finger. I had got it yesterday as Zachary instructed. I sighed, ready to go home now. I have gotten rid of my wedding gown and was putting on a casual dress already. I took a taxi directly to the Houston family Mansion. When I got home, my dad Mr. Luke Houston had already gone to work. I sighed again as I climbed the stairs.

Just as i was walked to the living room, i saw Elena coming out of the study with a large pile of documents. She looked pure with a bob and a pristine face. "You're finally back, Sis. I was still worried about what happened yesterday. I'm sorry"She said, with a guilty look spread across her face. I frowned. "It's just that Richie is really not into you. You can't force someone to love you." She added. I only rolled my eyes. What was she up to? "Delilah I... I told you I'm sorry." She said, suddenly close to tears. "Right..." i laughed humorlessly at her drama. "I bet you are... I'm sorry too, for ever being born with a sister like you and getting to know him. You took my husband to be. What more do you want?" I yelled at her pretentious character. She can quit the drama since no one is here. "Don't say that....Sister! please... we are still sisters, we're going to always be sisters." She cried and I scoffed. "Enough is enough. You can stop acting since there's no one else here. I underestimated you before this." "Don't treat me this way. It's not my fault Richie loves me" She bit her lip, her tears streaming down her face. "So even after all that you did, you want to make yourself the victim? Are you happy now?" I balled my fist. I was angry. She walked straight to me and whispered in her ears. "Yes... The fact that I made you miserable will forever make me happy..." She said and I gasped. "You......" She moved away from me and held the document to my face. "I'll just yield to your demands in the future, okay? I won't get involved in matters related to the company. I'll pass you these documents." I frowned. Company? Documents? What's she saying. She shoved the documents into my hands. I found it strange and subconsciously extended my hands to push the documents away. As a result, all the documents dropped to the floor. "What are you guys doing?" Suddenly, my stepmother Callahan Houston walked down the stairs. "What have you done to my daughter, you witch!" She said when she caught the sight of her precious daughter teary face as well as the scattered documents. "Aren't these the company's documents that your dad asked you to go through?" She asked when she got to us. "Don't be mad at her, Mom. It's my fault." With a pale face, Elena hurriedly explained, "Delilah asked me to stop getting involved in the company's matters and hand these documents to me. I was planning on giving her the documents, but she's probably unhappy about the issue with Richie, so....." "You're lying..." I said immediately. How dare her? "Stop!" My stepmom, Callahan glared at me. "Who gave you the right to have a hand in the company's matters? It's your dad and me who asked Elena to go through the documents. My daughter Elena will officially become the manager of the company next week. You'd better behave yourself." I was dumbfounded. "Speaking of education and experience, I'm more qualified than her. Despite joining the company one year earlier than her, I'm not even a manager yet. What gives her the right to jump to a managerial position just like that?" I question. I'm the eldest daughter. How could they do this to me? "Mom, I'd better not become a manager. I don't want to ruin my relationship with Delilah," Elena immediately said while sobbing. My heart ached very badly. Her acting skills are so great. "Look how much Elena cares about your sisterhood. What about you? You're narrow-minded and calculating. You're not even qualified to be a manager. No wonder Your dad Houston would choose Elena instead." My stepmother's cruel words felt as if i was getting hit by a cane. As anger rushed through my body in a way that had never happened before, i took two steps backward. "Fine. Since I'm so terrible, I'll leave, okay?" I said. I've to get away from them all. They have never liked me anyway. "Yes! Leave!" I heard my stepmother voice as I went into my room. I got my suitcase and subsequently stuffed my clothes into it. "Mom, Delilah is mad. We should talk her out of leaving." I heard Elena's voice from the door and I scoffed loudly. "Don't bother with her. That's just how she behaves. She has been pampered too much and she's frustrated cause her wedding with Richie got ruined and he choose you over her. She'll come back two days later. Let's go and buy you some clothes since you're going to get married soon." I felt my heart ache more. Soon, the voices became faint. I guessed they left already. "Oh God!" I broke down in tears. But at that moment, the bedroom door opened. What the hell! I raised my head to see Richie sliding into my room. "What do you want?."i said, wiping the tears from my face. I won't give him the satisfaction in seeing me in pains. He didn't say a word, instead he stared keenly at me who had bloodshot eyes and slightly messy hair. The room was silent. Covering the space between us, Richie stretched out his hand to touch my hair. With a scornful look, i dodged away from his hand. "Does Elena know that you're here?" His handsome face froze, then he clenched his fist. "Delilah, you're probably unaware that the Houston family has decided to give Elena 80 percent of the company's shares." I was so shocked that my lips turned pale. Yes! I'm aware that dad made her the manager but 80% of the companies share?? What about me? "This is impossible. I'm the eldest daughter. I know dad doesn't like me but he can't change the fact that I'm his first daughter!" I said. He shook his head. "It's true. Your dad said it himself." He confirmed. I seemed to have grasped everything within minutes. Richie was gonna marry me because of my dad's company. But since it wasn't possible, he moved to Elena? Tears began to gush from my eyes. "So that's why you abandoned me and chose Elena, right?" He gripped my hands. "This is just temporary. I've just gotten engaged to Elena, but I'll leave our wedding on the back-burner. As you know, my dad has an illegitimate son. If I don't do this, I wouldn't even be able to compete. Delilah , I just want to provide you with a good life." "Liar." I shot him a deadly glance. I snatched my hand out of his grasp and threw insults at him. "You're only 25. Even if you don't get any inheritance from your family, can't you just start your own business?" "You're too naive. It's not easy as you thought." He was so close to me so as our bodies touched each other. "It's not in our power to choose certain things due to our background." I looked cold without uttering a word as i found it unreasonable. Amid the silence, Richie sighed softly. "Give me three years, Delilah. You're still young. You can afford to wait." He said. I nearly went mad. How dare he say such things in a self-righteous manner? "Please get out of my face. I don't want to see you anymore!" I yelled, picking a pillow and throwing it on his face. "Don't say that honey. I love only you. Just you baby!"He said, grabbing my hand. "Let go!" I yelled as i violently shook his hands off. "I hate you Richie Hills" With large teardrops falling on the back of my hand, i carried my suitcase and left without glancing at him. . . . .