My Secret Husband

I was half awake when I felt a stomachache. I could feel the pain and the urge to vomit, so I quickly got up. But that sensation vanished immediately and was replaced by nervousness when I realized where I was.

This isn't my room! Where am I?!

"Damn!" I whispered to myself.

When I looked down at myself, I nearly went into a trance when I realized I wasn't wearing anything, just a blanket wrapped around me.

"Ugh..."

My whole world seemed to pause when I heard that faint growl. I had no idea what I'd do next. My entire body started to tremble with fear and anxiety. I prayed that my assumption was wrong. I hoped it was Ares.

But I was completely mistaken when I saw the man beside me from behind. He had a large dragon tattoo on his back and a full-sleeve tattoo as well. He was broad and muscular, clearly the result of hitting the gym - definitely not Ares' back.

What have you done, Ana? Who is this man?

I was about to stand up when I felt something in my hand, on my finger. I examined it closely and frowned when I saw I was wearing a ring-a wedding ring?!

"What's going on..." I whispered, still examining the ring to figure out its kind, all while my heart continued to thump loudly.

My world shattered completely when I realized what kind of ring it was. I rapidly scanned the room and spotted a piece of paper on the side table. I quickly stood up and grabbed the paper. As I read it, I felt like I might faint.

"Damn..." I whispered again, trembling and holding the paper. "A marriage contract?"

What transpired last night? Why does this document exist? Why am I wearing a wedding ring and finding a marriage contract here? Why am I in this room with this man? Where's Elena? What the hell happened, Ana?!

Tears welling up, I placed the paper back on the table. My heart was still racing as I pondered my next move - should I just leave or confront this man who was still asleep and demand an explanation?

"Hey..."

I froze in my spot at the sound of that voice. It was whole and still hoarse. When I turned to look at the speaker, I saw the man sitting on the bed. I glanced down at his body. Like his back, his chest was also broad.

What's wrong with you, Ana?!

"W-who are you? What did you do to me?" I fired off one question after another, wiping the tears from my eyes.

He suddenly smirked at me and shook his head.

"Don't make me laugh, lady. Don't you remember anything?"

"A-answer my question! Who are you? Why... Why is there a marriage contract here? Why am I wearing a wedding ring? Why are we both naked?" I cut him off, the intense nervousness burning in my heart.

Even though I already knew the possibilities, I still hoped my thoughts were wrong.

That little smirk never left his lips. Instead of answering, he suddenly stood up and faced me. For a moment, my eyes widened at his action, realizing he wasn't wearing anything. I quickly bent down and bit my lower lip hard. What kind of man was this and was this his habit?

"I see. Looks like you really don't remember anything. That sucks. You don't even remember what happened between us last night," he said in his arrogant tone.

My anger intensified. I wanted to look at him, but I couldn't be certain if he was wearing anything or not.

But my attention shifted when he mentioned what happened last night. Something had indeed transpired between us. At first, I still denied it to myself, but that was shattered when I saw the bloodstain on the bed sheet.

I sat down on the bed with my back to him and cried quietly, overwhelmed with annoyance and anger. I didn't even know what I was going to do after this. What awaited me now?

"I can't believe it... you took advantage of me-"

"Not really. You were the first to approach me, Miss. If only you could remember everything. We had fun last night. We were both very drunk. From what I saw last night, I think you enjoyed it too," he interjected, making me feel even more dejected.

I knew it. That was my first time drinking hard liquor. I didn't understand why I couldn't remember anything from last night. But there was only one thing on my mind now: How do I tell Ares?

"The ring you mentioned earlier is our wedding ring. We got married last night. Something happened between us; it was a honeymoon. I guess you're not that foolish for not knowing that," he said coolly. I turned to him quickly.

He was already wearing pants and fixing his hair.

"I don't believe you! Didn't you stop me from what I did and agree to get married just because we were both drunk?" I shouted at him, but he just laughed.

I could even see him looking at my body, so I quickly ran into the bathroom with my belongings. Once inside, I sat down and wept with deep remorse.

I was so confused. I didn't know what to believe. I didn't know if I should believe what that man said. But what if it was true? What if I did that last night? How would Ares and I get married? It was supposed to be my bachelorette party. Elena had prepared that for me after Ares proposed to me.

And now, here I am.

Married to a man I don't know.

And something happened between us.

How am I supposed to believe that when I don't remember anything?

After I finished bathing and getting dressed, I quickly packed my belongings. Suddenly, I grabbed my bag and searched for my cell phone. When I saw that it had a low battery, my heart pounded even more.

"You can relax. You should be thankful you married me. Don't worry, I'll be a good husband-"

"I will immediately file for an annulment if this is really true," I interrupted him.

The man suddenly laughed, so I looked at him. Suddenly, his face turned serious.

"You can't do that anymore, wife. Our wedding is even more official after what happened between us last night..." he said in his deep voice, quickly closing the distance between us.

I was about to walk away from him, but he quickly cornered me against the wall. I automatically looked up because he was so tall. I saw him lower his gaze to my lips and then return to my eyes again. I could feel my heart pounding .

"Damn. I will not regret our marriage because of you. You were amazing last night with those innocent eyes. I almost fainted, you know..."

And I was sure, this would be my worst nightmare. This man would be my biggest mistake.

I was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the building in front of me. I suddenly recalled my first day of work at this company, and now it's been three years since. I still can't fully grasp that I've been here for so long.

"Ana!"

I quickly turned to the caller and saw Elena rushing towards me.

"Why did you come in? Sir Ares is already gone. He didn't leave any work for you," she informed me right away.

I frowned and entered the main entrance of the Aragon Estate building with Elena.

"What do you mean?" I asked her in surprise. She seemed equally bewildered.

"Didn't he tell you? The board has an out-of-town trip today and he's with Sir Ares and Don Damien," she replied, surprising me.

I didn't respond because I didn't know what to say. Ares never mentioned this to me. I just talked to him on the phone earlier, but he didn't say anything. It couldn't be true. Is she playing a joke on me?

"Really? Why didn't he tell me?" I asked as we waited for the elevator to open.

Elena just shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not his girlfriend. You know, you're really lucky. Just imagine, your boyfriend is our boss," she said excitedly, irritating me.

"I'm lucky for him because he's a good person, not because of his status, Elena," I quickly defended, and she laughed.

"I'm just kidding. I know that. You're my best friend, after all. I have a question for you," she continued, and I looked at her.

I noticed that she was acting weird, but I decided to let it go. She seemed to be hiding something from me and was struggling to tell me.

"What is it?"

"Do you want to get married? I mean, we're not young anymore. I know you're still focused on supporting your family, but you know... do you have any plans for marriage?" She asked, looking very eager to hear my answer.

I frowned as I contemplated Elena's question. Sometimes dealing with her randomness was challenging. I often found it hard to have meaningful conversations with her.

However, regarding her question, I do want to get married to the person I love, of course. Who wouldn't? I want to marry Ares. He's the only man I can see myself spending the rest of my life with, and I know he feels the same about me. But on the other hand, I'm not sure if I'm ready. I still have so much to achieve and prove to myself.

"That's quite a random question, Elena. You go upstairs first. I'll just call Sir Ares," I deflected.

She quickly turned to me with a pout, making me chuckle.

"You're such a buzzkill. See you later. I've got something important to tell you," she said as she bid me goodbye and hurried out when the elevator doors opened.

I followed her with my gaze until she disappeared from my sight. As the elevator closed again, I picked up my phone and quickly called Ares. It was still ringing when he answered.

"Yes, babe?" He greeted me on the other line, and I automatically smiled.

"Where are you?" I asked, leaning against the elevator frame. Next, I heard him swearing on the other line.

"Oh, damn! I'm sorry. I forgot to mention earlier that I'm on an out-of-town trip. I'm sorry, baby..." he apologized softly, pleading in his tone, making me smile even more, especially at the sound of his deep voice. Never gets old.

"It's okay, Ares. Elena already informed me, but I'm planning to stay here at the office. I have a lot to catch up on-"

"No, no. You should go home. I don't want you staying at the office without me. You know how I feel about that," he interjected, catching me off guard.

Even to this day, he still struggles with this issue. It's been a few months since that incident happened, but he can't seem to let it go. This man is really something else.

"It's fine, Ares. I'll stay in your office for now," I insisted and stepped out of the elevator when it opened.

I headed straight to the pantry when I felt hunger gnawing at me. I hadn't had breakfast before leaving home earlier due to the rush. Also, mama was in a bad mood, so I wasn't sure if I'd have much of an appetite at home.

Ares sighed on the other line, seemingly patient again.

"Just do as I ask, Anastacia. Go home and wait for me. Let's discuss things once I get back. Don't you dare disobey me," he warned me, making me swallow any retort. I wasn't really winning with this guy.

"Fine, Sir Ares Constantine. See you soon. Please be safe," I conceded, finding a seat on a sofa nearby. Next, I heard a slight grin in his voice.

"I'll see you soon. Take care. I love you, Ana," he said seriously, and a smile involuntarily spread across my face. The butterflies in my stomach were starting to flutter again, and my heartbeat quickened.

Things haven't changed much. It's been two years since I officially accepted his love, but his demeanor towards me is still as it was from the beginning. I'm gradually falling deeper into him, and I don't know how to convey it. I fear that if I do, he might change. But then again, I doubt it.

Ares is a good man. From the moment I met him, his kindness was evident, much like his father, Don Damien, the owner of the Aragon Group of Companies. Their family stands among the wealthiest and most successful businessmen in the country, with ventures ranging from hotels, casinos, resorts, and malls. Ares serves as the CEO of Aragon Estate, which focuses on managing casinos and resorts.

So when he told me one day that he wanted to date me, I was stunned. Initially unsure of his intentions, I felt like he might just be messing with me. But my skepticism disappeared when he introduced me to his parents and expressed his deep love for me.

After my conversation with Ares, I decided to meet up with Elena outside the building. As much as I wanted to stay at the office, I also refrained from doing so, knowing Ares might catch wind of it and come home because of that.

"Got any plans for later?" Elena asked while we waited for a taxi.

"Just heading home. Why? What's up?" I inquired.

My attention momentarily shifted as I received a text from my older brother, Matthew.

Matthew

Lend me some money

I stared at it for a moment before replying and then turned to Elena. It was then that I noticed she had also glanced at my phone, so I placed it back in my bag.

"The audacity of your brother is truly something else. He's the eldest and still asking you for money," she remarked. I just shook my head.

"You know the situation. Maybe he needs it to find a job," I responded, turning my attention back to the road.

"He's still job-hunting? Your family really is different. You're fortunate in your love life but less fortunate in your family," she said seriously, so I patted her arm.

"I'm still fortunate because I still have a family," I replied briefly, and she simply stared at me. Before she could say more, a taxi pulled up in front of us, and I bid her goodbye.

"I'll text you later. Take care," she said before parting ways, and I nodded.

As soon as the car started moving, my phone rang again with another text, still from my older brother.

Matthew

Just hand it to mom when you get home

I winced as I read that. I chose not to respond and simply looked out the window. That's when I noticed the gloomy sky, hinting at an upcoming rain. I felt even heavier as memories of that incident resurfaced amidst the heavy rain.

"I miss you so much, papa..." I whispered to myself as the rain poured down.

I reached home in about an hour. The quiet ambiance enveloped me as I headed straight to my room.

After changing into comfortable clothes, I went out to look for Mama or Agatha. In the backyard, I spotted Mama chatting with some of her friends. When I saw what they were up to, I felt a wave of fatigue and let out a sigh. I was about to head back to my room when I ran into Agatha, just coming out of her room.

"When did they start playing?" I asked her, but she didn't even look at me.

"Agatha," I called her name again, thinking she hadn't heard me. She glanced at me for a moment, then turned away once more.

"Let her be, Ana. You always object like that. It's annoying," she replied firmly.

I pursed my lips, ready to say something, but she entered her room and nearly closed the door. I bit my lower lip and sighed heavily. Gambling is not a hobby...

Later that afternoon, I was taken aback by a series of phone rings. I quickly picked up and answered when I saw Elena's name.

"Hello..."

"Ana! I've been trying to call you! It's Ares!" Elena shouted on the other line. I felt a sudden rush of energy due to her words and tone. She seemed confused and scared, so I immediately got up.

"What... why? What happened? Where are you?" I bombarded her with questions, my heart starting to tremble.

"I'm outside your house!" she continued. I could still hear her gasping, so I hurriedly left the room.

"Elena, why? What's going on?"

"Ares... had an accident on his way home. I've been trying to call you!"

My heart seemed to stop for a moment when I heard that. Without another thought, I ran out of the house as tears streamed down my face.

Ares...

I had been restless in the car since earlier, while Elena seemed unfazed. I wanted to ask her what was truly going on because I felt like she was just playing a prank on me. As we traveled to the hospital where she said Ares was, she didn't talk to me, and I sensed no concern from her.

"Are we still far away, Elena? Is there no one we should contact at the hospital? Should I call his dad or his mom?" I bombarded her with questions, periodically checking my cell phone.

"Don't call anyone, Ana. We're almost there, don't worry," she replied, her tone was serious. I looked at her in surprise.

"What do you mean-"

"Just relax, Ana," she interrupted me and accelerated the car.

Confused, I waited for us to reach our destination. A few more minutes passed until we stopped in front of an upscale restaurant. I turned to Elena, ready to question her. But before I could speak, she swiftly got out of the car and opened the passenger seat door. I was met with her apologetic face.

"What's going on? Why are we here? I thought he was in the hospital-"

"Damn it, Ana. I can't keep lying to you. I'm risking my position with Sir Ares by doing this," she said, surprising me even more.

I got out of the car and confronted her. For a moment, I peered inside the restaurant we were now in front of. There weren't many people there, just a few waiters.

I turned to Elena, who was engrossed in her phone.

"Why are we really here? What's going on? Where is Ares?" I asked, growing increasingly annoyed.

She quickly stashed her phone back in the pocket of her corporate attire, scratching her head as she looked at me.

"Just go inside. He's waiting for you," she replied, then flashed me a smile, causing my eyes to widen.

"What am I supposed to do inside? I'm in casual clothes, Elena!" I exclaimed in frustration, while also dialing Ares' number, struggling to understand this woman's actions.

"So what? It's okay. There aren't many people inside," I heard Elena say, but I didn't pay much attention as Ares answered my call.

"Ares? Where are you? Elena said something bad happened to you-"

"Look inside," he cut me off. His voice was serious but gentle.

Confused, I looked inside the restaurant once more. My eyes searched for Ares, and when I saw him standing near the entrance, it all clicked.

"What's going on, Ares Constantine? Were you just playing a prank on me?" My eyes narrowed at him, and I saw him scratch his head.

"I'm sorry. I just didn't know how to tell you, knowing you don't like places like this," he replied softly, leaving me shaken.

But at the same time, I let out a relieved sigh, knowing nothing bad had happened to him. I couldn't bear the thought of something terrible occurring. Accidents were something I despised.

I sighed tiredly while still looking at him from outside.

"Please, don't do this again. You have no idea how worried I was-"

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, baby. Let's just talk here. I have something important to tell you," he interrupted me again, frustrating me. He clearly didn't enjoy being lectured about his pranks.

In the end, I could only follow what he said. After we talked, I turned to Elena, who was smiling mischievously beside me. I promptly slapped her arm, causing her to yelp.

"You should've just told me so I could at least fix myself!" I chided her as I adjusted my appearance.

Even though I wanted to decline Ares' invitation to come inside due to my appearance, I couldn't. I was only in a pajama suit and had my hair in a messy ponytail. Annoyed, I removed my hair tie and tried to tidy up.

"I was just following orders. Why are you blaming me?"

"Even so! Look at how I look!" I scolded her and left her there. I could hear her laughter, which only fueled my irritation.

When I entered the restaurant, I noticed a CLOSED sign at its entrance, which surprised me. Why was it closed if it was still open?

"Good evening, Ma'am. This way, please," greeted the waiter who had been waiting there.

"Good evening," I greeted him, feeling embarrassed, and rearranged my clothes. This was truly embarrassing!

"Why is it closed if it's still open?" I couldn't help but ask him. He smiled slightly in response.

"This is Mr. Aragon's property, Ma'am. He ordered us to close it tonight for your dinner."

I pursed my lips at what I heard. Seriously? Why did he have to do this when we could have eaten anywhere without flaunting his wealth?

Before I could speak further, Ares came to greet me. As I looked at him, I realized he was also in casual attire-gray shorts and a white t-shirt.

"Why are you wearing that? And what's going on?" I asked him, completely astonished.

He gently grabbed my waist and pulled me closer. He kissed me on my forehead and cheek, leaving me even more embarrassed due to how I look.

"I just woke up, Ares. Why are you wearing that? Where have you been?" I resisted and slightly distanced myself, worried that my breath might not be pleasant. It was really irritating!

He looked at me intently, and his smile widened even more. I could see the happiness in his eyes as he observed me. I couldn't quite describe his expression-it just felt so wonderful.

"I knew you'd be embarrassed to walk in here dressed like that, so I didn't bother dressing up either. Besides, you're still beautiful no matter what you wear. Stop doubting yourself when you're with me, hmm?" He said softly and held my hand even tighter.

I bit my lower lip and just smiled at him because I didn't know what else to say. Every time he complimented me like this, I struggled to respond because I felt like I didn't deserve it.

But Ares always told me, whenever I doubted myself, that it never changed. He was the reason my self-confidence grew. He had played a significant role in my personal growth.