I Married My Grumpy Patient!

"I hate you." I spat and ran my hands through my hair.

Our wedding was in two weeks. The engagement had already happened and now I found out that he had a wife and two kids somewhere in Manila — Yet he wanted to marry me as a second wife?

“Don’t say that…” James began and I rolled my eyes.

“What? That you’re a lying cheat? That you wanted to walk me down the aisle while you had a wife and two freaking children?!”

“Keep your voice down, Amber—”

“What?!” I snapped, glaring at him. “No, you keep your mouth shut.“ I pulled the engagement ring off my finger. “Because I am not so desperate that I will marry a liar.”

My eyes stung with tears and my stomach twisted as I glared at that man I had been willing to walk down the aisle with.

The entire alliance had been fixed to ensure my family's fortune was secured.

“You are going to regret this. Everyone is waiting—”

“Who?” I raised an eyebrow. “Mother? Alicia? Wait.” I paused. “Do they know?”

I wrapped my arms around myself and refused to make eye contact with James. His silence sloped me in the face.

After my father passed away two years ago, the only way for me to reclaim his properties from our hungry and desperate relatives was to get married before twenty-five.

"You were never going to tell me, were you?." I asserted and wiped my tears.

“I was going to tell you—”

“Sure you were, after I said, ‘I do’ right?”

“Amber—”

“I am done.” I breathed and took quick strides out of the room before he could say anything else.

My eyes stung with fresh tears and I hit back a sob as I entered my room.

I never wanted to get married, handle my father's empire, or enter a lifelong relationship with my childhood friend who felt obligated to marry me because of the promise he made to my father even though he had a family of his own.

I stood up and walked toward my mirror. I would be a despicable person to accept a wedding like this. To accept to marry someone who was not even mine.

The only relationship that existed between James and me was friendship. Even that was ruined now. Mother insisted that as time went by — Love would come. After all, it worked for her relationship with my Father.

But I wasn’t them.

All I wanted to do was go back to Los Angeles and continue my career as a Psychologist.

I wanted my own identity and not to become a Mrs or someone's wife.

"Amber..."

"Stefan!" I shrieked, glancing around the room. Of course, no one was there.

The sound of my dead brother's voice had always haunted me. Ever since he died. Ever since he jumped off that balcony I was helpless.

My brother had taken his life six years ago. He was a war veteran. He couldn't take it anymore and it was at that point, that I promised to never feel helpless and decided to study psychology.

But now, life was snatching my only chance at having something worthwhile and tangible in my life.

"Amber," I flinched but then realized it was just Alicia.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, staring into her blue orbs. How could she have fooled me too?

"The lawyer is here, They need you to sign the consent form to move ahead with the wedding."

I tightened my grip on my dress and nodded. Everyone was in for a rude awakening.

As I took slow steps toward the study, where James and my mother were waiting. I swallowed the lump in my throat

"She's here, let us start." Mother said as I entered. Her brown shoulder-length hair complemented her amber-green eyes.

I shifted from one foot to another and glanced around the room. I could taste the tension from where I stood and James did everything to avoid my gaze.

"These are the papers, sign here;" The lawyer, Mr. Golden, My father's best friend for over thirty years spoke.

I remembered adoring the man as a child, but ever since these marriage proceedings started, I dreaded meeting him.

Mother collected the pen hastily from Mr. Gorden and handed it over to me. "Alright, do it honey." She urged with a sweet smile.

I clasped the pen within my grip and made eye contact with James who looked away.

My heart clenched and I bit back a sob. It felt like I was being robbed like I was about to give it all away.

My career. My rights. My entire life and Identity.

"Did you know James had another family?" I blurted and locked eyes with my mother.

Her eyes widened and her breath hitched. Please, tell me it’s a lie, a joke, a misunderstanding. I needed her to lie to me.

To tell me that my mother could not cheat me like this and —

"Focus on signing, sweetheart." She urged again.

She knew.

Suddenly, the pressure that had built up in my chest loosened. My fists tightened and the edges of my lips curled downward.

My grip on the pen almost crushed it and I glanced between them both. A familiar feeling pierced every fiber of my being.

It was the same feeling I felt when Stefan jumped off his balcony.

The same one I had felt when my father died in the hospital.

The feeling of betrayal because no one cared to inform me. Yet now, they wanted me to take the mantle and save this family who had never truly loved or cared for me.

Making a quick, impulsive decision — I pushed the papers aside and slammed the pen to the ground.

My mother gasped and James took a step forward.

"Don't — Don't you even dare James."

"Do not make this mistake, or you will lose your entire family." Mother threatened.

"This family was never mine, to begin with, There won’t be a wedding and for the record," I paused and licked my lip. "You’re losing me. Not the other way around.”