CHAPTER 1: BLYTHE

 HUSBAND AND WIFE

LOVE IS like the luminous full-phase moon glowing from the night sky; it doesn't usually appear every single night but when it does, everyone makes sure to cherish it a lot...

Just like what Blythe used to believe in life; her principle about love and marriage was as sacred as every sanctuary in holy places like churches. Even though growing up with her real parents has never been her fate, and the old woman who stood up as her second guardian never had any man beside her. Yet, never a chance her belief in the importance of the presence of love for the two persons who will be bound to marry or live together was laid aside.

For the twenty-year-old lady, one of the most important ingredients of marriage is love. But in their hole right now, their countless necessities; and not to mention her unending problems... it seems that her principle and belief have no part to take in her life at the moment. An accident happened to her Mama Celia days ago which put the old woman into a coma and she needs to undergo an operation as soon as possible to survive.

Unfortunately, Blythe was strapped for cash to afford the bill and what makes it even tougher was fate making fun of her— Blythe experienced a series of misfortunes these past few days. First on the list was their hostile landlady who threw her out of their small apartment just two days ago because she failed to pay their house rent for the third time now. And not to mention the damn pickpocket who stole her last money for the next three days.

 

Those string of bad events left her nothing but herself and her mother. Everything is making her crazy but of course, leaving her Mama Celia hanging on will be the last thing she will do. So, despite the doubt and sadness growing in her chest, she signed the freaking marriage agreement with her eyes tightly shut. It was ripping her heart apart but she would endure it as long as she can. Blythe has been there before, so doing it again for the sake of her sick mother won’t kill her that much.

Once again she forced a smile when the photographer directed the lens of his DSLR camera towards her direction, she did her very best to stay beautiful despite the cold and rough wind scratching her skin while she was slowly walking down the carpeted aisle. The sensation was piercing through her heart and it was clawing her guts, making her think of throwing the towel already.

So, to divert her attention from overthinking things again, Blythe busied her eyes praising all the beautiful flowers scattered around the aisle. Their fragrant essence was blending with the cold night breeze and it was a breath of relief even just for a bit.

Aside from those aesthetic flowers is also the majestic full phase of the moon beside the veil-like layer of cirrostratus clouds, sneaking a look from them under. Always, she's too breathtaking; especially when she's full and so bright. Blythe adores the breathtaking Luna so much because of the strings that are somehow making her feel connected with it. Well, since her childhood Luna used to be there whenever there was an episode of misfortune in her life... just as right now.

Like the moon who only shows up at night, Blythe can also feel her freedom of going anywhere she likes and enjoying the world when the sun is not around anymore to burn her sensitive skin. It was as if only the moon could embrace her for who she really is. But if her memory serves her right, since the orphanage's tragedy up to the very misfortune she's experiencing right now, the moon has always been there to witness her distress. It was as if Luna had been keeping wrath from her and she was punishing Blythe at every chance possible.

From the breathtaking view of the moon, Blythe lowered her gaze only for her heart to be arrested by the sight of those intimidating set of hazel eyes owned by Attorney Alezzandro Vizmanos who was standing with his glorious self next to the minister who will bind their fate together as one. The wind is playing with the long hem of his peak lapel long tuxedo, exhibiting the mysterious aura he carries everywhere. Perfect posture with a length of seven feet which usually screams strength that terrifies everyone who tries to come near him but tonight, his perpendicular position is somewhat giving her the sense of cage as in the peek of hopelessness in her heart.

Some famous magazines and television interviews that have featured Attorney Vizmanos used to describe him as a successful businessman and a ruthless lawyer in court. Many—including Blythe— usually feel admiration towards this amazing gentleman, far different from the vibe he's giving her tonight— as if she's a bird preparing for her cell. Never once has she felt this terrified her whole life, but her weird feelings give no justice because the person she's going to marry is not a bad one. Not even a monster...

The sacred matrimony began the moment he finally got the chance to hold her cold hand. So, this is really it? Damn! Blythe wants to puke her heart out because of intensifying fear, nervousness, or whatsoever! Peace flew away like a bird in the wilderness whenever they sensed danger around, it's getting harder to tame her heart and that explains why she's been inattentive to the ceremony. The sound it makes was a complaint about the fate that she never saw even in her dreams and it outshines the voices she's supposed to listen to.

None of the faces around was familiar as she watches each of the guests sitting in front of them, Blythe never informed her friends because it was part of the rules they had agreed on together as they signed the contract. There are actually so many rules written in the agreement, but Blythe could only remember a few of those.

"Blythe..." Zandro called, breaking the clouds around her mind. He feigned a rough smile as he motioned his head toward the minister's direction. "Your turn now."

Blythe flickered her eyes enumerable times when she found those minister's set of nut brown eyes under his spectacle waiting for her answer. For one more time, he repeated the golden phrases he quoted from the holy book between his hands; as he stopped her eyes jumped over that stoic face of the man she was going to gamble her life with again. Damn! This must be a joke, but thinking about her mother's pain and the danger that's waiting for her...

"I-I do," she answered with her throat narrowing which produced only a half-whisper. Attorney Zandro titled his head in a thirty-degree manner, Blythe bit her lower lip and said it again in a louder voice. "I do."

"And now I pronounced you as husband and wife..."

That leads them into the next stage of the ceremony. 

After their ring bound them as newlyweds, the minister also asked them to share a kiss to seal what was in their vows... It's not and it will never be a sweet one for they both know only love can make it sweeter. Their loveless marriage which they built only for convenience can never bring them the satisfaction that a real couple has, although she felt a slight touch of flame all over her body when he bent down to give her a smack of a kiss.

And that flame in his kiss burnt her fairytale— the sweetness of the first kiss, the magic of love; and the sacredness of matrimony. Zandro and the temptation that his promises brought her ruined everything, and Blythe has no right to whine now because she accepted it in the first place. For her Mama Celia, she will risk everything...

The indifference in the pit of her stomach ignited more in her system just when the banquet was served and shared with a few of their witnesses. As the event preceded, her eyes never stopped watching everyone around. The prevailing luxury, fancy clothes, fine demeanor; and the aristocracy— a sumptuous environment she’s never belonged to— only prove how wrong her decision was.

Part of their conversations were topics that usually tackle business, money; and everything that has to do with social class… Instead of tolerating the void growing in her chest, Blythe decided to keep her attention on those mouth-watering foods because she never had a decent meal for the past few days due to over-crying about her mother's condition. Funny to think how fate once again played the cards; now she's starting to believe in Addi's psycho-advice about that certain term "Cherophobia".

They were still in the process of recovering from the bankruptcy of their small business but here is another bullet of problems again, raining down on their parade and hurting them. To keep negativity is the last thing she wants to feel right now, but she’s having a hard time finding some light. 

Will she really make it?

In the middle of chewing the food in her mouth, her weary eyes grazed the shimmering stone of the ring on her finger. There were three tiny stones embedded in it and they were shining with every touch of a small amount of light coming from the moon. This gorgeous thing won't mean anything but to show everyone the bond she has with Attorney Vizmanos now, with someone she barely knows and loves...

Just after the wedding comes another deafening silence around the wide and stunning room where she's staying for the meantime, Zandro refuses to accommodate her in his room because they both know the truth. Blythe as well doesn’t like the idea of sharing a room with him because she's not yet comfortable with it. Although part of their contract says that they have to live under one roof together like a real couple. Their rules have to be strictly followed, or else he will stop funding her mother's hospital bills.

Along with the wide window where she was standing, Blythe saw the last car exited from the tall gate in the front. The raging frustration pulled her shoulder down, knowing it was Zandro who was in the car.

Did he leave just like that after their wedding?

A cold smirk found its way to her lips. "And what am I expecting here?"

Instead of making more reasons to start a drama that will surely make her chest heavy eventually, she chose to dive into her soft and expensive bed to let it carry all of the negativity for now, also the emptiness growing in her stomach. Shutting her eyes and forcing herself to sleep, Blythe slowly felt her nerves calming down as her brain produced too many melatonin hormones which eventually put her into a deep sleep eventually...