Chapter 6: A Facade

Anna and Dalton sat on the head table, facing the guests. Anna tried to match Dalton's energy to avoid much drama regarding the difference of their expressions.

She allows a soft smile on her lips every once in a while, but reverts back to a more serious and sombre facial expression.

Her efforts proved to be effective, as the guests all thought that they were simply overwhelmed with their emotions.

“They look quite cute trying to pretend to be serious," a girl commented.

"Oh yes," another girl agreed. "They're trying to show us that they are taking this whole marriage seriously.

Across from the two girls, Heinz Landon from the Landon Group was talking to his wife.

“I told Spencer to ask Anna out ages ago," he angrily told his wife. "Now, it's all too late."

"Hush, my dear," his wife tried to calm him down. "People can hear you."

"Like I care," he continued. "Anna's shares would have been a great addition to our assets."

Mrs. Landon awkwardly smiled at people while leading her husband away.

This was no surprise for anyone present. The Delgado family is one of the most prominent families in the country.

A lot of guys tried to get close to Anna for a chance to be associated with the well-known family.

Unfortunately for them, Anna never budged. Spencer was just one of the many men who tried approaching her and left unsuccessfully.

She wasn't a complete snob at all. Those men came from wealthy families themselves, they were moving in the same social circle, after all.

It was just so apparent to Anna how shallow and mercenary their attempt for connection was.

Anna smiled bitterly when she realized that the same thing could now be said of her. Of course, her reason isn't purely materialistic for her, but other people might call her that just the same.

She knows of one person who will definitely call her that. The man sitting next to her, none other than her own husband.

He didn't even throw one look at her during the whole evening. She took a sharp breath when this realization sank in.

Dalton shifted next to her, then stood up. She watched him.

"Thank you, everyone, for giving us the honor of witnessing this momentous occasion with us. Although, we now have to leave you to enjoy the reception to yourselves. Our cruise awaits us," he addressed the guests.

The guests clapped after Dalton's speech.

Now, they accompanied the couple outside to their limo, while throwing words of congratulations and joy to the happy couple.

Or so they thought. Because while the guests whispered among themselves about how the couple must be excited for each other, which must account for why they only stayed for one hour in their reception, the actual couple rode in tensed silence all the way to the dock where their cruise ship was waiting.

Anna, assisted by a butler, stepped out of the limousine. Her reception dress, she changed out of her glittering all-white wedding dress after the ceremony, accentuated the shape of her body better.

She stepped near the gangway where her father and the rest awaited them. Their cars had followed Anna and Dalton's limo. Now, they stood in front of the cruise, waiting for Anna and Dalton.

Anna went to Dalton's mom first. They hugged sweetly, Mrs. Guevarra wiped away happy tears.

"Have fun, my darling. Take care of each other."

She reached over for Dalton. She whispered something in his ear.

Soon, everyone said their goodbyes to the couple. Anna and Dalton stood on the ship waving goodbye to their families.

Once they were out of sight, Anna made her way to their suite. Dalton followed her, each step showing his anger.

Anna turned to look at him while she was removing her gloves. She threw them to the dressing table, and reached for her necklace next.

Dalton fixed an angry stare at her. She looked at him through the mirror.

"I must say," he scoffed. "Congratulations. You won. You played the long game and you won."

Anna reached for her earrings next.

"I wasn't playing any game, Dalton. You know that."

"Then why did you decide to arrange this marriage?" he shouted at her.

"I didn't arrange it. I was merely informed of it, just like you were," she reminded him.

"You could have refused. You had more say in this than me." His words burned with deep hatred. "It's not like you love me. We both know that isn't true. So why would you do this?"

Anna sighed in front of the mirror.

"Was this your way of trying to compete with Lara? You just wanted her to know that you could defeat her, right?" he accused her.

"What do I care about Lara?"

Dalton almost charged at her.

"And why won't it be possible for me to love you, Dalton?" she fixed her eyes on him.

She could see that he was trembling with anger.

"She's gone!" he shouted, not listening to her. "And this was all because of you!"

Anna moved to the bed. "Come on, Dalton, it's not like I handed her the plane ticket."

"Be quiet!" he demanded. "I love her. You knew that, more than anyone, you knew that. But you still had to ruin us!

"I begged you to cancel. Why didn't you? How could you be this cruel? I can't imagine a single reason why you'd do something like this." Dalton wiped away a tear.

I can imagine a reason, she thought bitterly.

Dalton continued talking. "I went to find her, to explain, and to ask her if she'll have me. But no matter where I looked, she was nowhere to be found.

"I ran around like a crazy person, until her friend told me that she left the country. No one knew where she was. I don't even know where to start to look for her."

"You'd still look for her?" Anna asked in shock. "Even after we're married?"

Dalton snapped his head in her direction. "I would have married her in a heartbeat had I found her, not you."

Anna dropped to the bed, the last of her energy leaving her.

"So you were trying to elope. You would have left me in that altar in front of our families had she shown up?"

His answer came sharply. "What made you think I won't?"

Anna smiled bitterly to herself when she remembered how a young Dalton told her that he would marry her when they grew up.

She closed her eyes when she remembered that two years after that, he told her that their kids would be friends just like them, instead of being siblings, just like he had said before.

She realized that Dalton forgot all about his previous proposal.