"Mr. Angelo Hernandez, do you take Ms. Faye Alcaide as your spouse, your life partner, in both good times and bad?"
The officiant's voice resonated in the air, filled with a formality that weighed heavily on my heart. "I do," I replied, my voice steady yet surrounded by an uncertain. "Ms. Faye Alcaide, do you accept Mr. Hernandez as your husband, your companion in life, through hardships and ease?" "I do." There was a brief pause, and then her response came, unwavering and crisp. The ceremony progressed seamlessly to the exchange of vows and rings, each word echoing in the sanctuary we stood in, like a beautiful setting full of love and hope. Before our guests, it was as if our affection for one another cut across reality, conveying a deep and genuine connection. Yet, little did they know that this representation of love was merely a facade, a performance crafted to fulfill the expectations of our two families. Suddenly, the officiant announced. "Now, you may kiss your bride," signaling the moment where our fabricated unity would officially be sealed. We stood face to face, the world around us blurring into insignificance as our eyes locked in a fleeting moment. I lifted my hand, gently caressing her cheek, and leaned in slowly. Our lips almost touched as I pressed my thumb against the center of our mouths, careful to steer clear of a full contact kiss. To everyone watching, it appeared to be a tender embrace, a genuine kiss shared between the newlyweds. But in reality, it was a delicate illusion, carefully crafted to maintain the sanctity of the ceremony while concealing the truth of ourselves. ...... "Congratulations, niece," Faye's uncle greeted with a wide smile that seemed joyous at first glance. Yet, I could see through the facade—it was a mere mask, a fake smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Thank you, uncle," Faye replied warmly, enveloping him in a heartfelt hug. As she gently stepped back, Clark's attention shifted toward me, and I felt a sudden change in the air around us. "Welcome to our family, Mr. Hernandez. And congratulations," he said, his words dripping with velvet softness. But as he took a few steps closer and halted right in front of me, the atmosphere darkened. The veneer of his smile faded, revealing a hint of menace beneath. The warmth he'd shown Faye evaporated, transforming into a cold, piercing glare directed at me that sent a shiver down my spine. I looked at him seriously, carefully masking the unease that bubbled beneath the surface as he fixed his gaze on me. "Thank you, uncle-in-law," I replied, deliberately emphasizing the term "uncle-in-law." As I spoke, I noticed the corners of his lips twitching upwards, almost as if he were about to utter something more. Luckily, my in-laws approached us just in time. "Congratulations, hija, hijo!" Faye's mom beamed, her joy unmistakable at finally witnessing Faye and me tie the knot. "Thank you, Mom," Faye said, wrapping her arms around her mother in a warm embrace, while I simply smiled, trying to ignore Clark's lingering presence. However, Clark broke the moment with another word that drew our attention, particularly that of Faye's mother, whose expression darkened as she regarded her brother-in-law. "Congratulations, sister-in-law. I hope your family’s joining forces will be successful," he remarked, his tone dripping with an ambiguous undertone as he addressed her again. I felt an unsettling discomfort in his words when he congratulated me on my niece’s wedding. "I won’t stay long, and you, Mr. Hernandez, are welcome again. Enjoy your day; we’ll see each other more often in the coming days," he added. Before any of us could respond, he turned and waved, leaving behind a heavy silence that felt almost suffocating. As Clark walked away, I couldn’t help but notice Faye's mother’s fists clenched tightly around the hem of her dress, hinting at an underlying tension between her and her brother-in-law. ..... As our wedding celebration continued, we moved to the historic mansion of the old Alcaide. With Faye's grandfather being advanced in age and unable to endure a large gathering, we chose this more intimate setting. Upon our arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the cheerful staff who inhabited the mansion. Inside, the old Alcaide awaited us, and I noticed Clark standing at his side, his gaze fixed on me. I chose to ignore him as I approached the old man. After the old man stood to greet us, I exchanged kind words with him, and he offered his heartfelt wishes for our wedding. To our surprise, he gifted us a substantial amount of money, along with a house and lot for Faye and me to start our family. “Thank you, grandpa,” Faye said, her voice filled with joy as she hugged her grandfather’s arm in gratitude. As the gathering came to a close, the other relatives of Alcaide began to depart, leaving only Faye and me in the grand mansion of her grandfather. Her parents decided to stay behind as well, and it was clear they had no intention of sending us off on our first night as newlyweds. The elder Alcaide, with a knowing smile, mentioned that we would continue our celebration elsewhere the following day, but he insisted that our first night should be spent in this very mansion. It felt as if he was orchestrating our lives, leaving little doubt about their intentions. I could sense they were eager to hear all about how Faye and I would cherish our first intimate night together, curious about the tender moments we would share. ..... As Faye and I entered our spacious room, I noticed her intense gaze fixed upon me. She walked closer, and despite the fact that our marriage was arranged by our parents, I found it impossible to look away, especially as she began to remove her clothes. When she stopped directly in front of me, I realized she had already undressed, leaving only a delicate lace garment to cover her most intimate areas. Her black lace bra hugged her curves tightly, accentuating the shape of her breasts, with her rosy nipples clearly visible. As for her lace panty, I admired the beautiful contours of her femininity, perfectly groomed. "Angelo, am I beautiful?" Faye asked as she gently caressed my cheek with her cold palm. I tilted my head, captivated by her presence. "Hmmm," I murmured, my gaze locked on her. One of her hands moved to rest on my broad chest, and I felt her touch was delicate, almost as if she couldn't quite feel it. "So hard," she remarked softly. Her fingers, which had been brushing my cheek, now traveled up my neck to grip my nape. As she leaned in closer, eyes closed, our lips were almost to touch. Just then, the shrill ring of my phone shattered the moment. Faye's eyes flew open in surprise, and instinctively, I removed her hand from her hold. "Just a moment," I said, stepping away. I swiftly retrieved my cellphone from the pocket of my Americana and saw it was my father calling. "Yes, Dad? What’s the matter?" I inquired, puzzled as to why he would interrupt at such an intimate time, especially knowing it was our honeymoon night. "Your mother is in the hospital right now." His words sent a jolt of shock through me. Without a second thought, I rushed out of the room, my mind racing with concern for my mother as I sought to find out how she was doing."His lover?" Jenny's eyes widened in shock at Angelo's words. I couldn't hide my surprise either, but I merely smiled, allowing him to take the lead in dealing with her. After declaring that I was his lover, Angelo stood up from his seat and approached us. Before Jenny could process the situation, he firmly grasped her hand and pulled her up from her seat beside me, despite her reluctance. Once she was standing, he gave her a slight shove, causing her to stumble and fall. “Aww!” Jenny cried out as she hit the ground. “Clark, help me! He was so rude!” Her voice was laced with flirtation, clearly seeking my attention, but I had no desire to respond, especially with the threatening look Angelo shot my way. Even though he wasn't directly in front of me, I had no desire to assist Jenny, particularly now that he was claiming me as his lover in front of others. I wanted to avoid any actions that would create confusion between Angelo and me. "Do I know you?" Wi
I was taken aback when my dad unexpectedly slapped me. Although it was not a strong blow, I felt stunned. With my forehead wrinkled in confusion, I turned my head just enough to look at him. “I don’t understand what I did wrong,” I managed to say, my voice tight with frustration. “Why did you hit me, Dad? What was that slap for?” I wanted to shout the question, but I held back, fearing it might escalate the situation. “You don’t know why?” he repeated my question, his irritation palpable. “I didn’t raise you to be in a relationship with a man. You’re my only child, and it’s disappointing to discover that you’ve been involved with that Clark.” His voice, though not loud, was filled with barely contained anger as he spoke. "Huh! Haha!" I forced a laugh upon hearing his words. "I thought your issue was just a heart problem, but why can't you remember the last time we talked about Clark?" I stated firmly to my dad. His words left me feeling frustrated. "Talk ab
"What do you think? If I didn’t like you, do you really think I would be okay with this deal?" I asked, watching him grow even more stunned as he fixed his gaze on me. With him no longer massaging my back, I shifted my position in bed to face him directly. I couldn’t help but feel captivated by his bemused expression as he stared at me. "Why are you so surprised? Do you find it hard to believe?" I continued. He nodded in response, and a smile spread across my face. "If I didn't like you, you wouldn't be talking to me like this, and I definitely wouldn't feel at ease in your presence.” Without saying another word, he cupped my neck and pulled me closer, pressed his lips against mine with full of passion. Instead of pulling back, I eagerly responded to his kiss, deepening our connection. “Hmmm, I like you, my Angelo,” he murmured softly between our kisses, his breath warm againts my lips. I instinctively entwined my fingers in his ha
As I leaned against the wall near the doctor's office door, I could hear the conversation unfolding inside where Carlotta had just entered. "Tsk!" I sighed, a mix of disbelief and frustration washing over me. How could Carlotta be involved in poisoning Jestony, and to think she was conspiring with his doctor to keep it hidden? A few minutes later, Carlotta emerged, momentarily taken aback to see me waiting outside. She hesitated, clearly torn before stepping out. When our eyes met, she quickly looked away, unable to hold my gaze for long. “C-Clark! What are you doing here?” she stammered, her words shaky. “I never thought you were capable of this, Carlotta,” I replied, unable to hide my dismay. Her expression grew serious as she met my gaze again. “You have no idea what torture he inflicted on me this past month. You can't judge me for wanting to escape,” she said in a hushed tone. “Clark, I can’t stay with him any longer. He’s treating me i
"I heard what happened to Jestony," Clark said. I turned to him, still processing my own feelings after just returning from the hospital. "How is he feeling?" he asked. "He’s okay for now! But we need to monitor him closely; his blood sugar is still high and he has a heart condition," I replied, trying to reassure him. "Is that all?" Clark pressed again, his tone revealing a hint of doubt. "Those are the only findings the doctor has reported," I stated firmly, but I noticed his unconvinced expression. "Why? Are you hoping for something worse?" I questioned, frowning at the thought. It bothered me to consider that he might actually wish for my father’s situation to worsen, especially if it meant he could have another chance with Carlotta. But what would happen if that became reality? "Aren't you curious? When was the last time you visited your dad? What's behind his sudden, serious illness?" he asked, causing me to freeze in surprise. That
“Carlotta.” I barely heard Jestony call my name. A call from the maid I hired to keep an eye on him just came in. She informed me that Jestony suddenly became weak. It has been three weeks since my daughter and I left him. I intended to leave him for good, but I can’t walk away entirely. My daughter and I have a rightful claim to his wealth should anything happen to him. And that’s exactly what I plan to secure for us. All his assets will eventually belong to my daughter and me. I doubt Angelo will interfere; he seems preoccupied with his own businesses now. “How are you, Jestony?” I asked, my expression lacking of emotion as I gazed at him lying in the center of the bed. “It’s been three weeks since I left. But why has your health suddenly collapsed?” "Where have you been? I've been searching for you," he said, deflecting my question. Even though he appeared physically weak, there was a spark of anger in his voice. "I just needed to cool down. Y