SIX

Flash back

"You have a sexual orientation disorder?"

The man was still silent with a flat face and arms folded in front of his chest. The look in his eyes was completely flat and unreadable, which made me a little annoyed and unsure as well. Maybe this guy is crazy and is plotting something to set me up. He wanted to pretend to marry me and then sell me to an old mob mobster. Or maybe he's actually an organ-selling mafia who has been frequently shown on midnight news programs. Kane would marry me, then he would kill me when the time was right to take my organs and sell them.

“So you really have a sexual orientation disorder? God, I don't want to marry you. What would happen to me if I married a handsome man who was rich, but gay. I'd rather marry a cleaning service at a hospital, than marry a gay guy like you."

"Can you shut up and not make a noise. I'm currently thinking of the right answer for you. Why do you like doing weird things and thinking bad about me. You must have read too many cheap magazines, and never been properly educated by your parents.”

"What? You think my mom is like that! Even though my father died, my mother raised me well. Even my mother also played her role as a father who always gave me extra protection. Damn you, you have hurt my feelings."

This man is really bad. He insulted me and even my mother very painfully. Even though my mother had helped him and agreed to this marriage. If my mother didn't force me to marry him, I wouldn't want to do any of this. What I've done so far is only for my mother.

“Do you think you are perfect enough for me huh? You can't badmouth my family like this."

"I didn't mean to do it."

He turned his face to the side. The arrogance was still on his face and he didn't apologize to me at all even though he had hurt me.

"Well you did it. You must remember that I would not have agreed to marry you if my mother had not told me to. You know, my mom's happiness is everything to me. If this marriage is the only way to make my mother happy, I will do it even if it has to be with a gay man like you.”

“Watch your words, lady. I'm not gay. I told you all the news was a lie. They came to the wrong conclusion because so far I have rarely been seen with beautiful women.”

"So what? What happened to you? Why do you want this marriage so badly and force me to look ugly.”

"Complicated. I can't tell you right now."

"Then I will go. I will tell my mother that I cannot marry you because you are not the right man for me.”

I grabbed my handbag brutally, then I tidy up my appearance first before I actually got out of this room. At least my appearance should be better so that the receptionist who is standing in front doesn't look at me with that very annoying mocking look.

"Wait, you can't do it. We have agreed and we will stay married."

The man gripped my hand tightly and he didn't allow me to go home at all. Huh, what the hell is this guy. A few minutes ago he just insulted me and mom. Then now, he arrogantly held me from going home? Tch, I won't go along with his words. Let him beg me. I don’t care.

“Let go of me! I want to go home and cancel all these arranged marriages. I don't want to have a weird husband like you."

I tried to release his grip on mine, but I couldn't. He gripped my arm tightly like a crab.

"Wait a minute, I want to explain everything to you," said the man looking frustrated.

I kept my face cynical. “Say it now or never. You know, you make me sick."

“Please, give me a chance. I really need your help, Laurel.”

Shit! His disgusting face melted my heart. I really couldn't resist and found my feet moving following him to sit back down on the couch. He had a gentle gaze that instantly hypnotized me. His demeanor also suddenly turned softer and looked like a gentleman.

"Okay, I'll tell you the truth."

"Shoot."

I pretended to be haughty to hide my weakness in front of him.

"Listen carefully, okay."

Pause. He paused for a moment to catch his breath. But he seemed very hesitant to say it. I hope he doesn't say weird things that could give me a heart attack.

"I... I have a phobia," Kane said quietly.

I furrowed my brow in surprise as I covered my mouth with both hands so I wouldn't burst out laughing in front of him. He just said the most ridiculous joke on earth. He said if he had a phobia. So what's the problem with phobias? In fact, all people in the world have phobias, and so far there have been no cases of someone's death caused by a direct phobia attack. This man must have been too tired from work to tell such a ridiculous joke.

"Huh, you're so ridiculous. Was it just a phobia that made you decide to marry me. Come on Kane, I know you can get pretty ladies easily. I bet you haven't loved me so far. So don't force yourself to marry me if it's just because you have a phobia."

It seemed that he was offended by my words. His eyes suddenly turned sharp and he snapped at me furiously.

“Shut up and listen! I'm not done talking yet."

“Sorry, but your reason for marrying me sounds illogical. I'm even surprised that you're so worried about your phobia.”

"It's not as common a phobia as you think," he huffed.

It turned out that Kane was a fierce man. Though I only commented a little, and he immediately pulled out his two fangs to bully me. What an arrogant man! He should have shown a sweet attitude to seduce me, and not yell at me like this. If only the man sitting in front of me right now was Jared, surely he would treat me very sweetly and gently. Huh, why does mother have to be hostile to Mrs. Clara. Even if I wasn't betrothed to Kane, my mother would never allow me to marry Jared because Jared's mother and my mother were enemies.

“Laurel... Laurel Heesters! hey!”

"Jared, what's wrong? Oops."

I quickly covered my lips after I realized that I had done something very fatal. How could it be, I said Jared's name, while now in front of me was Kane, a fierce, arrogant, and annoying man.

"Jared? Who is he, do you have a boyfriend?”

"No, he's just my co-worker at the hospital. Forget about that problem. Just go on with your story."

"OK. So, I have a phobia... Don't cut me off!” He warned me fiercely. I immediately pursed my lips again, then gave him a code to continue his story.

“This phobia I have is a bit unique and unnatural. I have caligynephobia. I'm sure you already know what caligynephobia is because you're a psychiatrist. Well, now you are free to comment. I won't stop you if you want to laugh or make fun of me. But, there is one thing you need to know, that you must still marry me.”

“So, you have a phobia with women? Then what caused you to have such a phobia?”

Crazy! This is really crazy. A handsome and rich man like Kane has a phobia of women. It must be because of a curse or some bad luck that happened to him. But God is very fair. He created Kane with all physical and material perfection, but God gave Kane a very strange phobia. I think it's a curse, not a phobia.

“I can't stay with women who are pretty and wear sexy clothes for too long. If I push myself, then I will feel tense and end up with itching all over my body.”

“Huh, really? You really are the strangest man I've ever met. Then don't you ever feel excited when you see a beautiful woman?" I asked teasingly and mockingly.

Kane turned his face the other way while exhaling furiously. I'm sure he must have never had sex or anything with the beautiful women out there. That means, an advantage for me. I don't have to worry about his activities outside the house, for sure he will never be close to any beautiful woman. Okay, there's no need for a jealous wife in our household.

"Just so you know, even though I have a phobia, I'm still a normal man. So I can feel lust or anything related to it. But I can't express it freely. I can't take every foreign woman I meet at a bar or at a party over to my bed. I'm a selective man."

"Okay, no big deal for me. I respect your preference."

"Thank you. I thought you weren't a demanding woman and you understand my world quite well."

"Not really. I'm still curious about you. Have you ever had sex with a woman?”

I thought he would be different like the businessmen who often appear in forbes magazine or any guy with the thick wallet that I see often, but he turned out to be just like them. He was still a normal man who needed a woman—any woman he could reach, to channel his passion into.

"You don't need to know about it. None of your business. Now all you need to think about is how to cure this strange phobia of mine? As a psychiatrist you know how to treat a patient like me. So what do you think? Can you heal me?”

"You married me just for that?"

"What do you think? It's the same as a business deal. You cured me of this strange phobia, and you got the rich husband your mother wanted. Don't you want to make your mother happy?" Kane blinked coquettishly at me.

Damn this man! He dared offer me a business deal for a marriage I didn't even want at all? Okay, I really am a crazy woman because I would agree to this stupid marriage.

"Before I decide to agree to this marriage or reject this marriage, I have a question for you."

"Shoot."

“Is this marriage only temporary or is this marriage a real marriage for a couple who truly love each other? If it's a temporary marriage or a fake marriage, I don't have to worry about my future because we can get divorced at any time for reasons of incompatibility. But if this is going to be a real wedding, I really need to think about it carefully. I don't want to sacrifice my life just for a marriage that I don't want at all and only for your benefit."

"You think? What do you want this marriage to be like?”

Truly I hope my marriage will be a once in a lifetime and happy marriage forever. It never once crossed my mind that the marriage I was going to have was a marriage that was set up for it, not a real marriage where a man and a woman love each other. I don't want to play with the sacred bond between us and God. Just like the dreams of normal women, I have a dream to have a beautiful household with a handsome husband and cute children. But if my husband is like Kane, will my dream household really come true? Can Kane help me fulfill my dream of becoming a great mother?

"Why are you silent?" Kane lowered his face close to mine.

He then straightened himself and cleared his throat once before speaking to me with an uneasy feeling.

“I know this looks cruel in your eyes. I am using this marriage for my own benefit and not thinking about your happiness. But as compensation you can ask anything from me. Anything as long as it's not something weird."

“I have nothing to ask at this time.”

Kane let out an exasperated sigh. "Okay, no problem. You can think about it later. But I know for a fact that you really want to have a family and be a great mother.”

"How did you know?" I glared at him in disbelief.

"Easy." He answered with a disgusting smile. "Detective. I hired a detective to investigate you.”

"What? So… so you always…”

I gaped, in disbelief at his shocking confession. So all this time he's been investigating my background and all the things I do often. Oh damn, he really is a man full of surprises.

"Sorry. But I did it just to make sure you were good. I have no other choice. This phobia I have is too strange and illogical. I can't consult with a random psychiatrist because I have to protect my good name and the good name of my company. You know, all the employees who work in my company are thousands. If my company goes bankrupt, they can't feed their family anymore. The city will be in crisis. Then—"

"Stop! Can you just tell me the point. I'm tired of listening to your long-winded explanation. Besides, I only need clarity from you about our marital status, not the status of your employees. So how will our relationship after we are officially married?”

"We will live a normal life like a normal couple."

"Are you sure? Isn't that too weird. We don't love each other. I doubt we can live a normal married life. I confess, I really want to marry you and live a normal life like a husband and wife in general. Sometimes I have dreams of welcoming my husband when he comes home from work, preparing all his needs before leaving for the office, and having some cute and adorable children. Can you do it for me?”

"For me it doesn't matter. I will play my role well. Maybe you have to adapt to me and my life, and so do I. Isn't that easy? Don't complicate your life, Laurel. You don't have to worry about our married life."

Hmm, looks like this is going to be a lot of fun. Marriage is not something complicated and also to be confused. The wedding is something beautiful and full of color. Then I firmly believe, I will definitely be able to play my role well. I will be the ideal wife my husband loves. Kyaa! That would be a lot of fun for sure. I can't wait to get married to Kane.

"I don't think it's a problem either. I can definitely play my part well. So, we will do mutualism symbiosis. I will help you to cure your phobia, and you must also promise to always take care of me and respect the commitment we have made."

"Okay, deal. So, we're getting married next week."

“Yes, we will get married next week and after that we will carry out our respective roles as husband and wife. Even without love, we will live it wholeheartedly.”

Then we reached out to each other for a handshake as the binding of our agreement this afternoon. But Kane then insisted on making it more official by asking his lawyer to print us an affidavit to seal our agreement. He said that way neither of us could break the deal and run away.

Flashback End