Chapter Four: Kendra

I looked at myself one last time in the mirror and smiled, liking the way I looked.

My auburn hair was pulled back from my face and fell down my back in soft curls with two strands framing my face. My champagne-colored dress hugged the upper part of my body before falling nicely into an A-line skirt. My favorite part about it was the studded cape. It gave the dress an elegant touch.

I walked out of my room and made my way downstairs, knowing Declan was going to be here in less than fifteen minutes.

I sighed upon seeing Amanda downstairs, standing in a red sequin dress.

“Oh, this dress is so… you,” she said, eyeing me up and down.

“Was I supposed to put on a dress that is so… you?” I raised one eyebrow. I knew that she had picked a bright dress on purpose. She had always liked to outshine me in any of my occasions, and honestly, I didn’t give a damn about her.

“I bet it would have been a better choice,” she giggled, causing me to roll my eyes. If there was an award for the most annoying person on earth, my half-sister would definitely win it.

“Why haven’t you left, Amanda?” As far as I was aware, they were all supposed to leave about half an hour ago.

“I’m going with you.” I laughed at what she said because it would be over my dead body if she thought I was going to let her ride in the same car as Declan and me. “I’m serious.”

“Oh, I know you are, but here’s the thing. You’re not going to get in the car with me.” I shrugged, walking towards the white couch. The amount of white in this house made me feel like I was in a hospital room. Sometimes I felt like Abigail was allergic to colors.

Once I’d get my own house, I was going to make it a beautifully colored place. I didn’t hate white, but when everything was white with only very few things here and there in terracotta, it made me despise how the place looked.

“If I don’t, Dad is going to be very angry,” she warned me, knowing he would always pick her side over mine, but again, I didn’t care. He could do whatever he wanted. I didn’t care if he slapped me or pulled my hair; I was leaving this place anyway.

“I will make sure to remember that, but you’re still not riding with us.” I gave her a tight smile. At the same time, the doorbell rang, and I headed towards the large brown front door to open it.

Once I opened it, I found a very handsome-looking Declan in front of me, looking absolutely magnificent in a black tuxedo and a champagne tie. His chocolate brown hair was brushed back, and I was glad that he decided to keep his beard because I loved the way it looked on him.

“You look gorgeous, Kendra,” he said, making me smile. He took my hand and placed my engagement ring on my finger. This time, it fit perfectly. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it, acting like a gentleman.

Why did my stupid heart flutter at such a simple gesture?

“Thank you. You look great, too,” I told him, trying not to blush at his compliment. “Shall we go?” I spoke.

“You must be my future brother-in-law.” Fake cheerfulness dripped from Amanda’s voice as I heard her approaching us, causing me to ball my right fist in anger.

“Nice to meet you.” Declan offered her a polite smile.

“I was just telling Kendra that I was going to ride with you,” she told him, attempting to tie my hands, but I was not going to let her do that tonight.

“I believe I told you I don’t want you to ride with us,” I reminded her. I glanced at Declan and found him watching the two of us with interest.

“Are you seriously going to leave me stranded here?” she exacerbated, trying to sound hurt, probably desiring nothing but to convince Declan that I was the evil sister here.

“Stranded?” I laughed at her choice of words. “Call our driver or something, but you’re not riding with us.”

“Are you going to let her do that, Declan?” If he gave her the green light to get in the car with us, I was going to make his life a living hell.

“I believe it’s a family matter, and I don’t want to interfere.” I loved his diplomacy.

“Then what am I supposed to do?” She huffed, folding her arms over her chest in anger.

“Take one of the cars and let somebody drive you if you don’t want to drive.” I gave her an obvious solution.

“I don’t see why I can’t ride with you.” She threw her hands up in the air.

“You know what they say. Happy wife, happy life, and I don’t plan on starting my life with Kendra on the wrong foot.” He took me by surprise when he blatantly chose my side.

I was not used to people doing that, and in the span of a week, he had chosen me more than once. I didn’t understand the reason behind his behavior since our marriage was nothing but an arranged one, but I’d be a liar if I said that I didn’t like this.

Not giving her the chance to say anything else, I took his hand and slammed the door behind us, wanting to move away from her.

The car ride was silent for a while, and I didn’t know if I was supposed to thank him for not letting her get in the car with us. I was not sure if he knew anything about the family dynamics, but I was glad that he chose to give me what I wanted.

“I take it you’re not on the best of terms with your sister, right?” he asked, breaking the silence. His eyes were on the road as he spoke to me.

“Yeah,” I murmured. There were so many questions in my head, and I didn’t know if I should be vocal or choose silence; however, if I didn’t ask them, I might wither in my own discomfort. “What do you expect from this marriage, Declan?” I turned to face him.

Tonight, we weren’t in the black Range Rover I saw a few days ago. We were currently sitting in a black Mercedes, and I couldn’t help but admire how amazing it was from the inside.

I have always been fascinated by cars, but of course, Dad wouldn’t get me the one I wanted. Instead, he gave me Abigail’s leftovers. I knew I was privileged, and to many people, I might sound bratty, but throughout the years, I had seen him spoil the hell out of Abigail and Amanda. As for me, I was always an afterthought.

“What do people expect from marriage?” he answered my questions with a question, which was something I terribly despise.

“I’m not going to play house with you,” I pointed out, making him chuckle. “And I surely won’t be giving you an heir. This is a business deal.”

“Then what the hell are we going to do for three years?” he asked, daring to look amused. I was not sure if he simply liked to humor me or if sarcasm was his mother tongue.

“Be roommates. Appear together in social events to make people believe that we’re a happy couple, but behind closed doors, we won’t be a real couple,” I gave him my honest reply.

“I don’t like the sound of that. Plus, I believe roommates don’t sleep in the same bed,” he said.

“Who said I’m going to sleep in the same bed as you?”

“My wife sleeps where I sleep, Kendra.”

“Your real wife, not your arranged wife.”

“Semantics.” He casually shrugged.

“I want my space, Declan.”

“And I won’t deprive you of that, but at night we sleep in the same bed.” I didn’t know why he insisted on that. I was not sure how to feel about all of this, but I guess I could worry about that later.

“Why do I have a feeling that for an arranged marriage, this is going to be interesting?”

“I look forward to spending the next three years with you, future wife.” A smirk played on his lips, and it made my heart skip a beat for a second because I couldn’t decide whether it was playful or malicious.