I want to

Tessa walked into their apartment with mixed feelings. It was just a two-bedroom flat and they were just doing fine with the little they had. Tessa couldn't possibly say her day went well but she was glad she met Aaron. 

Even though their meeting didn't turn out well, she still couldn't get over his cerulean blue eyes, he kind of looked cute when he was angry."No! Tessa, you can't possibly be drawn to that arrogant man" she could hear her inner mind yell at her, but No! She couldn't help it, she seemed to feel something deeper than she could explain.

Tessa quietly tiptoed into the bedroom, not wanting to wake her grandmother up, she had enough already in one day. And knowing how inquisitive her grandmother can be, she was definitely going to find out that something was off about her. However, she was not going to hide the situation from her for too long. One way or the other she was still going to find out.

"You're back?" her grandmother's voice rang in the room. Her heart almost jumped out from its ribcage when she heard her voice

"Grandma, god! You startled me. I thought you were fast asleep" Tessa scoffed as she placed her right hand on her chest, her heart racing faster 

"I'm sorry about that. But why are you home so late? Did something happen at the Winstons?" her grandma queried, shooting her a questionable look.

"Not really" she stuttered, trying hard not to raise suspicion, she looked away from her grandmother. If she had stared a little longer, her expression would have given her away.

"Have you had anything to eat granny?" she asked, trying to change the topic which was very obvious to her grandma that she was hiding something, hence the change of topic. But she didn't try to push further with her, knowing her granddaughter, she was going to speak up when she wanted to.

"Well, l woke up and you weren't back yet. I had to fix something for us, knowing you would be very tired when you get back" she remarked.

A smile crossed Tessa's face and her heart fluttered, she moved closer to her grandmother and pulled her into a hug, "Aren't you the best grandma in the whole world? What would l have done without you?" Maya said with her face brimming with smiles.

"Absolutely nothing, your grandma is the best" she chuckled with a wide grin on her face. 

Mrs. Taylor was the only family Tessa had, even though she wasn't related to her by blood, she grew up knowing her as her grandmother and only family. The mystery behind her birth and the whereabouts of her biological parents still remained a mystery to her. Mrs Taylor had told her that she would find out when the time was right. She wondered when that would be." Is the right time ever going to come?" she thought to herself. 

Tessa had tried a couple of times to unravel the mystery surrounding her birth. But the more she tried to, nothing meaningful was forthcoming, she ended up asking herself questions like"Was l such a bad child that my birth parents had to abandon me? How can a parent abandon their own?" she asked herself all the time but ends up not getting a reply. Her grandmother kept changing the topic whenever she brought it up. However, she had long decided to forget anything about her parents. There was no need to look for people that gave her away when she was born or so she thought.

As long as she was concerned, they were dead to her. Her grandmother remains the only family she had 

"So how was your day at the Winstons? Hope you didn't get into any trouble?" her grandmother asked, trying to bring up the topic again 

"Well, it was o-kay. Uhm you have nice co-workers" Tessa stuttered as she ruffled her grandma's hair playfully. "I should go and eat now" she added quickly, she had to do so, to avoid further questions. Tessa's heart raced as she walked slowly to the kitchen, remembering she had just 24- hours to either say yes or no to the ruthless Aaron Winston.

She knew she couldn't say no, being his wife was an offer she would jump into without batting an eyelid. The fear of going to prison scared the hell out of her, she had heard terrible things about the prison and how it was a pit hole. She couldn't categorically say he was just joking when he made that threat. She could remember vividly the dreadful look on Aaron's face when he looked deep into her eyes and made that threat. 

~~~~~~~~

The following day Tessa had prepared to go to work. She had a part-time job in a convenience store, she worked twice a week and she loved her job. If she had to consider Aaron's request, not like she had a choice though. She had to resign from work if she had to move in with Aaron as his wife. Her supposed wedding was tomorrow. She couldn't believe she would be walking down the aisle with her long-time crush. Indeed her life took a new turn in one day. How unfortunate or rather fortunate can she be? she thought to herself 

As she walked into the living room, ready to tell her grandmother about the turn of events. She couldn't possibly marry Aaron without letting her grandmother know about it. It was definitely going to kill her if she finds out by herself. She worked for them, so she was going to find out sooner or later. Nevertheless, she wanted to tell her, that her grandmother meant the whole world to her and she couldn't possibly hide anything from her.

"Grandma. I..l have something to tell you" Tessa quivered as she remarked as soon as she entered the living room.

"You are getting married to Aaron Winston. Aren't you?" her grandmother scoffed, she glanced up at her, giving her a questionable look. Her eyes slowly became teary.

Tessa's heart almost flew out of its ribcage when she heard her grandmother utter those words. She felt like the ground should open up and swallow her. She could feel the pains in her grandmother's voice as she spoke."How- how. How did you find out about this" Tessa asked as she bent her head in regret, maybe she should have told her when she asked yesterday night or maybe she shouldn't have stepped her feet into that mansion in the first place. However, there was no need to cry over spilled milk. This has become her reality and she has to face it heads up. 

"Mrs. Winston called to inform me yesterday, even before you got back. I tried to ask you yesterday but seeing you were not ready to say it, l decided to let it go, knowing you were going to say something this morning. And here you are!" she said, her angry face slowly fading away. Looking at her granddaughter, she couldn't stay angry with her for a long time 

"But you know you shouldn't go on with this arrangement if you don't want to," her grandma remarked. She stretched her hands and held her firmly, slowly patting her palm.

Tessa's heart fluttered on her grandmother's understanding and sense of humor. "Thank you granny, but believe me l really want to do this," Tessa added. 

Mrs. Taylor smiled, knowing her granddaughter has been loving Aaron for the longest time, "If you feel the need to opt out of this, I will always be here to welcome you. And please l don't want you to hurt yourself in the process. I know how much you love him," she replied with a glint of smile plastered on her face.

Tessa pulled her into a warm hug even before she could finish. Her love for Aaron was undeniable. She let out a deep sigh and her lips curved up into a smile. Now, her reality of becoming Aaron's substitute wife was nearing and she couldn't wait. Yes! You heard right. A substitute wife and she was unapologetic about it. She could do anything to breathe the same air as Aaron Winston.