The New Thorn

Bella

I married for money and not for love. I dumped the fact that there may be people who care about me, and there were those who faked it.

While the wedding certificates were being signed by my contract husband, I lived in the delusional state that this was not a contract, it was real.

Mr. Blackwood will definitely not frame that contract, and Valerie? She can't do more than give me a dead stare from her seat.

Moving around to get to a better position to have my signatures on the marriage certificate made me feel nauseous.

This time, it was bad enough that I wrinkled my entire face from the discomfort it gave me.

“You are both officially husband and wife!” The judge announced, and I just had to give a quick smirk while I watched my contract husband smile to the ends of the corners of his mouth.

Valerie could not hold up to everything that she witnessed. She probably thought it was all a joke, that there were no two ways about it, and the fact that it could be a prank.

My whole life? A prank. I wish it was; that father wasn't borrowing money to secretly treat his illness, that on the same night I wanted to feel life a little bit, my father kicked the bucket, leaving me with the truth of the debts that was left all for me alone.

Finding out that I was pregnant after I lost a big job? That can't be a prank, a word better than a nightmare should be given to it.

Mr. Blackwood left my side to be with his friends who attended the court wedding. When I watched him laugh viciously with them, I got a reminder that the only reason why he wanted a contract marriage was to redeem his reputation.

His reputation was gold to him, at least to help with his multi-millionaire businesses.

And just then, I embraced the reality that I was standing alone.

“Congratulations, beautiful!"

“Congratulations!"

“May you remain happy!"

Those were the little words I could hear asides having to read the lips of others that stood to wish me well.

"Thank you,” I muttered.

Just like a wave, I saw the dead stare from afar as Valerie walked towards me with so much intention.

“Am I going to get a thank you, after I say congratulations?" She asked coldly, with her arms wrapped around her bag.

"If you meant it, you wouldn't have to ask me to give you permission. Don't you think so?” I replied as I looked at her with a good poise.

"You messed up, bitch!” Valerie started, as she walked towards me obnoxiously.

"Is that your congratulations?” I asked, furrowing my brows.

"Bella, you are my friend. My best friend and out of all the men in the world, you decided to settle with him. You married him," she complained with pride, but it gradually grew into tears.

I felt bad, because that's exactly how I felt when I asked her to help with the job, to think again before leaving the marriage. However, the whole scene is quite complicated because, either way, I was living evidence of the reason she called off her marriage.

“You won't understand, and I don't have the grace to explain any of that to you at the moment.” I spilled a little, but not too much.

Valerie was always emotionally dependent on her own truth and thoughts. It was a mission to always change her mind about things.

She held my wrist, "Why did you marry him?” I turned back, and I had no words for her.

"I saw my friend missing out on a big one, a big fish while she was trying to save herself.”

“Wow. You have hurt me and I can't imagine what you expect of me anymore,” She uttered. I could only stare at her with no words.

“I did nothing to you and if you feel like that's your reality, then you have to deal with it," I coldly uttered and walked out of her office.

I didn't just walk out of her, but I walked out of all the negativity that grew inside my head concerning her.

She didn't really pay attention to our friendship. I bet she didn't even care about me right from the beginning. I just had to move away from her for the sake of my unborn child.

I didn't want to neglect the only chance I had to make sure my child had a father.

"Bella!” I heard my name from a distance. When I turned to look back, it was my newly wedded husband.

He was smiling, and I knew he was only giving everyone the impression that he was happy and that whatever was going on was what was meant to go on.

I walked briskly, almost running at some point. When I got so close to him, I took another lightly and looked up to him, " Yes Sir!”

I answered softly, but it was loud enough for him to hear, and to others it would look like I was reading my lips.

“You know what's going on, right?" Alex didn't flinch.

I was confused at first, and the tip of my fingers turned ice-cold, “What?" I muttered.

“I hope you know what's going on," his lips moved significantly, showing that he meant every word he uttered. He repeated each word with proper precision.

His voice was low, yet smooth and completely empty of concern.

Before I could say another word to him as a response or a reaction, light flashes were everywhere. When I turned, I figured that it was one of Alex's Attorneys.

He played it out so well as he stood where I could see him to photograph the marriage certificate.

I couldn't lose my guard, I stood still even though I wasn't comfortable with what was going on.

I mean, what did I expect?

Outside the courthouse was a wide view of different people watching the latest couple walk out after getting married.

A black SUV was waiting and we walked towards it while Alex cheerfully greeted those who cheered us as we left the courthouse. Before I could make another move, Alex opened the car door outrightly for me, ushering me into the vehicle.

I was surprised by his gesture, but he immediately leaned in, “ We are married now, so everyone is always watching." It was like a quiet instruction.

As the car pulled into the iron gates of the Blackwood mansion, I was dumbstruck by my own reflection on the tinted window of the SUV. It felt like it wasn't me; it didn't look like me.

Just then, Alex’s phone lit up and I was still staring at the shadow from the tinted window.

I was able to catch just the name on the screen before he quickly flipped it face down and it was no other person—Valerie.