The Marriage is Fake.

Violetta 

"It's fake." 

I froze on my steps, my hands tightening around my phone. 

"He had someone manage to forge the document." He continued. Suddenly it all made his sense. 

His talk about not wanting to hold a wedding because he wants to wait for a success in his career suddenly didn't seem so considerate anymore. 

Alaric helping with all the procedures was never because he cared for me. He just wanted to trick me.

He couldn't even care enough to actually go through the wedding with me. 

I smiled. "Okay, thank you."

I rushed to my room, pulling down my luggage and packing in some clothes. I stopped halfway, placing a call over to my dad.

The phone rang once and he picked immediately. 

"Violet?" He called, he still refused to call me my full after all these years. 

"Dad." I replied and I could feel his excitement from the other end of the call. 

"You are finally willing to talk to me. Even if you had wanted to rely on yourself, you didn't have to cut me off." He spoke, his voice shaky. 

I couldn't help but feel tears at the brim of my eyes. I argued with my dad, begging to start over on my own without his support, believing strongly that I had only faced that ordeal because of my dad. I was so stupid. 

"I'm sorry, dad. I'm really sorry. I'll be coming home in two days." I said, and he pitched his voice. 

"Okay." He said, the excitement obvious in his voice.

"I'll wait for you."

I smiled, and hung up. 

Suddenly, they pushed open. My eyes widened but I figured Alaric would never come to my room.

He never has in three months but I still hide the luggage under the pile of clothes. 

I hurried to sit on the bed. I checked the time on the phone, and even after three minutes, he still hadn't opened the door to my room.

My head dropped. He would never, especially not when he had achieved his goals. 

I finished packing up, and sat at my desk, replaying the match over and over again. 

Even with the team's strategy, and the star player accepted, my team could have still handled it. 

How did they lose so terribly? 

I couldn't help but question myself, and then it clicked. I paused the video at the exact moment where the floor showed. 

I laid back in my chair. Who would do this? The team's gear had obviously been messed with but everyone was so absorbed in the other setbacks that they didn't even notice.

"I have something to say. Let's meet at Star Hall tomorrow." 

The group chat remained silent, none of the members responded but a smile still rose on my face. 

They would come either way. 

I closed my laptop and hopped on my bed. 

***

"I'll be there soon." I texted the group chat, throwing my bag over my shoulder as I rushed in. 

I had actually slept off, and came even later than them. I couldn't help but hit my head as I walked further into the hall but then I bumped into someone. 

The chest wasn't as strong as the one from yesterday but it wasn't softer though. I looked up, my face scrunched up. 

Alaric's eyes caught my eyes and I couldn't help but scoff. 

How did I manage to run into him? I couldn't help but think, cursing my luck. I tried to push past him, pretending not to know him but I felt his hands tighten on my arm.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, his face scrunched up. I wanted to force my hand out but seeing the frustrated look on the man beside him, I caught on. 

He thought I was here for him. I smiled, straightening up. "I'm here for a friend."

Alaric didn't budge, his gaze remained cold as he looked at me. The man beside him spoke before he could. 

"Who else could you be here for if not Alaric? Everyone knows how obsessed you are with me." He said, and my jaw clenched but I couldn't even blame him. 

I really was obsessed with Alaric. After all, he was once my light. 

I smiled at the man by his side. "Sorry but that's something from months ago. Let's not live in the past." I quoted his words and he seemed to get the reference. 

Something flicked in Alaric's eyes but it was quickly replaced with annoyance and hatred. 

"Enough with this, I'll talk to you when I have time to. Lilith is really just an investor, you don't have to think too much about it." Alaric spoke, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. 

"Don't worry. I couldn't care less about your relationship with her."

I said, smiling back at him. 

"Stop it!" Alaric commanded. His voice slightly raised. Passer-bys started to look but he seemed less concerned. 

"This isn't the place for you to play your games. I already got your message, can you leave now?"

I stared at him in shock, I had never realized that Alaric was so self-absorbed. 

"I'm not here to see you." I said, pulling his hand off mine. "Whether you believe it or not."

I said, turning away. 

The team sat patiently at the table, some of their faces scrunched up while the others remained absorbed in their phones. 

"I'm sorry for being late." I spoke, crossing my fingers. 

Some ignored me, while the others stared at me, waiting for answers. I smiled, taking a seat. 

"Is there any food you would like to have?" I asked, scanning their faces. I couldn't get a reply before I heard a bang. 

The door bursted open, and Ricky walked in, a frown on his face. 

"What's wrong?" I asked immediately but he only turned to glare at me. 

"Did you invite us here to confirm our speculations. You had truly given him our strategies?" Ricky asked and I raised a brow. 

"What do you mean?" I asked, staring deep at his face as if it would give me answers. 

"I saw you with him today. You weren't even trying to hide it.”