Unwanted

HANNAH’S POV:

THE NEXT MORNING.

I woke up the next morning extremely tired, hoping it was all a bad dream. But it wasn’t, and the memories of last night flashed through my mind, making me sniffled.

I laid still, unmoving, I just wanted to lay there and never move. I was afraid that if I shifted even slightly, everything would come crashing back again.

I turned my head slowly packing my hair up in a high ponytail. He was already up standing near the window shirtless, the morning light outlining his sculpted back. His phone was in his hand, and from the way his brows were pulled tightly, he was just now remembering reality.

He hadn’t looked at me properly last night. I doubt he could see much through the haze of alcohol and blind expectations. He thought I was Janet. Even while he touched me, he whispered her name.

I curled my knees to my chest.

“What in the world?” His loud deep voice echoed through the room making me jump startled.

He turned sharply, his eyes landing on me. Really taking his time to stare me this time. And as he took in my face, the face he clearly didn’t expect, his expression turned from confusion to shock… then to disgust and anger.

“You—” he muttered, walking toward the bed like I’d just committed some unforgivable sin. “Who are you? And what are you doing?”

I forced myself to sit up straight as my body was still hurting from last night, I clutched the blanket to my chest even though he’d already seen everything.

“I’m Hannah,” I said quietly. “Janet’s older sister. And…” I held out the document from the side table, my fingers trembling as I passed the marriage certificate. “Your wife.”

He snatched the document and his eyes scanned the paper. Once. Twice. He clenched and unclenched his jaw, and the anger was evident on his face..

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” He muttered glancing at me.

“I’m not,” I said. I didn’t have the strength to explain the trap, my parent’s actions, the way I was shoved into this mess. Would it even matter? No one ever listens when it comes to me.

“Where is Janet?” he demanded.

I opened my mouth, but before I could answer, there was a knock at the bedroom door. It was most likely the knock of a staff, he glanced at me one time before heading towards the door.

“Elijah!” a woman’s voice called in excitement and familiarity. It was definitely his mother, Mrs. Martinez.

He yanked the door open.

She and his father stood there dressed perfectly, like they had stepped out of a magazine. Their excitement dissolved the moment they saw me sitting on the bed in wrinkled sheets and tears barely dried on my cheeks.

“Oh.” Mrs. Martinez’s look of excitement died down and she frowned. “That’s not… who is she?”

“She’s Hannah,” Elijah said, with disgust evident in his tone, eyes never leaving mine. “The wrong f*cking bride.”

Mr. Martinez pushed past him and entered the room. “Where is Janet?”

My heart raced and I tried not to look as nervous as I felt. “I’m her sister. There was a change in plans. The wedding went ahead with me instead.”

Mrs. Martinez’s lips turned into a straight line and her frown deepened. “A change? Without informing us?”

I stood, wrapping the blanket around me tightly. My throat burned. “I didn’t want this either. I was forced. I…”

“Of course you were,” she snapped, cutting me off. “Forced to marry one of the richest bachelors in the country? Please.”

“I didn’t even want to—”

“You’re manipulative, that’s what you are,” Mr. Martinez, speaking for the first time, “Elijah, did you know about this?”

Elijah scoffed bitterly. “Does it look like I did? I thought she was Janet. I was drunk. I was told everything was already arranged.”

“I’ll call the Jones family,” Mrs. Martinez hissed, already dialing. “This is outrageous. I want answers.”

I tried again, my voice cracking, “I didn’t plan this…”

“Save it,” Elijah spat angrily. “You played your part well. Congratulations. You got what you wanted.”

My lips parted. “You think I wanted this?”

He looked at me like I was filth. “Didn’t you? A quiet little nobody from a crumbling family suddenly becomes Mrs. Martinez overnight. You knew exactly what you were doing.”

Something in me snapped.

“No,” I said, trembling. “I was locked in my room. Dragged into a dress. Thrown into a car. I didn’t choose this. I was never even seen until someone needed to take the fall.”

The phone rang again. Mrs. Martinez put it on speaker.

My parents’ voices came through with fake panic, fake confusion as soon as Mrs Martinez questioned her.

“We didn’t know!” my mother said. “We thought Janet went with you! She’s been missing since last night!”

“We assumed she was in the mansion!” my father added shakily. “She left in her car!”

Janet’s voice came next, trembling and broken. “It was Hannah… She tricked me. Locked me up and took my dress and car…”

I laughed so hard bitterly and blinked away the tears threatening to fall.

“She’s lying!” I screamed toward the phone. “They’re all lying!”

No one even blinked.

“Check the car,” Janet sobbed dramatically. “She left me tied up in the trunk… she wanted to steal my wedding…”

Silence followed.

Elijah turned to me in disbelief, eyes hard. “Is that true?”

“I didn’t!” I argued

Mr. Martinez held up a hand. “I don’t want drama in this house. You’re getting divorced. This marriage will be annulled as soon as possible.”

My knees buckled slightly, but I caught myself.

“No,” Elijah muttered, taking both his parents and I by surprise.

“What are you saying?” His parents both asked in unison.

“We already got married…therefore in order to refrain from drawing the attention of the media, we will remain married for two months and go our separate ways.” He stated.

His mum ran her hands through her face, she raised her hand up and shook her head muttering , “I can’t deal with this.”

Just before the door shut, Elijah looked over his shoulder and followed behind his parents.

Then the door slammed shut and the sound was deafening.