Semua Bab Married The Wrong Groom: Bab 21 - Bab 28

Alliyah Agustin-Astley“Ma’am! I’m home—and I managed to get everything you requested!” Malix called out as he entered the lobby, his voice carrying a mix of relief and quiet excitement. Several paper bags hung from his hands, their weight obvious from the way his arms tensed as he stepped inside.I smiled brightly, a sudden burst of energy warming my chest at the sight of him. “Perfect! Come on, let’s take everything to the kitchen,” I said, my tone light—almost cheerful, even.We walked side by side through the grand corridors of the estate, our footsteps echoing softly against the polished marble floors. Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating the space in golden hues, dust motes floating lazily in the air like tiny stars caught in motion.As soon as we entered the kitchen, a few of the maids looked up from their tasks, their curiosity immediately piqued by the unusual sight of grocery bags.“All of these are… ingredients for a meal?” one of them asked he

Alliyah Agustin-AstleyWe arrived at the top-class hotel in the city—the very hotel I had dreamed of for our wedding reception. The memory of arguing with Chester surfaced, sharp and bitter. I had insisted on this place for our wedding reception, imagining a celebration that was grand and unforgettable, while he had stubbornly argued for something smaller, something intimate, something “sacred,” he had said. He promised a surprise, a wedding reception that would be a gift to me, but I never imagined it would be like this: forcing me to marry or trading me to someone for the sake of his debt or freedom, which I shouldn’t have cared about since he does not own my well-being, but it was.I clutched my chest as I stared at the building, its glass and marble façade gleaming under the city lights. A wave of conflicting emotions crashed over me—excitement, nostalgia, and a sharp pang of heartbreak. My breath caught when someone gently took my hand.“What’s wrong?” Alexander asked, his voi

Alliyah Agustin-AstleyAfter taking a bath, I expected Alexander to be waiting inside my room, but the bedroom was empty. He was nowhere in sight. I dried my hair in peace, the quiet almost unfamiliar, before slipping into something comfortable.When I finally stepped out of my room, I made my way downstairs. The house felt oddly still as I walked toward the dining room—and there he was, already seated on the other side of the table, waiting for me.His eyes lifted to meet mine, but I didn’t say anything. I was about to pull out a chair when he suddenly stood up. I looked at him in confusion as he approached me.“What?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “You can’t punish me anymore. I’m already here, happy now?”What happened next caught me completely off guard.He grabbed my wrists and gently—but firmly—pulled me toward his chair, guiding me down to sit right beside him.He said nothing.Instead, he began serving food onto my plate first, careful and deliberate, before finally fixing his

Alliyah Agustin-Astley“I want this placed here, and yes, you can put the cards over there,” I instructed the people around me. They nodded quickly and moved at once, following my directions without hesitation.It was finally the day of the contest, and excitement buzzed through my veins. I felt thrilled—almost lightheaded—as I watched everything slowly come together. This event had been my long-time dream, something I had imagined and planned for countless sleepless nights, and now it was finally unfolding right before my eyes.“Mrs. Astley, could you please check this?” someone asked.I walked over to where she was pointing, carefully inspecting the setup before calmly explaining what adjustments needed to be made. She listened attentively, nodding as I spoke, and immediately set to work once I finished.I took a moment to drink some water, trying to steady myself and slow my breathing, when I suddenly caught sight of Alexander standing among the crowd. His eyes were already on me,