RA

as I opened my eyes, welcoming the splitting he

tion I was in. I couldn't piece it together yet, so I groaned softly as I sat up, blinking repeatedly. With my

ays been for years now. I had a woman in the opposite room who'd regard me

uffled it, another tired sigh squeezing out of me. I mess

of the moment. The one thing that had refused to leave my tongue, though it had been years sinc

fed it with work, nothing more. Any form of emotional bearings would ruin me. Years

ere contract. A pact formed by two business partners to p

face to wash whatever was left of the drunken veil that lingered. With every m

r so many reasons, I didn't want to see Rosaline or have any conversation wit

as pure business tactics. They should have at least told her that much.

, so I brushed it off and went my way. I hadn't told her the set of rules that I'd listed for our livin

kitchen caused me to stagger backward, appalled by the si

een the decision to walk away or ask why she looked like she was about to star in another season of

counter, staring into an empty space? I didn't ask.

taken a step away when it struck me. The papers. Damn it! I had left

ed different from yesterday- a lot more different. Her lips looked thinner, and

ed, swollen, and teary, and she flu

et dense and imposing. Just one word. It almost got a chuckle out

hest. "What the hell does this mean, Gerald? Cause I spent the entire night

cause...it's written in English. What part

Tell me the truth. Tell me everything, what this marriage is. Tell me why you got down on one knee and asked me to marry you!" Rosa yelled,

that I'd have loved to offer her a seat. It was just that sh

reason, I was awed. "I can't lie to you," I began. "Bu

OU!" Rosa raged, her scream filling every co

age was a sham. But really, how could you not tell? I am your dead sister's fiance. Didn't it

I kno

t that a muscle ticked. "All you know about me is the information the internet provided

abbing her chest. "Uh.." The sound came fr

ith you overnight and decided to go

charged towards the door, and I went after her, pulling her arm. "Le

this!" I yelled at her. "What? You're leaving? Did you stop to question why your parents

hed as she burst into tears that stole her words. Her voice was hoarse, and her eyes tired, b

r companies are acquainted in the first place. Then came her accident, and everything fell apart! I crashed. I'm in grief, too, and hell, the thought of marrying someone else sickens me t

ck tears. "I don't need these stories; jus

oke, Rosa. Do you know where all the money they've made for the p

What inve

at I was about to hit the hamme

it was a closed case. They found the killer! It was a hit and run, a-and the

t to rid you of the burden of knowin

ue." She pressed her hands aga

est Royal from dying into dust. If this marriage gets called off, best believe, the life you are acquainted wit