Ryan POV:-
Her demeanor never fails to push me past my limits and break my last bit of patience.
I know I also provoked her to be like this but sometimes I even feel like she needs a leash.
‘She is the one who betrayed me, the one who entered my life without my consent and acts cold and mighty.’
Our drive to our destination was quiet, none of us spoke a word.
I solely focused on the road as she looked out of the window.
I spared a glance at her, her eyes gleamed, with thick clouds which held an incapability of being explored. Only she knows what roams in her mind.
She is such a fake woman, hiding herself behind those unbreakable walls of coldness.
‘It's not that I am interested in breaking those walls. For all I care, she can go to hell with them.’
“We are here.”
We reached and got out. The dinner was hosted by my best friend and business partner; Peter Smith.
He knows how much I loved Marianne.
Only he knows that I was getting married to Marianne, to the rest of the world, it was a surprise, in a sense it's a surprise for me too.
"Hey, Man… Where's our Sister-in-Law?" He asked.
"Since I am standing beside him, I didn't come as his mistress, did I?" Rebecca spoke her words with that fake smile of hers. But the venom in them was visible.
"Aren't you supposed to marry Marianne Morris? " Asked Peter's wife, Selena Smith. I remained silent as Rebecca replied to her,
"I believe the news didn't clarify who he is going to marry, isn't it?"
"Yeah.. but, Who are you?" Asked Peter.
"I'm Rebecca Morris." She said,
"Rebecca Knight." I corrected her which made her send a glare at me from the corner of her eye.
Peter and Selena's mouth gaped when they heard it.
"What? Dude, can I talk to you in private?" Peter asked. I nodded as we stood in the corner.
"Dude, I get it I couldn't make it to your wedding but... What's this all about?"
"I was left with no choice but to marry her. Marianne didn't want to marry so she took her place."
"What the hell?! I know how much you loved her, how can you agree to marry her sister?!" He whisper-yelled at me.
"I was left with no choice." I hissed.
"How are you supposed to spend your life with the sister of the person you loved?"
"I won't. I'll divorce her next year."
"Why not now?"
"We are newlyweds, if we divorce now, it will stain my name."
"Yours or hers? Did your parents induce this thought in your mind too?" He asked.
“Dude, we are not in your homeland. She could get anyone.”
Not by this demeanor. I thought but remained silent as we walked back.
We walked inside as my friends were there. To congratulate me.
It made my heart clenched but I swallowed the feeling inside me and wrapped my arm around Rebecca's waist, pulling her close to me.
“Oh, it is a pleasure to meet you.” She kept on smiling as they began to cheer and raised their toast.
"To the new couple!" The toast was made with a round of applause. We sat as the dinner was served.
"Do you know what's the key to a man's heart?" Asked Selena.
"What?" Katie, my friend asked.
"Manipulation." She said mockingly, while giving a glare to Rebecca and continued.
She knows how much I loved Marianne, she is just feeling bad for me.
"Manipulate him and marry him." Selena spoke her words with venom. Rebecca turned to her and passed her a sweet yet threatening smile,
"Manipulation won't always work. Sometimes all you have to do is to take someone else's place."
‘No one. I repeat, on one can beat that woman in taunts. She is taunting herself!’
"What did you choose?"
"I need none." She replied monotonously.
"Then what did you use to enter his heart?" Asked Jared, my other friend.
“Hmm?” She stopped eating and turned to look at me.
“To enter his heart…?” She stared at me for a second.
It seemed like she wanted to mock me and say something rude but she couldn't, she had to put up, this fake appearance.
We both stare at each other for about a few seconds. My gaze was filled with usual hate as her eyes were flickering with.. Heartbreak?
And before I could explore those emotions more, she hid them again and replied in her persuasive voice,
"An entrance.. Being his bride."
"That sounds cliché." Said Peter.
"Based upon prejudice." She said, turning her head away from mine and focusing again on her food.
"Do you love him?" Peter asked as I glared at him to shut his mouth.
All eyes fell upon us as a silence took over. They looked at us intently because of the lack of our reaction.
"I would like to ask you the same question, Mr Knight?" She asked.
"Mr Knight?" Katie mocked.
"It's my choice to call him by whatever name I like, isn't it?" She asked in a slightly angered tone but it was again concealed by her sweetness.
"Yeah.. Right." Katie trailed off. And Rebecca again asked,
"Well, answer?"
I inhaled deeply and my heart pricked. It's like my voice and I couldn't answer no matter what.
‘My destiny has been destroyed by you, how can I love you?’
I hate you with every fiber of my core.
“What? Is it hard to confess love before us?” Peter asked, deriding her.
My lips slightly parted as I didn't dare to speak. A thick tension appeared in the atmosphere since the newlyweds were not saying anything.
“No, that is not it.” She chuckled beautifully and I couldn’t believe it.
“Rebecca.” I held her chin and made her look at me. I narrowed my eyes as both of our eyes glistened with hate for each other.
No matter what, I cannot say that I love her.
“I don’t need your words, Mr Knight, to know what I already do.” She replied sweetly.
I gave her an intense look of eternal loath and looked at her with a scowl but it converted into astonishment.
“My heart is aware of my position in your heart.” She whispered deeply and my heart constricted to her.
I opened my mouth to say that I hate her but she spoke up first with a grin while tilting her head cutely and said in the most charming voice.
"I love you too."
My eyes widened as my mind almost lost its senses.
“Now, let’s continue.” She laughed a little, turning back to the food.
“Y-Yeah…” I cleared my throat and turned my head away, pulling my hand away. Her lips began to quiver but she kept on smiling.
"Are you okay, Rebecca? Or are you afraid to hear Ryan's answer?" Selena derided her again.
"I know his answer, it doesn't matter whether he says it or not..." She passed me a lovely smile and completed her sentence with hidden detest.
"At least he showed it.. That's what matters."
My heart felt like being torn as I felt ashamed. I shouldn't let her be degraded in front of everyone.
“Oh, he does?” No matter what she is responsible for, I shouldn't do this even if she doesn't need anyone to defend her but still. I felt bad for not standing up.
Behind the door, I should show my hatred. But.. I want to see her burn..
"I couldn't see any love. " Selena said.
"Neither do I." She mumbled to her and replied to her.
"He doesn't need to prove to anyone that he loves me. Don't you, Mr Knight?" She asked, turning her attention to me. I looked at her and then didn't reply.
‘Am I falling so low that I enjoy my wife being disgraced that much?’