Chapter 4

LAUREN

I turned to face the other side of the bed and continued to sob.

My marriage with Caden was supposed to be an arranged marriage because of business, but it turned out differently for me.

I liked Caden the first time I saw him, and I really wanted to get married to him.

I was happy too when Caden accepted and said he wanted to get married to me too. I had thanked my parents for allowing me to get married instead of Leslie.

And Leslie, too, didn’t mind. She didn’t seem interested in Caden, even if she hadn’t seen or met him before.

I didn’t know that she would end up getting married to him in my place. This is all my heart problem fault. If only I were healthy like Leslie, then I would be in that wedding dress, saying, “Yes, I do,” to Caden. But was this karma getting back at me for getting engaged instead of Leslie?

Was it karma because I did not decline and said Leslie should marry Caden?

But it wasn’t my fault that Dad chose me instead of Leslie. So, why all these?

Why this bad timing?

LESLIE

“I’m your first kiss.” I heard Caden’s voice from the door.

I hurriedly stood up from the chair and turned to look at him.

“How long have you been standing there?” I asked nervously. I prayed in my heart that he didn’t hear Rose call me Leslie.

“Just in time to hear you say you had your first kiss with me. “Not you saying it directly, but Rose saying it again.” Caden replied with a smirk.

“Was that the only thing you heard?” I asked him with a nervous smile.

“Why? “Was there something else for me to have heard?” He replied with a question.

I sighed in relief because he didn’t seem to hear Rose call me Leslie.

“Anyway, I was looking for you.” “Some guests wanted to see you, and I was told to come get you,” Caden said, walking up to me.

“Oh! Okay. “I’m done getting dressed already.” I told him and gave him a small smile.

“Okay, let’s go out together then.” Caden smiled and entwined our hands together.

I could feel a cold shiver run down my spine as our hands came in contact with each other’s. His hand was warm and soft. It was like that of a new-born baby.

We both went out to the reception and started greeting the guests.

Just as Caden and I separated, a girl walked up to me where I was drinking a glass of wine.

She looked very beautiful, but she gave me a very hard glare. She looked kind of familiar, but I couldn’t tell where I had met her.

“You are Lauren, right?” She asked me with a slight frown on her face. Her makeup was quite heavy, and she was gorgeously dressed as if she were attending her own wedding.

“Yes. “And you are?” I answered.

“I’m Tessa, and I’m the only one that Caden loves.” She smirked at me.

“What are you talking about?” I asked in shock. I wasn’t informed that Caden had another woman or was in love with another woman.

“I—” Tessa was cut short by Caden’s appearance.

“Hey, babe, I was looking all over for you. “My dad wants to see you.” Caden smiled and wrapped his hand around my shoulder.

I looked up at him, but he still had that smile on his face.

Tessa huffed and walked away angrily.

“Who is she?” I asked Caden. I took his hand away from his shoulder and stepped away from him a little, giving us a reasonable distance.

Don’t be bothered by her. “She’s one of the top models in my company.” He replied.

And that was when it finally occurred to me why she looked familiar. She was a famous model and actress.

“Okay.” I answered simply. “Come on, let’s go meet my parents,” he said, and before I could reply, he was already walking away.

I sighed tiredly and walked hurriedly behind him.

………

By the time the wedding was over, my mouth was already hurting from the smile I had to put on to look happy.

There were paparazzi at the wedding too, taking pictures of every little detail.

Our families were both influential and powerful, so our wedding will definitely be the talk of the town.

Caden and I got into the back seat of the white limousine and waved at our parents goodbye.

Caden was staying with his parents just like Lauren was, but since they were getting married, they got a new mansion.

Now, it is going to be me and Caden in the big mansion.

Why did Lauren have to fall sick at this time of her life?

“I will take my bath first.” I rushed my words and quickly ran into the bathroom.

It was our marriage night, but there was no way I was going to allow Caden to touch me. But how was I going to do it?

I stayed in the bathroom for what seemed like eternity until I heard Caden knocking on the door.

“You’ve been in there for more than an hour, Lauren.” Are you okay? “Is everything okay with you?” Caden asked worriedly.

“I’m fine. “I will be out very soon.” I replied and turned off the shower.

I was done bathing a few minutes ago, but I just turned on the shower. I looked around and realized that I hadn’t brought my nightwear with me into the bathroom.

I sighed in frustration. There’s no way I was going to go back to that room with just my towel on.

The only option I had was to rewear my reception gown.

I wore it and walked out of the bathroom. From the bathroom door, I peered to make sure Caden wasn’t in the room, and when I was sure he wasn’t, I tiptoed out of the bathroom.

Just then, Caden walked into the room with just his briefs on.

God! He was breathtaking. I swallowed nothing and turned my back on him.

“I will go to bed first,” I said, my back still against him.

Just then, I felt his cold arms wrap around my body, just beneath my boobs. I shiver at his touch.

He turned me slowly to look at him and stared intensely at me. He pulled me closer to himself and planted a wet, featherlike kiss on my neck.

I closed my eyes to feel his touch better. He placed his lips on mine and slowly kissed me. I reciprocated the kiss, and slowly and gently, he led me to the bed. I came back to my senses when he started to unzip my gown.

“No, this isn’t right!” I breathed out in a rush, pushed him off my body, and ran out of the room.