MY BOSS MY HUSBAND

Chapter 2

Reese

"Yes, I do," the stranger answered me with a serious expression on his face after staring at me for a long time. He probably weighed how serious I was about what I said before responding.

Even though that was the answer I wanted to hear from him, I was still surprised when I heard it. I couldn't speak right away and just stared blankly at his face. I only came to my senses when he snapped his fingers in front of me.

"Ah, alright. Let's go," I answered hastily before pulling him into the church and facing him toward the priest. "You can continue the wedding, Father. I have a groom now," I said to the priest with a smile.

Though confused, the priest did not object. He married us without further explanation.

The ceremony ended quickly, and moments later we were holding our marriage certificate.

"Now that we're married, it's only right that we properly introduce ourselves to each other," he said to me after the ceremony. He extended his right hand to me. "I'm Allistair Rusco, twenty-nine years old, and half an hour ago my status was single, but now I'm married."

I immediately took his hand and introduced myself. "I'm Reese Clifford, twenty-two years old. Aren't you going to ask why I suddenly proposed marriage to you?"

Allistair shrugged his shoulders before answering. "You said your groom dumped you for another woman. Perhaps you want to show him that you could find a much better groom than he is. Which is good because you found me. How about you? Are you not going to ask me why I agreed to marry you on the spot even if I don't know you?"

"Why indeed?" Of course, I'm also curious about it.

"Well, it's simple. I agreed to marry you to stop my grandmother from pressuring me to get married. I'll show her our marriage certificate. She'll surely stop looking for a random woman for me now. So your marriage offer was a blessing in disguise to me," he explained.

No wonder he agreed to marry me even though we didn't know each other. He had his own agenda too.

"Uhm, but we're only married on paper. I just want to prove to my family and Lucas that I can marry another man. But we can get a divorce after a month."

Allistair stared at me for a moment before nodding.

"Alright. I only need to show this marriage certificate to Grandma so she can see that I'm really married. Let's meet here after a month and get a divorce," he agreed and took a picture of our marriage certificate.

After we decided to meet again at that church after a month, we went our separate ways as if we hadn't just gotten married.

Instead of going home to our house, I headed to my apartment. No one at home knows I have an apartment. Only my best friend Mary knows about it.

I called Mary and asked her to come to my apartment. She didn't attend my supposed-to-be wedding with Lucas because she didn't like him for me. She'll definitely be happy when she finds out my wedding to that guy didn't push through. But she would be surprised once I tell her that I married a stranger. A super hot and handsome stranger.

Half an hour later, Mary arrived. I immediately told her what happened.

"What? Are you out of your mind, Reese? How could you marry a random man? What if he's a criminal with lots of debts? And what if after a month he doesn't want to get a divorce anymore?" Mary exclaimed when she found out I had married a man I'd only met outside the church.

"I don't think so. Besides, he's so hot and handsome. He doesn't look like a bad person," I defended Allistair.

Mary gave me a teasing look. "You don't even look heartbroken. Is it because the man you married is handsome and hot? I really wanted to meet that man."

I don't know why but I suddenly blushed when I thought of Allistair's face. He was really handsome, no doubt about that. But he looks serious. Like he doesn't make decisions without careful thought. Although I doubt if he thought carefully about marrying me.

"Of course, I was still brokenhearted. Not just brokenhearted but humiliated too. You know he was the reason I was able to move on from my brother's death. But there's no point in moping and crying over spilled water. Everything's already happened. Cassey will just laugh and mock me if she finds out how much I was hurt by what Lucas did. But I won't give her the chance to laugh and mock me." My chest suddenly ached when I remembered what Lucas did at the church but I quickly pushed that thought away. Now that I've married someone else, it means I'm really over him. He'll just be part of my past.

"Good thing you have that mindset now. From now on, don't let your stepsister walk all over you. And don't let that Lucas control you anymore."

I just nodded at her and didn't comment anymore. Mary stayed at my apartment for only two hours because her super strict uncle was looking for her. After she left, I chose to sleep in my apartment and decided to go home tomorrow.

When I got home the next day, I found Dad, my stepmom, Cassey, and Lucas sitting in the living room. Dad immediately scolded me when he saw me.

"Why did you come home just now, Reese? After the embarrassment you brought us yesterday, you only show up now?" my father said angrily, as if what happened was my fault. He scolded me instead of scolding Cassey and Lucas.

"Why am I the one who brought shame to you, Dad? Was I the one who left the church and ran off to be with another woman?" I couldn't help but retort.

"I'm sorry, Reese. I didn't mean to sabotage your wedding. I just want to—"

"I'm tired. I want to rest," I said before Cassey could finish what she was going to say. I didn't have time to listen to her drama.

Lucas approached me angrily and grabbed my arm tightly. "Why are you treating Cassey like that, Reese? Your sister is already apologizing to you, yet you're acting so high and mighty. Apologize to her right now!" Lucas said angrily.

I faced Lucas and slapped his face. "That was for humiliating me in front of many people."

When Cassey saw what I did to Lucas, she immediately approached me. "Don't hurt Lucas, Reese. He didn't do anything wrong. It was my fault." She took one of my hands and lightly slapped herself in the face. She suddenly fell to the floor in front of me as if my slap had been too hard.

"How dare you hurt your sister, Reese!" My father stood up angrily. He approached me and hit me. "Your sister was hurt in an accident. You didn't even ask how she was doing but you've hurt her instead! Why did I have a daughter like you!"

I clenched my fists tightly. My Dad always sided with Cassey no matter what she did. Sometimes I wonder if she's his real daughter and not me.

I gave Cassey a sharp look. There was a triumphant smile on her lips as Lucas helped her stand up. Cassey was a good actress. Too bad she didn't become one. She'd be perfect for a villain role.

After giving my father a sharp look, I walked up the stairs without a word. I was halfway up when Lucas called my name so I stopped.

"Let's proceed with our wedding at the end of this month, Reese. But don't you dare hurt Cassey again if you don't want me to get mad and call off the wedding for good," Lucas said to me. That's why he keeps hurting me and doesn't worry about making me angry because he's so confident that I can't stay mad at him. That I can't bear to lose him.

I took a deep sigh. Only now did I see how shameless Lucas was. It's a good thing our wedding didn't push through because it woke me up and opened my eyes to the truth. He doesn't deserve my love and loyalty. He was a trash I should throw away.

"No, thanks. You can marry the woman next to you instead because I'm already married to someone else," I replied to Lucas in a cold voice before continuing up the stairs. I heard Lucas laugh loudly because he didn't believe me. I just ignore him. I'll just wait for the day he finds out that what I said is true.