A broken heart fights back

The Promises

As if reading her mind, Mr. Joseph Dominica, the architect who she is supposed to marry, leaned towards her to point at a certain part of the page Vina was looking at.

“Please sign on the sign on the side of each page then make sure that you sign above the blank line at the bottom part of the page.”

Suddenly aware of how close Joseph was, Vina decided to move her focus of something else. She immediately noticed a mole on his right pinkie but couldn't bring herself to look at his face so she looked at her parents instead. The frigidexpressions on their faces and the sly response that she received, slightly weakened her resolve for just a moment.

"Sign it Vina, you'll be leaving right away with Mr Dominica and his son," her mom orderedimperiously. ”And they insist that this arrangement should be finalized tonight.

Vina squeezed her thighs hard and fought back the tears that blurred her vision as she perused the document before her. After scanning a few page, she took the pen from in front of her with a resigned sigh and began signing…

I might as well since I doubt if they’ll let me object to anything I don't like in this agreement, anyway

She knew that everything was already planned for quite some time now so she wasted no time in providing her signature in the designated areas of the document. With a heavy heart, Vina knew that the place she called home and people she called family couldn't even wait for twenty-four-hours to get rid of her and this knowledge bothered her no end.

Meanwhile, at the end of the dinner table, Azura sat with devious smirk on her face as she looked at her older sister with mocking grey eyes, truly believing that she had won…

However, Vina had already decided that she will never allow them to get the better of her!

"Then I should quickly pack up my things so I can already leave," the voluptuous damsel announced out loud with a forced smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Her father raised a thick questioning brow at her sudden courageous declaration. It seemed that Osias had expected Vina to plead with them so she could stay for a few more days. The cruel blond patriarch was secretly hoping to exercise his dominance over the poor orphan by haughtily turning her down then cruelly sending her away.

Thanks to the young woman’s firmness and fortitude, none of that happened that day...

In less than twenty minutes, Vina was on her way out of the mansion with only an average-sized maroon suitcase and a red hard-case with its own trolley. It seems that the lovely school marm had thrown all her school materials and a few items of clothing items in the suitcase and had stuffed whatever else she owned in the other luggage and was mow ready to bid them farewell.

"Is that all you are taking with you?" Azura inquired in disbelief since she was astonished at how Vina had accepted her fate so easily.

Vina’s words: "Yes, you can have the rest, sister. I’ve always known how much you desire anything, that belong to me."

Vina’s thoughts: Sadly, the same could be said about Jay!

The grieving long-haired girl’s heart was bleeding as she spoke the words. But she felt satisfied at the chance to say what those words to Azura, especially since she had no plans of going back… ever!

Vina watched in silence as the Dominica butler, who was also the head chauffeur, placed her luggage in the trunk of the car. Meanwhile the two guests would be thanking their hosts, bidding them goodbye and would be joining the new bride outside.

As the the adoptive daughter looked out of herwindow, watching the Rivera mansion fade away into the darkness as their ride, a Rolls-Royce Phantom EWB, drove away, Vina could not help but wonder at what awaits her destiny.

“Vina…”

The brown-eyed lady was brought out of her reverie by a smooth masculine tenor voice beside her.True, they were practically newly-weds but since they have just met that evening and had only been together for a single meal that hardly lasted an hour, they could still be considered as strangers to each other.

Fortunately, due to her grandfather’s state of health and her newly-acquired confidence and self-satisfaction over her recent small but still impressive victory over the Riveras’ prideful and snooty attitude towards her, she had no reasons to keep her new spouse at bay. So help her, Vina intends that this marriage will have a happy ending despite the dubious circumstances that brought about its fruition.

The buxom female smiled widely as she turned towards the speaker, who happened to be just two inches away from her, “Yes, Joseph. What is it?”

For a moment, Vina had hesitated to speak at the sight of her new husband’s facial expression. His good-looking visage was very serious, almost grim the moment Vina saw him. It was a far cry to his approachable and charming personality during their dinner and “wedding”.

“Vina, I need to admit something to you before we reach your new home,” Joseph continued in the same severe tone that he used when he called his new wife’s name. “I have felt heartbreak before so I do not readily give my heart to just anybody. My father may have arranged this marriage and I have agreed to it but you need to earn my trust first before I consider you my wife for real. As of now, this is only a marriage on paper. I hope you understand.”

Something in Joseph’s confession deeply touched the new bride’s feelings. She could not identify it but she was certain that it was not pity. No, not at all. But, whatever it was, she found herself placing a dainty hand on his long-fingered ones and she flashed her sincerest smile at him, as she shared her thoughts to the moody but comely male…

“Of course, I understand, Joseph. I promise, I will do my best to make you trust me. And I will not expect anything from you until I prove mt loyalty to you.”

The young budding architect sighs and returns Vina’s smile with a sadder nut still attractive version, as he places his other palm on her hand…

“Thank you, Vina. Your promise means a lot to me,” Joseph admitted huskily. “And I swear to you that I will be faithful while we are together.”

Unnoticed by both of them, the two other individual’s in the limo, Mr. Earl Joseph Dominica, Sr. and their driver/butler Marc Esguerra has heard the young pair’s personal oaths to each other. The two amused men were now smiling to themselves at what they heard.

Marc’s thoughts: Oh happy day! It seems the young master will surely get over that w***e ex-girlfriend of his very soon!

Sir Earl’s thoughts: I first put up a fuss when Osias replaced Azura with his adopted child. Looks like his sudden change of mind is the better option, after all.