Chapter 5- SUNNY
1123 Words
“It's just for two years, ”Aaron repeated,” Two years you would act like my wife and I help you get back your restaurant, it's just that simple”
Ryla looked closely at him, he was definitely drunk, that was for sure.
“Are you out of your mind?” She asked him.
He frowned,” I don't have much time left, you have to accept”
“I have to accept?” She laughed, crossing her arms again, “What do you think you are?A god or something? and you expect me to fall at your feet and do your bidding”
He took a deep breath, raking his fingers through his hair.
“You need a favor from me too, don't you? If you accept my offer I'd help you take back your restaurant, I'd represent you legally and you wouldn't have to pay me a penny”
Ryla looked away, she knew she needed the offer, she knew she was at the edge of losing her only source of livelihood.
But at the same time she can't, he just can't do it. Joshua had shattered her heart to a thousand tiny pieces and she didn't think she'd ever be able to recover from it.
She can't do it, she can't get into another marriage whether fake or not, she just can't.
“No, I can't do it “She said slowly,” Joshua hurt me so much and I can't ever get over it, I'm still so hurt”
“The marriage won't be real, you don't have to love me. Besides don't you want to get back at your ex husband for what he did to you? Think about this as an opportunity to do so and get back your life”
Ryla thought about it, she hated to admit that he was right. Maybe Joshua deserved to pay for what he did to her, for taking her love for granted.
She drew in a long breath and hugged herself tightly as Aaron watched her, hoping, praying that she accepted.
“Okay,” She said finally, “I accept your offer”
A smirk lifted Aaron's lips, finally, he thought and drew in a deep breath.
“Let's get right on to it, shall we?”
Aaron did a perfect job in arranging for a makeup artist and a fashion designer to give Ryla a good and presentable look.
It all happened so Swifty that Ryla couldn't help but wonder if she was planning an actual wedding.
Just the next day, Aaron took her to his Mother and Freda had left everything to come all the way to see the new bride.
Ryla had a makeover, Aaron specifically told her what and what not to say around her family, they were indeed very glad to know she was a restaurant owner but he didn't mention the part that she was a divorcee.
“It's very nice to know that my baby brother is finally settling down after so many years, ''Freda joked as they sat in the grand dining room for lunch.
Aaron smiled thinly, “All thanks to you guys, I found my missing rib”
He gave Ryla a look and she laughed uneasily, she felt tense especially as his mother kept smiling at her.
“I'm glad I found you too,” She muttered.
“Everyone is talking about your engagement party, I would make sure to invite all the influential people to your wedding,” Ava smiled.
“It would be the talk of the Town,” Freda said, sipping her wine.
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The priest turned to her .
“Do you, Ryla Felstead, take Aaron Rolfe, to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health,in rich and in poor, till death do you part?” He intoned.
The church became quiet, all eyes were watching, cameras clicking and her heart pounding.
Aaron looks at her, his eyes piercing into her thoughts and telling her not to mess up his plans.
She took a deep breath, “I do”
….The reception hall was bubbling with chattering, champagne flutes and wine glasses clicking and a set of classical music drifting from an orchestra.
Aaron held Ryla's waist tightly, smiling from ear to ear at the well wishes and particularly the camera as they clicked on.
“Hey,” Two ladies waltzed by, wearing expensive dinner gowns.
Aaron forced a smile as they approached, he held Ryla firmly against him.
“It's nice to know that you both made it here,” Aaron told them.
“We can never miss such a day,” One of the ladies said.
“You both look so good together, I wish you both the very best, honey “The other cooed.
They stood, smiling and thanking the guests that came by for a greeting, they hugged and pecked and Ryla felt her legs hurting in the heels she was made to wear.
A clicking sound was heard on the platform and the orchestra stopped the song they were playing.
Ava stood at the platform, she clicked a folk against her champagne flutes till everyone had quieted down.
She leaned into the microphone, “Today, I am indeed so happy for my son, Aaron Rolfe. I'm delighted to see her finally deciding to settle down and so I'm offering a toast to him, ”She said and lifted up her champagne flutes, ”Here’s a toast to a happy family”
“To a happy family!” Everyone chorused
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She sat at the back of her car as the driver slipped into the expressway from the airport, her eyes lowering to her tablet as she watched the video of Aaron's Rolfe's wedding.
So what she had heard had actually been true, the rumors she had heard about his engagement to some lady had been true.
Her face tightened in a frown as her eyes slid to the lady standing, glued to Aaron in an expensive wedding dress.
Her heart twisted in pain, that was supposed to be her, she was supposed to be the one there in that expensive wedding dress.
She wasn't going to be wiped away from the picture like a speck of dust, she wasn't going to just act like everything was fine.
Not when Aaron was getting married..no, had gotten married to another.
She wasn't going to allow it, she won't let it slide. She shut her tablet and felt like throwing it out of the window.
She felt like screaming, she felt like crying, but she tried to calm herself down as her car gained speed.
“I won't let this slide, Aaron. You'd hear from me,” She whispered.
- Writer
