The Billionaire's Substitute Bride

Chapter 2: Invisible String

Sia’s POV

We were eating at the food court as Celine got tired of walking into different stores. She also bought me some clothes I would never wear because they're too daring to wear at work.

While eating, we saw a familiar face in the food stall where we were. The girl who Damon was kissing at the party that night. She was with a different guy and it was an old man. Celine and I looked at each other’s eyes with confused faces.

“Oh God, is that her sugar daddy?” Celine assumed, and then we both laughed.

I was wondering where Damon was. I wanted to know if he was okay. Wait, why was I so worried? Remember, Sia, you two broke up.

We finished our food and then went back to my apartment. Celine said she was going to sleep over tonight.

“Sia, what if you come with me to California?” Celine said while doing her skin care.

“Huh, are you serious? And for what?” I asked with a confused face while lying on the bed.

“Dad wants me to take care of our business there. He said that it’s the least I can do for him,” she explained.

To be honest, it was a good idea for me because I wouldn’t want to be stuck here in Michigan forever, since I always see Damon in every corner of this small apartment and the city.

“Quit your job, Sy. Let’s move to California. I got you, girl,” Celine said while jumping, then she hugged me tightly.

“No, Cel, that’s too… risky,” I refused.

“Oh C’mon, what are you going to do in this apartment? Cry? And go to that stupid company of yours that doesn’t even care whether you die or not?” She uttered disappointedly.

“Well, you have a point, but I can’t just move to another city without any plans. I don’t have any parents. I don’t have any family in California. I don’t have any savings or anyone who can support me there. I only have you, Celine,” I explained.

“Sy, if money is your problem, I said I got you. We don’t even have to worry about anything. My Dad is one call away. You know I’m her princess and he would do anything I wanted. So please let’s do this, I don’t want to go there alone, I need you,” Celine said with puppy eyes.

Celine tried to convince me all night. We wrote down all the cons and pros of moving into a new city, new experiences, fresh memories, new people, and new life.

I finally accepted Celine’s request. I would accompany her to California. After I said that I was coming with her, her face brightened and she called her dad right away and said that I was coming. His dad was okay with it and we’re leaving as soon as possible to take care of their business.

We just talked for a bit about everything and went to sleep.

The sun was up already, and we started preparing for our trip. While packing, I found a photo of us together, me and Damon. All the memories come back. How we built this apartment as our home for almost 6 years of us being together. It’s difficult to move on if you see that person grow and experience life together. I found myself crying again.

Celine goes home to pack her own things. Times like this made me wonder what was going to happen to me in that new city. I’m scared, but I don’t want to be stuck in a situation like this.

I sent my immediate resignation letter to my boss and did not wait for his response. I’ll look for a new job when I get there. When I was young, I lived in an orphanage and would move cities. I met potential parents but always ran away when it was time to go with them.. It ended up with me being transferred to a different orphanage. It was kind of fun yet scary, but that was me and what I was good at; running away.

I just sat in my bed when I finished packing my baggage. I scanned the room, it was so quiet. This room used to be so loud because we were blasting different genres of music, we’re just dancing, singing and kissing. I miss those days when everything was just perfect, like in story books, but it was different now. That person was no longer here, nor mine. Everything has an ending, they said, and the end of our relationship was really here. I really hope this decision leads me to where I really belong. In universe I trust.

Celine texted me and said she booked a grab to pick me up for the airport. She’ll wait for me there because she has something urgent to do before we leave.

I took my things to the dining room and waited for the grab driver’s call. Our flight leaves at 10pm.

It was 8pm when the driver picked me up at the apartment. It was like a 4 hour flight from Michigan to California. I will just sleep later on the plane. While on our way, I reminisce about how this city made me, for who I was. I guess it will take me so much time before I get back here.

We arrived at the airport. Celine also arrived shortly and we just waited for our boarding time. I go to the restroom real quickly to check myself and after that I run to the nearest convenience store to buy some snacks.

As I was running, I bumped into this man in a suit with a lot of bodyguards behind him. I looked up and saw his dark grey eyes looking down on me. He is so handsome that you would have thought he was not real, his white glass skin, plumped lips, pointed nose with his sharp jawline, his face was perfect. I have never seen a man as perfect as he was.

Damon was handsome too, but this man in front of me was way more handsome and attractive. He smirked, and I felt someone grab my arm, it was one of his bodyguards.

“Move, lady,” the guard said.

Then he continued walking like nothing happened. I was left here standing and just watched him walk away. His back was so sexy, too. I pull myself together and runs back to where Celine was. By that time, a lot of people were already in line for boarding. We also prepared ourselves for a long flight.

We’re in a business class as we ride the plane. I saw a lot of men in suits just like what we saw when the accident happened before. It came to my realization that the man I bumped into earlier was the same man that was crying that day.

But he looked so different. His aura was still dark, but full of authority. I wonder if he was on the same flight as us. I tried to look for him and there he was, surrounded by his bodyguards, reading a newspaper.

“Hey, Sy, where are you going? This is our seat,” Celine called me out as I was moving on to the man’s direction.

“Oh… I thought our seat was over there,” I said jokingly, and pointed in the direction of the man.

“Oh… so your standard has changed now, huh,” Celine smirked.

“Shut up, Cel,” I annoyingly said.

Our seat was not too far from him, so I could stare at him anytime I wanted. He was just reading a newspaper or a book the whole time.

While Celine was sleeping, I got up to go to the lavatory. As I was walking in the aisle, a turbulence happened. I stumbled and accidentally grabbed this man’s arm. He looked at me dead in the eye and said,

“You’ll regret crossing your path with me,” he whispered, then forcedly removed my hand from him.

I ran to the lavatory as fast as I could, then went back to my seat after without looking back. What the hell is going on? Why was I always running into him?