MY IDEAL MARRIAGE

Chapter Three: Morning blues

Bella’s eyes slowly opened as the bright morning light reflected across her face. Her head pounded as though someone had split it in two. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her entire body.

Confused, she looked down.

She was naked.

“What happened?”

Her eyes searched the room, but she saw no one. Then she looked at herself and noticed red marks scattered across her body.

“What happened?” she whispered.

The last thing she could remember was standing up and dancing. How did she get here?

She quickly got out of bed and noticed a handwritten note on the table.

“Hope you feel better now, Miss. Drink the tea beside the note. It will help with the hangover.”

Beside the note was a cup of tea and a paper bag.

Bella stumbled backward, her hands trembling. “No…” she whispered. “This can’t have happened.”

Then it suddenly dawned on her. Where was Sarah? She knew her mother was going to kill her.

***

It was early in the morning when Bella hurried out of the taxi and stopped in front of the mansion. Her once-white floral gown was now stained with dark marks.

“Where the hell have you been?”

John’s furious voice echoed through the mansion the moment Bella stepped inside.

Sarah sat quietly beside Franca on the sofa, pretending to look worried.

Bella’s face was pale, and her body trembled, but John didn’t notice.

“I trusted you with one simple responsibility, and you couldn’t even handle it!”

Bella opened her mouth to explain, but no words came out. She wasn’t even sure what had happened the previous night. Her mind was a mess.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered quietly before walking upstairs to her room.

She dropped the paper bag on the floor, took off her clothes, and stepped into the shower. Her thoughts were still hazy.

Who did I bump into last night?

The red marks on her body made her heart race. She quickly pushed the paper bag beneath her wardrobe before heading downstairs to get something to eat.

She was starving. She had gone to the club on an empty stomach.

As she entered the kitchen, she saw Maria.

“Good morning, Maria.”

Maria smiled warmly. “Good morning, my little princess. Thank heavens you’re back.”

She handed Bella a cup. “Here, drink this. I brewed it specially for you.”

Bella smiled faintly. “I’m fine.” She accepted the tea before adding, “But I’m really hungry.”

Maria chuckled. “Just give me a few minutes. Let me prepare something for you to eat.”

“Thank you,” Bella replied.

After eating, Bella walked back to her room. She was still curious about everything that had happened the previous night, but there were emails waiting for her attention.

She picked up her laptop, only for her eyes to fall on her father’s proposal concerning Zaroth Seasons Limited.

If the marriage proposal her father had brought to her would help the family business grow, she was willing to consider it. After all, it was only a contract marriage.

What did she know about marriage?

She had never grown up seeing the best example of it. To her, what mattered most was raising children in a home filled with love, something she had never experienced herself.

***

The Zaroth family was having breakfast together.

Mrs. Zaroth looked at Ethan and Mayor. “Why didn’t the two of you come home last night?”

Ethan calmly took a sip of his coffee. “We had something to attend to.”

Mrs. Zaroth narrowed her eyes.

Mayor’s pale face and tired eyes said otherwise.

A moment later, Mayor suddenly stood up and hurried to the restroom.

When he returned, Mrs. Zaroth smiled. “Maybe partying all night is finally catching up with you.”

Mayor groaned. “I don’t think I’m drinking again anytime soon.”

Ethan couldn’t help but smirk.

Mrs. Zaroth chuckled. “How’s the proposal going, son?”

“I’m still reviewing both proposals,” Ethan replied. “I haven’t made a decision yet, so I haven’t sent a response.”

Mrs. Zaroth nodded. “Have you decided which company you want to partner with, Snowflakes Limited or Xandor Group?”

“Not yet.”

“I heard John Xandor has a proposal.”

Ethan looked up.

“I’d like you to meet one of his daughters,” she said with a warm smile. “My son, you’re already twenty-seven. You can’t keep living your life around work.”

“I also want grandchildren. I’m not getting any younger.”

Ethan rubbed his forehead. “Mom…”

Before he could finish, Mayor suddenly spoke.

“Speaking of last night…” He grinned mischievously. “Who was the lady in your room?”

Ethan nearly dropped the cup in his hand.

His sharp gaze snapped toward Mayor.

If looks could kill, Mayor would already be dead.

Mayor immediately cleared his throat and looked away.

Mrs. Zaroth slowly turned to Ethan, a teasing smile spreading across her face. “A lady?”

She folded her arms. “I thought last night was all about work.”

She laughed softly. “Come on, son. You’ve got to let your mother in on this.”

Ethan sighed. “I don’t even know who she was.”

Mayor couldn’t help but grin. “Oh, there was definitely a lady.”

If Ethan could kill his brother, today would definitely be the day.

“Okay, boys, I have to leave now.” Mrs. Zaroth rose from her seat. “You both should get some rest.”

She turned toward Ethan and pointed at him with a smile. “And you, Ethan, be prepared. I might be tagging you along to a dinner soon. I’m just letting you know now. I don’t want my son growing wings and making up excuses.”

She paused before adding with a teasing smile, “The partnership may not be that important to me, but getting grandchildren definitely is.”

With that, Mrs. Zaroth stood up and left the dining room.

Ethan slowly turned to Mayor. “Sometimes, it’s best to keep your mouth shut.”

Mayor shrugged innocently. “What? I was only helping.”

Ethan shot him a warning look before standing up. “I’m going to the library.”

As soon as he disappeared upstairs, Mayor let out a dramatic sigh.

“Come on…” he muttered. “Now breakfast is boring again.”