A Mistaken Marriage Brought Me Mr.Right

Chapter 0.2

The moment the car stopped in front of his mansion, Asher wasn't in mood for any more pleasantries so he got out without another glance at the woman besides him and stormed inside. Melissa was left sitting in the car gaping at the giant mansion in front of her, the cold silent biting at her. She swallowed nervously and got out of the car on her own. She knew he was angry and he had been doing well to keep his anger hidden up until now. After all he would have wanted to fall in love and marry the woman he desired, not someone his brother had left. It was never good. She didn't want to be second choice ever and Asher must be feeling like that now. She was supposed to be his sister in law not his wife. She was in an unknown territory and didn't know what to do so she just opened the door and grabbed her bags out. Her dress was being a nuisance and she glared at the puffy white thing, she hated it.

Melissa pulled out the handle of her suitcase and started dragging it over the cobblestone pathway. She had seen the door where Asher entered from so she walked towards that wooden door, her suitcase being dragged behind her. When she pushed the door, it took her a lot of effort to actually push it open and a hiss left her mouth as the wooden carvings of the door dug in her shoulder.

"Let me take it ma'am." Melissa gave a startled yelp, her hand flying towards her chest as she stared at the middle aged man that appeared in front of her out of nowhere. Seeing the startled look on her face, he smiled and said, "I am Mr. Loretti's butler, you can call me Marcus." Feeling easy around him, she timidly nodded and let go of the suitcase's handle. He grabbed it and started dragging it across the floor, expecting her to follow him. When he sensed that she wasn't, he turned and looked at her, "Follow me please miss, let me show you to your room." Melissa nodded, suddenly in the need of sleep and followed Marcus upstairs. The mansion was extravagant and beautiful, something out of 1800s. Her own house was huge but in this mansion, every single thing looked so elegant and expensive. The paintings, the decorations, the chandeliers, everything looked so beautiful and delicate like it would break if she touched it.

The mansion was huge, of course it was huge. Lorettis were one of the few Muslims who had established their businesses in US and were earning millions. Originated from Afghanistan, Lorettis were quite successful in landing themselves in to the prestigious area with billions flowing towards them. Melissa had not expected anything less. Asher Loretti was a man who wanted and demanded perfection, and this was his perfection.

"Congratulations miss, this will be your room." He smiled gently and opened the door of a room that was supposed to be hers.

"Thank you." Melissa smiled softly, "call me Melissa." The butler nodded and left her alone to rest. Melissa was just looking around the room when she heard a knock on the door. Turning around, she came face to face with a woman who looked to be in her mid fifties.

"Hello, I am Mrs. Gilbert. I am the housekeeper here. Do you need anything?" She said. "No thank you, I'd like to sleep now." She told the woman.

"If you need anything, just call me. It's time for servants to go home so I will be at outhouse. Just make a call and I will be at your service," said Mrs. Gilbert and Melissa was ever so grateful to the lady.

Melissa dismissed her with a polite thank you and went inside her room. Her room was as luxurious as she had back at home but she wasn't happy to be at this house. It didn't feel like home, it felt like she was going to live alone without anyone. She walked towards her bed and sat on the comfy mattress. She realized that Asher won't be sleeping in the same room as hers and that didn't even surprise her. It would be so awkward seeing him as something other than an acquaintance now. It was not her fault that his brother left him in the middle of ceremony. But she guessed that somehow it was, maybe she was not good enough for Salah that's why he left her. If Salah did not love her then how would Asher? Asher was more tough guy unlike his brother. But she wasn't hoping for Asher to love her, she just didn't see herself as his wife.

She had met Asher Loretti on several occasions and the man was always brooding. He only talked when needed and did not bother to enter in to a conversation. She had talked to him for only two times and first time was only a Salam whereas second time he asked her what was her major and after that they only talked about her studies which were still ongoing. She found him a reserved personality. She brushed aside all the thoughts and went inside the washroom to take a shower. When she left the bathroom she noticed that her suitcase was placed in the corner. She walked towards it and took out some night clothes from it, that were pyjama pants and over sized tee shirt. Above those clothes she wore her abayaa (a loose black gown) and wrapped a scarf around her head to pray. She prayed the midnight prayer and cried. She cried in front of God, begged him to show her the right path. What would she do? She didn't know what to do in this situation or how to be patient. She cried all the tears she had left, she cried for mercy, she cried for Salah, she cried because he betrayed her, she also prayed for Asher. What was she suppose to be like with Asher?

?

In the middle of the night, Melissa was thirsty and there was no water in the room. She hadn't slept a wink and was wide awake, thinking about what tomorrow would bring. She was anxious to face Asher and was praying that she didn't have to face him the next day as well. She tossed and turned all night, cried time to time and then tried to read a book but she was restless. When her throat was getting dry, she decided to go downstairs and get some water for herself, not that she knew where kitchen was but she would figure something out. Getting up from the bed, she slipped on her fancy sandals - because she didn't have slippers and walked downstairs. The house was so quite and the silence made her a little scared. Her heart was beating a little bit faster because of the eerie and creepy silence causing the goosebumps to rise on her arms. She hurried her steps and was in dilemma as to how she'd search for the kitchen. She rubbed her head and sighed. Opening her eyes, she took a deep breath in and made her way down the first hallway she saw. She had to look if she wanted to find water. She wandered around the halls, listening to the tick tock of grand clock in the sitting area. As she rounded the corner, at the same time the snapping of a drawer caused her to jump.

Her eyes were wide awake now as she looked at Asher, hunched over a showcase and it looked like he was searching for something. She retreated her steps as quietly as she could because the last thing she wanted was to face him. But at the same time he turned around, running his hand through his hair and located her. His eyes pinned her at her place. He was wearing a white tee shirt and some black sweats and his eyes were blank. But that didn't last long, in an instant the hollowness was replaced by something menacing as his fists clenched by his sides.

"What are you doing here? I guess someone showed you your room?" He said coldly and rested his hands on his waist. Melissa flinched at his tone and could feel her heartbeat in her throat. Well, she didn't imagine their first encounter so late at night and with him being in a foul mood. "I...I needed water so I..." her voice was small, barely above a whisper and that made him more furious, it seemed because his eyebrow twitched and his jaw tightened even more.

"Can you speak louder? I don't have that good of hearing sense," he hissed at her and she flinched at his rudeness. She gulped in fear and twisted her fingers with each other nervously. "And if you wanted water then you should have asked servants," he snapped, his fingers again going through his hair aggressively.

"I... I didn't want to disturb them and it's three in the mor-," she stuttered but managed to say loudly. She did not want him to yell at her. Asher laughed humorlessly and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and middle finger. Melissa swallowed, sensing his anger.

"You didn't want to disturb them," he whispered to himself, "I bloody pay them for that. Stop being such a goody two shoes! Just take what you want and leave!" He yelled and she jumped back again. What was wrong with him? Why was he lashing upon her, what did she do? "Stop yelling..." she muttered, on the verge of crying again. Melissa bit her lip to stop the sob raking through her throat but her throat was hurting and he was making it worse. He didn't have to yell at her like that. She just wanted some water, he could've just told her to leave politely.

"Stop yelling..." he laughed in mockery, "you ruin my life and you tell me to stop yelling!" He was yelling again by now and this time she couldn't stop the sobs ragging through her throat. She was so grief stricken and frustrated that she didn't have the energy to hold back her tears anymore. She didn't even care that she looked pathetic and weak in front of him. "I go to my brother's wedding and I have to marry my brother's bride and you tell me to stop yelling!" He growled like an enraged animal, ignoring the painful tears rolling down her cheeks. Silent sobs left her mouth but she just prayed that he would stop. Wasn't it enough for one day? "You Melissa..." he gritted his teeth and strode towards her. Once he was in front of her, he glared so hard she thought she would burn right there with its intensity. "You are forced on me. You- I don't know you. We'll always be strangers." He snapped and stormed past her inside his room. He slammed the door with all he had and then the silence followed.

Once he flew past her, she slumped against the wall and cried for the dear life. Melissa couldn't understand how it was her fault but she didn't say anything. She knew how angry he must be after all he had to leave his bachelor's life and marry a woman he barely knew. She couldn't blame him for that. The only person she could blame was Salah. He didn't only ruin her life but also his brother's.

She hugged her knees closer to her chest and cried wholeheartedly, having no energy to hold back her tears. She missed her parents, she missed Salaar. She never thought heartbreak could hurt anyone so much. Now she had experienced how it felt to be hated so passionately by someone. She didn't know for how long she cried, sitting on the cold floor in the middle of January, but all her tears had been shed, now there were no more tears. She forced herself to stand up and walked over to the large sofa in lounge. She didn't have any stamina left to search her room all the way back to second floor so she lied down on the large couch. Thinking about her messed up life and her family, she drifted off to dreamless sleep on that couch.

?

Asher was usually a calm person, he never got angry over smallest of things. Sure, he was tough and conservative, but never an angry kind of person. He did not yell at others and most of the times he was composed and could manage his anger. But today, he was barely hanging by a thread. He had been quiet, not wanting to speak because he knew nothing good would come out of his mouth. He did not like it when people feared him. So he tried to be less brooding but that was in his nature sadly. But he avoided hurting others at all cost. And now, he did just that. He didn't mean to yell at that woman, he didn't know her and had decided that they would remain that way. They both didn't want anything to do with each other anyway.

He looked at the narrow golden band around his ring finger and swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth. He had not been able to sleep because of the stress. He had so much on his shoulders and the worst thing was that he couldn't even take off the darned ring because everyone would have eyes on his hand the next day.

Leaning back, he rasted against the mattress and stared at the glass work on the ceiling. Before today, he hadn't looked properly at her. He hadn't been interested in his brother's relationship and when he came to know about the marriage, he wasn't bothered. Salah and him had good friendship but they both kept out of each other's personal lives. He just knew that he had to attend his brother's wedding. Whom he married - that wasn't his concern to begin with. And look how all that changed. Once again, his hand flew towards his hair and he pulled them harshly.

He should not have shouted at her like that. He thought he would feel lighter by letting out his anger but now the burden on his shoulders was ten folds more than before. His intentions weren't to make her cry but a small part of him blamed her. He couldn't help it, he just needed someone to blame and other than Salah, she was the only one he could do so. But he knew that he had to apologize somehow. With that thought, he stood up from the bed and walked towards the door. He walked towards her room, just to apologize for his behavior. He knew she would not forgive him but at least he could try so. He knocked on her door but no answer came. How stupid of him, she must be asleep by now. It was three in the morning. He slowly twisted the knob of the door and stepped inside only to see the bed empty. He frowned and then checked the bathroom to find it empty too.

Did he leave her in the kitchen? Was she still there? She didn't know the map of this giant house. Where was she? He already was rushing downstairs by now in worry. What if she left the house? What if she returned to her family or worse she didn't go to her family house? He had promised her brother that the least he could do was to take care of her and now what he did? He had been nothing but an asshole to her. When he reached the hall, he sighed when he spotted her small figure curled up on the couch fast asleep. He was bare footed so he could feel how cold the floor was and there she was, sleeping on the couch, curled up in a ball in this freaking cold weather. Asher couldn't care any less but he would have to answer his parents if they knew he was the reason she became ill after just few hours with him. Sighing frustratedly, he walked towards the couch and looked down at her. She was sleeping on her side with her hair covering half of her face.

Asher grabbed her shoulder and turned her around to see if she was okay. Her face was tear stained so he knew he had been the reason for that. Wasn't there enough on her plate? Her fiancé left her on the day of her wedding and she had to marry a stranger. Thus, she definitely had suffered more than him. He shook her shoulder gently, trying to wake her up. Her face scrunched up and she moved away from his touch, curling in to herself again.

"Wake up." He shook her shoulder again but she only mumbled under her breath and curled even more indicating that she was cold. His first thought was to leave her as she was and go back to his room but then he cursed and glared down at her figure. She would be a pain.

He muttered some colorful words under his breath before picking her cold body from the couch in his arms and walked towards her room. Her head rested against his chest and her arm hung besides her. Asher placed her on her bed and covered her body with warm blanket before turning off the light and leaving.