A CRIME OF LOVE AND TRUST

CHAPTER 2: WHAT IF WE GET MARRIED

CHAPTER 2:

WHAT IF WE GET MARRIED?

Sonia's life was gradually moving out of her as she sank deep into the waters.

Out of nowhere, she felt a tight grip on her floating hands as someone jerked her out of the waters.

“Are you okay, miss?” The man asked in panic as he held her in his arms.

“Gmmm…gmmm…gmmm,” Sonia coughed profusely.

“Please, who are you?” She asked with a trembling voice, not above a whisper.

“Somebody call 911!” The man screamed at the sight of her partly closing eyes.

“What am I doing here?” Sonia muttered the moment she woke up to the pungent smell of hospital disinfectants invading her nose. The room was silent aside from her heavy breath and the beep-beep sound.

The water bag hung from the iron beside her bed, and the prevailing smell of drugs reeking through the whole place was enough to answer her question.

“Finally, someone is awake!” The annoying voice of her sister came as she walked in.

“So, tell me, Sonia, how does it feel getting dumped at your engagement party?” Clara said, gazing at her with a hysterical smile.

“Get out of my face, Clara!” Sonia responded hoarsely and spat on her.

“Auuch!” Clara screamed as she noticed Beldon walking in.

“That's enough, Sonia. You already pushed her at the pool; that wasn't enough for you?” Beldon roared with disgust while he held Clara by his side.

“Do you believe that lie, Beldon? I guess Clara had truly charmed you. Now, get out of here!” She flinched and took a deep breath.

“We're done, Beldon Hart! Take your mistress and leave!” Sonia declared.Uncontrollable tears streamed down her face as she removed the diamond ring and threw it at his face.

“Good job, sis!” Clara sneered.

Beldon's lips curled up in a smile, and he snorted. “You’re dumping me, Sonia. Don't forget, if you don't marry me, then you're not getting your mother's company.”

“I'd rather die broke than marry a brazen cheat like you!” Sonia asserted and turned her face to the other side of the wall to bury her flowing tears. Her heart dropped, but she tried as much to pin her emotions under control not to let her tears be seen by those two.

“Come on, Clara, let's go!” Beldon said as he picked up his ring.

Sonia couldn't help but burst out into a loud wail as they left. But when she heard footsteps approaching, she quickly wiped away her tears before their eyes could meet.

“Heey, miss. Are you still sleeping?” An unfamiliar voice asked as she felt a tap on her shoulders.

“Wow! It's you...uh,”

“Alex Garret,” the man cut in. He knew that he hadn't told her his name when she requested it at the pool.

A smile lit up on her face as she saw him. Beldon was handsome, but not as handsome as Alex. Alex looks poor, but his demeanor was perfectly captivating.

“You’re awake! I'm sorry, I couldn't get here sooner. I received an emergency call from work, and I had to rush to the construction site, hence the choice of the outfit,” Alex explained with a smile.

“Don't worry yourself. I'm fine,” Sonia assured. Every bit of his word sounds like a consolation to her.

“So, tell me...” They were still conversing when they got startled by the sudden opening of the door.

“Wu! Wu!! Wu!!! Move along, Alex. I want to see the lady that caused my grandson to risk his life just to save her,” the old man who just walked in mentioned. Sonia looked confused.

“Is the old man angry with her already?” She thought to herself.

“Hold on, aren't you the lady at the mall?” The old man said after an intense stare at her face.

“Yeah, I'm the one, sir,” Sonia replied and nodded.

Five months ago, Sonia went to grab some groceries at the mall when she noticed an old man who gripped his chest with a crease as soon as he stepped out of his car.

“Sir, are you okay? Someone, please, call the ambulance!” She screamed and ran to help him from collapsing.

“My goodness! You left before I woke up! And, I didn't get the chance to say thank you, miss.”

“Please, sir. Call me Sonia. And if there's anyone who should be saying thank you, I think I should be the one thanking your grandson,” Sonia opined.“Ha-ha-ha! Well, if you want to thank him, then you should marry him. He needs to settle down.”

“Huh, Grandpa!” Alex exclaimed, but old Sir Garret had left immediately after he made his suggestion. Alex turned, and his eyes met Sonia's flushed face, which was fixed on him.

“Sorry about that,” Alex said with a smile.

“It's okay, I understand.”

“But maybe he's right, you know. I should be settling down. I'm turning thirty-five in a week's time, and it doesn't speak well of me,” Alex added. Sonia sighed.

“Ghmmm….gmmm...gmmm,” she began to cough again.

“Sorry, I think I got a cold last night,” she said apologetically.

Hearing that, Alex lowered his back, with one of his hands trailing the edges of her forehead; he stared at her and whispered, “You know, if I were to be your fiancé, I would have never let you get drowned in the waters, Sonia huffed.

“I know. That's why I'll forever remain indebted to you for saving me.” At that moment, she felt a bulge of pain in her heart as the entire scene of how Clara pushed her into the pool and how Beldon abandoned her to drown flipped in her head.

“If you don't mind me asking, Alex. Is your family urging you to get married soon?” Sonia asked politely.

“Yeah, especially my grandpa. He's insisting I get married before I turn thirty-five.”

“So, do you have someone?” she asked again.

“No!” Alex gave a firm response.Sonia flinched and lowered her head. Then, she mustered the courage to speak her mind while she stared into his eyes.

“What if we just got married?” She asked.

“What?” Alex exclaimed under his breath, his face wrinkled in shock.

“Before you say anything, let me explain,” she continued.

“I'm Sonia Tristan. I'm 26 years old. I'm a graduate of food science from Oxford University, and I make $800,000 a year. I have my own car and a house. I'll just be honest with you; my mother died and left her company for me but with a solid condition that I'll claim it only when I get married.”

“Wow!” Alex exclaimed and nodded.

“Now, here's my proposal. You and I will get married and stay together for a year, then after that, we can get a divorce or continue to stay together if we can have a mutual agreement. What do you think?” She concluded with a question.

Steadying himself, Alex stared at her with a mix of doubts.

“Are you really serious you want to do this?” he asked.In the warm silence, Sonia met Alex's eyes, looking calm and steady.

“I don't make pranks about serious matters. Not when it involves my inheritance,” she said with a serious face.