The Cold CEO's Funny Wife

Chapter 9: The Wedding Day

ChapThree days later. Alcantara Mansion garden. 4 PM.

The mansion was huge, white, cold, perfect, with big garden full of white flowers. Only ten people were there. Cassian's sick grandfather in wheelchair, smiling weak but happy, Mrs. Sunny from cafe, Cassian's assistant, two lawyers, and three staff.

In the middle of garden, under white flower arch, stood Cassian Reid Alcantara in black tuxedo, cold, handsome, perfect, holding a small black box with wedding rings.

And walking down the garden path, not in expensive designer gown, but in a simple white second-hand dress she bought for 1,500 pesos, was Savi Laureen Dela Cruz.

Her messy bun was still messy, but with a small white flower clip. She wore small white sandals, not high heels. She was nervous, hands shaking, holding yellow flowers. Yellow because yellow is her favorite, and Cassian remembered and ordered yellow.

Mrs. Sunny cried. "My Savi, you look beautiful!"

Savi's inner thought: Oh my god, I am walking to marry Sir Iceberg! Contract marriage! In three days! I am wearing second-hand dress, 1,500 pesos! But I wanted to wear white dress for his grandfather! His grandfather is sick and this is his last wish to see Cassian married! I want to look like real bride for him! But I am still hard-to-get wife! I will marry him but I will still say I don't like him!

She reached the flower arch. Cassian looked at her. His cold grey eyes not cold now. They were warm, soft.

His inner thought: She came. She wore simple white dress, second-hand, but beautiful. She looks like my wife. Not contract wife, but real wife. Her messy bun with white flower clip, her small sandals, her yellow bouquet because I remembered yellow is her favorite. She is nervous, hands shaking. She is hard-to-get bride who says she doesn't like me, but she is here, walking to me, to make my grandfather happy.

He whispered, "You look beautiful, hard-to-get wife."

Savi's cheeks turned red. "Don't say that! I am still hard-to-get bride! I still don't like you!"

The judge started speaking. "We are gathered here to witness contract marriage of Cassian Reid Alcantara and Savi Laureen Dela Cruz..."

The judge said, "Cassian, do you take Savi as your contract wife for one year, to pretend as real couple, to live together, to protect company and fulfill grandfather's last wish?"

Cassian looked at Savi. "I do. For one year, and maybe more if hard-to-get wife allows."

The judge turned to Savi. "Savi, do you take Cassian as your contract husband for one year, with five conditions?"

Savi nodded. "I do. But I will still be hard-to-get wife! I will still say I don't like you every day! Separate rooms! And rude tax still applies! Double for contract husband!"

Everyone laughed at five conditions, even grandfather laughed weak laugh.

The judge smiled. "Then I now pronounce you contract husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride?"

Cassian and Savi looked at each other. Kiss? They didn't discuss!

Cassian saw her panic. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, not lips, just forehead, gentle, cold lips on hot forehead, like when he touched her fever forehead.

It was soft, brief, respectful.

Savi closed her eyes. It felt warm and cold at same time.

Everyone clapped. Grandfather cried happy tears.

After ceremony, Savi went to talk to grandfather.

Grandfather held Savi's hands, weak but warm. "Thank you, Savi, for marrying my cold grandson. He was always cold, alone, never smiled. But since he met you, he smiles sometimes and goes to cheap cafe every morning at 8:05 AM. That is because of you. You made my iceberg grandson warm."

Savi cried. "Grandfather, I will take care of him, even though I say I don't like him every day. I will give him free bread every morning."

That night, Savi entered her new room. It was light yellow walls, cozy, with big bed, and three boxes - her second-hand clothes boxes! He moved her boxes! And on the bed, there was new yellow t-shirt that said "Hard-To-Get Wife"!

Savi screamed. "CASSIAN! YOU MOVED MY UKAY BOXES? AND YELLOW WALLS?"

Cassian came to door, in tuxedo pants but white shirt sleeves rolled up. "You said separate rooms, so I prepared your room. Yellow because your favorite. Your boxes for online shop. And t-shirt because you are hard-to-get wife."

Savi crossed arms. "Okay, thank you for yellow room and boxes and t-shirt. But I still don't like you! And don't enter without knocking!"

Cassian nodded. "I will knock. And I will bring soup at 9 PM, from Mrs. Sunny, for first night?"

At 9 PM, he knocked, holding thermos of chicken soup. Savi opened, wearing new Hard-To-Get Wife t-shirt. She ate all soup while Cassian sat on floor, respecting separate rooms.

"Good night, hard-to-get wife," he said.

"Good night, Sir Iceberg. See you tomorrow at 8:05 AM at cafe!"

She closed door, holding empty bowl, smiling. I am married. Contract married. To Sir Iceberg. Yellow room. Hard-To-Get Wife t-shirt. He brought soup. I felt like real wife, not contract wife.