Married To One, Inlove with Another

Chapter 1 Zara pov Tiredness isn't enough word to describe what I'm feeling right now. All my lungs and bones are stiff from exhaustion since today was hectic, the restaurant where I work as a waitress was extremely busy, customers wouldn't stop flocking in. But who am I to complain, I need the money so bad for my brother's medical bills. I trudged through the front door, feeling so tired and ready to hit the bed. My frustration increased when I was suddenly stopped by a delivery person, I was ready to vent on him until I saw the stunning bouquet of red roses he was carrying. I quickly flashed him a polite smile. "Yes?" I spared him some minutes. "Are you by chance, Miss Zara Larson?" He asked. "Or do you know any Zara Larson around here?" he quickly added. "I'm Zara Larson," I replied. "Thank God," he smiled in relief. "You have a parcel." He said as he handed me the bouquet, then handed to me a fancy, small bag. Confusion shortly etched on my face as I wasn't expecting a bouquet from anyone, but a broad smile spread on my face when my eyes caught a small card attached to the bouquet: "Will you marry me, Zara Larson?" And in small letters, was written: "Forever love, Andrew." "Congratulations, Miss Zara," the delivery person congratulated me. "But if I was him, I'd propose to my woman physically." My smile didn't fade away with what he said, but I mentally rolled my eyes and whispered, "That's why you're not him." I was overwhelmed by my happiness that I didn't realized when tears of joy began flowing down my cheeks. This was the moment I'd been waiting for. Andrew's proposal was the answer to all my prayers. My brother's mounting medical bills had been weighing me down, and marrying Andrew would secure our financial future. Plus, it would mean escaping my toxic family. I quickly thanked the delivery person and rushed inside to go call Ana, my best friend, and tell her about this amazing news. "Hey, Ana, let's meet up at Moore's in twenty minutes." "Alright. I'll..." I didn't wait for her to finish her words, before I hung up and dashed into the bathroom to freshen up. *** "Andrew finally proposed!" I happily broke the news to Ana. "Ahhhhhhh!" We both shrieked in excitement, the joy on our faces was beyond measures. Some people around scorned at us for disturbing their peace, but we didn't care. "I can't believe my babes is going to be off the market soon," Ana said, her voice soaked in joy. "You know what? Let's drink until we're wasted. We're going to let loose tonight, drink till we drop!" She declared. "Yay!" I nodded in agreement. Tomorrow is my day off, I will drink without restraints. *** Ana's truck stopped in front of our house and I alighted almost immediately, but I winced and groaned when the hot afternoon sun pierced my eyes, increasing my headache - the aftermath of last night's drinks. "Try to get more sleep later," she advised. "Hm." I simply hummed in response as I dragged my feet towards our front door. "Bye." Ana said, but I paid her little to no reaction as I tried to open the door - then she drove off. I tried to open the door a few times but couldn't, so I decided to go use the backdoor. But little did I know that I was walking in my doom. As I walked into our backyard, I felt like I'd stepped into a nightmare. Andrew, my fiancé, who proposed to me just yesterday, stood at the altar, exchanging vows with my stepsister, Laura. My mind reeled, refusing to process the scene unfolding before me. What on earth is going on? Am I in a dream or something? Yes, this can only be a dream, this can't be real. This can't be happening. Or maybe my eyes and mind are playing tricks on me. Tears began welling up my eyes as I stared at them exchanging rings, and with each word they say, my heart cracks. I can't let this go on, it's better I speak up now and let everyone know that Andrew's my fiance. "Zara!" I heard my stepmother, Pauline, hissed as she yanked my arm. "You better don't make a scene," she said. "I better don't make a scene?" I asked with a frown, my tears threatening to rush down any second. "That's my fiance over there." She scoffed loudly. "And who cares whether he's your fiance? Does anyone know about your engagement? Who was present when he proposed to you?" "He..." I trailed off. At that moment, I remembered the delivery person's words - If I was him, I'd propose to my woman physically - I finally realized he's right because nobody knows about our engagement now. "You know your brother's medical bills are at stake. You wouldn't want anything to happen to him, would you?" She said, her threat hung in the air like a dagger, silencing me and leaving me with no room for arguments. Feeling like I've lost a battle, I dragged my feet to a corner and cried my eyes out. *** After their wedding, the maid of the house that I am, I started cleaning up the mess with tears streaming down my face. Andrew approached me, a smirk twisting his features. I decided that since he's now married to my stepsister, and with my brother's medical bills on the line, I won't confront or bother him about our engagement - well, supposed engagement. "I know you must be wondering why I choose your sister over you," he said but I didn't respond or paid him any attention, although, I truly want to know why he later chose to marry Laura. "Are you ignoring me?" Who wouldn't ignore a scumbag like you? I wanted to scream in his face, but I held myself. "Haha!" He laughed. "I can see you're just jealous," he sneered. "I'm so lucky your stepmother reached out to me and told me you're nothing but a maid in this household," What? My stepmother was the one who told him to marry Laura? "And from what I'm seeing, she's right," he looked around in disgust. "I must thank her for saving me." Saving you? Excuse you, I didn't tell you I was a princess - I screamed mentally. "You know, you'll never find someone as perfect as me." I froze and narrowed my eyes at that statement, fighting the urge to reply him. "Oh, stop glaring at me as if you can beat me because I did not lie. Even you know, that you're not beautiful enough to keep a man, and trust me on this, you'll suffer alone, Zara." His words were getting too much, he's beginning to get on my nerves and I couldn't help when something inside me snapped, and I couldn't hold back anymore. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Andrew?" I snapped at him. "How could you?" I demanded, though, my voice was shaking a bit. "How could you do this to me?" Andrew simply laughed. "You were just a convenience, Zara. A means to an end." "What?" I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.