MARRIED BY ACCIDENT

Chapter 3

Katherine

I blinked in disbelief after hearing Axel's explanation. He wants me to be his wife for six months, I mean, a contractual wife. After six months, we will go back to the church to sign a contract stating that our marriage in the church is no longer valid. He said he would just make an excuse to his parents that their relationship didn't work out, so they decided to separate.

According to Axel, his parents are pressuring him to get married. And Erika, the daughter of one of their family friends, is who they want as a daughter-in-law. Axel agreed to marry Erika because he was getting annoyed with his parents' nonstop nagging at him.

He did not know the woman's face because it would be the first time he would see his fiancée's face on their wedding day. He supposedly did not attend when his mother arranged meetings for him and Erika to meet. And because he had not yet seen Erika's face, he did not suspect that I was someone else when I entered the church wearing a wedding dress.

"Fine. I agree to be your contractual wife for six months," I told him after thinking. I agreed to be Axel's contractual wife not because he was handsome. I ruined his wedding so I should take responsibility for what I did. Being his contractual wife for six months is my compensation for ruining his wedding.

"Good. When I get home, I will immediately prepare the contract that we will both sign. But I remind you, Katherine. Even though we are only a contractual couple, you are still truly my wife," Axel said seriously with a long statement. I don't know what he means by saying that I am still truly his wife. I want to ask but I'm too shy, so I just nodded at him.

After we agreed to become a contractual couple, he made a quick phone call and then pulled me out of the church. We got into a fancy car outside the church."

"Where are we going? And whose car is this?" I asked him curiously. Is he rich enough to afford an expensive car?

"We're going to my parents' house and I'm going to introduce you to them. Erika has probably already told them about us," he quickly replied. "And no, this is not my car. I work at a repair shop. I'm always the one fixing this car when it breaks down. I became friends with the owner, so when he found out I was getting married, he lent it to me. But I also have a car, just second-hand," he explained.

"Ah," this was all I could say after hearing his explanation. I felt a bit regretful that he was just a mechanic. Not that I'm downgrading the job of a mechanic because it's an honorable profession. I just felt regretful about his appearance because he didn't look like a mechanic. He seemed more suited to sit in a swivel chair inside an air-conditioned room. And besides, he spoke English fluently. It seemed like he was well-educated.

Before long, we arrived in front of an expensive restaurant. I gave him a questioning look. I thought he said we were going to his parents' house. And the food at the restaurant we were going to is expensive.

"My parents are not at home. I forgot that my boss reserved a table at this restaurant as his gift for my wedding," Axel explained when he read the questions in my eyes.

"You're lucky to have a generous boss," I commented. He just nodded at me before opening the door and getting out.

When we entered the restaurant, Axel immediately saw his parents' table. I couldn't understand why I felt a bit nervous as we walked towards his parents. I was worried that they might not like me. But I paused for a moment in my thoughts. Why am I worried that Axel's parents might not like me when I'm just his contractual wife? Even though he said that I am his real wife, for me, we are still not married in the true sense of the word. We are only married on paper.

"Hi, Mom. Dad," Axel said to his parents when we were in front of them. "This is my wife Katherine Harret," he introduced me.

"Tell me what happened. Explain why Erika is not your wife but another woman?" Axel's mother asked seriously. She didn't look angry but she wasn't pleased either.

Axel explained to his parents the misunderstanding that led to me becoming his bride instead of Erika.

"Although it was just a misunderstanding, I decided to make her my real wife, Mom. Dad. You saw that Katherine is beautiful, that's why I fell in love at first sight with her," Axel said after explaining the misunderstanding that happened.

I couldn't help but stare at Axel's face. It seemed like his expression was genuine while telling his mother that he fell in love at first sight with me.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. and Mr. Brixton. I really didn't mean to become Axel's bride," I apologized to my in-laws. "My job is called 'paid actress or worker.' It means I perform various kinds of jobs or roles that my client asks me to do. My client has a blind wedding today and she didn't want to attend, so she called me to stand in for her as the bride. But my client said it would only be a fake wedding because she doesn't want to marry the man she's supposed to marry. I don't know the groom or the people attending the wedding, so I thought Axel was the one my client was marrying," I explained at length to Axel's parents.

I secretly asked for forgiveness from Axel's entire family for lying to them about my real job. They couldn't know that I was a special secret agent and was on a mission when I mistakenly married their child.

I thought Axel's parents would be angry with me, but I was surprised when the seriousness on their faces suddenly disappeared and was replaced with joy. They also became friendly towards me.

"It's okay even if Axel married the wrong woman. What's important is that he has a wife now. I'll take care of Erika's parents," Axel's mother said to me with a sweet smile. "But it's only now that I've heard of such a job," she commented incredulously about the job I mentioned.

"We've been waiting for Axel to get married so we can have a grandchild. Finally, God has answered our prayers," Axel's father said happily. "We want to have a grandchild within a year. So hurry up and make a baby," Axel's father added, followed by loud laughter."

My face flushed at the last thing my "father-in-law" said. Suddenly, a scene played in my mind where Axel and I were on top of the bed making a baby. I shook my head vigorously to remove that obscene thought running through my mind. I am only Axel's contractual wife and after six months we will separate. So what his parents are expecting is impossible.

Finally, our lunch ended and we left the restaurant. Axel's parents left first in an expensive car. When I asked him if it was his parents' car, he said no. It was the car of a client from the shop where he works, who also lent us the expensive bridal car we rode in.

"I will first go to my client and explain to them about the misunderstanding," I said goodbye to Axel after his parents left. I really need to explain to my boss. I'm expecting to get scolded later.

"Okay. Just give me your cell phone number so I can text you my house address," he replied to me. "My house is small but it can accommodate both of us."

"It's okay. I have my own house. But since we're married now, I'll stay at your house for six months. And don't worry because I'm not picky when it comes to the house as long as it's clean."

Axel just nodded and took my cell phone number. I was about to leave when unexpectedly, I ran into my cousin Monika along with my stepsister Lucy.

"Look who's here, Monika. Isn't she your cousin who was disowned by your entire clan because of the shame her mother brought?" Lucy said to Monika with a grin.

"Long time no see, Katherine," Monika also said to me with a grin.

I suddenly clenched my fists upon seeing the two people who were part of the suffering my mother and I endured before. It has been ten years since I last saw them. And now that I've seen them again, the anger and pain in my chest from what happened back then have resurfaced.