HIS SUBSTITUTE WIFE

Chapter 3

"No....."

That was the only thing Anna had to say, nothing more and nothing less. Because right now to her, it seemed as if people had lost their minds. She stared at her family and then turned to her family, staring at them all. However, Arthur, he was casually standing their like nothing was said, nothing happened and this conversation seemed so normal. The people have completely forgotten how horrible and how disturbing this all was..

Anna looked right at the man who had no emotion or expression on his face. He simply looked as if he was dead, speaking when it was necessary, breathing because it was natural. How ever, his face held this roughness that terrified her, but for the first time she was holding her ground here, shaking her head as she stood there.

"I am not going to marry you, not because my sister left you and there are people standing outside." Anna said, and Arthur's parents look away from her. Of course, upset but understanding this must have affected her badly.

"Anna, honey." Her mother said walking closer to her, trying to touch her hand, but quickly Anna pulled away from her, disturbed by her mother who was trying to pull her into this.

"Mo, no. You are not going to put me through this. Enough." She said, screaming at her mother for the first time and immediately she walked right past everyone, rushing out of there and right past the large man who wanted to marry her.. Her breath was getting heavy on her as she ran down the stairs, wanting to get away from all this.

How ever, Arthur stood there, glancing as she ran away. He too understood whatever was happening wasn't right, but this marriage had to happen, these companies have to come together for him. It did not matter to him, but it was the opposite for Anna.

She was upset, angry, furious, scared and she had so many emotions running in her mind as she ran out of the house. Through the back door, she was going deep into the large estate where they had a huge open forest. Anna needed to get away from people, mostly people who did not think straight.

Tears were streaming down her eyes and there were multiple reasons for that, as her sister had just left without even talking to her, for her family to just expect her to do everything for them. Anna couldn't forget those eyes waiting for an answer from her. Simply not being able to believe what happened, and all those disturbing questions that came for her. Nothing mattered to them but only the family's name was all that mattered. And that made her feel so small, like she was furniture. If you don't like one you get another one. And she was a substitute furniture for everyone.

Anna pulled up her skirt, and was speedily walking through the dense forest to a location she knew very well.

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Huffing and puffing through it all, she reached a beautiful pond which was a part of her home. Anna has always felt at peace with this place.

"Huuhhh.." Slowly Anna let go off her dress as it landed on wet mud and she did not care. Her breath started to get heavy on her chest as Anna sat right on top of a large rock, staring at the settled water. Slowly, as the sun was setting in front of her and everything was getting darker.

Anna knew everyone was wrong in her house. Anna closed her eyes, a small tear sliding down her cheeks, landing right on top of her dress. She was crying, crying for everything that had been happening in her life, and why she deserved any of that. Her father passing away right in front of her eyes, her mother distancing herself from reality, Anna begging for love from her sister. She was well aware of what Ruth was doing with her. And for once, she was just tired of begging everyone. And people around her were doing whatever they wanted, but when it was time to fix something, they all just turned to Anna. Forgetting Anna has a heartbeat, a mind to think, a heart to love, but no.

To them she was no human. She was being passed around, and Anna would constantly feel worthless. Feeling worthless was just disturbing.

Slowly Anna let out a large breath, opening her eyes. And that was when she noticed how the sun had already set.

"What?" She whispered, confused. Looking out as the darkness spread around her, Anna had no fear though, she just did not want to go back to those animals.

Immediately she wrapped her arms around her body, trying to protect herself here. For now, Anna would stay there, give herself some time.

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However. Arthur's family, on the other hand, they had all gone back home, so did the guests. Everything was done for the day. But Arthur was driving back home all by himself. He saw what happened, he knew what he did was wrong as well, but for now he was only thinking about one person only, and that was Anna. Not affected by her rejection, but he wanted her to be his wife. That house was important, his commitment to his company was important as well. Arthur had a tight grip on the steering wheel, concentrating on the road.

Arthur knew that Anna might not want this, but this was not about her or him, but about the empire he had in his hands, his and his company's future. That is all that mattered to him.

Quickly, Arthur started to move and walk into his luxurious penthouse. The lights were the only light of the kitchen and the elevator lights were eluminating the entire house.

Right behind him came in Anthony as well. His eyes stayed on his brother as he was trying to see if there was any change in him and his mood. This had gone wild and out of control and he didn't know what to say or do here.

But to Arthur, he did not seem to have any sort of expression on him. Quickly he threw away his tie and suit, walking up to the kitchen that automatically lit up for him entirely.

"If you are going to drink something, get me a scotch as well please." Antony said, sitting down on one of the couch, watching as Arthur was going about he walked in the kitchen. He was taking slow places and walked in with two glasses of scotch in his hands, passing one to his brother as Arthur sat right opposite to Antony. Taking in large sip of his drink as he spread on his couch. But Anthony was done for now.

"Okay, that is enough." He said, forcing Arthur to turn to him.

"Just tell me what is going on in your mind." He let out, frustrated.

"Nothing," Arthur grunted in his thick voice. Finishing the glass and putting it back on the table, but it was so loud and so heavy. It did not match the way he was reacting with what he was saying.

"Arthur, I can understand what happened was unfortunate, but you also have to understand........."

"What do I have to understand?" He asked, giving him a sharp look, staring right at Anthony and there was some sort of irritation in his eyes as well. Anger was right there, stuck to Arthur.

"But you didn't even want to get married." Anthony said.

"I still don't. But there was a deal made." Arthur said, talking about it as if this was a business, not a wedding.

"Is that why.........." Anthony asked, but stopped right there, confusion spreading on his face and it was clearly seen.

"Is that why you asked Anna to get married to you? Just so this alliance could go on?" He asked, but rather than answering him, Arthor walked towards the window on his penthouse. His hands went into his pockets as he looked down at the traffic, at people that looked like ants. He stood there, thinking how far he had come in his life, how different it was before and now.

How ever, him not answering, explained everything to Anthony.

"She is going to have to marry, there is no other way to this." He said, startling his brother as he was taken a back by his older brother's words.

"You cannot force her into anything. Ruth agreed to marry you but not Anna. She has the right to say no to you." Anthony said.

"They have no right left. The deal has been signed," Arthur said.

"But if there is no wedding, there is no contract." Anthony said, speaking logically.

"It doesn't make sense, what are you going to do?, kidnap her and marry her against her will?" Anthony asked.

"I will talk to her," Arthur let out, taking another sip from his drink.

"And she will not listen to you."

"SHE WILL HAVE TO......" he screams, turning back to look at Antony. And for that one moment he saw a different side of his brother, and for Arthur, of course it was difficult to see him this way.

And so Arthur composed himself.

"You and I both know how I feel about this, and that is why that family will suffer for what they have done. But at this moment, that is not what I am concerned about, our families do have to come together, it is going to come together and I don't care who doesn't agree with me."Arthur said, walking away from there, leaving his brother all alone.

Needless to say, Anthony was shocked by this side of his brother, but this wasn't new either. He was just worried about Anna and the family that she would come to, which she would. And this place was not perfect for her, and she was just too kind to be a part of something like that. Anthony was worried about that, about her and her only.

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However, Anna, on the other hand, she walked back to the house. It was finally time for her and by now it was 12:00 at night. Her heels were in her hand, and no longer was she holding her dress. But rather Anna was slightly and aimlessly kicking the dress forward to walk ahead.

Her mood was painfully the same but now strong. She was still upset though, but did not want to think about it too much now. Quickly she walked up the stairs of her large mansion and from the corner of her eyes Anna could very clearly see the wedding decorations that were still there, and now it looked abandoned. This time she knocked on the door, waiting for someone to open it and so she stayed there, with no expression on her face.

Quickly then there was a sound from inside, as the door cracked open for her, making an enormous sound as the old wooden door was pulled widely open for her. One of the housekeepers was still awake and for Anna. Although, without saying anything or reacting, Anna simply walked in to her house, creating a big mess on the clean marble floor, but she cared very less about anything and

anyone at the moment.

"Do you want some food, Ma'am." She asked, and Anna simply shook her head and continued to walk.

It did not take a long time but she was in her space now. Her muddy trail was now dragging itself into her bedroom.

Quickly, Anna pushed her double doors open and walked into the luxurious bedroom. All white and the royal aesthetic was this room, white, gold to it was brightly showing. Right then Anna threw her heels on the ground, simply looking to her left to see her beautiful balcony open for some fresh air to come. And right a head she saw her bed waiting to be consume by her. Anna was so irritated and already tired that she immediately started to take off her dress, feeling disgusting in it. Just letting it slide down.

"Huuhhhh..." She huffed, that was quite relaxing and freeing to her.

That felt quite refreshing, like a heavy burden was lifted as the dress came off of her. Anna then kicked it away to the corner, walking up to her walk-in closet and found something for herself when, suddenly her phone started to ring.

"Oh come on." She let out, immediately turning and looking into her room to see her phone was on the side bed table, ringing and still plugged to the charger. Anna realized that she had never taken it out. However, that late at night Anna knew that it could only be her friends that could call her and she was well aware of that.

Immediately, Anna picked up a long sweatshirt that covered up her entire body, and she walked up across the large bedroom picking up the phone to see there were 18 missed calls, 52 messages. All of them from her best friends Romi and Autumn. Her childhood best friends, also her business partners and CA.

"s**t, Autumn is going to kill her." Anna muttered under her breath, nervous this time.

Quickly, she picked up the call.

"Hello......" Anna whispered softy.

"Anna, where the f*** have you been? We have tried to call you over and over again and you didn't even pick up." Autumn was screaming, which made Anna shut her eyes tight.

"You just left the wedding...... I mean, why didn't you come to us and talk?. We could have taken your home or maybe out for something to eat......" Autumn said.

"Did she eat anything? ask her." Anna heard Romi's calm and sweet voice at the back and this confused, but realized that they were both in Autumn's Penthouse as always. Slowly she started to make her way out to the balcony, even though her legs were killing her from the long walk and the cold air that she had been exposed to the entire night.

"Yes, I did eat.." Anna said, as she walked out,

"Don't lie to us, nobody can eat in a situation like this." Autumn spoke up. She was not very mean all the time, but very strict like the mom of the gang.

"Stop screaming at her, there is already a lot going on." Romi said from behind Autumn as she let out a small sigh. and so did Anna.

"Anna, what happened? I mean........ I know what happened. I don't want you to talk about that again, but what happened to you that you had a run away like that, and you completely disappeared." Autumn let out, and Anna couldn't help but remember what all happened in the span of 2/3 minutes.

"After what Ruth did, I assume you would have stayed there to come up with the solution but you just.... We couldn't even find you for hours, and until your mother said that you would turn up eventually, that is when we could breathe." Autumn said.

"I am sorry guys." Anna let out.

"And you don't pick up your calls." She went over and over again, over everything and all Anna could do was take it all in. She was exhausted but not upset with them.

"Let's meet in the office tomorrow. I will tell you everything." Anna let out.

"But Anna, just....."

"Please.." Autumn was stopped by Anna, as she begged them.

"Please, I want to sleep." Anna whispered softly, because that was all she could do for now. Autumn did not say anything for some time, but finally spoke up.

"Okay, you sleep for now.... tomorrow let's meet in the office. I have a meeting anyways." Autumn let out, Anna was glad about it. Quickly she cut the call on them without even saying good bye, and she turned around.

Anna still felt very disgusting but as of now she was done with the world.

Anna then quickly whipped up her legs and, without wasting a second there, she climbed on to her bed. Anna felt like death at this moment, no longer did she want to speak, see, hear anyone. She just wanted to disappear for some more time. And so she lay down on her large, king-sized bed. Quickly, pulling up the covers over her cold body, she slept there. A small cocoon-like, Anna was feeling safe in this room, rather than in the world that she was surrounded by. As if she was protected and alone and that was fine by her.