HIS SUBSTITUTE WIFE

Chapter 8

Anna heard the loud chirpping of birds coming from out of her window, hearing how the birds kept climbing on to her window as always and flying away. However the cold breeze of the morning fell on her, making her shiver and slowly Anna opened her eyes. And the moment she did so, Anna instantly realized everything about her life, and nothing was kept a secret, nothing was fading away. Everything was back to her and she had just realized what she had done. She signed up her life with someone else, someone she did not love and would not love her back. However right at that moment, there was a loud knock on the door, alarming her.

"Why are you even knocking the door?" The voice said and quickly she looked away from the ceiling and down to see her door banging open and her best friends coming inside.

Autumn did not care about anyone's privacy, which was very normal but Romi came in quickly.

"Have you seen the newspaper ?" Romi asked the sleeping girl, throwing the paper on her stomach.

"I don't really know who reads newspaper, except for your grandfather." Anna said.

"But look at this." Autumn let out, as both the girls fell on to her bed, getting close to her and warm.

There they showed up a picture on Autumn's phone, and picture that belong to her family and his family. And a big wedding article.

"I don't want to read that article." She said, shutting her eyes and pulling her covers over her face. Having so much anxiety in her body already. She did not want to go through more.

"Fine, then I will read for you. The world is actually talking about your wedding and your secret relationship with him. And how Arthur rejected your sister and wanted you. and how you haven't still worn an engagement ring." Autumn said and Romi nodded her head.

Romi then pulled the covers away from her, forcing her to see the pictures and the large article that was written about her and him .

"No one even close to knows the reality, that your sister actually runway. Can you imagine that." Autumn let out and this was only creating more panic inside of her.

"I cannot believe you getting married to him. I mean I thought you would rebel a little bit, but I can understand." Romi said and she nodded her head as Autumn slowly put her phone down, not wanting to see through it anymore.

"Everything is going to be okay." She said, placing her head on Anna's shoulder and Romi wrapped her arms around Anna's stomach. All of them staying like that for some time.

"I am sorry this is happening to you, but she is right. As much as I hate to agree with Romi." Autumn let out and right as there personal time was going on, all of them hear a sudden clicking of heels and Romi slowly pushed her body up, seeing it was Rebecca walking into the room. She had a very small smile on her face, especially a lot of guilt in it as well. Never the less, she looked at her daughter.

Anna, too did the very same thing as Romi did. Putting all of her weight on her elbows, she looked up.

"You need to get ready honey, we have to get your wedding dress. Arthur has sent his car to pick you up." She explain and right at that moment, Anna's heart sank, realizing that it was actually happening and everything in her started to break. But she knew there was nobody here to listen. Slowly she nodded her head and laid back on the bed, just letting her body loose. There was nothing that she could hold on to, that is how it felt.

"You girls please, help her out. You need to be there with her too." Rebecca said and Autumn slowly nodded her head, understanding while Romi quickly got up, making her way towards the walk in closet to get her something to wear. However, at that moment, Rebecca was making her way out of the room, not before one last time looking at her daughter.

"I am so sorry honey, I really wish I could do better by you." She said. but for the first time ever Anna did not believe that, did not want to believe her mother and simply she stayed there, not saying a word to her. But this definitely hurt her mother, but not as much as she had hurt her daughter.

Rebecca, very well knew that and right then she walked out, still a little ashamed of what days had to her children.

"Come on, get up. We cannot be late." Autumns said, forcing her up and she did, as Anna's her hair slightly messy and her shirt had almost come off her shoulder and she sat there, thinking how tomorrow she would be someone's wife, this was more than heart breaking for Anna. A life she had always thought about finding love, get to know someone, all of that felt so snatched or given away. She was second hand, a substitute for everything.

However, Arthur, on the other hand, he was waiting and sitting right next his brother, Antony and he was waiting in a VIP section of diamond store, it was one of the best diamond collection here.

"This one sir, I am sure your girlfriend will absolutely love this." The man said, opening up a case and inside of that where multiple diamond wedding rings, all of them beautiful with multiple colors or colorless, fine cut or uncut, but for him none of that felt right for Anna. Some how everything looked cheap or just not something that would relate to her. How ever Anthony, on the other hand, he stared at his brother.

"Are you going to find one in these? We have been here for so long. Just choose a ring." He said.

"This will not do." Arthur, let out almost immediately and Anthony rolled his eyes completely defeated in all his will. However, the man who showing him everything was having a hard time, knowing that he had to make sure a billionaire like him took something.

"I am not looking for something that everyone has." He said as the salesman started to pay more attention. However, as those words came out, Anthony give him his full attention, surprised to hear him talk so much about this.

"Whatever it is, I want something that nobody has. Something that is so unique and I don't care how much it cost." He let out, and at this moment, the man's eyes went brighter than ever.

"We do have something." He said immediately getting up and walking away to a vault as he then started putting in a few combinations. How ever, Antony's stared at him longer than ever.

"What are you doing?" He asked, as his brother slowly backed away in his seat and unbuttoned his suit. He was relaxing.

"Why are you going through such an extent for her. I mean, the engagement ring you got for her sister, you didn't even pay attention to it. She found that herself and you said yes. Why are you doing this? He asked, honestly wanting to know.

"Because she wants this wedding more than I do. She has a dream." He said, not once looking at his brother and this completely struck him. And he had underestimated him.

'"Don't try to play with her feelings." Anthony said almost immediately, forcing his brother to look at him and facing him this time.

"I know you wouldn't do it, I know you trying to give her a good wedding but don't try to give her hopes for a marriage. I hate to say this brother but you have no heart and you might just break hers." He said.

"She wants nothing to do with me, we both know that. I do respect her for the sacrifice she is doing for her family, it takes a lot. And her grandmother is suffering, her company is suffering. I am doing this to save her. She is going to be my wife, she is my responsibility now." He said, but sounding so heartless yet again. Quickly he turned away from his brother, facing the man who brought a large black box. Slowly opening it up for Arthur.

How ever Anthony though, he couldn't look away as painful as it was. He was going through hell, just hoping that there was no hell for Anna.

Quickly they both looked at the man who brought out a small or box from within the bigger. One black velvet box and slowly opening it up and there it was. A large, extremely heavy diamond and beautifully covered on all four sides and thick band covering it that was completely filled with diamonds as well.

"Sir...." He said.

"This was one of the most priceless rings." He let out, waiting for him to say something. How ever, Arthur, on the other hand, he had a small smile by the end of his lip.

"This is it." He said, giving the man the happiest news of his life. A smile forming on him and that was when Anthony couldn't helped think that the ring that his brother selected was exactly what Anna was. Unique, beautiful, well carved in every aspect of her life and extremely rare. she was priceless as well. Quickly his brother got up.. and Antony knew it was time to go and he stood right next to Arthur.

"This ring will be send to you by tonight sir." The man saida as Arthur was putting on his coat and without any word said, he quickly walked out of there and his brother following behind As they both were getting out of that private VIP room and into the main area of that luxury Store. People were trying to make way for the brothers, with respect and fear of their power.

However, Antony still had one question left in him, and as both made their way towards Arthur's car, he stopped.

"And what if you fall in love with her." He asked. How ever, this question almost stopped him on his track as Arthur was still holding on the door as it was slightly open and he stopped, looking at himself in the window.

There was something inside of him that started to burn as he looked up at his brother.

"Nothing in this world will make me fall in love with her. This marriage is of contract and there will be no love, feelings involved but respect for each other. I want nothing to do with her and she wants nothing to do with me, and she has been very clear about it. I hope you are clear about it as well, brother." Arthur said in his stern voice. surprising his little brother but not by that much.

"You are playing with fire brother." Antony said staring at him.

"You think this all will be very easy She is not like any other girl, Anna is definitely not her sister and you will break or you will break her. But both of you will burn in this." He said opening the car for himself.

"You still have time, think over this before you destroy something that is already very fragile." He said getting into the car while his brothers stood out there, slowly shutting his eyes tight. He was trying to compose himself. How he wanted it to be this way,, this was the very first time that he had to make a change, involving someone else. However, what his brother said, he couldn't help but think over it. Think as to if that could ever happened, if a man like him could ever love anyone.