Forced to Marry my Sisters Fiance

Chapter 10

I woke up to the sound of waves crashing softly against the shore. For a moment, I forgot where I was. The air smelled of sea salt and something expensive. Then I remembered. Edrick’s private island. Honeymoon. Pretend marriage. My stomach sank.

I was still mad, the anger from last night still lingered. My mom is my number one hater and I hate that I'm just realizing this.

Edrick was still not here. The bed on his side was untouched, but his suit jacket hung carelessly on a chair. Typical. He probably spent the night with Lila. But if so, why did he want us to share the same room? I sighed and pulled myself out of bed.

The sunlight streaming through the window made everything glow. The marble floors, the golden curtains, the soft white sheets. It was beautiful. Too beautiful for two people who couldn’t stand each other.

After a quick shower, I changed into a white sundress and stepped out to the balcony. The ocean was refreshing, calm and blue. For a second, I let myself breathe. This was paradise. And yet, I felt trapped.

The sound of footsteps grabbedmy attention. It was Edrick, walking towards me. He was in a white shirt, the top buttons undone, his black curly hair slightly messy like the breeze had dared to touch him. He looked too calm for someone who’d fired a man yesterday without blinking, for someone who had said all sorts of awful things to his wife too.

“Aria,” He said sharply, and I almost flinched.

“You can enjoy the beach as much as you want. The workers are here to tender to your every need.” His eyes bore into mine as he spoke.

“Try not to cause trouble.”

Well, what a way to say good morning

I folded my arms. “I don’t cause trouble.”

He gave me a look. The kind that made me want to roll my eyes and punch him at the same time.

“You attract it,” he replied, stepping back into the room.

I bit my tongue. Fighting with him wouldn’t change anything. But somehow, silence with him was worse. Every second he was in the same room felt too heavy. Too loud.

He finally looked at me again, this time longer than usual. “Oh, and I warned the staff. No alcohol for you.”

I shrugged. This is all Aria’s fault.

“Do we really have to stay here for a month?” I asked. The reality is, if I stay throughout the honeymoon, that means the pregnancy symptoms should start showing. My little charade will be over.

“You don't want to stay?” He asked. He seemed surprised. Like he'd expect a girl like me to be only after his money and luxury.

“Well, I don't want to keep getting on your nerves, Mr Vale.”

“Yeah, I wish.” His lips twitched slightly. Almost like a smile. Almost.

I wanted to throw the glass I was holding at him. But I didn’t. Instead, I turned away and muttered, “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, here you are.”

I froze. My pulse jumped, and before I could think of a reply, a soft female voice cut through the tension.

“Edrick?”

I turned around, and there she was, Lila. Wearing a tiny bikini top under a loose kimono, her blonde hair shimmering under the sunlight. She smiled at Edrick like she owned him.

“Lila,” he said, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it.

I wanted to disappear. Or throw her into the ocean. Either would do.

She walked right up to him, close enough that I could smell her perfume, sweet and expensive. She completely ignored me again. It was like I was invisible.

“Mr. and Mrs. Vale,” she said finally, her eyes sliding briefly over me, then back to him. “I just came to check that everything is ready for your stay. Dinner will be served by the beach tonight.”

“Thank you,” Edrick said politely.

Her smile widened. “Anything else you need, you know where to find me.”

Of course he did.

When she left, the room felt hot. I was angry. Not jealous. Just angry. She had no respect. None. He was at fault too.

Edrick looked at me like he could feel the heat coming off me. “Something wrong?”

“No,” I said quickly. “Nothing at all.”

“Good.”

We didn’t speak again for hours. Later that evening, we sat by the beach for dinner. The sky was painted orange and pink, waves licking the shore. It was beautiful, annoyingly romantic.

He barely looked at me, but every time he did, something flickered in his eyes. Something unreadable. I caught myself staring too long once, and when our eyes met, I looked away immediately.

Halfway through dinner, my phone started buzzing non stop. It was mom. We haven't spoken since last night. I wondered what fresh insult she had prepared for me.

The phone kept ringing, I had no choice but to pick it. But not in Edrick's presence. So I pushed my chair back to stand, but the heel of my sandal snagged on the edge of the mat. My balance slipped. For one breathless second, the world tilted, I almost went face-first into the sand.

A hand caught my wrist before I fell.

Warm. Steady. Certain.

I froze. My heart gave a small, confused stutter as I looked up, and met his eyes. Edrick’s gaze held mine, quiet but sharp, like he was trying to read something written beneath my skin. For a moment, everything else blurred, the ocean breeze, the murmurs, the flicker of lanterns, all of it fading.

“Careful,” he said. His voice wasn’t teasing this time. Softer. Almost… protective.

Something unsteady twisted in my chest.

“I—” I pulled my hand back, the warmth of his touch lingering longer than it should have. “Thanks.”

He gave a small nod, eyes dropping to his plate, but there was a flicker there something new, something I couldn’t name.

I was weak in the knees, so I sat back and chose to ignore the call.

And for the rest of the meal, I couldn’t quite bring myself to look away.