The Substitute Bride Of Jared Martinez

The Wedding and Meeting Jared Martinez

After dinner, they left the restaurant. Saanvi’s parents were ahead and Jared’s parents were behind them.

“Is their arrangement really okay with you?” Saanvi was slightly surprised when Casper suddenly appeared from behind her back.

She held her chest because her heart was beating so fast. “Oh my gosh! You startled me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you okay?” She could see in Casper’s eyes that he was worried about her.

She smiled at him to make his worry go away, especially since she could see that he was worried. “I’m okay.”

Casper let out a sigh of relief. “Anyway, is all of this really okay with you? I mean, you will marry Jared next week and then when Ashley comes back, which is we don’t know when she will come back, you and Jared will break up and the two of them will get married. It’s a mess, you know, but are you really willing to do that?”

She smiled at Casper. He looked worried about her when they just met each other. “It’s okay with me. I don’t have a problem with that.”

“Seriously?” He looked at her in disbelief, looking at her like she is weird. She nodded at him. “What if Ashley comes back the day after your wedding? That means you’ll only be Mrs. Martinez in just one day?” Casper showed one finger.

“Well, I don’t mind. The sooner Ashley comes back, the better. The sooner she gets back, the sooner I get my freedom.”

He frowned. “Freedom? What do you mean?”

She smiled at him again. “It’s a long story, and I bet you don’t want to hear it.” He was about to speak but his parents called him. They are already in the parking lot. “Alright, we’ll go ahead of you. Nice meeting you, Casper.”

She also got into their car. After the two families said goodbye to each other, the couple also boarded.

She heard Matilda breathe a sigh of relief. “Fortunately, their family also agreed. I already told you as long as your daughter is the one that will marry into their family, there is no problem.” Her father didn’t say a word to what she was saying. “Right now, we need to find Ashley as soon as possible. I will not allow what is meant for Ashley to be taken by Saanvi.”

“Your mouth, Matilda,” her father scolded her. “Saanvi is just with us, in front of us. Don’t you think how she will feel about what you’re saying?”

“What? I’m just telling the truth. Ashley is actually Jared’s real bride. Saanvi was just a substitute bride until Ashley is found.”

Her father just shook his head because he couldn’t help what his wife was saying. He could never defend her. She just looked outside the car and chose to turn a deaf ear to what she was saying about her being a substitute bride.

When they got home, Matilda immediately went straight to the master’s bedroom. When she was about to enter her room, her father suddenly called her.

“I’m sorry, Saanvi, if you have to suffer like this and do things that you don’t like.” He let out a heavy sigh. “I can’t even defend you from your Aunt Matilda. If only I had a---”

“It’s okay, Dad. I understand,” she said, not letting her father finish what he was gonna say. She smiled at her father.

No matter how sorry he is, it will not change the fact that she is the result of a mistake. That he would never be able to defend her from his wife.

“I’m going to rest, Dad. It’s been a long night.”

She was shocked when her father came at her and hug her. She just shut her eyes and feel his hug. “Everything will be alright, Saanvi. Even though I can’t defend you from Matilda, please, always remember that I love you because you are my daughter. You came from me and from your mother that I once loved.” He stared at her carefully, then let out a sigh. “Okay. Get some rest, Sweetheart. I know you are tired,” he said then caress her cheeks.

She nodded at him and then went into her room. When she closed it, her tears started to flow from her eyes. Her situation is difficult, but she needs to be strong for herself because no one will be strong for her.

She already knew that her father truly loves her and her mother. Her mother was a beautiful and had a kind heart. So she no longer wondered why her father fell in love with her mother. Matilda and her mother are too far apart. Maybe that’s why her father looked for other attention and love and he finds that in her mother. Matilda puts him under, and it seems like she doesn’t really love her father. She just don’t want to let go of him because of her pride.

A few days later, it’s their wedding day. Saanvi was in front of the mirror looking at herself. She finished dressing and make-up. She is all ready, and all she has to do now is to walk to the altar and say I am with the man that she didn’t even love.

Only today will she meet and see her future husband for the time being. Because in the past few days he had not appeared to meet her. Maybe he is upset because Ashley is not the one who will marry him as planned.

She was nervous because she was afraid that she might suddenly make a mistake later, that she might suddenly stumble or that she might get the wrong answer to the priest that would get them married, even if she only simply answered I do. The last few days she did nothing else but study the wedding ceremony.

She took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror. “You can do this, Saanvi. Always remember this, after this wedding, everything will be back to normal. Well, except that you are already married and you will live under the same roof. But don’t worry because it’s only temporary, okay? You will get through all of this. You will get your freedom one day.” She smiled to herself even though her heart was beating so fast.

The time had come for her to get married. The big door of the church was closed in front of her. She couldn’t count how many times she took a deep breath because of the nervousness she felt.

“Okay, you need to keep your smile, bride, when you enter the church. Be a beautiful bride because today is your day.” She nodded to the wedding coordinator.

Saanvi will walk alone because her parents went in first. Her father didn’t even walk with her. She understands why Matilda won’t take her because she’s not her real daughter, but her father...

She just shook her head and tried to focus on the wedding. When the door opened, she smiled immediately. She just looked straight ahead and ignored their guests because she didn’t know any of them except her family and Jared’s family.

Soon she saw the face of Jared, the man who would be her temporary husband. Like his brother Casper---who is standing beside him---he is also handsome, but there is something different about him. Jared is not smiling.

He really showed that he didn’t really want to marry her or have any interest in this wedding. As if she wants it too. She’s only doing this for her freedom. She just took a deep breath and ignored his rugged but handsome face.

The ceremony began and soon ended. She cannot feel the happiness that others say when they get married. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t love the young man, that’s why she can’t feel. That happiness.

SAANVI fell down on the soft bed in the hotel where she and Jared would stay when the wedding was over. She closed her eyes and was about to forget the world when suddenly someone kicked her leg. Only half of her body was lying on the bed, while her feet were still bare on the floor.

She looked at Jared’s serious face. This is how he looked before, from the church to the reception. He didn’t even hide his ruggedness. While she was always smiling at the guests earlier, like Matilda told her to do.

“Before you go to sleep, take a shower and get dressed.”

She sat up and looked at him. “I’m really going to shower and get dressed. I just want to rest first because I’m so tired from standing up and entertaining the guests, you know?”

She lay down again and closed her eyes. But she immediately opened her eyes and stood up as if she remembered something. The young man looked at her in wonder and frowned.

“By the way, we haven’t totally gotten to know ourselves. I am Saanvi Divinagracia, your substitute bride.”

He raised his eyebrows at what she said. “Substitute bride? What the hell are you talking about, woman?”

Saanvi looked at him in wonder. “You didn’t know?”

“Know what?”

She just nodded. Maybe he doesn’t know because he hasn’t been to their meeting before. She smiled at him. “Shouldn’t you be marrying Ashley?” Jared nodded as a response. “Since she is still missing, I married you first and we will also separate when Ashley comes back.”

His forehead is still frowning. “Who the hell thought this plan?”

“My mom?” she asked and then shook her head. “Anyway, that’s their plan.”

“What if I don’t agree to break up with you?”

Her eyes widened. “No, you can’t do that.” He frowned even more. “I won’t get my freedom if you don’t break up with me. I will be in a lot of trouble if that happens.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, me and my step... I mean, my mom said that when Ashley comes back, we will separate and you two will get married like the original plan. And I can do whatever I want since I will get my freedom.” She blew out a heavy sigh. “Okay. I only agreed to this marriage because, after our divorce, I will get my freedom. You can do whatever you like. I will not interfere with you and you will do the same. Besides, this is just a contract marriage between our family... your family because I’m not involved,” she whispered. “So, are we okay with not meddling in each other’s business?

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t you know that one of the wishes of our grandfathers is to have grandchildren?”

Her eyes widened. “Wait, that... I didn’t know that.”

He grinned at her. “I guess they didn’t tell you that.”

“Maybe you’re not willing to do that, are you?” Her eyes widened when Jared just smiled at her like it was just okay with him. “Okay, Mr. Martinez,” She let a heavy sigh. “Nothing will happen to us since I am just a substitute bride. When my sister Ashley comes back, it’s up to the two of you to talk about the grandchildren,” She laughed even if it had been just a fake one. Well, this is awkward. Talking about children with this man she had just met.

“What if I want you to get pregnant instead of Ashley?”

“You’re gonna be kidding me.” Her jaw almost dropped when he looked at her seriously. She covered her chest like she was protecting herself from him and gave him a bad look. “It’s impossible! I promised myself that I would only give my body to the man I love, and that’s not what we talked about with your family.”

“Well, they wanted you.” Her eyes widened when he took off his necktie and unbuttoned his polo shirt. “But don’t worry, I have no interest in you either, I’m your sister and this entire arranged marriage.” Jared smirked at her that made her jaw drop.

She snorted when he entered the bathroom. That man is really awful. It’s not because he’s handsome that he has the right to be rude. She just shook her head and took some clothes from her suitcase to get dressed and to get a good night’s sleep.

She looked at the bathroom when the window opened. “Are you leaving?” she asked when she saw that he was dressed like he was gonna go out.

Jared nodded. “Don’t wait for me because I might be late.”

She laughed a little like he was telling her a joke. “Who told you that I would wait for you?” He looked at her badly. She just smiled and made a peace sign. “Be careful on the road.”

He just looked at her, rolled his eyes, and then left. Why does she feel like her blood is boiling because of that man? As far as she knows, she didn’t do anything wrong here. She just shook her head and got dressed so she could rest.