Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 24436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Now or never, she urged herself. Speak up or hold your silence for the rest of your life!
Summerine swallowed hard. "I—-I—-"
"Don't care to hear it," her mother cut her off in a cold voice. "And if there's anyone who's going to do some listening, that would be you."
Summerine shrank back as Annie took a threatening step forward.
"Your father and I need your wedding to Ryu Harcourt to push through, and we will not let anyone get in any way," her mother hissed. "Least of all you. Are we clear on this?"
No. We're not clear on this. At all.
I'm your daughter. You're my parents.
So why are you doing this to me?
I object.
I'M SORRY I HAVE TO do this in front of everyone.
But my parents left me no choice.
I can't marry you.
I'm so sorry.
Summerine repeated the words in her mind as she walked down the carpeted flower-lined ramp. Whoever it was that had been hired to be their venue stylist was a genius, with the entire ballroom transformed into a lantern-lit forest of glow-in-the-dark flowers.
Everyone was also staring at her like she was the most radiant bride—-and not one of them seemed to notice the way her parents were guarding her every move like a warden that was ready to have her arrested at the slightest provocation.
I object. I object. I object.
Summerine refused to be intimidated and focused on practicing the first and most important words of her speech.
I object. I object. I object.
But as soon as she reached the end of the ramp, she felt like fainting anew as she sensed her bridegroom taking his place next to her.
I...I...I...
O...O...Oh, this was impossible!
"Before I join these two in holy matrimony, would anyone here care to step forward in objection?"
Half of her was determined to ignore his existence. But the other half of her had the inexplicable urge to steal a peek at the stranger her parents had arranged for her to marry.
"Very well, then..."
On the day he had visited her home, Summerine had already fainted before she could see what he looked like, and he was long gone by the time she woke.
"We are gathered here today—-"
Maybe...maybe she could just turn his way ever so slightly...and just have the tiniest look?
"To join Ryu Harcourt and Summerine Chan in marriage."
Yes, a tiny look wouldn't hurt at all. Right?
"Do you, Ryu, take Summerine to be your lawful spouse?"
Summerine turned ever so carefully towards him.
"Yes."
And then she ever so slowly lifted her gaze to his.
"Do you, Summerine, to be your lawful spouse?"
Oh. My. Gosh.
Was it not the craziest and cruelest of coincidences that she was a closet otaku for almost her entire life...while the man standing next to her happened to be the sizzlingly perfect embodiment of what a bishounen would've looked in reality?
The longer she stared at him, the more she felt as if she was sucked into the pages of her favorite josei manga, and she was now living the life she had always dreamed of.
His hair was a gleaming shade of black, his eyes dark and piercing.
And his face, oh, his face.
It was just so, so beautiful that only his chiseled jaw saved it from being too pretty.
And his height. And build. And—-
"Summerine?"
So lost was she in the surreal perfection of his looks that she answered without thinking.
"Y-Yes?"
People suddenly laughed, and the sound yanked her out of her thoughts. What was so funny? She had only said—-
"By the power vested in me—-"
Oh gosh, I said yes.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Summerine was still in shock as her bridegroom gently turned her to face him before lifting her veil.
"You may now kiss the bride."
His head lowered.
NOOOOOOOOO.
And he cupped her face.
I can't. This can't be happening.
And it didn't.
Because her bridegroom had already stepped back, the whole ballroom had erupted in thunderous applause, and not one of them had realized that the man she married had only faked kissing her.
The judge smiled at both of them before turning to their still-cheering guests. "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Ryu Harcourt!"
Point #2
I'M SORRY, SELF.
I failed you.
I'm so, so sorry—-
(You're not forgiven.)
I'm not talking to you!
(Then who are you talking to?)
Myself!
(I rest my case.)
Summerine seriously considered knocking her head against the mirror in front of her at this point.
Her life had officially hit rock bottom.
Not only had she lost the chance to escape marriage, but she had also ended up losing an argument.
To herself!
The thought made her want to cry, and maybe she would have...if not for someone knocking on the bridal suite, and her husband of two hours walking in right after.
"Are you ready to go?"
Summerine nodded in answer even as she braced herself for a sign of impatience. Her parents hated it whenever she had nothing to say, but her husband didn't seem to mind and was instead the perfect gentleman as he offered her his hand.