KIMBERLY'S POV
This was the last thing I was expecting.
That morning, Xavier Ravenwood was my brother-in-law. Now, as I stood outside the Civil Affairs Bureau clutching this fresh-printed red marriage certificate in my fist, he was my husband.
Husband.
The word reverberated within my head, alien, unreal-a concept that my brain simply could not clutch onto. I looked down at the little red book clutched in my hands, the bold golden letters spelling out "Marriage Certificate" almost mocking me.
It's not real. It simply can't be.
“Congratulations on our wedding.”
I looked up, startled, to find Xavier standing in front of me with a bouquet of deep red roses. His lips had curled into that lazy, confident smirk; his striking, odd-colored eyes were glinting with mirth.
"Here," he said, pushing the roses toward me. "A gift for you, Mrs. Ravenwood."
Mrs. Ravenwood.
The title sent shivers down my spine. Far from excitement, it was some freaky kind of feeling-like I'd been dragged into some other person's life and now had to assume a role nobody auditioned me for.
I reached out to take the roses, the delicate petals soft beneath my fingertips. And there was something quite ironic-I do believe that red roses, particularly, were the flowers for love and passion; of course, between them, it was only cold, chilling practicality.
"Thanks," I murmured-low-soft, softer than I had meant to say, in fact.
Xavier's smirk deepened, and I knew he sensed my unease. "Don't look so thrilled. You're going to give people the wrong impression."
I bit back a sharp retort and turned away, hugging the roses tightly to my chest. I didn't trust myself to speak without letting my frustration seep through.
*******
I was in school, but I got a call from my boyfriend Daniel Reynolds. Since I came to the Harrington family, as the lost daughter who was finally found, I was not welcomed by the family members. Instead, I was ordered to take care of my adopted sister as a maid. My heart began to ache, but it didn't matter. I had Daniel.
The Reynolds family was more powerful than the Ray Harrington family. He was the only one who smiled at me, and he was handsome. The Harringtons, my nominal parents, saw this and immediately asked me to accept Daniel's pursuit.
I agreed. The Harrington family was an ice cellar for me, and Daniel pulled me out of the haze like a knight. So I was attracted to him, and I waited for him to propose to me, and then I would completely get out of the cold Harington family.
Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at Daniel's club. It was an exclusive, snobby club, just like I remembered: marble floors, low lighting, and the vague smell of cigars and expensive cologne. I thought he was going to introduce me to his friends. Thinking of this, I looked at my makeup again in the mirror at the door, but his friend's voice stopped me.
"Daniel, you've got to admit, this is a record for you. Three weeks with Kimberly? You must really like her.”
“Like her?" Daniel laughed coldly, laced with disdain. "Come on, Kimberly's just some shiny new toy. I'll get bored soon enough."
The words cut through me like shattered glass.
"She's not even the favourite daughter of the Harrington family. I just like her because she's pretty, nothing more.” He paused. “Wait. You really think I'm going to be serious about her?" He laughed.
"Daniel, don't forget to treat her well," another voice teased. "She probably thinks you're her knight in shining armor."
It exploded in the bouquet, each chuckle going a little deeper than the one before.
My hand upon the door handle was firm enough that my knuckles were blanching.
This was my family's take on me: a pawn, no more. A handy chess piece to fling at Daniel, for the family's sake.
Daniel, for his part-he was through pretending, utterly. The sweet words, the studied attention, the gifts, they were all nothing but lies.
I felt like a sharp dagger was stabbed into my chest again. It seemed like I was always abandoned all my life and no one wanted me.
Before I was 16, I lived with my adoptive parents. My adoptive father liked to drink and gamble. Whenever he had no money, he would hit me with his wine bottle. So I liked winter so that the marks of beatings on my body would be covered. When I was taken back to the Harrington family at the age of 16, I began to look forward to gaining the love of my parents, but they just told me: Even if I was the real daughter of Harrington, I would never be as good as their adopted daughter.
At the 18-year-old adult prom, Daniel bent down to save me when I had no partner. He didn't care that I danced badly. He held my waist tightly and told me that I was the most special person in the world. Now he tells his friends that I am a shiny toy.
Why? Whenever I started to embrace new hope, it would immediately turn into the claws of the devil, tightly gripping my throat.
I felt it was hard to breathe, and there was no need to listen any more. Pushing the door open, I stepped into the room.
The laughter ceased abruptly and left an awkward silence.
Daniel turned around, and the easy smirk fell when his gaze caught me. It changed in that instant-instant panic that flickered around his dark eyes and he masked over with some semblance of charm.
"Kimberly, sweetheart…" he said, starting, and I lifted a hand.
"Don't," I returned, myvoice steady outside, whirling chaos inside.
The room was smothering; their staring all judgment and amusement and pity. I couldn't bear it.
Daniel reached for my hand, but I stepped backward, the red-bead bracelet clenched in my pocket. The one he'd especially asked me to make for him.
"Kimberly, don't be like this," he said, his tone patronizing. "You're not upset over a little teasing are you?"
I said nothing. My hand merely clamped on the bracelet and tugged it apart in front of him.
The beads whirled across the waxed floor, still flying underneath the pool table before coming to rest on its surface.
Daniel's eyes went wide, and for once, cockiness seemed lost in incredulity at his stare.
"What the fuck, Kimberly?" he snarled high-pitched.
"I heard everything," I said quietly but firmly, my gaze nailed into his face. "And I'm done. We are done."
The room fell so silent that the far chinking of billiard balls from another box was audible.
"Don't be dramatic," he sneered, though his voice had no conviction in it.
I didn't give him the satisfaction of a reply. Out the door, I pivoted on my heel, my head held high though my heart felt like it could shatter.
Outside, the air was crisp and cool, a stark contrast to the stifling tension I had just freed myself from.
Smiling as I walked down the hall-a real smile, small, but honest-end.
For the first time in weeks, I felt free.
No more Daniel. No more faking.
Yet still my family's expectation of me clung heavier than a sopping wet cape to my flesh.
What would they say when they found out? And how would they punish me for daring to go against their plans?
I smiled as I strode down, and didn't catch, until it was too late, that the floor wasn't level. I tripped, gasping in surprise as I threw out my arms, prepared for impact on the ground
Only to feel a strong arm wrap around my waist, steadying me.
"Careful," a deep smooth voice said, sending a shiver down my spine.
I looked up, and my breath caught in my throat.
Xavier Ravenwood.