" Ms. Rosaline Sinclair, please sign the papers." The court official said while forwarding me my marriage contract.
My shaking hands signed the papers as the judge accepted it.
" You are now lawfully wedded husband and wife." He said and gave us a polite smile.
I slowly turned my gaze up to look at my husband. Dark black hair with smooth velvet like skin. His gaze was sharp and chilling. We didn't exchange a single word today.
He turned around to walk over where his parents were waiting for us.
" Congratulations, dear. You must be tensed all day long." My mother-in-law said to me while caressing my head.
" Thank you." I gave her a small smile. My hands were still cold due to nervousness.
" I wish your father would be here today to see you getting married. I am really missing him now. May he is happy in heaven." My father-in-law said while taking my cold hands in between his warm ones.
My father; he died few months ago, leaving me alone without any relative whom I know very closely accept the man standing in front of me, Mr. Christopher Smith.
He was my father's closest friend and I know him since childhood. He was like a father figure to me. When my father was on his death bed, his last wish was for me to marry his one and only son, Edward Smith.
" Thank you Uncle and Aunt for accepting me as your daughter-in-law." I said to them from the bottom of my heart. They have taken care of me like their own daughter when I was at my worst.
" Don't call us Uncle and Aunt. Call us Dad and Mom just like Edward. And you don't need to thank is, dear. Instead, we should be thanking you for accepting my son as your husband. You are the best that he could have had." Dad said while my gaze again went to look at Edward who was standing like a stone.
Edward Smith, the young CEO of Smith Corporation, is the kind of man whose presence bends a room before he even speaks. He radiates the authority of someone born to lead. There's a subtle power in the way he moves- deliberate, precise, and confident, as though every step is part of a plan only he knows. Everyone whispers about his ruthless efficiency, his uncanny ability to turn failing deals into gold, and his refusal to accept defeat. People fear him, his abilities, his achievements. He is unstoppable and can conquer the world if he wants.
Having so much aura and charisma, but luck isn't always on his side. I am his second wife.
His first wife, Hannah Smith died in a car accident few years ago while he was left devastated with his two year old son at that time. I remember the only time he talked with me before marriage.
" Don't expect too much from me. This is for my child and parent's happiness only. You will be wife only in name."
Nevertheless I agreed to the marriage since it was my father's last wish and I know my father would have taken decision that is best for me.
" Let's head home now. Both of you must be tired." Mom said and escorted us out of the marriage court.
The ride was silent as I on the passenger seat beside Edward. Soon we reached his mansion as the servants opened the car's door for us to step out.
" Welcome Mrs. Smith to your home." One of the servant greeted me while bowing his head.
" He is Charles, caretaker of this mansion." Mom introduced him to me.
We entered inside as Mom gave me the tour of the big mansion, explaining all the basic areas that I need to use for now. She had already set my belongings to my new shared bedroom with my husband. She made me sit on the bed and took a seat beside me.
" I am really sorry that you couldn't have your proper wedding like every girl would have imagined. By now you would have known that Edward does not expresses himself too much and I guess he still hasn't moved on from Hannah. It must be hard for him but I don't wish my son to always be in his past." Mom said to me and squeezed my hands gently.
" Don't worry, Mom. It takes time for the past wound to head. With time, everything is going to be alright. I don't care how my wedding was, but now I am your daughter-in-law and it is my duty to see happiness in all of your faces." I consoled her. She gave me a small smile and kissed me on my forehead.
" Me and your Dad will take leave now. Take care of yourself." She said to me and stood up.
" Mom." I called her as she was about to leave. She turned to look at me.
" Where is...his son?" I asked her. I didn't know the name of Edward's son yet and I didn't see him all this while in the mansion.
" Ethan? He may have gone out with Edward's assistant. He will come back soon. And be careful of him. He isn't what he looks like." She said and left leaving me in confusion.
After Mom and Dad left, I was sitting alone in the room. Edward didn't come once to check on me.
I was deep in my thoughts when there was a knock on the door. On looked up to see one of the maids standing.
" The lunch is prepared, my lady. Everyone is waiting downstairs for you." She said to me. I nodded my head and got up.
Following her, I reached the dinning hall. Edward was sitting on the head seat with a small child beside him. His black hair and eyes matched that of him and he had adorable cheeks with pink tint.
" Ah look Dad...the pretty lady came." The boy said as I walked towards him. For the first time in the entire day I felt him laying eyes on me. Goosebumps formed on my skin as our eyes met.
" Greetings first, Ethan." He said in his monotonous voice.
" My mistake. Hello, pretty lady. I am Ethan. Young price of Smith family. Seeing you here at this time, you must be my new Mom, right?" He said cheerfully and I wondered if he is really four years old. They way he introduced himself was so adorable. I smiled at him. He is sure not like his father.
" Hello. My name is Rosaline." I said to him and took a seat across him. The servants started to fill out plates with food while Ethan looked at me with his curious eyes.
" Are you going to stay here?" He asked me. I looked at Edward to see whether he will reply, but after seeing him focusing only on food, I turned towards Ethan.
" Yes." I replied.
" You will sleep with me and Dad?" He asked next and I went silent. How am I even suppose to answer that. Most probably I'll sleep with them if his father was no plan to throw me outside his room.
" Don't be shy. You can answer that question. Our bed is very big. King-sized bed. We three can easily sleep together." He replied while chewing onto his food.
" By the way, how did you married my Dad? You know~" before Ethan could complete his sentence, Edward stoped him.
" Enough talk now. Let her eat as well." He said to his son. I looked at my untouched plate while both of their plates were half empty.
" I never stopped her from eating. I guess she is a light eater. Look at her. She is all bones. You should try fried chicken that Uncle Charles make. It's the best thing in the world according to me. Once you taste it, you won't stop eating it. Maybe then you can build some muscles." Ethan said while I shift comfortably on my chair. He does speak a lot.
I picked up my spoon and filled it with food. I'm not that skinny.
" Dad. You should speak with her as well. Both of you have bad communication skills. If you want I can arrange an ice-breaking session for you guys that I learned from my teacher. It was very fun." Ethan chose to speak to his father now, giving me a rest. All of his questions are too difficult to answer.
" If you don't want to attend extra classes with your teacher then be quiet and finish your food. Didn't she teach you to not to talk while eating as well?" Edward pointed out. Ethan sighed and diverted his attention towards food.
We all sat their and finished our food, me being the slowest of them all. Later the servants picked up our dishes.
" Come to the room. I need to talk to you." Edward said as I heart thumped inside my chest. I hurriedly nodded my head.
" Coming." I tried to say but it came out as a squeak. I cleared my throat and looked around to confirm no one saw that embarrassing scene. Of course, Ethan was there looking at me with his doe eyes.
" Don't worry. He is not that scary." He tried to cheer me up. I gave me a smile and followed Edward who already reached near the stairs to go to our room.
Of course I am not scared of him. After all now I am his wife, Rosaline Smith.