I used to pity the man who would marry her.

Not realising how ironical that sentence was. I could imagine destiny laughing at me.

I was getting married. No more dating, no more sleeping around. No more flirting.

Not that I used to sleep with every other woman...cause gentlemen don't go around having one night stands. Not my words but dad's.

My last relationship lasted for three months until it broke off two months ago.

She was good, sweet and caring but no matter who I date, it never works. Never. I am never able to fall in love with them.

Because there is someone else your heart desires. Someone who is going to be your wife. My conscience replied making my jaw clench. That's not true. That's definitely not true.

"You look like you are about to murder someone...relax, Rafe." Westly's voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I realised I was standing at the altar waiting for Leona to make her entrance. And he was my best man.

I took a deep breath, calming myself down and I lowered my eyes.

"Damn. She is looking so beautiful." Westly remarked and my eyes snapped up to him, looking at him with a frown and he gestured to the front and my eyes fell on Leona walking down the aisle with uncle.

My mouth slightly parted in surprise, the frown vanishing from my face.

Is it wrong to admit that your enemy is looking gorgeous? In my case, yes.

The veil covered her face, her eyes lowered, everyone's eyes fixed on her as she walked towards me slowly.

Her eyes clashed with mine, she was subtly glaring at me as if I was the one to force her into this marriage. I matched her glare with my own.

Finally, she reached me and I took a step forward, extending my hand for her to hold it. She rolled her eyes and placed her hand on top of mine and holding it gently, I made her stand in front of me and the priest started the ceremony.

I didn't pay attention to whatever the priest was saying and neither was she because she was busy glaring at me under her eyelashes especially because I was holding both her hands in mine, which she didn't like.

"Do you, Rafe Andrews take Leona Wilbrose to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The priest asked.

I saw her mouthing to me, "Say no." Believe me I wanted to but a thought crossed my mind.

She will be my wife, she will stay with me. I can trouble her at every point of the day, tease her, taunt her, prank her.

One side of my lips curled up into a smirk and her eyes widened slightly.

"I do." I answered firmly and she gritted her teeth, giving me a deadly glare.

"Do you, Leona Wilbrose take Rafe Andrews to be your lawfully wedded husband?" The priest asked her.

I gave her a look which said dare you say no and she gave me a challenging look.

She opened her mouth and I knew she would definitely say no so, I squeezed her hand firmly.

Still glaring at me, she almost spat out. "I do."

I grinned at her as the priest announced. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

I took a step closer to her and lifted her veil and leaned closer and her breath hitched.

"Kiss me and I will kick you in the balls infront of everyone." She threatened in a low voice, making sure only I hear it.

"Don't worry, kid. I'm not interested in kissing you either." I replied and leaning a bit closer, lightly kissed the corner of her mouth and her body tensed.

"I hate you." She whispered.

I winked at her. "I hate you too."

She sighed as I stepped back immediately and the crowd cheered and applauded around us.

We were married. How wonderful.

.

.

.

I was leaning against the counter and took a sip of my champagne with my eyes on the dance floor where Leona was dancing and laughing with Harris.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw dad making his way towards me and I rolled my eyes. I was angry with him. I hardly talked to him for the past two weeks.

He placed his palm on my shoulder and I yanked it away not even looking at him.

I heard him sigh. "Son?" I scoffed and didn't reply to him.

"Rafe, please atleast don't ignore me." He requested. "Talk to me."

"Talk what, dad?" I snapped, finally looking at him. "That how you forced your son into marrying someone he hates?"

He opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off. "Out of everyone, I expected you to understand my situation. Didn't you use to hate mom too? How would you have felt if your parents forced you to marry her at that time?" My tone was quite harsh and he looked...hurt making me regret my words.

His lips pressed into a thin line and I wanted him to scold me but he didn't. He just turned around and left. My jaw clenched and I ran my fingers through my hair.

I pushed off the counter and walked into the direction of the dance floor. I need a distraction before I lose my cool.

Harris's back was towards me and I placed my hand on his shoulder making them abruptly stop dancing.

He looked over his shoulder and I said, "You have danced enough. It's my chance now." Seeing the cold expression on my face he knew not to mess with me and immediately stepped back, walking away from the dance floor.

Leona was glaring at me as usual and I slipped my arm around her waist, pulling her closer and intertwining my other hand with hers.

Knowing that people were watching us, she didn't cause any drama and hesitantly placed her other arm on my shoulder as I gently started to waltz us.

"So, Mrs Andrews..." I drawled and enjoyed the scowl that formed on her face on hearing that.

"Don't call me that."

I cocked my head slightly. "Aww... don't you like that name, Mrs Andrews?" I teased.

"Stop it, Rafe." She hissed and her palm squeezed my shoulder in a warning. "This marriage is just on paper. I'm not your wife and you are not my husband."

"Still...you are Mrs Andrews now on paper...and I can call you that."

She gritted her teeth and said nothing knowing I had a point.

"Now, tell me, Mrs Andrews..." I twirled her around and caught her. "Can we return to work from tomorrow or do you need a honeymoon?"

Her face grimaced. "Eww...please no. I don't want any honeymoon, especially with you. I would like to return to work as soon as possible."

"Oh, come on. A honeymoon would be nice. In a small, cozy cottage in a middle of a beautiful forest. Where no one could hear you screaming my name." I flirted even though I never imagined myself flirting with her. It was just to annoy her and get a reaction from her.

Her face grimaced even more and she looked like she was about to throw up. She took a step back but I tightened my grip around her waist.

"Whatever you are thinking will never happen." She growled lowly. "Don't even think about it, Rafe."

God. Doesn't she understand a joke?

I pinched her waist. "You have a really bad sense of humour."

She opened her mouth to curse probably but all of a sudden I dipped her down, removing my hand from around her waist. I enjoyed how her face filled with fear immediately thinking I was going to drop her.

But before she could fall down completely, I wrapped my arm around her waist, and pulled her back up making her rest her forehead against mine, breathing heavily.

I smirked and giving her a wink, stepped back and walked away from the dance floor.

Where the hell is Westly? I looked around for him but couldn't find him anywhere.

Then my eyes fell on him, standing near the table filled with food, eating a chocolate cupcake without any care in the world.

Someone please remind him he is an athlete.

I was going to walk towards him but someone called my name. "Rafe."

I turned around to face uncle Gareth standing there. "Uncle."

He offered me a small smile and gestured me step closer and when I did, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. He sighed. "Son...look, I am really sorry for forcing you both into this marriage. But she is the only child I have and I can't afford to let anything happen to her..."

He rubbed his temple as he paused. And he removed his hand from around my shoulder and held both my shoulders instead. "I know you both hate each other but still I trust you. I trust you not to hurt her and to keep her safe. Please, son, I beg you...just take care of her." He had tears in the corner of his eyes, he looked so desperate.

I was speechless. I didn't know what to say or how to react.

Take care of her.

"Uncle...I..." I was lost for words. I ran my fingers through my hair. "All this is difficult...but I can promise you to not hurt her."

He smiled softly. "Thank you, son. It really means a lot to me." He patted my shoulder and I mirrored his smile.

"Rafe!" Someone called me in a sharp tone.

God! Now what happened?

We both looked at uncle Matt who looked quite angry. With me.

He folded his arms across his chest. "Why aren't you talking to Nelson?"

"Uncle...I..."

"He is literally crying out there because you won't talk to him. If you won't go and talk to him properly, I am gonna kick your ass." He threatened.

I glanced at uncle Gareth and he also gestured me to go. Sighing, I walked out of the hall to the garden.

There was a small river flowing beside the garden, and there was a bench where dad was sitting with his head lowered and beside him sat mom with her head resting on dad's shoulder.

I slowly went over to them, I stopped a few steps behind the bench. "Dad?"

Both their heads snapped to me and dad hastily wiped away his tears and gave me a small smile. "Rafe."

Mom got up and walked past me, gesturing me to go to him and I nodded before she went inside leaving us alone.

I quietly sat down beside dad and stared at the river.

Dad ran his hand down his face. "I'm really, really sorry, Rafe. I shouldn't have forced you but...at this moment, this is the only solution we have. She is not safe and..." He let out a deep breath. "I'm just sorry. I'm really sorry...but please, son... don't ignore me because it hurts...I know you are angry with me and you have the right to be but just for six months tolerate all this...co operate with us. Please?"

"Dad..." I said softly. "It's okay...I understand...and I am sorry too for the way I behaved."

I noticed another tear falling down his eye and he wiped it away and smiled at me. "After six months, when all this is over...I'll won't ever force you to do anything. And I am going to get you married to anyone you say. Anyone. I won't even question your choice."

I let out a small chuckle and shook my head slightly. "Thanks, dad."

He patted me on my back. "I love you, my son." And he kissed the side of my head.

"I love you too, dad." I muttered.

We both became silent and we just stared at the river flowing in front of us when all of a sudden dad said, "By the way, Westly told me that you actually like Leona since a long time."

My head snapped to him and I groaned loudly. "Dad, no! Don't listen to him, he's crazy. That's not true. I don't like her."

Dad chuckled and nodded before saying, "I understand. But if you do...then please accept your feelings before it's too late. Believe me, I know."

Not wanting to argue with him further, I just nodded in agreement.

I don't like her!