Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 59827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
You'll probably hate me for what I have to say, and I'm sorry for that.
You probably won't forgive me either, but I can no longer just do nothing.
I'm twenty, two. I'm a full-fledged adult with a fully functioning brain.
And so there is no way I will marry someone I haven't even—-
Summerine forgot the rest of her speech when the door to the bridal suite suddenly opened.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Annie closed the door behind her, and Summerine's hands started to perspire when her mother turned to her.
"You're already three minutes late," her mother snapped. "Have we not taught you better?"
"I—-I—-"
Annie's gaze narrowed, and Summerine paled when she realized what her mother was staring at. She hurriedly unclenched her fists, but Annie's lips had already tightened in annoyance.
"Must you be so dramatic about this?"
You're making me marry a total stranger, Summerine wished she could cry out. Was that something she was supposed to celebrate in their book?
"You wouldn't even have a chance of nabbing a man like Mr. Harcourt if not for us."
Then why don't you just nab him for yourself?
Summerine was dying to throw these words at her mother.
(But you can't, can you?)
"Your father thinks I don't have to bother talking to you one last time, but that look on your face clearly proves otherwise."
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.