Chapter 18

She stared out her window, seeing the beautiful island that was their honeymoon destination. It was a private resort that only the most elite could afford.

The place looked enchanting and magical, just like described in fairy tale books. It must be full of wonders and adventure, just waiting to be explored.

But it is not real.

Her wedding, marriage, and the man she married were just a charade. This honeymoon was just another elaborate show. It was nothing but an illusion, just like that island.

She was not delusional that she would suddenly wake up and find herself in a loving relationship. Then, she would be looking forward to a happily ever after.

Wake up, Andy!

She was not about to fall into the trap of believing someone would truly love her. She was better off focusing on her dream of building her life without depending on someone else.

She remembered what Jeremy had promised her. "I would take care of you." But she realized now that it was just a line. It was a lie to gain her trust.

Now, she had no one but herself. She could not trust anyone else but herself. She should never rely on anyone else but herself.

"You know I can't just drop everything I'm doing to go on this trip." She would not stay silent as she turned to her husband, who had been busy in his seat, working on his laptop the entire trip.

They might be married, but it did not mean he could dictate her life and order her around. She was not about to give up everything she had worked hard on to play housewife to him.

She only agreed to this marriage mainly because of Daddy Frankie, but not because she felt something for this man that she would be willing to drop everything for him.

"I did not marry you so that you can use me as your trophy wife." No, she would not let that happen.

She had seen some of her friends who married because it was what everyone else expected from them. They had given up their careers to stand by their man and raise their children.

She did not want that life if it did not involve love.

"As we agreed, I will continue to work for your company under my false name. You will not give me any special favors. You will treat me like anyone else in the company."

She wanted to keep her identity from her co-workers for as long as possible. She did not want them to think the Boss was giving her special treatment because she was his wife.

"So, I can't just pack and leave at your moment's whim and leave my work behind." She would not let him dictate her life.

She needed to prove that she could make it on her own. She had enough of people telling her that she was a charity case.

"I think you got me all wrong." He stopped her before she could say anything more.

Then, she found herself staring into his impenetrable eyes. For some unknown reason, when he started looking at her like that, she could not help but be mesmerized.

She could never read his thoughts, but she had always felt his eyes were speaking to her. Nonetheless, she could not understand what it was trying to say.

But when he began to speak, his words had a way of breaking the spell, waking her to the sad truth. He was not her Prince Charming. He was no knight in shining armor.

"I don't want you to be my trophy wife. As you said, this is just an arrangement until we can satisfy my father's wishes. In two years, I promise you, we will divorce." He pointed out the fact.

He was not promising her the moon to fool her. He was not giving her flowers to give her false hope of love. He was merely stating the contract.

"We are only here to make my father happy. But it did not mean that we have to consummate the marriage." That was him, putting it bluntly.

Of course, he had no interest in sleeping with a woman like her, as he had already told her when he rejected her advances that night. He might have kissed her, but it was not enough to entice him to sleep with her.

Uugh! Fuck it! What was she thinking kissing him?

It was stupid, careless, and utterly idiotic.

"On the contrary, I thought we could use this trip to work on a project. It is like killing two birds with one stone." He opened a file on his laptop and showed it to her.

She believed it was an enormous development project of a resort. Then, when she saw the name, it was on the island.

"You mean that this is not a honeymoon but a job?" She asked, suddenly confused.

He did not mention that when he forced her to pack and go with him. But she guessed she did not give him a chance since she already threw a tantrum.

"Yeah! I have already sent a memo to the office that you will be my temporary personal assistant. You will be working directly under me while on this trip."

He explained that their client was constructing a new resort on the other side of the island. Therefore, they would inspect the resort's progress and make the necessary arrangements during their visit.

"Oh! I thought..." She thought he had completely ignored her wishes, but she guessed she was wrong.

"I want to mentor you. I wish to show you the ropes of the business if that is ok with you." He elaborated, making his intentions more clear.

"So someday, when we divorce, you will have something to fall back on." He continued as if reminding her that this contract would end eventually.

Hearing him say the condition of their marriage somehow made her feel odd. It was as if she was not pleased. But she should be happy to hear that from him.

It should keep her at ease, knowing he had intended to honor their agreement.

"Then, if that is the case, you can sign me in."

She should stick to her plan.

No emotions.

It was just another day outside the office.

Not that she had any intention to gain feelings for this man. She was merely fulfilling a sick man's wish.

That is all!