Now That I Love You I Can't Hate You

Chapter 1

My reflection.

My reflection is nothing like the one that faced me head on a year ago. A she just the same. A girl. No, a woman. A very beautiful woman. A woman whose heart has flourished with something as fascinating and intricate as love.

It is love that anchors me to the floor length mirror. It is love that pins me down in this exquisite white dress. It is love that hangs a veil from my hair that falls in waves down my back. It is love that fits the white heels caressing my feet. It is love that joins my hand together to keep a magnificently adorned bouquet.

It is Darson's love that nailed a smile to my lips that wouldn't fade away. I'm staring at myself in that floor length mirror and I can't stop my heart from racing. I can't stop my excitement.

I thought I would be extremely nervous but I'm not. I've done this before and it was way scarier.

This time, my nervousness isn't because I am marrying a stranger. It isnt because I have no choice. It isn't because of a binding agreement.

This time, it is for all the right reasons. It is because I'm marrying the man that I've come to know and love. It is because I've made a choice that was solely mine and that choice was to choose this man above all else. If this is to be called a binding agreement, then this agreement is one that emphasizes that our love is reserved for us and that we take this step to legally join us in union.

"I think there's something wrong with her." I hear Bella's voice in the background. My smile is still very prominent on my face. I'm surprise my cheeks aren't quivering in pain.

"It's been like what? Five minutes?" Keina is exaggerating. Like she always does. It's only been 4 minutes.

Seriously, I'm not counting. I'm too deep in my thoughts to even notice how long my lips have been inched up to the sides.

A year ago I really thought I'd never get to feel the way that I'm feeling right now. Unconditionally loved. Safe. Chosen. I really thought my life would be a complete disaster. One filled with so much regret and I'm getting emotional now that I'm at that stage where all of my assumptions were wrong.

I fell in love with that man. He fell in love with me. We fell in love with each other. We found love in a situation we thought was hopeless.

A tear slips from my eyes. Oh my gosh, my eyes are leaking. "No, there's something definitely wrong."

"Aww. I think it's happy tears." Bella coos. I swipe at my cheek and sniffle. "You've had a fake marriage and now a real one and I'm still single. FML."

"I still can't believe they had a contract marriage. I seriously couldn't tell. There was so much sexual tension back in Australia." I can't help but snort. No way. Darson and I did not vibe like that back then. She must've misread our hatred.

"I, too, think they had a thing for each other way before they realised it." Bella agrees.

"Guys, come on." Is it bad that I still get offended when the notion of me actually having a thing for Darson as far back as Australia is brought up. Yes, I still have beef with that Darson.

Pft. Me? A thing for Darson back in Australia? No.

Gosh, he was so hot in Australia. That, I will admit.

"It kind of makes me want to take up that offer my dad gave me. Maybe marrying the CEO of Kubler Technology is going to have a great turn out for me." Keina shrugs with a grin.

"Even I almost went out on a whim and marry some random business guy." I give Bella a look. "What? Your story is inspiring."

"Girls. I do not recommend." I smooth out my dress. "I seriously almost killed Darson." Both Bella and Keina erupts into laughter. "I almost landed my ass in that really bright orange jumpsuit."