Phoenix's Deceptress Wife

FIFTEEN

HAILEY PAREDES – SEBASTIAN

I cried so much when I entered the room. I had been wanting to let out my tears for a while, but I held back. I didn't want to answer Phoenix earlier, and I had no intention of fighting with him. But he was really provoking me.

I ignored all his accusations against me because I knew they weren't true. But he always insisted on his side. All I wanted was to prove to him that I wasn't an enemy. I wanted us to be okay. I wanted us to be a real couple. Ever since I was young, I've loved him. I love him so much.

I'm not a bad person, and I haven't taken anything from him. Maybe I'm also at fault for telling Grandpa not to tell him the truth. I didn't want to hurt him, but I didn't know he saw things that way.

When I was young, I didn't want to be friends with anyone. When my parents died, I became even lonelier. When Grandpa adopted me and introduced me to Phoenix, I immediately had a crush on him. So I was happy that he became my friend.

He was my first friend, so I cherished that. I remembered everything he shared with me. All his secrets became my secrets too. But suddenly, he changed, and I didn't know why. His behavior shifted, and he was always picking fights with me. It hurt because he wasn't like that before. I was sad but still secretly looked at him.

As I grew older, my feelings for him didn't change. Every time I met him during vacation, I proved to myself that I loved him. But I knew he didn't love me because of the blatant hatred he showed towards me. So I kept him in my heart. I thought that if we weren't meant to be, that was okay. I just hoped we could remain friends.

Grandpa has bone cancer. Only I and Phoenix's parents knew about it. He has limited time, so he told me I needed to get married before he died, so he would know who I would leave behind.

He chose Enrique, not because he is my prince, but because Enrique told him that he loves me. I agreed and accepted that. I knew I would be happy with Enrique, even if I didn't love him. Because he was kind and caring towards me. He always made me laugh and feel good.

I thought he wasn't hard to love. If we didn't work as a couple, at least we could remain friends. But I doubt our marriage wouldn't work if it happened because he is a good person. Even if our relationship became a friends-with-benefits situation, that wouldn't be a problem.

But the night before Grandpa talked to Enrique, Phoenix called and said he needed money. Grandpa asked me first because what Phoenix was borrowing was no small amount. I said yes...but with one condition. I wanted him to marry me.

I told Grandpa that I wanted to marry Phoenix instead of Enrique. Grandpa knew I had loved Phoenix for a long time, but he didn't want to because he knew Phoenix hated me. But I said that if Phoenix agreed, I would do my best to tame him. I would be a good wife, a good friend. I would show and prove to him that I would do everything for him.

I set the terms. But I never planned to force him. I just wanted to offer and take a chance. If he didn't agree, that was fine; Grandpa would still lend him the amount he needed. I just wanted to try my luck.

But I didn't expect him to agree. So I thought maybe he had feelings for me too and was just hiding it with anger. Grandpa asked me if I was sure, and I said yes. So even though Grandpa wanted Enrique because he thought it was better, I insisted.

Enrique and I talked, and he asked me. He wasn't angry, and he certainly didn't take it personally. He said that wherever I was happy, he would be there. He would still support me.

The night before the wedding, Grandpa and Phoenix's parents talked to me because they wanted me to back out of the wedding. They told me I would only be miserable with Phoenix, so while there was still time, I should refuse. But I promised them I would do everything to show Phoenix that I wasn't a bad woman like he thought. And I promised them I would love and understand Phoenix.