Taming My Arrogant Husband

"Well, I agree with you regarding his smile. It's as precious as diamonds. But Belle, you're going to live with him for a year under one roof. You need to tell him or at least befriend---"

"No!" I shook my head as I looked at her seriously. "I only agreed to this agreement because your mom told me that your brother needs a 'trophy wife' to get the contract from their biggest investor. And because I need somewhere to hide until I get solid evidence to prove in court what that bastard did to me. He deleted all the CCTV footages after that incident. And there's only one person who can be my witness, their maid who saw everything. The problem is, she suddenly disappeared after that."

I formed my fists into a ball that almost turned my knuckles into white.

"I saw him at the mall last month. I can't believe he can still affect me after all these years me, Rian! I buried all those horrible memories but when I saw him, those memories hunting me again!" "W-Wait, how did my mom get involved in your engagement with Dani?"

"She's one of my students in my ballroom and Zumba class. And she just happened to see everything, how that bastard harassed me again in the mall parking lot. She helped me with her bodyguards. And believe me, I didn't know that she's your mom. She asked me what happened, and I told her everything. My struggles in life after leaving Italy, including what that bastard did to me. And she offered me help---" "And that help she's referring is to marry his son." she finished my statement.

"Yes. I just have to use someone's last name to hide my status. So when Joseph learns I'm married to your brother, he will hesitate to harass me or get close to me again."

"Belle..."

"Can I ask you a favor, Rian?

"Y-Yes. Anything."

"Can you please keep these things to you? All that you know about me and my past, especially my reason on marrying your brother?"

"But Belle...."

"Please, Rian. Until I solved my problem. Please?" I took both her hands that rested on top of the table.

"But you need help, Belle. Why don't you tell Dani everything? He will help you---"

"No Rian, you don't understand. If Joseph knows that this marriage isn't real, he will try his best to get me back."

"But Dani is going to be your husband. He would surely listen to you."

"No," I said shaking my head

"Why don't you report this to the police, they would-----"

I sarcastically laughed at her.

"Police? Report him to the police? Are you sure they would listen? Would they believe me? I have no evidence in me, Rian. What remains is the memory of his touch! Of his filthy hands, of his disgusting saliva on my body! And the only person who witnessed the whole story was missing... until now and I don't know how to find her!"

Tears are now blurring my vision. How hard is it to hold these horrible memories in my head?

"Belle..."

"And do you think your brother would listen? The only thing he knows was judging me and accusing me of marrying him because of his money! He would never believe my story, Rian. Why? Because my own father never did, so what would I expect from other people?"

"But I believe you, and I did since you shared your story with. And not to mention my mom, she also believes in you." "Because you and your mom were different, Rian. You would easily understand because you're also a woman."

"Ysabelle..."

And I can't it help anymore. Tears started to fall on my cheeks. I wish I had someone behind me too. I wish I had the same mother like hers, I wish I also had a brother and father who would protect me, unlike the father I had who never believed in me when I needed him most. He's the only family that I had that time, but he's also one who left me hanging miserably in my horrible memories.

I felt arms around me and a hand rubbing my back.

"Promise me, Rian, please?" I looked at her with tears still flowing down my cheeks and she nodded.

"I promise, but I hope that one day you will open these things to him."

After our moment on the terrace, we both decided to go down and go back to the party. But not after telling me that she's going to help me with her brother's behavior.

When we got back to the venue, she immediately walked towards her husband. I saw how they shared a sweet look and how Alex looked at her with pure love and adoration in his eyes. I know that in my case and my situation, I will never experience those things. But somehow I wish that after all these struggles and problems I have right now, I can also find my prince charming. The man who will hold me in his arms while looking at me as if I'm the only woman that exists in his world. The man who will understand me and will never judge me for who I am and for what happened to me in my past, but the man who will love me unconditionally and eternally.

I closed my eyes when I saw the two kissed in front of the people around them. I sighed and silently wished that whatever the consequence I face after this marriage, will give me freedom and peace from my not-so-good memories in the past. And a lone tear rolled down my face, but I'm not in the mood to wipe it.

And since I was still in my closed eyes, I didn't notice the stares that my fiance was giving me. He also walked in front of me and I was shocked when I opened my eyes, he wiped that lone tear. He took my hand and pulled me towards the center.

He gave his glass to the waiter as we stood in front of the people who are now watching his moves. And without even saying a word, he dropped down on his knees and showed me the white diamond ring on his hand.

-'What the fuck?'- I asked silently still shocked with what he is doing at the moment.

"Sophia, I know what we have right now is an overwhelming story, but I don't want to let you go. Not now, not ever."

-'Gosh! What a good actor you are, Daniel Kelley!'-

"Sweetheart..."

-'Sweetheart? Where did it come from? Haha... what if I kick your balls, sweetheart?'-

"Will you be the mother of my children in the future? Will you be my best partner in crime? And will you give the honor to be the happiest man alive by marrying me?"

I looked at him directly but his face showed the opposite of what I was thinking. He's smiling at me. But the back of my head instantly came to a response.

-'Idiota! Certo che sta solo recitando, questa è solo una finta festa di fidanzamento! (Idiot! Of course, he's just acting, this is just a fake engagement party!)

"Please say yes!" I heard the shouts of his parents, and I wanted to laugh when I saw the look on Daniel's face. I'm sure he's now silently killing me inside his mind. "Yes, 'sweetheart' I will marry you," I emphasized the endearment he used twice this afternoon.

He smirked.

-'See? He's just acting!'-

He slid the diamond ring onto my finger and got up slowly. But what I didn't know, I will be surprised at the next thing he plans to do.

He cupped both of my cheeks and a pair of lips which was owned by him, captured my 'virgin' lips. I felt the world swirl around me as the butterflies inside my stomach started dancing with the loud beating of my heart.

I need to close my eyes and gripped his shoulder for support as my knees buckled with the sudden feeling and sensation he's giving me through his kiss. I felt his hand around my waist and down to my lower back. He took both of my hands and encircled it around his waist before he let go of my lips. He hugged me after that and whispered in my ear.

"I bet I was your first, sweetheart."

-'Fucking shit!'- I murmured to myself and my eyes turned wide like saucers.