CHAPTER 2 : SUPPOSED BRIDE

2

ELLE

I press the green button not caring at all to look at the caller ID.

"Hello, Elle?"

Good heavens should I have to hear that voice early in the morning? Not to mention that it has been five years since I heard about him. FIVE FUCKING YEARS!

"Luke," I regarded him in a small voice, my blood momentarily running cold as I sat up from my bed. I run my hands over my face to stop myself from lashing out on him. "What made you call just now?"

"Oh, geez thanks...you answered the first ring. Uhm-I just want to say... I mean, I  ask to—"

"Just say it, Luke." I sigh, exasperated that he have to call this early just because of something he wanted to ask of me. He doesn't even confirm that we are really siblings! He didn't even attend my wedding...

Which made me quite curious about this call.

"Luke....are you still there? HELLO?" I ask after a moment of silence.

"Yes, of course. Uhm, you see...I've got some proposals to make for you. I just wanted to ask--I-"

"Luke, tell me why you called. I will be starting on my new painting later this morning and you've waken me early enough to drain my energy. It's three o' clock in the morning, Luke. For Christ sake stop being insane here..." I kick the blankets off before standing up, feeling alone because Gabe is not here. He was off to Singapore yesterday and will return tonight.

"Elle, I'm so sorry but please. I don't know what to do, okay? I'm stuck here...please help me," I can almost see his puppy face drawn all over his cranium; Green eyes shining all too brightly as he pout.

"Okay, Luke." I sigh again turning to my side to stare at Jacob, sleeping peacefully down on his father's side of the bed. I know this little tyke missed his father so much as I do. "First of all, tell me how I will help you...for some reason, I don't know what all this is about? C'mon blurt it out now, stop wasting my time."

"Well, the truth is that I just return here in London yesterday when-"

"Yesterday? I thought you came back there, five years ago? You told me-"

"I lied, yes. I lied because of the reason that I wanted to get away from you as soon as possible. I'm quite embarrassed on how I acted around you a few years ago. I'm very persistent on making you my girl, but it turns out that you were my long lost sister. I thought then, from the moment I stepped down from the plane my karma started. When I arrived on my apartment a mysterious man called out to me, telling me that I'm the lost heir of the throne--"

"The lost heir? You....A royalty? Whoa, that's news to me. So, does it mean that I am some kind of a princess too?" I strut back to my bed and plop on it. Someone should wonk this lad on the head right now. "And, what happen next?"

Oh...this boy, I just miss talking to him that I don't care if he is talking senseless. Now that I know that he's my brother, I can't wish but to have him right beside me. I would to hear him telling me about his crazy adventures.

I yank the blanket close to me before I pulled my son near, listening to Luke. There was a moment of silence before I heard Luke  sucking a deep breath. "Then I was brought to the castle, met the king himself as he lay on the bed. He said that he's been waiting for me for so long. He’ve searched for you and me but came out empty handed. He told me that I should accept the position as the next king as soon as possible so I agreed. His assistant presented me the papers..." He exhaled before continuing, "And I signed them without reading, which is not so wise for me."

"How so?" I turn against the dark only to face my bedside table, looking at the lamp that stood in the middle of it. " I didn't read the most important thing, Elle. I should have considered rereading it before I signed." I heard him exhale again before he continued.

"Look. The thing is I need you to pretend as my bride. Besides you are my sister. No one will ever wonder if we broke up because I finally knew that we are related by blood. In that case, you can be free together with your son. Once I'm  king, I can keep you away from Gabe and even win the sole consent you requested, I-"

"Luke,"

"We can win this. You and my nephew can finally be free from him. You can-"

"Luke..."

"Let me finish! Elle, You can marry another man, a much better man. I can even present you to one of the duke or much better a king from the East. I can even-"

"LUKE!"

The other line went silent as I struggled to Oppose his idea of marrying me. "Luke, you know and I know now, that you are my brother. Don't you think they know that already,? Plus, it would be so complicated for me to pretend as your bride.

"No, Elle. Please, there will be no complication, I promise. I can make us a contract and have my lawyers protect us on what the future will bring," He took a deep breath before continuing, "Elle, I know this is a lot for me to ask you but my life is at risk. It's a life and death situation, Elle. I don't have anyone to turn to, but you. You are the only woman that I know who would help me unto this. Please, Elle...I don't know what to do. Please-I--"

"Stop it, Luke." I whispered in a stern voice, continuing, "I don't want this, okay? My life was ruined but it's now perfect!  I'm struggling to do everything I can to preserve it. Me and Gabe have settled our differences and we are together now. It has been five years. And you, where are you when I needed you the most? You told ne you will never leave me but as soon as you realize that I'm your lost sister, you left" I wiped the tears on the side of my face and continue, not wanting another word from him. "I'm pretty sure you can find someone who could pretend with you, Luke. I'm far too much from being your bride because nobody can deny that we are siblings. We look almost the same!" I ended the call before pushing myself out of the bed.

"If only a shower can solve this things..."

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