Cheeks aching from smiling too much, shoulders tensed from a very long day, and feet aching from wearing those damn high-heeled shoes for far too long.
All she wanted was for this charade to be over. Unfortunately, she still had 364 days to go unless she could accomplish her mission sooner than the deadline.
"Damnit, Sophia, get it together." She mumbled to herself as soon as she found herself alone in the spacious powder room that was big enough to fit her bedroom. To think that her apartment was not exactly the size of a cardboard box.
Anyway, how could she even think that she could pull this through? Remembering how she closed her eyes and anticipated the kiss that didn't happen.
"Just stop thinking about him." And those fucking eyes, nose, and lips.
Instead of kissing her on the lips, as other newlywed couples did, he just gave her a peck on the cheeks, just on the corner of her lips.
"You can do this." She splashed some drops of water into her face, just to clear her head, before she dabbed them gently with a clean towel.
It was not as if she had any other choice. The only way she was getting out of this was after a year through a divorce, getting dirt on him and his family, and then putting them behind bars, or through a body bag.
"Regretting it already?"
Her heart almost jumped out of his chest when she realized that she was not alone in the bathroom anymore. As she looked behind her, she immediately noticed the woman walking toward her.
It took her a few seconds to put a name on the familiar face, but as soon as she did, "Oh, it's you," she smiled, slightly relaxing as she lowered her hands to her side.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." The other woman, elegantly dressed in a teal, spaghetti-strap cocktail gown, put her hand across her chest, seemingly sincere in her apology.
"That's ok." No harm done. "Marianne, right?" She squeezed her mind, wondering if she had recalled her name correctly. But she was certain she was the youngest of the Morton siblings. The Princess of the Morton family, she heard one of the guests say.
"Yep, that's me, Oliver's baby sister." She reintroduced herself with a lovely and friendly grin. Then, she watched the young woman through the mirror's reflection as she stood behind her.
She remembered meeting her briefly earlier after the ceremony, but due to all the activities and the numerous guests she had met, memorizing all their faces and names had become a bit impossible.
But Marianne had an unforgettable face. She actually looked similar to Oliver. They had the same eyes, the same shape of nose and mouth. In other words, she was the female version of her new husband.
"So, I hope you're not regretting marrying my brother. I know he's a little rough in a few edges, but he is actually very sweet." Marianned continued, ranting on about her brother's great qualities. "Just give him a chance."
"I'm sure he is." From what she remembered, the old Oliver, the man she had loved, was exactly all that. Sweet, considerate, affectionate, romantic, and everything that she ever wanted in a man.
But was he still the same man?
"Oliver had a hard life compared to mine or Benjie, our other brother." She told her. "He had to bear all the expectations of everyone since he was the heir to the Morton's legacy."
"Then, there was Amelia." Her face tilted downwards, as if she was hiding whatever was going through her mind from showing on her face.
Amelia?
The mention of her old identity definitely piqued her interest. What about her?
"Amelia?" She wanted answers, but pretended to be clueless as she stared at the young woman.
"I think I already said too much. But all I'm saying is that Oliver had a rough life." She paused but smiled. "But I know you'll be good for him."
It sounded as if she had passed a test that she wasn't even aware of taking.
"I have a good feeling about you." Giving her a nod of approval.
"Well, thanks, I guess." She had no idea what to say. She didn't expect that she would have a heart-to-heart conversation with Oliver's sister in the bathroom.
"I also have a good feeling that we will become good friends." She sincerely believed that.
Somehow, she had managed to be on good terms with Oliver's mother, son, and now, his sister. Meanwhile, Maximus was at least civil with her.
Strangely enough, she wasn't expecting the Morton family to receive her with open arms. In truth, she thought there would be some form of protest.
"No... No... not friends, but sisters." Marianne readily corrected her before hugging her tightly as if she didn't want to let her go. "I'm so happy. I finally have a big sister. Do you know how hard it is to grow up in this family?" She suddenly complained.
Soon, Marianne was proudly parading her to all their guests.
Until—
"Aunt Mari... Can I now have my Mommy?" The young voice of Oliver's son reverberated behind her as she was chatting with Marianne and her friends.
Who would have thought that Caleb was Oliver's son? Until that moment, she was still baffled by the number of coincidences she had had with this family since she had bumped into this child.
First, Caleb, and then Dianne, Oliver's mother. She still couldn't believe that Dianne was the same as the cleaning lady she had rescued in the hospital. The same woman who had invited her to a birthday party.
It turned out that she had attended the same event. She just didn't realize it because she had never bothered to read the details of the other party.
"Where are we going?" She finally asked when Caleb dragged her across the room and into the long hallway.
"I want to give you something, Mom." Caleb glanced at her before stopping at a closed door. "It's my gift to you." Then, he opened the door.
Her eyes widened as soon as she saw it.
"I..." She paused.
Speechless.