Arranged marriage : Married to an unknown man

Xavier Knight

This woman is so stubborn. I warned her not to meet them but she never listens. But the fact which even I can’t deny is that…she needed it. She needed answers. I was thankful that I was fast enough to save her from Andrew. If she hadn’t stopped me, I would have beaten him to pulp. And I don’t know what happened between mother and daughter, I just know that I have to keep her away from her mother. As of Andrew, she has to see him a little more because of work but after that, he too will be out of the story.

Whatever happened, happened. It was the first day of her work as a boss and I had planned something to celebrate that. It was nothing fancy… it was a simple and cozy romantic dinner at home itself…just the way she likes. And something really very special which I wanted to do for so long.

“Ari, change your clothes first. Mrs. Molly will be arriving anytime soon to cook dinner. You should freshen up.” I said looking at her. We were back home and she immediately jumped on the bed as soon as we entered our room.

“I can’t. I am tired” She yawned while rubbing her eyes.

I smirked deviously when a naughty idea cane in my mind. Time to have some fun. Taking off my suit jacket and tie I hovered over her.

“Aaaaaa!” She squealed with eyes wide open. I stopped her squealing by pressing my lips on hers.

“I can help you change,” I whispered huskily, scanning her face with desire.

“Wh…what! No..” She stuttered.

“You are acting like I haven’t dressed you up before.” I chuckled and trailed my index finger on the exposed skin of her neck to her cleavage but I didn’t lose eye contact. I felt her body shiver under my touch.

I love the way she reacts to my touch.

“No, y.. you can’t. I know what th.. this will l… lead t.. to.” She blushed, biting her lip. Damn!

“What will this lead to? I am just gonna help you change clothes. That’s it.” I asked innocently, caressing her lower lip with my thumb.

“N.. no. That’s not it.” Her blush deepened and she averted her eyes.

“Okay? Then enlighten me because I don’t know what will happen if I change your clothes.” I unbuttoned the top two buttons of her shirt. I was trying hard not to laugh at her cute expressions.

“Get away.” She pushed me and stood up from bed but I pulled her back under me by pulling her through her waist.

“You’re not going anywhere until you answer my question,” I said holding her hands above her head.

“What question?”

“Really? What question? Let me remind you.” I started tickling her which made her laugh.

“S.. st.. stop. I.. I can’t b.. breathe.”

“Then.. tell me..” Before I could complete my sentence, the doorbell rang. I stopped tickling her.

“It must be Mrs. Molly. Go open the door.” She said while trying to catch her breath. I huffed and pulled myself away from her.

“I am not done with you yet. I’ll get all my answers after dinner. For now, change.” I winked and made my way to open the door.

“What are you all doing here?” I frowned looking at the people standing outside the door.

“Oh! We are here to celebrate our daughter’s first day of work.” Mom didn’t give me a chance to speak as pushed me away and walked inside followed by dad then Sean, then Daniel and finally Mrs. Molly.

“Way to ruin private moments.” I muttered under my breath. Annoyance rose inside me and I shut the door with a loud thud.

“Where’s Princess?” Daniel asked when all of them made themselves comfortable in different sitting places in the living room. Mrs. Molly went to the kitchen.

“She’s tired…so she’s sleeping. It would be better if you all come tomorrow.” I made an excuse. It would be better if they leave because I wanted private time with my wife.

“I think we should stay. It’s just 6 in the evening, she’ll be up soon.” Sean said. I scowled at him and mouthed “just fucking leave” but he smirked in return.

“Can’t you all come tomorrow? She won’t wake…”

“Wow… What are you all doing here?” I cursed under my breath when I heard Ariana’s excited voice from behind.

“You were not sleeping?” Daniel asked her. I turned to see her.

“Umm.. No?” She frowned. All of them looked at me with raised eyebrows.

“It feels like Xavier didn’t want us to meet her,” Sean smirked crossing his arms.

“Yes. That’s why he said..”

“Shut up Daniel.” I groaned. The last thing I want is Ariana to know that I was trying to send them back.

Mom shuts them up and greeted Ariana. Then the rest of them congratulated her. Then we all sat to have some chat. Dad asked her about Andrew’s matter and being a smart woman, she handled the situation by not telling him extra about the incidents that happened today. In between the talk, Daniel stood up and went into the kitchen to drink water.

And I was just waiting for them to leave but I guess they were not going to leave anytime soon.

“Hey, I found this box in the fridge. I guess it’s a cake. Can I eat it?”

I immediately stood up, ran to Daniel and snatched the box from his hands. “It’s for Ariana. Not for you.” I snapped. Goodness, this was a part of my plan.

“She will not mind. Right, Princess?” Daniel asked her.

“No. I won’t. I didn’t even know we had cake in our fridge.” She frowned looking at me.

Daniel smirked and snatching it back from my hand he ran to my parents and opened the box. My hand automatically reached my face to cover it. Goodness, this is going to be embarrassing.

When I didn’t hear any voice for a few seconds I looked at them by removing my hands from my face. They all were gathered together and were looking inside the box like a team of doctors look at their patient on the hospital bed. Then they all looked at me in a strange manner. Scratching an eyebrow with my index finger, I lowered my head. I looked up through eyelashes to see them looking inside the box, then again they looked at me. They all did that at least five times.

“Umm.. Xavi son..” Mom starts off. “This cake is for Ariana.. that’s okay…and trust me this cake is cute.. but..”

“But why this?” Daniel completed mom’s sentence.

“This is the most adorable cake I have ever seen. But why did you bring this for me? And why this?” Ariana asked and came to me.

Fuck privacy. I grabbed the box from Daniel’s hands and went back to Ariana but only after scowling at Daniel and everybody for compelling me to do it this way.

“I asked one of the best pastry chefs to make this cute cake for the most adorable person I know. And about the question… why this? Because it resembles you.”

“Do I look like a piglet to you?” She raised a sarcastic eyebrow at me.

I felt the heat rising up my cheeks. Fuck.. Was I blushing? No! .. Damn!

“Err.. yeah.. a foodie piglet,” I mumbled, rubbing the back of my neck.

My parents including two idiots who are supposed to be my friends laughed out loud.

“A piglet.. hahahahahah.” Daniel and Sean were laughing a little extra, clutching their stomach.

“Shut up. You all ruined this already.” I grumbled scowling at them. Ariana was standing, folding her arms in front of her. Uh oh! I knew this was a bad idea. Like which woman would love being called a piglet? Fuck Xavier, you made her upset.

“Ari.. I promise I’m not making fun of you. It’s just that I don’t want any secrets between us. I want to tell you everything I feel about you. When you pout you look extremely cute, adorable and like a piglet. It’s a compliment, I swear. Please don’t be mad at me.” I said in one breath, taking her hands in mine. She kept looking at me with raised eyebrows without saying anything.

“I’m sorry… I won’t ever call you that.” I mumbled lowly. She won’t forgive me for this.

Leaving her hands, I lowered my head and turned my back towards her. I was about to leave but stopped when I heard a loud laugh of…Ariana?

I turned around with speed to see her laughing her heart out. Her eyes were gleaming because of laughter. She was looking so carefree and full of life.. just the way I want to see her all my life.

“Goodness Xavier, you think I will get mad at you for such a silly reason?” She said after her laughter died. Shaking her head she came closer to me.

“It doesn’t matter what you call me. What matters to me is your happiness. If you’re happy calling me a piglet then I don’t mind besides piglets are too adorable.” She smiled widely.

“You sure you’re not mad? Or are you saying this just because these people are here?” I asked pointing at the audience who were looking at the scene with amusement.

“Whatever I said is true.” She said looking in my eyes which assured me that she was not mad at me.

“The cake is soo cute, I don’t even wanna eat it.” She pouted.

“Daniel.” She turned towards him. “Sorry.. but now you’re not getting the cake.” She said to him.

“Noo.. Princess, you are my sister. You can’t do that to me.” Daniel gasped making his eyes wide.

“She is right. You’re out.” I said with a smirk. “Ariana, I’m so happy that you said no to Daniel for the first time. I should note the date.” I laughed.

“Kids these days.” Dad sighed and shook his head.

“My babies are soo adorable.” Mom gushed excitedly.

“Ari, I have one more thing for you. I planned something special for you but as they all are here so there’s a change in plan. Now, I want them to witness my love for you.” I said.

“We know it already.” They all said in unison which made me roll my eyes.

“What more do you have?” Her face started turning pink.

“Wait here.” Saying that I ran to our room and came back with the thing I had to give her. Switching off all the ceiling lights, I let the living room illuminate with lamp lights which created a romantic environment. With slow romantic music playing in the background, a slide show of our photos started to play on the big LED screen.

“Ariana…” I stood in front of the LED screen. “Our marriage is not the usual one. Our wedding entangled us together. I never thought that I would agree for an arranged marriage. To be honest.. initially, I hated you, I thought you were like Smiths, I compared you with them. I was being a jerk to you. I behaved rudely to you thinking that it’ll keep you away from me. But I never knew that being rude to you will bring me closer to you. Despite being rude to you, you never talked back to me, you never yelled at me or never acted like a brat and that started to change my thinking towards you.” I started taking slow steps towards her.

“Your sweet and selfless nature changed my thinking towards you. You.. my love, are full of surprises and you’re stubborn as hell. Do you know what is the first thing that made me feel you’re different?” I chuckled and she shook her head.

“The very first coffee you made for me.” Her eyes went wide then she smiled sheepishly. “Yes, from the very first day, I know that you love to experiment with my coffee.” I chuckled.

“You’re a good different …you are perfect for me. It is only you who I want.” I stopped in front of her. Raising my hand, I softly stroked her cheek. “Your entry in my life changed many things. For the first time, I felt jealous, for the first time I feared losing someone other than my parents, for the first time this penthouse became home for me. For the first time, I fell in love. Ariana, we have a long way to go and I know there will be some fights which happen between every couple. But we’ll work out on it together because I don’t wanna lose you. I promise you that I will always be there for you in your good and bad days. I promise you that I’ll always encourage you to do big, dream big because I’ll be there to make your dreams come true.” I held her eyes with mine.

“I promise you.. I’ll make you an icon for all the women out there who have dreams, who want to fly high.” I wiped the tear which escaped her eye.

“I promise you that I’ll love you to death.” I created little distance between us and went on my one knee. “So my love, my piglet… Accept this as a token of my undying love for you.” I said, forwarding a diamond ring in front of her. She started to cry and bent down on her knees in front of me.

I embraced her in my arms and shushed her.

“You’re so sweet.” She said, laughing between her tears. “I can’t wait to wear this ring as the acceptance of your love for me. Hurry, slip it on.” She extended her hand. Everyone present there including me laughed at her eagerness.

Removing the old ring from her finger, I slid the new one on. I brought her hand to my mouth and kissed the ring on her finger. “I love you.” I whispered, smiling like a fool.

She too kissed the ring and wiped her tears away and she stood up.

“Hey, are you not going to say ‘I love you too’?” I frowned.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

“Wait here. I’ll be back.” Saying that she ran upstairs.

“What is she up to?” Mom asked.

“I don’t know.” My eyes were fixed on the stairs.

“Is she running away? Goodness, if she ran away how will I get a niece or nephew?”

Removing my eyes from the stairs I glared at Daniel. Mom and Dad scolded him.

“You stupid, why would she run away?” Sean hit his head.

“Xavier” I looked at Ariana who was now standing at the end of the stairs. I forgot that I was on my knees, I stood up and focused on her. She started moving towards me.

“You are right…we started on the wrong note. The way you entered my life almost gave me a mini heart attack because that was unexpected anf sudden.” She chuckled. “I was terrified thinking about my life, about you. After marrying you I thought I lost all my hopes but…I was wrong.” She came and stood closer to me.

“I never knew that I’ll find my hope in you. You gave me everything I was yearning for.. love, care, respect, freedom and family.” She smiled looking towards our family then again looked at me. “When you weren’t there…I used to search myself in the mirror, used to find who I am. What I am made for? I always saw weak and worthless Ariana in the mirror. Then you came. You became my mirror and then only I realized that mirror was showing just my image.. but you.. you showed me what I am, what I can do. You believed in me, you made me strong. You fulfilled my every dream.”

I felt my emotions taking over me. My heart started beating a little faster.

“It is you who made me.. me. Thank you so much for trusting me, for giving me what I never had. Thank you for giving me your love. I promise you that I will give you mine. I will love you to eternity.” She lowered her head and gazed at her hand which was closed in a fist. I didn’t notice that.

Opening her fist she extended her hand to show me the ring placed on her hand.

“This is my father’s ring. The only memory I have of him since the day he…” Her voice cracked..”This ring is precious to me because it reminds me of my father.” She looked up at me with teary eyes. “You know it is said that a girl tries to find her father in the man she wants to spend her life with. I see him in you.”

I didn’t know when my eyes moistened up with tears.

“I don’t know if it’ll fit in your finger or not but I couldn’t find anything more precious then this to give to you.” Saying that she went on her knees and looked up to me.

“Xavier…I love you too.” She smiled with teary eyes. “Accept this ring as a token of my unending love for you.”

My legs became week and dropped me on my knees in front of her. A lone tear of happiness and love ran out of my eye.

“Gladly.” I smiled at her and removing the old ring from my finger I forwarded my hand to her. She slipped the ring on my finger, surprising both us as it fitted perfectly.

“I guess this ring was meant to be passed on to me.” I smiled & embraced her in a tight hug.

And this is how I became the luckiest person in the world. She’s the most beautiful, smart, kind, loving, caring, sensible & cute woman in the world.

And she is mine…. For ever…..