Vince’s POV
I focus so hard not to imprint the taste of her in my mind, as it keeps bringing flashes of the day we got married, and she kissed me so hard as if her life depended on it.
Her finger brushes over the stubble on my jaw and I finally summon up enough courage to break the kiss.
She is breathless. And she looks fucking exquisite tonight, especially right now as she darts her eyes around, staring at me right in the eyes.
As if to dare me to keep it up. To keep kissing her till I can no longer control my wits.
“Get a room,” the familiar voice of my mother makes me lean upright. Isabel is gone already and Mother stands intimidating in front of me, not sparing Ann a single glance. “We need to talk, don’t we?”
I nod.
I’ve been meaning to call her too. I wanted to apologize for how I spoke to her but my ego wouldn’t let me pick up the phone and dial her number.
Mother has pride too. She called my wife a whore, and apparently, she isn’t remorseful.
“Give me a minute to…”
“To ask for an excuse?” She cuts me short. Her words almost make me laugh. What does she take me for? Is that what love does to a man?
“Give me a minute, Mom. This is a party, let’s not argue here.”
The attention is back on the couples standing at the podium to give their speeches. This makes me turn to Annette in curiosity, and I see realization dawning on her slowly.
It is Ryan and Clara’s pre-wedding party.
I didn’t tell her because I didn’t want her to get all reeled up, but the expression on her face right now shows that she is going to survive the night.
It makes me feel a sense of pride.
“Meet me on the lawn in five.” Briskly, she walks away with her overflowing dinner gown.
I move to face Ann squarely. “Will you be fine on your own? This might take some time.”
“You should get me a friend to keep me company while you go MIA on me every time.”
A smile creeps to my face at her sense of humour. She probably is trying to hide her anxiety about the whole thing.
I stand up and peck her forehead. “Be gentle on her, Vince. Remember she is your mother and she always will.”
I nod in response before moving out.
If I had my way, I wouldn’t be here. I am definitely not going to show up at the wedding so this should make up for it.
“Here,” she shouts from a balcony, and I see her sipping slowly on a glass of wine. Without hesitation, I move forward and grab a chair to sit.
Before I can sit, she questions quickly. “Do you love her?”
I know this is about Ann, so I don’t need to ask her what she means.
Without hesitating, I reply quietly while sitting down opposite her. “Yes.”
I know this is the only way she can accept Annette wholeheartedly. This was why I used our unexpected marriage as an advantage.
Annette isn’t from anywhere here. If not for Ryan, whom I am sure won’t spill the beans if I give him a strict warning, no one would know what Ann and I honestly have together.
I never thought of faking a marriage or, indeed, getting married to someone just to stop her from pestering me to marry Isabel or one of the girls until Ann appeared and dragged me to the altar.
Mother is searching my face as though she can easily find the answers she wants from doing that. There is fear and defiance warring in her eyes before she finally gives me a wavering smile.
“You don’t love her, Vince. You are just doing this to spite me, aren’t you?”
Anger starts to seep into my system slowly. Just when I thought we were beginning to reason alike, here she is, returning to what would eventually result in an argument.
“But it’s no big deal. I can only let you be if you truly love her like you claimed. I have my doubts about your feelings, Vicente. Remember what you used to say about marriage?” She flashes me a smile that takes my mind back to the past.
Just before my father died, I told them I didn’t want to be married.
She asked why, and I told her marriage shouldn’t be based on love or sentiments. It should be based on people’s needs and wants, on what we stand to benefit from such a union. Aside from getting some form of benefits, I am totally not interested in the topic of marriage.
Now that I think of it, Mother insisted on Isabel because she felt she was the best for me. Marco would do everything to support me if Isabel and I were to be married.
That is her thinking but not mine.
I don’t need anything from Marco. He already gave me all I needed as a child.
“Marriage is like a business entity…”
“Mom?” I call, as she averts her gaze back to me. “What is this about?”
My patience is wearing off. We should get this done so I can go back to Ann. I don’t want that silly girl bullying her at an event like this, and I don’t think I would be able to control my anger if she happened to trouble Ann again.
Her smile is instantly replaced with an emotion I can’t place. We continue to stare at each other until it hits me.
She looks remorseful.
“Well, I’m sorry and I am not. If you don’t want me to keep on bringing up the topic of Isabel and accept that…that lady, you have to do something for me.”
I expect her to say what it is, but I know Mom. She wants to know if I am following her, and I nod, urging her to go ahead with her demand, whatever it is.
She has no say in my marriage to Ann, but it won’t hurt to hear her out. If it’s something I can do and it doesn’t sound offensive, then I don’t have a problem with her.
It’s best to be on good terms with her. Whenever we are not, she frustrates the life out of me.
“If you don’t love her, then you should learn to. Love should be the foundation of your marriage if it wasn’t from the very start. You just told me you love her but I don’t believe you. If you want me to believe you, I know you know how to go about it. Loving her will be the only condition to stop me from encouraging Isabel to go for you..”
Confusion flashes across my features.
She looks up at me after taking another sip of her wine. “I found out this morning that Martino happens to be in love with Isabel. I doubt if she feels the same way considering how invested she has been in you. If you don’t love that woman…”
“Ann is the name of that woman, mother. Annette is my wife’s name.”
She nods and continues, “If you don’t love that woman, then get an annulment and get married to Isabel instead. But if you do, then I will find a way to convince Isabel to…” She pauses, confusion setting in.
She must probably be wondering how she would put it to Isabel and make her step down from her high horse.
Martino is one of Fernando’s guards. I don’t know how Fernando and Marco would feel about that, and I really don’t care.
I just want both women off my back. Isabel and Mother. If I can get them off my back, then I am willing to do this.
“Ok?” She raps my hand, and I nod intermittently.
“I told you I love her, didn’t I? Stop pestering me already and go look for your next victim.” I stand up and turn to leave.
“If you love her, I will accept her wholeheartedly, Vince and I will apologize for calling her a wh*re!” She shouts after me
I shut my eyes, drowning the rest of her talk as I step back into the hall.
What my mother is requesting from me is simple. I am doing that already, but I guess my lack of emotions is still on display.
All I need to do is put in more effort and make it look more believable, and she will fall for it. Mother is a love enthusiast. That is why she loves playing matchmaker. I wonder if she is also responsible for matchmaking with Ryan and Clara.
As if sensing my presence, Ann turns around slowly, and our eyes lock. She flashes me a smile, and I stride faster towards her.
When I am within reach, she engulfs me in a tight embrace with her head placed firmly on my chest.
Something strange stirs inside of me.