THE CEO'S FAKE WIFE

Wedding Day

"Yes perfect! Oh my dear God! Look at you, my goodness, you're so beautiful that I want to cry!" Leah screamed when Beatrice had finished her make-up and was already wearing her wedding dress.

Beatrice impatiently walked to the mirror and gasped at her perfect reflection. A lace wedding dress with trumpet-shaped sleeves and a V-shaped cleavage fits her perfectly. The dress was tight from top to thigh and wide from thigh to bottom, hanging down to the floor.

Her hair was in a bridal chignon shape with a long white hood pinned in her chignon bun that hung down beautifully.

"Leah, gosh I look like a real bride!" she whispered in disbelief.

Leah hugged her carefully, afraid of ruining her wedding dress.

"There is no fake marriage, the ceremony is sacred, just like any other wedding. The point is that you are marrying someone!" said Leah, her voice choked with emotion.

A few minutes later Beatrice's father came into her room,

"My little girl, oh God, you're so beautiful," he said quietly, his face showing all his emotions, the only daughter who will save her from the cold threat of prison because of the debt that was wrapped around him stands before him gracefully.

"If your mother were here, she would be proud of you Bea," he said while holding Beatrice's hands. Beatrice blinked her eyes.

"Dad, please, don't make me cry, I want to look flawless," she said half-jokingly.

A knock on the door startled them,

"Hey, Guys! Are you ready?" asked Luke's friend who that day acted as the organizer of the event. Beatrice took a deep breath, her heart pounding deafeningly.

"Yeah, I'm ready!!" she said optimistically.

Accompanied by the instrumental chant of Canon in D by Pachelbel, Beatrice who looked beautiful in her wedding dress walked hand in hand with her father along the wedding aisle which was decorated all in white with beautiful flowers scattered. On the other side, Luke was waiting with a pounding heart, stunned and amazed to see how beautiful Beatrice was.

Now they were face to face, staring awkwardly at each other. Beatrice didn't even have time to look around because she was so nervous. Luke looked at her and nodded slowly as if to convince her not to regret her decision.

"Beatrice Miller, I promise to love you above all others and to value you in my life as a precious gift. I look forward to raising our family and building our relationship under the care and guidance of God. I promise to stand beside you as your husband and friend in sickness or health, in times of prosperity and decline, in peace and in turmoil, as long as we both shall live. I love you with all of my heart," Luke closed his oath, and the whole audience looked teary when they heard Luke's wedding vows.

"I now pronounce you as husband and wife, you may kiss the bride,"

Beatrice's heart raced when Luke took a step forward, holding his hands, his face slowly moved closer to her lips, and kissed her gently, greeted with applause from all the guests, especially Leah who didn't expect them to be seen that romantic.

"I deserve an Oscar, didn't I?" Luke whispered in Beatrice's ear which made her snort laughing.

After the ceremony was over, Beatrice finally was able to look around the room, according to Luke's wish, they held an intimate event and only involved close relatives and friends. But Beatrice was surprised when in one corner she saw Curtis and Eline, an old couple who helped her when she fell in the village of Giethoorn. At that time she had said that she would invite them to their wedding and she did not expect that Luke would actually invite them!

"You invited Curtis and Eline!" she shrieked excitedly as she waved her hand at Curtis and Eline who were also waving to her.

Smiling proudly,

"I can do things that are beyond your mind, it won't hurt you to marry me," Luke whispered softly in her ear.

Beatrice sneered,

"Okay then I will maximize our two years of marriage by spending the money you have," she replied, which was able to make Luke snorted laughing.

After that they had a party and chatted with each other, Luke's mother never stopped praising Beatrice, who indeed looked very beautiful and perfect like a bride in a fairy tale. Even Luke secretly often glanced at her, he was so impressed. The night the party continued, Beatrice had changed into her wedding dress with a very beautiful dark blue evening gown from Dior, her hair flowing gracefully over her shoulders.

"First dance, please!" Luke's friend said encouragingly. Beatrice shook her head, "no no! I can't dance!" refused her. Finally, everyone shouted at the same time,

"Dance! Dance! Dance!" made Luke reach out to her, asking her to dance.

Beatrice's face immediately panicked, she had never done a ball dance in her whole life!

"I really can't dance!" she scolded while pinching Luke's waist.

"Just follow my footsteps," whispered Luke. Her eyes bulged, she was really embarrassed and afraid that her movements would look strange and stiff.

He put one hand on her waist and the other hand holding her. At first, she struggled to follow his steps but over time she was able to flexibly follow his footsteps, even he began to enjoy it, making Luke laugh at her expression, which occasionally squealed with joy.

While laughing together, Luke suddenly stopped and froze where he was standing, staring stiffly at the door entrance. There stood her ex, Rebecca Lee with a pale face, she was wearing a perfunctory casual dress, it seemed that she was in a hurry to come there. Her breath was rushing up and down like someone who had run fast.

Luke's mother, who already knew her, immediately looked at Rebecca and Luke sharply in turn. She knew very well about Rebecca's bad reputation, which was very famous. She always changed partners and ignored Luke who loved her so dearly.

Beatrice immediately removed her hand from Luke, she felt very uncomfortable with Rebecca's presence there. Seconds later, she realized that Luke was no longer standing beside her and had walked quickly to Rebecca. He took Rebecca's hand and pulled her out, away from the Ballroom Rooftop, leaving Beatrice with feelings that couldn't be described in words.

As if understanding the situation, Leah swiftly approached her.

"All good?" she asked, holding her hand and inviting her to sit down. At that time, everyone present seemed to be filled with question marks about Luke and Rebecca, it made Beatrice sick, and wanted to get out of there immediately.

Leah put a cold coat on for her, then they walked out of the room, standing on the balcony where the sea breeze was quite strong, smacking their faces.

"So who's that girl?" asked Leah, smoking the cigarette she had lit.

Beatrice stared at the black sea in front of her,

"Luke's ex-girlfriend," she answered nonchalantly, trying not to sound jealous.

"Ex-girlfriend? They just broke up?" Leah inquired in surprise.

"No, it was three years ago, but Luke still loves that girl so much, even though he has been hurt many times. It doesn't make any sense," murmured Beatrice, she did not understand Luke's way of thinking, she took a sip of the whiskey cola she had brought from the room and felt better shortly after.

Leah tilted her head, thinking.

"So he married a girl he met randomly in Amsterdam because he was forced to get married soon and coincidentally the person he loves didn't want to be married to him, is that the story behind it?" Leah drew her own conclusions.

Beatrice lazily shrugged her shoulders,

"Yeah," she said nonchalantly. Leah brought her face closer to her, appraising.

"Are you jealous?" asked her half-jokingly.

Beatrice immediately snorted.

"I'm cool! Why should I be jealous? It's just a contract marriage! I can't be jealous about anything!" she stopped her words, and took a deep breath.

"As far as I remember, there was an article in my marriage contract which said that neither I nor Luke should be involved in a relationship with a third party while the marriage contract is still running!" she explained, slightly covering up her erratic feelings.

Leah just nodded, then as if enlightened by something, she nudged her arm.

"So it's your first kiss, right? The one in Paris," Leah teased, making her blush, her cheeks instantly red.

"Beatrice," a call made them turn their heads. It turned out to be Luke's mother, she walked over to her with a sympathetic face.

"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, maybe she was afraid that Beatrice would get upset and mad.

Beatrice smiled a little.

"Yeah, all good..." she answered, too cheerfully that would make Luke's mother suspicious.

"Do you know who that girl was?" asked Luke's mother, Beatrice nodded slowly.

"You're an angel, he has always had a hard time forgetting Rebecca, but since now there's you, he'll be fine, he'll be back..." said Luke's mother, comforting her.

"Any way Bea, I have never seen Luke look at a woman like he looked at you earlier, you know, you guys are really perfect for each other! Lovely!" Luke's mother seemed to never stop encouraging her.

Beatrice smiled bitterly, seeing the kindness of her mother-in-law, she couldn't bear it if she had to find out about their contract marriage one day.

That night, their wedding party was over already but Luke did not appear yet. Beatrice started to feel heartburn in her stomach. She was afraid that suddenly Luke would come back and say that he canceled their marriage.

Frustrated, she waited for him in the room while drinking glasses of whiskey.

"Oh God, what if he runs away with her..."

*****