Chapter 3 Shattered Expectation

• "Say no to this marriage." Ares's words completely stunned Hyacinth as soon as she stepped into the guest room where he was waiting for her.
• "What?" She looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.
• "Say you don't want to get married to me, Hyacinth . I want you to call off this wedding." Ares ordered, staring at her coldly, his face void of a single emotion. Hyacinth stared at him in complete shock, unable to respond for a minute.
• "Why?" She managed to ask after finding her voice. At this moment, she was completely lost and confused, not understanding why he would request something like that from her when he had already agreed to marry her. Did her father lie to her?
• "Because I don't want to marry you." He answered directly while staring at her j. indifference. Hyacinth looked at him in disbelief because just a moment ago her father had informed her that he agreed to this marriage. Why was he suddenly speaking a different story?
• "Then why did you agree to this marriage? You should have said no." Hyacinth inquired, feeling dejected and humiliated by his rejection. What did she expect? He would suddenly forget Hazel and run to her?
• "Because I can't. Your father left me with no choice. You are the only one who can break the marriage." He gritted out, appearing angry and frustrated with how the situation turned out for him. He didn't expect Hazel would suddenly betray him like this and her father would throw his second daughter on him.
• "I can't." Hyacinth informed, biting her lips while staring down on the floor. It's not like she couldn't, but the truth was she wouldn't. Why would she?
• "What do you mean?" Ares's eyebrows creased in confusion as he looked at the girl in front of her. How could his family think he would marry this young girl who still looked very much like a teenager? They must have lost their mind.
• "I can't break the marriage." Hyacinth ’s calm answer snapped Ares out of his thought. She looked up before meeting his eyes. His grey eyes held a hint of shock.
• "Are you fucking kidding me?" He gritted out looking at her in disbelief. Hyacinth stayed silent, not being able to tell him the real reason. What could she say? That she loved him and that's why wanted to marry him in her sister's place?
• "Hyacinth !" He yelled her name in anger causing her to look at him.
• "I can't. I'm sorry. I want to marry you." Hyacinth apologised before looking away guiltily. It was her only chance, and she was selfish enough not to waste it. Why would she want to lose the only chance to marry the man she had loved all of her life? She had been keeping the secret inside herself for years, burying her feelings for him because she knew he would never be hers until now.
• "You can't be serious. I'm your sister's fiance, Hyacinth ." Ares reminded her, looking frustrated with her stubbornness. She was his only escape from this marriage yet she was refusing to be a help.
• "It doesn't matter; she's not here now." Hyacinth muttered, shaking her head before meeting his eyes. For a moment, she was glad Hazel ran away. If she didn't, she wouldn't have a chance with Ares ever.
• "You can't be serious." Ares stared at her, unable to believe what she just said. She was really selfish, just like Hazel mentioned. Wasn't she? Hyacinth remained silent, not responding anymore.
• "Fine. Then prepare to face hell. I swear, I'm going to make you regret this." Ares glared at her coldly before storming out of the room, leaving her alone.
• A sudden knock on the bedroom door made Hyacinth snap back to reality. She didn't even realise how long she had been standing in front of the mirror, holding Hazel 's wedding dress while thinking about her and Ares’s last awful encounter.
• Half an hour ago, her mother sent the dress to her room via a maid for her to try on. She and Hazel had completely different types of bodies and heights, yet her mother somehow believed she would still fit in the dress.
• Just holding the dress in her body, Hyacinth knew it wouldn't fit her. She was taller than Hazel . Even their taste in fashion was north and south. The dress was too plain for Hyacinth 's liking. How could she complain about Hazel 's wedding dress when she's marrying her fiance?
• She had been getting worried over Ares and her last meeting since yesterday. However, she forced herself to believe that he was just angry with the sudden turn of events, and that's why he behaved that way. Once he calmed down, he would definitely accept everything. He just needed some time to adjust, and that's it.
• "Hyacinth ?" Her mother's loud, impatient voice reached her ears, making her instantly put the dress on the bed before running towards the door to open it.
• "What took you so long? Are you daydreaming about your marriage?" As soon as she opened the door, her mother narrowed her gaze at her coldly.
• "I was changing, Mom." Hyacinth lied while taking a step back, letting her mother enter the room. She was already used to her mother's taunting.
• "Alright, get ready and wear something nice. Ares wants to take you out to buy the wedding rings. He sent his driver to pick you up." She informed her nonchalantly before walking towards her closet. Hyacinth 's eyes widened in surprise after hearing her mother's words. Did he finally change his mind? A sudden wave of excitement and joy rushed inside her as she followed her mother.
• "Wear this and remember, don't do anything stupid. Your father's already upset because of Hazel ." Dahlia warned coldly while handing her a baby pink dress she just picked from her wardrobe. Hyacinth mentally grimaced at the sight of the dress. She didn't like this colour at all. However, she could only swallow her displeasure. She nodded at her mother with a smile, making her slightly narrow her eyes.
• "You look quite happy for someone who's marrying her sister's fiance." Her mother scoffed, raising her eyes at Hyacinth mockingly.
• "Mom!" Hyacinth 's face fell as hurt crossed her face. Dahlia looked least bothered with her hurt expression. Instead, she walked a step towards Hyacinth before looking at her seriously.
• "Remember, Hyacinth . These things belong to your sister. Once she's back, you must step back and give back everything to her." She reminded her.
• "What do you mean, Mom?" Hyacinth asked, her face turned pale in shock. What should she give back to Hazel ? Ares?
• "You will understand soon." Dahlia answered, taking a step back before walking past her. Hyacinth followed her mother out.
• "How could you say something like this to me, mom? I'm your daughter too." She couldn't help but ask while her turquoise eyes filled with tears because of her mother's words.
• "I'm just reminding you of your future so that you don't forget your place, Hyacinth ." Dahlia rolled her eyes before casting her a indifferent glance. For a moment, Hyacinth couldn't help but wonder if her mother had ever considered her as her daughter.
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• "What is this?" Hyacinth questioned in a soft voice while staring at the papers in her hands. The papers looked like some kind of prenuptial contract.
• "Can't you read?" Ares's sarcastic words made her look at him. The pair of grey eyes she was deeply fond of were staring down at her coldly. She ignored the sudden painful twist in her heart. His six-foot, three-inch frame towered over her as he observed her. His warm brown hair, perfectly swept over his head, provided a perfect view of his forehead. Hyacinth 's eyes couldn't help but slightly scan his handsome frame.
• Ares was undoubtedly the most attractive man she had laid her eyes on. The six-year age gap didn't stop her from falling madly in love with him. She fell in love with him even before he was her sister's fiance.
• She laid her eyes on him first, yet her sister was the one who got to have him. However, not anymore. Now he was going to be her husband, not Hazel 's. The thought made her suddenly feel all giddy and excited, like a teenager. She bit her lips slightly before clearing her throat to speak.
• "Can you explain?" She asked softly while closing the papers in her hands. Hyacinth didn't expect to be suddenly brought into his office instead of going to the jewellery store to buy their wedding rings. Ares's assistant brought her here, explaining that he was going to discuss some important things with her. Her mother's previous words suddenly flashed through her head, causing her heartbeat to rise.
• "Prenuptial Contract. Our marriage will last for three years, or until your father's retirement. Now read it and sign it." He explained briefly, then ordered her to sign it. There was no single drop of warmth in his tone or expression. Hyacinth frowned.
• "What do you mean? Why do we need a prenup?" She asked in confusion, not understanding what he was doing. Ares on the other hand, stared at her before letting out a dry chuckle.
• "Are you dumb?" He scoffed, glaring sharply at her. She was either dumb or really good at pretending to be dumb. Hyacinth blinked, Ouch! That hurt.
• "Can you not talk to me like that? I'm going to be your wife in a day." She mustered all of her courage before requesting. She didn't like how he treated her harshly. She had never seen him treating Hazel like this. He was always very caring and gentle when it came to her.
• Hyacinth didn't like the hostile look on Ares’s face or the cold attitude he'd been giving her since the last day. It was something new. He never behaved like this with her before. Despite their limited interaction during his engagement to her sister, he consistently demonstrated polite and gentle behaviour on the few occasions they did meet.
• "Wife?" Ares mocked before bursting into humourless chuckles, making Hyacinth stare nervously at him. All of a sudden, an ominous feeling began to rise inside the pit of her stomach. She was about to look away when his words stopped her.
• "You will never be my wife, Hyacinth . You are just a substitute for your sister. A goddamn replacement I never asked for," Ares spat harshly while his grey eyes glared at her furiously. Those words pierced her heart like a sharp knife, cutting her into pieces.
• "Is that all you think of me? A substitute?" She asked, swallowing the bitterness that burned her throat.
• "Of course. I told you to stop the marriage, but you didn't listen. Now what do you expect from me?" He asked sharply while raising his eyes at her.
• "It's not my fault that she ran away." She muttered breathlessly, as tears fell from her eyes. Why couldn't he just see her instead of Hazel ?
• "I'm being forced to marry you. Who's fault do you think it is?" He snickered coldly while taking a step towards her. Hyacinth looked at him helplessly before trying to speak.
• "I have-" Ares raised his palm, cutting her off.
• "Leave it. I don't want to hear any of your bullshit. Once the contract is over, I don't want to do anything with you or your family." He stated coldly, without any remorse. The tiny amount of hope she had in her heart vanished as soon as those words left his mouth.
• Right then, she knew Ares Savelli, the man she had loved all her life, would never love her back. She would always be a substitute in his life, a goddamn replacement he was forced to accept in his life.