Bella's POV

"Thanks Lukas," I said as he dropped my stuff on the kitchen counter and went off.

At least the house was somewhat warm. I increased the temperature and it was getting perfect.

I slowly and stressfully walked upstairs, groaning at each step I made with the bag in my hand and body moving reluctantly. I walked into my room and locked my door, heaved a loud sigh and just tried to catch my breath.

I hadn't been able to study at all. All my time had just been on that crazy shenanigan.

I might have ended up not finishing my studies, nor going to the university, or studying science. I would not graduate and I'll just end my life in the Streets.

I slumped on the cold floor, got the chips, my phone and just did what I love the most, studied biology.

Well, since I didn't have my materials, I figured it'd be a saver to hook up my subjects online and perhaps learn. I guessed.

Better than watching that bufflehead brag about his stupid wealth and make me cringe all day.

"The heart.....the left....... ventricle... Right....
Diastole... Systole......blah blah yadda yadda.." I sighed.

"OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!" I heard a familiar voice yell.

Of course, it was Caden. The king, as usual.
I was not gonna open it. That would NOT be good and I didn't plan on having a funeral anytime soon.

"I swear i'm gonna break this damn door if you do not open up right this minute!" he yelled again, angrily.

He wouldn't go until he ruined my evening. I thought I should.

"I'm gonna count to three! One..."

I anxiously walked to the door with a bottle of soda in my hand and opened it.

Immediately, I splashed the soda on his face, hoping he'd come back to reality because right then, he was being a total jerk.

He burned in rage. He was so furious.

I stared at him eyeball to eyeball, although dreading my actions. I regretted them badly and wished I could turn back time.

"You didn't dare!" he yelled and grabbed my arm, smacking my back against the wall.

"Ouch!" I exclaimed in pain.

"You're gonna get it!" he yelled and tightened his grip.

That was it! I decided and put my leg down and handled that moron the way I should've since I got there.

Immediately, with the last drop of energy in my body, I raised my leg and kicked him where the sun doesn't shine, and took to my heels, out of the room.

"Ah!" he yelled and ran after me. I was not much of a runner, but I was pretty sure I knew an emergency when I saw one.

I literally flew down the staircase, and ran outside the house. I looked around for anything but I couldn't set my mind straight.

"Help!" I kept yelling but no one came. Where the heck was Lukas?

I ran to the backyard and to the swimming pool.
First mistake because unfortunately, he cornered me there.

"Leave me alone!" I cried out with so much fear in my voice.

He smirked, coming closer. He was insane!

Immediately, I jumped into the large pool even though I had no idea how to swim and was a hundred percent sure I would drown.

That was the last thing I remembered. The blue water and Caden's annoying face.

√√•√√•√√•√√•√√•

I opened my eyes and felt something in my mouth and caressing my lips.

I saw Caden.....Caden's lip in mine?

His midnight blue eyes peering into mine and his lips smacked against mine.

What. was. happening?

Immediately, I sat up and coughed the water out with my chest feeling heavy and fear still in me.

I sat there for a while, and he was beside me, his clothes all wet as the water beat his clothes to his skin, with his hair dripping and a heavy pant coming from him.

We were silent. The place was awfully quiet.

"Look, i'm...thank you," I managed to say. I mean, he did save my life.

He stared at me for a moment, his hair dripping water and his eyes yearning. He moved closer, crawling to me. I moved back a little bit but shut my eyes tightly, giving up already.

His lips brushed mine. Not innocently, like a tease but hot, fiery, passionate and demanding. I wanted to pull away before I lose myself but I couldn't seem to.... In that minty moment, my senses had been seduced and I could no longer think straight.

"Mercedes," He whispered slowly, prolonging each letter as if to savor them. I smiled, my heart fluttering at his voice as I clasped my hands on either sides of his face.

"Do not come home with a boyfriend. Never allow a boy touch you..."

My eyes popped out of their sockets and immediately, I pushed him away and dashed a slap on his right cheek. I really should have done that a lot earlier.

Did that narcissistic demon just kiss me...I mean were we making out?

I stood up, trying to recall and process what just happened a while ago.

"You had no right to do that!" I yelled in anger as he sat there, staring at the chlorinated water.

"We're married, remember?" he voiced in a whisper, not looking up.

Okay, I don't get this guy. One minute he's here..and the other minute he's way over there.

And why'd he kiss me? That was not meant to happen.

"Soon to be, mind you. And I will NEVER EVER EVER love you. You said it yourself, right? We're gonna maintain a good distancing so long as we aren't in front of the cameras. You have no right to kiss me. I don't care if you make out with other bitches. That is disgustingly not my business! But the next time you dare touch me, I swear to you, i'm gonna get a restraining order, and i am not not joking!" I yelled angrily and stormed away.

Surprisingly, he didn't talk back, or yell. He just sat there. Perhaps he was in a fit of pique. Who knew? Well, I didn't care.

I hurried back inside the house and had the floor wet from my body. I went upstairs to my room and grabbed a towel, hanging it over my shoulder. I grabbed another and tied it around my head to drain my hair.

From the next day, I was gonna forget about me. It was all gonna be Mercedes. That was my life and I needed to live it, not take it.

I phoned Miss Banks and told her to prepare my schedule for the week. That was going to turn out bad, for sure. But at least I had got to try. Caden was not gonna intimidate me into blowing my cover. It was not gonna happen.

I put in my ear pods and listened to my favorite hits. Staring at the door, a smile crawled on my lip as I recalled the kiss. It was magic. But a different kind.

Let's say, black magic.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°

"Good morning, ma'am. Your cappuccino coffee is served as hot as you like it,with a little less caffeine and a pinch of sugar. Water boiled at one hundred degrees Celsius, crystal clear, colour of mug black, and saucer, white. On your dresser, five inches apart from your golden statue. Anything else?" Miss Banks speed talked as she stared at her tablet and scrolled like her job depended on it, which by the way, it did.

Ugh! What was it with the details. Too much formality made me sick.

And I hated cappuccino! It was the worst.

"I'll ditch coffee this morning. Next time, get a triple shot expresso," I ordered and stood up from the bed, stretching and yawning but hoping to get more hours of sleep.

"Understood ma'am," she nodded.

"Your shower is ready in the jacuzzi and your parents are waiting downstairs, and by the way, you have a check up in the clinic by 8am, which by the way, you're running out of time. You might want to speed up a little bit," she informed with a grin and continued scrolling the tablet screen.

"Okay. Thanks,"

She smiled and looked up.

"By the way, what's the checkup about?" I inquired and looked out the window at the dawn of a brand new day.

"Your psychiatrist, Thompson Mendel is checking you up. Your parents said to make sure you are one hundred percent ready to go back to work by next week, immediately after your crashing wedding with Mr. Caden. Everyone's so excited to see you at work. We all can't wait to have you back," she smiled again and returned her gaze to the tablet in her hand.

"I see.....now i'm crazy," I nodded.

She smiled and shook her head slowly.

"But you are really efficient. I mean, a little bit too efficient," I said, walking over to her.

"As always ma'am," she looked up at my face at beamed.

"Okay, I'll head off to the showers."

I headed to the restroom, locking the door as I got in and closing the binders.

I slowly stepped into the jacuzzi, leaving the towel on the floor, and having a peaceful bath with the slow silent music and the soap scenting like bubblegum and strawberry. Perfect!

When I was done, I stepped out.

°°°°°°°°°°°°

"All done, ma'am. You are set to go. They are all waiting downstairs for breakfast," Miss Banks said, sliding the purse to my shoulder.

I stood up and took a glance in the mirror. I looked stunning, as always.

"Okay, Thank you Banks," I said in a light voice and winked at myself in the mirror, before opening the door and heading downstairs.

"Good morning, papi, mamasita." I pecked them both and smiled.

"How was your night?". They chorused.

"It was just okay," I replied with a shrug.

"Let's have breakfast and discuss your recent behaviour," Papi said, and we all headed to the dining.

"Querida, What has been going on lately?" Papi started.

I shook my head.

"Mercedes!" Mamasita yelled.

"I don't want to get married to this bitch!" I yelled and had all eyes widened.

Author's Note!

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Paulyqueen.....