Life will be sorted after a fake marriage was a big lie my mind believed so far. It's indeed harder than a married couple. Sometimes I forget that I'm even married.

I did not talk to him after our intense argument, but there was this subtle satisfaction in my mind when I caught him taking in my study. He may be rich, but the way I decorated my study was one of a kind. It surprised me when I found him entering my study, as I would appreciate no one barging into this room, let alone a stranger.

"Liara! Goodness woman! Where do you think you are zoning off to?!" I bolted in shock when I heard Mia's irritating voice for the fifth time in a row, catching me off guard.

"Work." I gave her a one-word answer that she always hates.

"Great! Why do I always have to yank your ass from your work!" She cursed under her breath and I chuckled.

"Because you are my best friend?" I asked, annoying her even more.

"Oh, I'm more than that to you, young lady." I could notice happiness in her tone and a very cheerful Mia after I successfully convinced her I'm happy with him.

Mia, for I don't know how many times came to drag me out of my office for the celebration I started loathing about.

"Dima has changed the entire look of the garden. You will love it!" She announced. Dima had been planning for this day to throw a party and introduce him to every member related to me. I attempted to convince her to cancel the plan, but she dismissed it by avoiding my suggestion.

"She didn't have to do that!" Words slipped my mouth even before realizing it. I facepalmed when Mia's expression turned worrisome, with furrowed eyebrows.

" Why are you so against these? You are worrying me! What's the matter? Is he not treating you well?" She bombarded me with questions, giving me a headache.

I raised my head to look at her and tried to give my fake smile. "It's not about him. I'm worried about Dima."

"Oh, don't worry, she has been so delighted these days, I think I never saw her this happy for years." She assured me, a genuine smile on her face.

"I will join you guys after an hour? I have a meeting now." I tried dismissing her and focused on my laptop.

"No can do lady, you guys ditched us in the morning. I will be damned if I'd allow you to do that again." What even! I stared at her cluelessly.

"What do you think you are saying?" I inquired curiously.

"Dima was waiting for Zearo and you to be there at the breakfast table. She even asked me to cook Dungeness Crab Cake for God's sake!" She exclaimed.

"Why'd she want you to cook that dish especially? She knows I hate crabs." I said, making a disgusted face. I felt like throwing up by hearing the name itself.

"Oh, Dima wanted to surprise Zearo. It is his favorite dish." The shock in my face would be readable as the next second she burst out laughing so hard that I glared at her.

"What now?!" I asked, a scowl took over my facial expression.

"You remember he ate crabs when you kiss him henceforth!" She clutched her stomach and laughed even harder, but soon cooled down when I glared hard at her.

"Anyway, finish whatever you have to in one hour. I will wait right in front of you." She said and crossed her hands and took her seat comfortably, leaving me fuming.

I had so many questions popping into my mind.

He said he'd be back for breakfast. Why didn't he?

Does his shift end in the morning? Of course not!

Is he with-"Argh" I groaned, clutching my head, unable to come up with answers to satisfy myself.

"Come on, let's go," I said, closing my laptop as I knew that my mind wouldn't concentrate on the task at hand and I might end up messing with my work.

"Off you go, young lady!" She announced and flew past me, earning curious glances from my employees.

****†****†****†****†***

It's been hours since Mia and Emma dragged me to Mia's parlor. I never entertained their idea of doing regular treatments, so never had to visit Mia's workplace. It's magnificent and the decor so minimal but still attractive. Clean surroundings with slow background music made my eyes heavy.

I had little to no sleep last night as multiple thoughts clouded my senses, making it hard to sleep. Instead of letting loneliness eat me alive, I went to SAMS to get the work done for the day.

Mia took it on herself to make me ready for the event. Her hands worked like magic when she massaged my face. I didn't even realise when I fell asleep.

The bickering awakened me in the background. When I slowly pried open my eyes, I found my horrifying image staring back at me. I couldn't recognise myself, so I lifted my hand to touch my cheeks.

"Why are you looking at yourself as if you've seen a ghost?" I glanced at the mirror and there stood Emma, hands on her hips and a smirk on her face.

"Aren't I a ghost? Look at my face!" I exclaimed, my mouth agape. Or to be exact, my red lips agape. I preferred no colour or shimmer on my face, but today my face was glittering with God knows how much shimmer she put on it.

"You are kidding, right?! Mia is going to kill you if she hears you!" Emma exclaimed and started laughing by clutching her stomach. I kept staring at my image in the mirror.

I was still in my office outfit, white plain shirt and a black bottom with a bow scarf around my neck. And imagine my face glittering like a streetlight with such faded coloured dress. I cringed when I closed my left eye and saw brown, goldish shade and a thick black liner. "Ew, Mia, what have you done to me?" I glared at Mia, who entered where I was resting in her workplace.

"Oh, stop giving me that look. I have to do your hair and then you gotta put on your dress. Just relax and let me do my damn job, woman!" She threw her hand in the air because of frustration. I can be irritated when it comes to getting ready and all, I tell you.

"Can I wipe this lipstick please?" I pleaded with her with whatever they call puppy dog eyes pointing at my plump bloody red lips. I swear I'm bad at being cute.

"Don't you dare touch anything without my permission, Liara! I'm going to tie those hands to the chair and give you a more dramatic look than the one you have now." Mia concluded, and Emma burst out laughing. I glared at both of them and sat silently on the chair, not bothering to indulge in any more bickering.

Taking a deep breath, I mumbled to myself, "it's for Dima's happiness. I will get rid of this as soon as the first guest leaves the venue."

"You are freaking out, sweety. This is the simplest makeup a bride desires on her day. Mia did it beautifully, believe me." Emma smiled and tried reassuring me.

"Whatever you say." I waved her off because they know I hate overdoing makeup. I guess I was overreacting, but I didn't like how I looked.

"Okay, I will just look somewhere else," I said to no one in particular, but Mia and Emma heard me pretty well and laughed out loud.

*****†*****†*****†*****†****

Profound sweat on my hands and limbs didn't make my task easy. I thought this day wouldn't affect me, but I was so wrong. As soon as I entered my house, Mia pushed me inside from the back door, away from the garden and the entrance.

The lights were on, and they beautifully decorated the house with white orchids and lavenders. Not to forget, my favourite lavender flower coated the water fountain in the garden so perfectly that I stood there in awe.

Soon, I was dashed inside my room as Mia was eager to get my dress on me and see the result. She was done with my hair and makeup. I was pretty impressed with what she did with my hair and, to be honest, makeup stood out perfectly when my hair was done.

"Put this on fast! Zearo is waiting downstairs and guests started coming already." Mia's frantic voice did nothing but speed up my heartbeat. The rush and the limelight is never my cup of tea and, let alone my heart, wouldn't calm down when I'm anywhere near him.

"You look pale, Liara. Are you nervous?" Olivia, who just came back from her trip to attend my party, pointed out something the other two girls didn't even notice. When Olivia said that out loud, both Mia and Emma stopped their work and stared at my face, making me feel like I should dig my head in the ground.

"It's... Uh... It's nothing. I'm dehydrated." I skipped past them to gulp down water that may ease my throbbing nerves.

"You've got nothing to worry about. I just saw that guy downstairs, and he is doing pretty well with the facade. Just be you and I'm sure you can do it." Olivia whispered into my ears. And hugged me, making my nerves a little lighter. I guess I needed reassurance.

"Olivia, we need to go downstairs. Dima called me as she needs our help." Emma looked at me as if she was sorry for something. I couldn't catch what exactly she meant, but I didn't dwell on it.

"Oh, sure! We are just a call away alright." Olivia assured me and I felt so at peace that I don't have to present my fake smile to at least one person in the party.

"Here, this is your dress for the night!" Mia exited from my wardrobe with a mesmerising white floral off-shoulder dress. I touched the cloth, and they netted it floral from the outside and pure silk from inside. A pure white gown that had netted florals on its shoulders and covered the hands.

"Wow!" Olivia and Emma said in unison, and I nodded because I was speechless.

"You guys will make me cry! This will only be beautiful after our friend wears it to complete her look." Mia wiped a lone tear floating down her eyes.

I hugged her tightly and earned a bear hug from Olivia and Emma as well.

"Okay, we have to leave!" Emma announced, and we broke our hug. I didn't look back to hide the unwanted tears making their way through my eyes to my cheeks. "Mia will kill me if I spoil the makeup." I chuckled at the thought of her expression when she'd find I ruined her hard work.

"This night is not going to be easy for me," I whispered as I kept staring at the beautiful dress hanging in front of me.

******†****†*****†****

Frankly, I avoid wearing complicated dresses as I find it hard to adjust the zippers from the back. I admired the dress chosen by Mia, but unfortunately, it had a long zipper that went from my shoulder down towards my hip.

Struggling to zip it properly, I kept hoping inside the washroom, trying not to mess with my hair or makeup. "Dammit!" I cursed out loud as I felt a pinch of pain on my fingers as the zipper slipped through my grip.

I searched for my phone to call for help, but then I remembered it was in Emma's possession to stop me from working through my phone. "Amazing!" I threw my hands up in the air, frustrated with the dress, but soon brought it down and held the dress as it started slipping past my body because the only thing that could keep it in place was that fucking zipper.

I looked in the mirror to check if I messed with the hair, but thankfully it was good.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on the washroom door and without even thinking for a second; I dragged my dress with me as it was barely covering my body. I cared little about the thought that Mia, Emma or Olivia might have come as a savior.

I unlocked the door and turned around, facing the bathroom, away from the person standing at the door. Not bothering to even check out who was standing, I said in a rush, "Please put this damn zipper up so that I could get out of here and eat something! I'm so hungry." It came out as a whine.

I for a second thought to turn around and look at whoever it was to just get over with it, as they were taking ages to zip it up, but before I could turn around and say something, I froze. 

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Who do you think just arrived to the party?

PS: The image in the beginning of the chapter is how I pictured Liara's dress.

I would really appreciate it if you drop a comment let me know your thoughts about it! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

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