Juwon couldn't believe he was married. He had only planned to propose that night, now he was a married man and it didn't phase him at all. In fact, he felt delighted and complete. Finally, he had someone who was always going to be by his side as much as he wanted to be by hers.

Gini was cheesing hard as they entered the hotel room. He was hoping when he woke the following morning, the event of the night still remained real. He just didn't want to believe he wasn't dreaming. Life wasn't perfect but his surely was. What more could he want? He had the love of his life married to him, a business that continued to thrive and friends who wanted the best for him.

Juwon opened the complementary wine from the hotel and poured a glass for both himself and Gini.

"To us," he said as their glasses touched. He took a sip and placed the glass back on the table. "It's late, let's turn in."

"I haven't given you a wedding present."

"We'll settle all that tomorrow."

Gini took her dress off and he helped her with her shoes. He removed her earrings and placed them on the bedside drawer. She shook her head as he was about to remove the wedding ring.

"I don't want to lose it,"

"Okay," he replied.

She looked drunk and he didn't want to argue with her. Juwon tucked Gini in and got in beside her. He slept off immediately he closed his eyes.



By the following morning, they ate breakfast and took a taxi back to his house. Gini slept all through the afternoon and he rested by her side and occasionally dusted her face with kisses. He smiled when she woke to use the bathroom and saw her looking at her ring. At least, she didn't regret getting married to him. He hadn't told his friends or Muna the good news. They weren't even aware that he proposed to Gini. He was happy everything happened spontaneously, he didn't want doubts clouding his head as he slid the ring on Gini's fingers. But he was married. They would eventually come around and learn to like his wife. They had to, he wasn't going to give them a chance not to.

Juwon stood from the bed and went to the kitchen. He ate some hardboiled eggs with apple juice then toasted some bread for Gini. He was boiling water for tea when his wife walked in stretching and yawning. She was wearing one of his shirts and he kissed her mouth then neck when she pressed herself against him.

"Did we really get married last night or was I dreaming?" She leaned on the counter and waited for his reply.

Juwon got cups from the cabinet before replying her. "We did per your request."

"Thank God. I was going to be disappointed if it was just a silly dream."

His heart swelled as he heard the joy in her voice. "It's real. Lunch is ready, my lady."

"Thanks." Gini pecked him then carried the tray of food to the dinning table.

Juwon followed her like a puppy and watched her eat her food. "Gini, we need to talk."

She took a bite of her toast and said, "Okay."

"We really didn't talk about much before agreeing to get married last night. Living arrangements, work, starting a family and the likes."

"I'll live here with you if you want."

"I want."

She hesitated for a moment before smiling, he could see she was holding back.

"Are you thinking about your boyfriend?"

"What boyfriend?"

"The one that came to see you in town."

"No, no. I want to tell you something but I don't know how to start so I'd rather just show you."

"What's it?"

"I'll show you later. I have everything all planned."

"Is that what made you hesitate?"

"Kinda. I don't know how you'll feel about it."

"Whatever it is, I'm not going to feel bad."

"Okay."

Juwon knew she wanted to tell him the part she played in his father's demise. He knew already and was slightly over it. He was just happy that she was finally going to acknowledge it and take responsibility for her mistakes.

"Let's talk about work."

"I'll quit my present job and get a new one while waiting for my father's properties to be sold."

"Sold? You're selling?" He was surprised to say the least.

"Everything. I don't plan on going back to town so I won't need the properties there. I could start a dance studio with my sister with some of the money we make, that has always been our dream."

"What does she do currently?" he asked like he didn't already know.

"She dances."

"Wow, good for her. A dance studio would be perfect for you both then."

"Yea."

"When do you move out of your apartment? I could come help you pack."

"Very soon. My sister is visiting later tomorrow and she'll be coming with some of my things."

"For real?"

"Yes. Do you mind?"

"Why would I? This is your house now. I hope she doesn't think I forced you into marrying me. Does she think I'm a loser?"

"She doesn't think so."

"Did she know about our relationship back in school?"

"Yea." Gini rubbed the back of her neck and looked away.

The gesture told him the sister knew all about them. Juwon just didn't know if she was also in on Big Fred's plan. He quickly rerouted his thought. He was currently letting the past be in the past and there was no point speculating.

"Does she like me for you? Does she think I'm good enough for her baby sister?"

"She does," Gini said too fast.

Juwon didn't believe her. She had been too quick to say her sister wouldn't mind missing their wedding last night. His friends didn't like her and her sister apparently didn't approve of him. They were the only ones that thought they were good for each other. Juwon promised himself to make their marriage work. He didn't care how much it took but he was going to god damn try.

Gini finished her meal then dropped a kiss on his forehead.

"Muna got you some casual clothes, they're in the room you used last night." he stated as she climbed the stairs.

Gini thanked him and said she was going to make some calls. Juwon cleared the plates and put them in the dishwasher. He laid on the sofa and searched through his TV for something interesting to watch. He was on a movie with Samuel L. Jackson when he remembered he had to call Muna. He ran up the stairs to get the phone he'd left in the bedroom. When he entered the room, he saw his phone on the bedside drawer and saw Gini on the balcony talking into her phone. He was about to ask her if she needed more clothes when he heard her giggling.

He turned back to give her privacy but not before he heard, "I love you too and I'll get you the money, Bruce."

"Bruce?" he asked himself.

Gini was still giggling while saying goodbye and he walked out of the room.

"Bruce?" he asked himself as he entered one of the spare bedrooms.

Bruce, the loser guy he just asked her about. How was she married to one guy and telling her on and off that she still loved him? Juwon punched the wall in annoyance and rubbed his hand when it started to hurt. Hadn't he forgiven her? He had done everything his brain and his friends told him not to do. He had made all kinds of excuses for her. Oh, she was brainwashed or too young to know her father was using her to steal his land. What had he fucking gotten in return? Another betrayal.

His dumbass never learned and that was his problem. He knew her MO yet he'd fallen for her again. Christ! He was even married to her this time. All this while she'd been planning on getting his money while loving another guy.

What had he even been to her? A means to another end apparently. Yet again! What money was she going to get the loser? His money of course. That had been her plan all along and he'd fallen for her scheme hook, line and sinker. His lawyer was going to tear her ass up if she tried anything funny. His money was safe as far as he could tell but his heart hurt badly.

He had given her a second fucking chance. He felt like he was being cut in the face again by Big Fred. The scar on his face throbbed, Juwon sat on the bed and held his head. He was going to show her how lethal he was. There was no way in hell he was going to allow her get away with the stunt she was trying to pull. He stood from the bed and paced. Not once did she apologize for the first betrayal. Again, he'd had been carried away by her beauty and charm. She had been so sweet, so gentle but conniving still. His hands fisted and he groaned.

"Fuck!" he spat out.

How could she hurt him again just when he was starting to heal? He dared not tell his friends about it. He remembered he had been defending her from their sharp tongues while she was busy playing him like a grand piano. His body hurt as he imagined them laughing and snickering at his stupidity. He was going to go through the misery alone unlike the first time.

He felt like a clown.

Juwon walked back to the bedroom and got the book he used to write how much he hated her. He had written all the plans to the revenge he never took there. Gini was still on the balcony so he left the book on the bed and walked out of the house. He couldn't stand to talk to her at the moment. He knew she was going to read the book and find out that he knew all about her shady plans and gimmicks. He'd lost but he needed her to know he saw her for who exactly she was. And that was an opportunist who would go to the lowest to satisfy her greed.