All eyes were on them now as they watched the scene unfold.She had heard many stories about mother in laws and how they were always opposed to their son's choice in women.Always.She'd seen them in all the telenovelas her mum had loved to watch before she got too Ill to watch anymore.

"Don't be worried about my mother "his words had played over and over as she watched the beautiful older woman walk over to them with her entourage of women that seemed judgmental from the looks and stares from around the room.

Her thoughts drifted to the events of this evening...

"I don't understand whey you have to plan this huge party .Its completely unnecessary."she had cried out as she sat in his office memorizing information about the important people that were going to be there at the party he was arranging for them.

It sounded absurd at first.She had not seen the need to publicly announce their engagement when this was meant to be shortlived.

"I cannot wed without showing my family and people who I would like to marry and what better way to take away the agony of waiting for their approval when you can just shock them with the news"he suggested.

It did make more sense but the nerves were still there.she would be lying to his mother and who knows how many people he had invited to this party.

"Son,who is this?"the older women's soft voice brought her out of her reverie.

She gulped as the woman observed her.Her hands unconsciously wrapped around her thighs where the short dress stopped midway.she hated this dress,she wasn't used to this kind of expensive outfits but he had insisted,stating that she had to look the part if she had to play the role.

As if she had been programmed,her face lighted up in an awkward smile.but if the frown on her beautiful features were any indication,then it meant that she didn't like her at all.Her shoulder drooped a little in silent defeat.

But to her surprise,his mother's features relaxed and a wide smile formed on her lips,her arms stretched out wide and she enveloped her in a bear hug.

She chuckled as she released her.Alina straightened up,making sure to drag the gown a few inches downwards without exposing her chest to the world.Micheal must have sensed her discomfort because in the next minute,he had his arm wrapped around her waist reassuringly pulling her into his side.

She felt his strong grip on her waist as he squeezed to soothe her.She looked up at him gratefully for his silent support at the very least.As if reading her mind,he nodded in response.

His mother watched as the couple exchanged glances and her heart warmed at the sight.She had thought that her highly successful son would never be able to settle down after what had happened to him In the past.She had been silently praying that he would let go and finally settle down and it seemed like her prayers had been answered.they were so in love with each other.

"Finally,there is someone to pin his frivolous escapades with numerous women"his mother joked.

"Yes,ma'am I will make sure of that."she responded as she eyed him in silent humour.

"Mum,why don't you just have a sit,you seem like you've had a few too many drinks and the event hasn't even started yet "he commented.A little annoyed.

He held her firmly and led her toward the couch that had been installed next to the decor at the back of the room.She gave him a hand and she walked beside them as his mother held her hand tightly as if she let go,she would disappear.

After she was seated,he signaled for a waiter to come over and they did a little too fast as she observed.almost like a slave would act towards their master.

"Get me a glass of water and something to help with a hangover "he ordered.

The waiter nodded and scurried away disappearing into the crowd.

Micheal turned to his tipsy mother who had her hand firmly around her own.

"Mum,you have to stop drinking"he cautioned.

"Well,if your 30 year old unmarried son texts you after many months of not speaking and suddenly invites you to an event he organized, it calls for some drinking,don't you think?"she replied,slurring her words.

He sighed and plopped down unto the couch next to him.After a while,she sat up resting her head on his shoulder while she slept peacefully.

Sometime during the whole exchange,the waiter had come by and dropped the tray of what he had been ordered to bring and had been dismissed.

She watched silently as his mother rested peacefully on his shoulder with all her trust and faith put into this one gesture.Her heart and mind called out for her mum.when would she be able to do this again with her mum.she wondered and silently prayed for the umpteenth time that night for everything to be alright and for her mum's surgery to go well.

"Come on,its time to address the guests"he rose and stood in front of her with his outstretched hand,towering majestically over her as his chestnut hair glistened under the bright overhead light.

She took his hand and he led her through the sea of curious people and up the podium.Taking the microphone in one hand and holding her hand in the other,he addressed the crowd.

"I know all of you here,do not know why I invited you here.But let me clear all your doubts.This is Alina Sanders, my finance and my soon to be wife."the crowd erupted in an uproar.There were murmurs and stares from all around the room.She gripped his hand tighter.

"The confusion is imminent but I do not want this to affect the love of my life.I know I don't need your permission to do this but i felt that this is the perfect and the right moment for us."he ended.

And before she could register what was going on,he had her hand in his and one knee on the floor.She gasped in shock reflexively retracting her hand but he was faster.He gripped her hand tightly,still maintaining his composure and slipped the ring unto her finger.The flashes that escalated after that were insane.

He stood ,shielding her with his body as he stared down into her eyes.His gaze bore deep into her soul.And as if reading his mind,she shook her head.Her hand came up to his chest to stop him.

"No,this wasn't part of the plan"she whispered,Her voice was so low that he barely registered.

"It was...in mine"and with that his lips collided with hers.

In the span of a few days, they had been so wrapped up in a media frenzy over the news of their engagement that she hadn't slept for more than 4 hours in the past week.it was always makeup and hair for events,parties, interviews and the whole shebang of planning a wedding which his mother had completely taken over,fortunately. How could she live this life?

Even if it was for a short while she knew that all these would get too overwhelming for her and the only way she could think of to keep her grounded was the thought that her mother was going to be well again.News had gotten to her through Micheal that her surgery had gone well and that she was recovering well.Although she wouldn't be well enough to make the travel back for her wedding tomorrow.

Her new iphone 14 that Micheal had gotten her,vibrated as she came out of the shower of her hotel.It was an unknown number.

She slid the green button to answer.

"Hello?"she asked curious.

There was silence at the other end of the phone.

"Hello?who is this?"she repeated.

A Soft velvety voice spoke.

"Don't marry him.He's not to be trusted.He has a secret.Ask him,ask him where he was on the 13th of July?"the voice spoke frantically.

She tried to understand what was going on but the call ended before she could ask.

"What the heck was that?"she thought out loud.confused.

She went back to get ready for the ballroom dance classes that micheal had set up for her to be able to dance at their reception.

All day,her mind kept wondering back to the mysterious woman that had called her.What if it wasn't a prank call,like she had convinced herself to believe.What if the woman was right?that he was keeping a secret .She had to know, at least to clear all her doubts.

Later that evening they sat across each other enjoying the nightlight that loomed over the city from his hotel room.He had promised her that they would fully move into his house once they were wedded.

"So,how was your day?"he asked as he popped a piece of steak into his mouth.They were two days away from their weddings and he had initiated this dinner in order for her to sign the contract.This was the right time for her to ask the questions that had plagued her for so long before signing the contract.

"Are you hiding anything from me?"she blurted out.

His hand paused midway to his mouth.

He looked up at her from his dinner.His eyes narrowed to slits.

"Why do you ask?"he responded.

She dropped her fork onto her plate and folded her hands under her chin.

"Because,if there's anything that would affect me after I become your wife,I would like to know"she retorted.

He cleared his throat,reaching for a glass of wine to wash down the piece of steak that had gotten stuck in his throat.

She waited for him to drink his fill.

After he was done,he dropped the glass onto the table and shoved the plate away from him.

"You don't have to worry.There's nothing "he said holding onto his self-control.

"Now why do I find that so hard to believe?"she replied.

A vein ticked at the side of his jaw.

He let out a chuckle.

"Do you know one thing about me...I hate being interrogated "he confessed. glaring straight at her now.

She felt the chill in her bones from just that one look but she had to stand her ground.

"That isn't the issue right now."she said as calmly as she could muster up.

"Then what exactly is the issue,Alina"he asked, dangerously drawing out her name.

"What are you hiding from me?"she asked again.

"I won't repeat myself twice"he responded.

"Just sign the papers"he said ,sliding the papers across the table till it landed in front of her.He knew that was where this conversation was heading to.She was having doubts and he wouldn't entertain those doubts.

She folded her arms across her chest in defiance. His lips hardened. He wasn't going to tolerate her going back on her word.so to persuade her,he got up,crossed over to where she sat and offered her the papers.

"Sign these papers"she said through his clenched teeth.he was trying to keep calm but it seemed that wasn't going to be the case.

"Sign the damn papers now!"she jumped at the sound of his booming voice. Scared,she picked up the pen and scrawled her signature onto the line at the edge of the paper.

He took a copy of the signed paper and left the other copy on the table.

"That is your copy of the agreement.Go through it"he ordered as he folded and tucked the piece of paper into his suit jacket.

Satisfied,he turned to walk away.

"Where were you on the 13th of july?"she shot up from her sit.

His head whipped around so fast she was afraid his neck would snap on impact.His eyes widened in confusion.

"Who told you that?"he whispered.

"How did you know that?"he asked again,this time his voice grew louder.she took a step back as he took one menacing step forward towards her ,his intent to kill.

He took three long strides towards her as she backed up against the railing.

"Who told you that?tell me!"he shouted as he gripped her arms tightly,shaking her.

"I don't...I don't know.Let me go Micheal, you're hurting me!"she cried trying to wriggle her way out of his tightening grasp.she knew it would leave a bruise.

"don't you ever! bring that up again.Understood?!"he shouted.

She nodded defeatedly.Satisfied, he released her.Her knees buckled and she fell in a heap on the balcony floor crying into her hands while he loomed over her like a ghost. He wrestled with his emotions and his care for her and in the end his anger won.He walked out of the room leaving her shaken. Fear for her future imminent.

As she walked down the aisle two days later,her thoughts tossed in a million other directions.but the one thing that took precedence in her mind was the clause in the contract that had bared her down these past few days leading up to the wedding.

The clause that read:

'once wedded,is to be my wife in every way.in bed and in life until a child is sired.'

What a funny game that life had to play on her.