02
Applause echoed softly through the hall as a spotlight illuminated Vera. She walked toward Elias with a shy smile, a bouquet of pink and white roses clasped in her hands. Her delicate steps were deliberate, her happiness radiating in every movement.
Elias watched her approach, his chest tightening unexpectedly. Seeing the joy on her face, he convinced himself that this was worth it–a good deed for someone whose days were numbered. He was giving her one last, perfect dream.
The emcee continued the ceremony, guiding them through the vows and the exchange of rings.
way now
*Placing these rings signifies a bond for life, a promise to never part,” the emcee declared “Groom, you may kiss your beautiful bride!”
The lights dimmed, casting a soft, romantic glow over the couple. Elias scanned the small audience, his sharp gaze ensuring no one dared to raise a phone or camera Satisfied, he leaned in and kissed Vera, his lips brushing hers gently at first
“I love you,” she whispered against his lips.
Her words startled him, and his kiss deepened involuntarily. For a fleeting moment, her face blurred, and he
thought he was staring at Mira from three years ago.
The kiss lingered longer than expected, their connection palpable even though it was meant to be pretend. When they finally parted, Vera threw her bouquet into the air. One of her childhood friends caught it, and laughter erupted.
Elias watched Vera hug her friends, her joy infectious. His lips tugged upward unconsciously. The wedding
might have been fake, but Vera’s happiness was undeniably real
An hour later, Elias was behind the wheel, driving Vera to their next destination. He had taken leave from his team
to dedicate the next ten days to fulfilling her bucket list while Mira was away.
They planned to watch the sunrise and sunset by the seaside, skydive, play with children at a welfare home, and
camp under the stars.
As Vera gazed out the window at the passing scenery, her voice grew somber. “Elias, thank you for taking the
time to do all these things with me. Even if I die tomorrow, I’ll have no regrets.”
The word die made Elias‘ hands tighten on the steering wheel. “Don’t talk nonsense,” he said, his tone sharper
than he intended.
“Husband,” Vera said suddenly, her voice soft yet playful
His eyes flicked to her in surprise. “What did you just call me?”
“Husband,” she repeated, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “We had a wedding, didn’t we? And Mira isn’t here right now. For these ten days, you can be my husband–just temporarily, okay?”
Elias gripped the wheel, his expression unreadable. “Vera…”
“Husband! Husband! Husband!” she exclaimed, her voice rising in mock frustration
He shook his head and let out a helpless laugh. “You’re impossible.”
Her laughter filled the car, light and unburdened, as they drove to a secluded beach 20 kilometers away There, they marveled at the golden sunrise, the waves painting the shore with soft, foamy edges
That evening, in a suite overlooking the ocean, the distance between them dissolved. They surrendered to the moment, intimacy breaking through the walls of pretense.
Elias didn’t stop until Vera, her body exhausted and trembling, could no longer bear it
Elas lay in the dimly lit suite, staring blankly at the ceiling. The rhythmic crash of waves outside the wandow filled the room, a haunting backdrop to his chaotic thoughts. He felt like a beast–no, worse. As if an insatiable hunger had consumed him entirely
The thought of Mira returning, of this forbidden relationship.coming to an inevitable end, gnawed at him. It wasn’t just quilt–it was desperation, a twisted desire to hold onto Vesa, to tear her apart and devour her before she slipped through his fingers.
Beside him, Vera stirred. Her eyes glimmered with a quiet, calculating gleam as she glanced at the sleeping man She reached for her phone and snapped a photo of the trash can, where a cluster of used condoms lay
Did he use so many with you?
She attached the image and sent it to Mira
Her gaze lingered on the screen, scrolling back to their last conversation a photograph of a divorce agreement
Elias” signature was scrawled nently at the bottom.
She remembered that moment vividly. She had concealed the document’s true purpose, claiming it was merely a travel insurance form Elas had signed it without a second thought, trusting her completely.
Vera’s fingers tightened around the phone as she waited for a reply Minuten crawled by, stretching into hours Mira remained silent Resigned, Vera set the phone aside, her eyelids growing heavy. Sleep claimed her a faint smile
tugging at her lips
When morning arrived, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains. Elias stirred, his hand instinctively reaching for the woman beside him. His fingers brushed against her warm akin, and his lips parted in a dazed.
mumu
“Wife
“Good morning”
