The Wedding Deal

Anna’s POV

"Keep smiling. If you keep wearing that sour face, do you think people won't suspect?" Simon whispered again, this time giving me a sharp look. I could only sigh deeply and force a smile back at the guests at our wedding party.

My heart was truly empty; it all felt like a dream. Why did I agree to my father's request to marry Simon, the cold and obnoxious CEO I've ever met in my life, just because of a debt?

"When will all these people leave? I'm tired and want to sleep," Simon shrugged and faced me. He then put his arm around my shoulder and said, "Well then, let's leave this party to my parents. You know what to do, pretend to be a slut."

What? What did Simon mean by "slut"? I didn't have time to respond to his words as he immediately led me closer to his parents, who seemed to be laughing and chatting with some of their colleagues.

Simon then grabbed my hand and placed it in his back pocket. He looked at me again. "Put on your slutty face and act like you're horny."

I quickly pulled my hand back and stopped in my tracks. "I won't do what you're asking! Do you think I'm some prostitute you can pay just because of this contract marriage?"

I was about to leave, but Simon immediately grabbed and gripped my wrist. He shook his head and said, "Don't make me even more disgusted with you. You could be ousted overnight from our family, and I can't bet whether you'll survive your money-contaminated father or not. Don't think you're the only one suffering in this marriage, Anna! Just follow my orders so we can get rid of this drama."

Simon's angry gaze and his words finally made me understand. I took a deep breath and nodded slowly. I forced myself to put on a fake smile again while holding back tears.

This time, Simon didn't put my hand in his back pocket anymore. Instead, I took the initiative to behave like a woman craving for caresses. I wrapped my arm around his while staring wildly at Simon's face.

"Ah, the most phenomenal bride awaited by everyone!" The greeting from the colleagues chatting with Simon's parents immediately made me shift my gaze to the three elderly men while waving at them.

"Thank you for the compliments. I hope you all enjoy our wedding party, which may soon set a trend worldwide," I replied cheerfully.

"Of course, everything done by Anna, the famous and professional model, is sure to be a new step for every woman out there. By the way, why did you approach us? Is there something?" Simon's father asked with a chuckle, followed by a satisfied look from Simon's mother.

I looked at Simon, squinting, honestly, I really disgusted behaving like this cheap woman. I wanted to scratch Simon's face and leave this gloomy party.

"Um, we both just want to go back to the hotel. Can you continue the rest of this party, Mom, Dad? After all, the remaining guests are now your colleagues," I nodded in agreement with Simon's words while approaching Simon's mother and whispering, "Your son is too sweet and tempting to be missed, Mrs. Johnson. I'm also too tired to listen to every whim of Simon wanting me to embrace him immediately."

My words made Mrs. Johnson, a socialite who enjoyed listening to every bedroom story, blush. She lightly slapped my face and said, "You naughty daughter-in-law!"

I turned back to Simon, and his father's response satisfied me. He allowed us to leave the party, which might still last for a few hours.

"Rest, tomorrow you'll soon be on your honeymoon. Don't get carried away in bed and lose track of time," Mr. Johnson said with a laugh.

"Of course not, Mr. Johnson, Simon and I know very well when the right time to stop is. Your upbringing is beyond doubt, Simon has become a strong man who drives me crazy!" My words were accompanied by laughter from their colleagues. Simon, with an annoyed face, immediately grabbed my hand, and we left in front of his parents.

"I did ask you to be a seductive woman, but not with words. Just expressions are more than enough; don't make disgusting remarks. Respect the people around you; your bad attitude as a model should not be brought in front of me."

"Say whatever you want, I don't care. All I know is, I managed to get out of this miserable party and will spend this long night with my lover."

As I was about to enter the makeup room, Simon grabbed my hand again and shook his head. "Don't behave like a real whore, for the second time I've told you. We're being watched by many cameras; do you want everyone to smell it? Do you want to justify that all of this is a forced marriage done by our parents? Do you still remember the agreement with your father, right?"

"I'm leaving not to show my face to others, Simon! I'm leaving with my lover, to his penthouse, even if there is one paparazzi following us, I will shut them up! Do you think my money can't make one person retreat?"

Simon gave a smirk. "You are really stubborn; it's up to you. If tonight is the night when all these lies are exposed, get ready for you and your family to leave this town. Maybe you should also prepare to be embarrassed in all media and lose your job as a famous model. I'm just trying to be professional in the contract we made."

I shook off Simon's hand, which was still gripping my wrist, and immediately entered the makeup room. Fortunately, my makeup artist was not in the room, so I could vent my frustration by kicking the side of the door quite hard.

Why do I have to go through all this? I hate not being able to live freely; this damn contract marriage is truly the worst nightmare of my life! And the person who should be responsible for all of this is my father. If he hadn't been entangled in so much debt with the Johnson family, I wouldn't possibly be trapped with Simon now.

I really hate having to remember that I’m the only one bearing all of this.

It wasn’t easy for me to reach this point in my modeling career all on my own. 
And now I’ve earned the title of Mrs. Johnson.

People are bound to think that everything I achieve from now on is thanks to that family.

It’s really annoying. “If it weren’t for my family’s disapproval of my relationship with Michael, I would have eloped with my boyfriend.”

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