I like my scars. They're fascinating to look at. But sometimes they make me so, so very angry. Sometimes I want to cut down the hands of those puppeteers who make us dance to their tunes and watch them bleed to death. Maybe it's because I've grown up in an environment of violence ever since I was taken from my mother. Or maybe I've always been a little. . .twisted inside.

Kai Park says I need to meet a shaman and get my soul cleansed. I tell him to get lost.

-from the journal entries of Daisy.

--------᪥-------

☘︎ Eᴠᴇ Kᴀᴠɪɴsᴋʏ ☘︎

I accidentally married my ex-fiancé's enemy, the irony isn't lost on me.

The one time I met Axel Hernandez, he caught me red-handed eavesdropping on his conversation with Michael.

My ex-fiancé had been oblivious to my act of spying, but the six-foot-something male body of lean muscles and disturbingly attractive features, had excused himself from the conversation to walk out of Michael's study.

While I hid in a hurry behind a pillar in the hallway, Axel had walked around it with a tiger-like grace, looked me straight in the eyes with those freezing grey irises as cold as Antarctic.

I still remember the words he'd spoken, his tone almost mocking even though he showed no emotion on his face, "Next time you want to be a little spy, do it better. Or don't do it at all."

I'd been like an insect trapped in a fly-trap, gaping at him. And all he did was; fix the lapels of his custom-tailored Armani suit as black as his soul, turn around and walk away. He didn't even go back to continue his conversation with Michael. It wasn't like I'd heard anything anyways.

The fury from Axel's words though, had hit me as I stared at his retreating silhouette with narrowed eyes. I didn't like people implying I was stupid, even if I am sometimes. And I sure as hell didn't like to be called a bad spy.

Henceforth, I can confirm it was hate at first sight.

Coming to the present, I'm no longer in the wedding tent. Axel had grabbed my arm the moment he'd pulled back from my albeit forced kiss. Making sure my veil was still down as if he knew I was hiding my face for a reason, he'd dragged me out and towards his conveyance parked on the road alongside the beach. By the time we'd made it to his sleek black, Cadillac limousine, Michael's goons had snooped around and left for good.

Pulling myself out of the reverie, I focus my gaze on the man in question; Axel Hernandez in a white tux, leaning back leisurely against the charcoal leather seat that is possibly more expensive than a kidney. The limo's interior in itself is spacious enough to be a penthouse cabin.

From the seat adjacent to mine, Axel peruses me like a predator would a prey. He has his elbow perched on the seat's plush leather handle, his knuckles grazing his jaw as his sooty lashes frame those onyx eyes, "Miss Eve." The sound of my name being drawled in that sensual French accent, the syllables stretching on the last 'E' almost makes it sound like an endearment, if it weren't for his expressionless face.

I know he figured out after last few minutes of observing me that I'm Michael's bride. But I don't know much about him, except that his name was uttered by Michael often enough and with such venom, that I know they both don't see eye-to-eye. It makes me wonder why. Axel has to be just as bad to be Michael's enemy. People cut from the same cloth and all.

"I can explain." I clear my throat, scratching the back of my neck as my blood heats from embarrassment of what I'd done earlier. I could still feel the warmth of his lips even though it was a very, very fleeting kiss. In the name of nervous system, Eve, stop thinking about that.

"Sure." Axel retorts in a flat tone, averting his gaze outside the tinted window when my eyes meet his. The sunlight accentuates the sharpness of his jawline and his glass-cut cheekbones, his light-bronze skin glowing as luminously as his blonde-brown hair. He looks like Taylor Swift's love songs bought to life.

Shifting my own gaze when I see his jaw clench the longer I stare, "I ran away from my wedding with Michael." I relent, letting out a deep sigh.

I can see Axel Hernandez raising an immaculate brow, "I couldn't tell." The stony-ness of his expression makes it sound more like an insult than sarcasm.

I boil a little inside akin to how magnesium and iron dipped in saltwater do. But I bury my pride down for now, knowing I'm the one at fault here, the one who'd jumped his bones like a leech, "Michael's goons—bodyguards—followed me. My car broke down in the middle of the beach road and I didn't want to be caught. I saw the wedding setup on the beach, rushed in to hide there. You know the rest." I pause for a moment, something occurring to me like a jarring realization, "Wait, what happened to your bride?"

"She ran away too, I suppose." Axel states it with such indifference, seeming to be in a deep thought, "Has to be a day of brides running away."

I almost roll my eyes at his matter-of-fact speech, "I ran away for a reason. What did you do for her to leave? Show her your inner demon?"

"How would I know? I'm not her." Axel simply tilts his head to the side, unbothered, "Why did you run away?"

He can't be biologically serious. But as his cunning gaze slide my way for a second before returning to the sea outside, I realize he's goading me. Like a sly fox, he's fishing for information with his calculated words.

Why didn't you cut off the engagement before the wedding? Why do you need to run and hide from him? What do you know?

I hear the questions without him asking them. Michael is his enemy and something tells me, Axel would use any means to find dirt on Michael. If I wasn't so desperate to find out the truth of the conversation I'd heard Michael having with that another man the day before my wedding, I'd have actually told Axel all the dirt I have on Michael.

"I don't think we're close enough for me to share the details with you." Not that I would even if we were. There are things I keep to myself, things not even my best friend Juliette knows. But I do convey the critical-ness of my current scenario, albiet my eyes squint to slits, "I need to leave to a country where Michael can't find me. Atleast for a few months." Until I find out something.

Axel slants his eyes over my form in a once-over. His gaze is so clinically calculating as if he's putting pieces together. As if he's contemplating a scheme, measuring the pros and cons of it.

When he finally speaks after a minute, his voice is curt and firm yet lilting, "Marry me." He leans closer to me, his musky scent enveloping my senses like a lover's embrace, the seriousness in those onyx eyes heating my neurons. The man is too attractive even when he acts like a stone statue.

I scoff, trying to shake out of it, "Is that a proposal, Mr Hernandez? How romantic." I make sure I sound as petty as scientifically possible.

"A deal." Axel thankfully inches back, leaning on the leather seat once again, "There's no place in the world where Lee Voroski can't find you. His connections are everywhere. It would barely take him a week before he traces you down and brings you back to him, to get married to you for whatever reason he's obsessed with you."

I know why Michael is obsessed with the idea of marrying me. But I don't tell Axel that. Because his last statement sounds like a taunt and his odd calmness is irksome. I boil a little more.

"So I should marry you?" I smile like a snake, "I'm sorry but I don't see the connection here, Mr Hernandez."

Axel sighs like he's done with how stupid I am, "My fiancé, Reya, and I, had a deal. If we get married, I receive full access to my inheritance as long as we don't divorce within a year. In return, Reya was to be provided with every resource and financial aid to boost her career further. But since for some reason, she backed out and I do not have more time to waste looking for another candidate, I offer you the same deal." He fixes me with a serious look, "Except here, I'll provide you the protection and residence to stay where Voroski can't find you. In return, you have to sign the legal marriage contract with me and pretend to be my doting wife in public and in front of my grandfather. For a year."

I'm certain with every blood vessel in my body, he must've never spoken so many sentences at once. Just the way I'm certain we can easily get a divorce and part ways without a hassle once the year ends.

I consider his offer though, "You have a strong security team?"

Axel shifts his sight back to the beach outside when I stare at him, "I will own a security company the moment I receive my inheritance, one of the best in the world."

Too tempting. I don't particularly need a security team for forever, only until I find what I want to. I can go on myself after that. But if Michael finds me prior to me discovering his plan, then it'd be a problem.

"I must let you know, your parents would need a security team guarding them too. Lee Voroski would go for them when he doesn't find you." He informs stoically.

This time though, a wide smile stretches across my lips in mischief, "There's no need to worry about them. My bestfriend's people will keep my parents guarded."

"And your best friend owns a security company?"

"No." My grin turns feline as I add, "But she does own the Russian Mafia."

At that, there's a flash of surprise passing through his irises, for such a fleeting moment I don't even get to process it before his eyes go blank again.

I could've asked Juliette to send some of her people to me as well, but then it'd be too risky. Michael might not go to extreme lengths such as messing with the Russian Mafia for my parents, but he'd do it for me. He's that desperate to marry me to gain what he needs. Besides, I can't do what I want with Juliette around. That girl is way too good at finding people's secrets.

"Well, then, Miss Eve." Axel props his elbow on the car handle again, those deep eyes finally staying on me for more than a fleeting glance, "What is your decision?"

Everything feels too sudden. I know Axel has his own motives. Marriage clause is a common inclusion in most of the inheritance wills if one comes from a traditional family, like my own family. Why Axel is so determined to get the inheritance though, the reason has to be more than money. He does seem like the kind of man who has his own bunch of secrets. But Axel isn't the only one who doesn't want to waste time. I am too. Besides, how bad would it be?

So taking a deep breath, I extend my hand forward and speak the one word sealing the whole thing, "Deal."

I should've known, when it comes to me, catastrophe is meant to follow.

--------᪥♔︎᪥-------

I wonder what the catastrophe is....

Your thoughts on Axel?👀

Any theory on Eve's secret?👀