“Xavier??” Mrs. Walters cried out as she walked towards the man.

“Hello, Aunt Leah.” Xavier smiled and walked to meet up with Mrs. Walters as he kissed her cheek.

“Where’s Adam? Why did he forfeit the wedding? I mean he did get an invitation, right?” Romeo asked, stressing the last line with a hint of arrogance.

“Oh cool it groom.” Xavier shrugged and strode to the nearest cushion.

“He had a business meeting and had me represent him, but I didn’t.” He added as his eyes flashed at Clarissa.

“And this is?” He asked as his breath turned shallow. His gaze was still on Clarissa who felt uncomfortable with the stare as she moved closer to Romeo, or her groom to be more specific.

“Weak!” Romeo cursed under his breath as he felt embarrassed at her action.

“Selene.” Hazel replied, her face showed nothing like the sweetness she usually had. It was obvious she wasn’t on good terms with Xavier.

“Status?” Xavier questioned, lifting his eyebrow.

“Don’t you think you’re meddling too much?” Clarissa suddenly spoke up as she stared at Xavier.

“Selene? Xavier is also one of us.” Hazel whispered but she totally ignored her and went ahead to reply him.

“If you’re really curious of me that much, you should have attended the function yesterday. That’d be more convincing.” She wore a smile and returned back to her husband who couldn’t stop chuckling and stealing glances.

“Okay okay. Xavier? Go have a shower. You reek of sweat.” Mrs. Walters chimed in.

“Hazel? Take Selene to Romeo’s room and order few dresses for her.” She added.

“Yes, mom.”

“What do you mean she’s not your daughter? Are you nuts?” Mister Walters yelled furiously as he loosened his tie and paced around the room.

“I can identify my daughter at a glimpse Walters. Maybe my eyes don’t function well, my brain does. That isn’t my daughter.” Selene’s father fired back in anger.

“And how the fuck am I supposed to fucking believe that? I mean, the girl over there has Selene’s face, physique and all that. I mean what proves that she isn’t your daughter?” Mister Walters yelled again.

“But the demeanor…and the eyes…they don’t match Walters. Yesterday, she was being clumsy and couldn’t address me like she used to…I mean…” Selene’s father was extremely disheveled that he kept spewing gibberish.

“Ah Salvatore. She’s probably nervous. I mean isn’t that normal?”

“I know you don’t want this merger since I offered it which is why you’re probably tryna break it off by some dirty tricks. It’s pretty obvious you’re not interested.” Mr. Walters added as he walked out of his office, his son trailing behind him as the hem of their suits kept flapping, exuding arrogance.

“Look into it. Salvatore might be right. Who doesn’t recognize his own child? I just wanted to stress him a bit.” Mister Walters muttered to his son who simply nodded as they made their way out of the company.

“Selene? Why did you stand up against Xavier?” Hazel questioned as Clarissa combed her hair starring at the mirror.

“Nothing. It just felt weird being questioned about my Status in my home.” Clarissa shrugged slightly and stood up.

“I’m done. Let’s get going.” She smiled as she walked towards the door slowly. She kept a warm smile on her face as Hazel also trailed behind her like a waggling tail.

“Wow wow wow! Don’t you think this is a little too weird for a newly wedded wife?” Xavier gasped as he fixed his gaze on Clarissa.

Even Romeo spilled his lemon drink on himself while starring at her as his jaw dropped to the floor.

“Told you this was too tight for me.” Clarissa groaned in frustration as she bumped Hazel.

“Oh please Mister Walters. Do you ever check your wife’s Instagram page? I doubt so.” Clarissa rolled her eyes as she chuckled.

“Boring.” Romeo spat coldly and left the room, which made Clarissa to walk towards the exit as well.

“Geez that was too Brazen Selene. Especially for a family. That’s out of line hon.” Hazel inquired as she gasped to catch her breath which she lost after running to catch up with Clarissa.

“Oh. I apologize for that.” She replied as she shoulders came down and formed a hunch.

“Don’t cry over spilled milk. Suck it up girlie. That was pretty brave to stand against Xavier. No one dares except Romeo of course.” Hazel cheered her up as Clarissa’s face burn as her husband’s name was mentioned positively.

“At Ninth grade, Romeo dipped a classmate’s head into the flusher for picking on his dog.” Hazel kept blabbing.

“Even when I fell off my bike in Sports class, he got the students punished for mocking me instead of helping me up.”

“Aww that’s so cool.”

“Just when you left the room, I suspect he gave Xavier a punch in your defense.” Hazel added again which made Clarissa’s cheek burn as she turned her gaze to Hazel.

“You’re Doing this intentionally, right?” Clarissa’s eyes turned frosty but still couldn’t conceal the blush on her face.

“Well, see who’s blushing?” Hazel laughed which caused Clarissa to facepalm herself and squealed. She looked so childish and cute.

“We’re here.” The driver spoke up as he pulled up in the parking lot of a gigantic mall.

“Okay. Please wait a while. We won’t be really long. Maybe few hours?” Hazel smiled cutely at the driver who just chuckled at her and nodded in agreement.

As soon as they alighted from the car, a WHOA escaped Clarissa’s mouth but quickly held it to keep her secret.

“What’s up with the sudden amazement? You come here almost every time.” Hazel rolled her eyes and pulled Clarissa towards the entrance of the mall.

“The Walters. Executive floor please.”

“We can allow you, but her? Who’s she? We don’t allow…” The Check-In attendant tried saying but was cut short by Clarissa.

“What the hell?” Hazel fumed instantly and had an horrifying look like she was gonna chew the check-in Attendant off any minute soon.

“Selene Salvatore-Walters.” Clarissa spoke up with a warm smile as she returned the strands of hair that came to her face.

“Wahhh? You mean the newest bride in the Walters? Oh my goodness it’s an honor to have you here ma’am. I apologize for not recognizing you. I suffer from terminal prosopagnosia which acted up just now. I’m sorry.” The Check-in attendant apologized and gave out a nervous smile.

“Piss off.” Hazel rolled her eyes and dragged Clarissa playfully as they went towards the elevator which took them to the executive floor.

The executive floor was scanty with few people. Well, the poor can’t afford real gold unless they’re ready to go bankrupt.

“No. Don’t touch that.”

“Not the butt.”

“Gosh that’s the left leg.”

“Don’t fondle with my boobs Raquel.”

“Hazel!”

“Geez you’re too lousy.”

“Sorry.”

Noises kept coming from the dressing room as the curtain kept moving and showing contours from different angles.

“Ma’am, if you don’t mind, please keep the noise down. Other people here find it quite annoying.”

“Oh. I apologize,” Clarissa replied groaning in frustration.

After hours of dressing, they were finally done with their ‘shopping’ and left the mall, only to meet tons of people with cameras, microphones and other press gadgets.

“Oh. I totally forgot about the press.” Hazel made a sad face and slapped her head for being foolish.

“Mrs. Walters, how do you feel being the wife of the naughty last son of the Walters?”

“Mrs. Walters, How does it feel like to get married out of love?”

“Do you think you’re being wronged by getting married to a man just to secure the bond in the business world?”

All the questions got Clarissa dumbfounded as she just stared like a moron but just one comment got her attention.

“There are rumors around the city saying that you’re an impostor. What do you say about that to clarify yourself, Mrs. Walters?” A lady asked as she walked towards Clarissa with a microphone.

The question caught Clarissa off guard that her face went pale instantly.

“So it is true?” The lady asked again and this time with a sweet smile as she bat her eyelashes.

“Such a treacherous way to attack a fellow woman.” A voice came from the crowd as everyone looked around to see who said that.

“You don’t have to slander my wife. Just express your jealousy in a straightforward manner.” Romeo emerged from the crowd and flung his arm over Clarissa’s shoulder in a romantic way then pulled her towards him.

“She’s my wife already. What do I need to prove it?” He added as he smiled at the reporter.

“Well then why don’t you…” The reporter tried saying but was cut short by Romeo.

“Say no more darling.” Romeo replied and cupped her face then placed his lips on Clarissa’s. At first, it seemed stationary. But then Clarissa opened up and let Romeo kiss her.

Camera lights kept flashing around as people captured the romantic scene.

“You’re lucky my wife is here to save the day. Such slanders might make you end up losing your job.” Romeo retorted coldly after cutting the kiss.

“Or even your life.” He muttered into the reporter’s ear but audible enough for others to hear as gasps filled the air.

“Scram!” Romeo yelled and left the scene, dragging Clarissa along who complied and looked at Hazel with a pleading face.

“Next time you’re going to a crowded place, go with a face mask or a clown’s mask. I won’t be a superhero every time,” Romeo said coldly as soon as they entered the car and zoomed off.

“Wait. What about my dresses?” Clarissa questioned.

“Hazel’s gonna bring ‘em.”

“And the reporter. Why was she onto me? I mean…”

“She’s my ex. It’s totally normal.” Romeo chuckled as he kept his eyes on the road.