A Web of Lies and New Beginnings
Esmery stretched as she rose from the couch, rolling her shoulders to shake off the stiffness from the previous night. Without wasting another second, she headed to her bedroom for a refreshing shower.
The warm water cascaded over her skin, washing away the fatigue and lingering thoughts of the past. Wrapping herself in a soft bathrobe, she stood before the mirror, her fingers working expertly to blow-dry and straighten her hair. Her reflection was calm, composed, yet beneath the surface, emotions churned like a storm.
Stepping into her walk-in closet, she scanned the neatly arranged clothing. Dark blue, maroon, black, deep brown, and white-shades that defined her essence. Light colors were only reserved for modeling, never her personal choice.
After a brief moment of contemplation, she selected a black short-sleeved crop top, ripped jeans, and a denim jacket. Slipping into her black sneakers, she took a deep breath before stepping out.
As she descended the grand staircase, she had a clear destination in mind, but before she could reach the door, a voice stopped her.
"Oh, sister!" Astrid's overly sweet tone rang through the air.
Esmery turned to see her younger sister rushing toward her, tears streaming down her face. But Esmery had seen this act before-those tears weren't real.
"I'm so sorry I accepted Diego's proposal!" Astrid cried, her hands clutched together as if pleading. "I didn't mean to hurt you. It wasn't my fault that I fell for him!"
Esmery remained silent, her expression unreadable.
"Sister, He threatened to remove you from the entertainment circle if I didn't agree. That was wrong of me," Astrid sniffled dramatically. "Please forgive me. I know it's my fault."
Esmery's fingers curled slightly at her sides.
"What?" Her voice was calm, yet there was a sharp edge to it. "Is that what Diego did?"
"Yes, I swear!" Astrid nodded frantically.
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, Esmery exhaled and shook her head.
"Oh, God... I'm sorry for thinking you were the reason my relationship with Diego ended," she murmured. "I forgive you."
Astrid smiled victoriously as she embraced Esmery, but behind that sweet smile, her mind echoed a different sentiment: What a fool.
As they pulled apart, Esmery's eyes darkened slightly as she asked, "Astrid, don't you think Diego can cheat on you just as he cheated on me?"
Astrid stiffened slightly before lowering her gaze.
"I can't think that way," she mumbled. "If I do, I'll lose everything. And you should also know..." Her voice cracked. "I love him."
Esmery sighed, shaking her head.
"Don't cry," she said gently, brushing away Astrid's tears. "Nobody controls fate. But be careful-what goes around comes around."
Astrid nodded weakly, though Esmery knew better than to believe she was truly remorseful.
Without another word, she turned and walked away, heading straight to the dining room. Breakfast was already set, but she barely tasted the food as she ate, her mind fixated on the decision she had made.
Once finished, she reached for a neatly folded envelope-her marriage registration letter.
She stood up and walked outside, where her driver, Ashton, was already waiting by the car.
"Miss Esmery," Ashton greeted, opening the door for her.
"Ashton," she acknowledged, sliding into the backseat.
The two had known each other since high school. Back then, Ashton had been a quiet, hardworking student, but poor grades had prevented him from continuing his education. Esmery had later learned that he had taken various jobs to support his grandmother, who was battling leukemia. Without hesitation, she had hired him as her driver, ensuring he had a stable income to pay for her treatments and his future studies.
As he drove, Ashton glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
"You seem deep in thought," he remarked.
Esmery exhaled slowly, watching the city pass by.
"Just something I need to get done," she replied.
Ashton didn't press further, and they drove in comfortable silence.
Ashton stole a glance at Esmery through the rearview mirror as they drove toward the Marriage Affairs Bureau. Something about her seemed... different today. She was fidgeting with the hem of her denim jacket, a habit he had come to recognize over the years. She only did that when she was nervous.
"Madam, what are you going to do at the Marriage Affairs Bureau?" he finally asked, breaking the silence.
Esmery's lips twitched into a small smile, though there was a hint of exasperation in her eyes.
"Oh, Ash," she sighed, shaking her head. "I've told you not to be so formal with me."
Ashton chuckled but remained expectant, waiting for her answer.
She took a breath before saying, "And as for the Bureau... what else would I be doing there? I'm getting married, of course."
Ashton nearly slammed on the brakes.
"What?!" His head whipped around before he quickly focused back on the road.
Esmery smirked at his reaction but kept her gaze out the window, fiddling with her jacket.
"But, Esmery... Nanny told me that Diego is cheating on you-with your sister Astrid," Ashton said cautiously, as if testing the waters.
At the mention of Diego and Astrid, Esmery's fingers clenched around the fabric of her jacket before she let go, forcing herself to relax.
"Nanny treats you like her own son," she murmured. "I'm not surprised she told you."
Nanny had been more than just a housekeeper to Esmery. She was family. After losing her husband and two children in a tragic accident, she had devoted her life to taking care of Esmery and treating Ashton like her own. The woman had a heart big enough to love them both unconditionally.
"But it's not Diego I'm marrying," Esmery added, her voice firm.
Ashton's brows furrowed in confusion.
"Wait... someone else?"
"Yes," she said simply, not offering any more details.
"Oh..." Ashton trailed off, processing her words. There was a long pause before he spoke again. "Okay then."
Esmery noticed his lack of further questioning, and for some reason, that made her want to tell him everything. After all, Ashton wasn't just her driver-he was one of the few people in her life she could truly count on.
She sighed, adjusting in her seat before saying, "This is what happened yesterday-before and after the party."
And with that, she told him everything. Every single detail.
The moment she found out about Diego and Astrid.
The announcement.
The weight lifting off her shoulders.
And the stranger who had walked into her life at just the right moment.
Ashton listened intently, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter with every word she spoke. By the time she finished, he was silent for a long moment. Then, he let out a low whistle.
"This is... surprising," he finally said.
Esmery let out a dry chuckle. "Tell me about it."
"But wait," Ashton suddenly asked, glancing at her through the mirror again. "Do you even know the person you're about to marry?"
Esmery hesitated for a brief second before answering, "No."
Ashton's grip on the wheel tightened.
"But don't freak out," she quickly added, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "I trust him."
"How can you trust someone you don't even know?" Ashton asked, his tone laced with concern.
Esmery turned her gaze back to the window, her fingers lightly tracing patterns against her jacket.
"I don't know," she admitted, her voice soft. "But I do."
Ashton exhaled, shaking his head slightly. He wanted to argue, to convince her to reconsider, but he knew Esmery well enough-once she made up her mind, there was no changing it.
"Okay," he finally said, his voice gentle. "Whatever your decision is... I'll support it."
Esmery smiled, warmth spreading in her chest at his words.
"Thank you, Ash," she said softly.
As they neared the Marriage Affairs Bureau, Esmery felt her heartbeat quicken. Was this crazy? Yes. Was it reckless? Absolutely.
But for the first time in a long time, she was taking control of her own story.
And she wasn't looking back.
Minutes later, they arrived at their destination-the Marriage Affairs Bureau.
Esmery stepped out, gripping the envelope tightly. She took a deep breath and walked toward the entrance, her heart steady, her decision final.
This was it.
A new chapter was about to begin.