Arranged Marriage: To Hear Your Voice

Gabriel was busy reading a newspaper while glancing at Sabrina who is frowning when she read a message from her phone, she haven't touch her phone since early that morning and it's already seven in the evening. He cleared his throat and sipped on his coffee then turn to the other page of the newspaper.

Sabrina stand in front of him. He look up at her innocently like he didn't know about the message from Alanis.

"Are you jealous?"

"Why would I be jealous?" he asked her. She rolled her eyes.

"You probably read the messages from Alanis."

"Yeah, I read them. I am now letting my people find out what kind of gift he send to you this time."

She sat down on the space beside him and pull up his elbow and she move her head under like a needle and a yarn, so his arms are around her. She lean on his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Hubby." She said in a honeyed voice with pouts.

"Hmm?"

"Can I go to London tomorrow?"

His face darkens. This probably means that she is going to meet Alanis.

"I'll go with you."

"No." She pouted as she look up at him with twinkling eyes.

"What are you going to do there?" He asked. She didn't say anything at all. She just look up at him with those kitty eyes. He exhales and look away.

"I have something to do there." She rubbed her head on his chest like a kitten. Sabrina knows that Gabriel couldn't stop her and couldn't decline her.

"I'll send body guards."

"I have my body guards…" She pouted even more.

"Why tomorrow?"

"It's so important." She said. Then she pushes the newspaper and straddle his lap. Then she shove her face on his chest sideways. "Come on… please…"

"Call me every four hours—no, every hour. I also want to meet the body guards that are going with you before you go."

"Okay!" She said excitedly and start kissing his face. He let her until she just get lazy and lean on him. He pats her head and kiss the top.

"You are giving me heart attack woman."

"Hubby, I will be fine."

"What's the deal with Alanis?" He rubbed her back.

"I just want to meet up with him and let him know that I don't need his help."

"Okay. It will only take a day, right?" She nodded. "I will only give you a day in London then you fly back here to the Philippines. If you delay I will make my army search for you."

"Okay." She smiled and kiss his lips. "Let's visit the twins?"

"Sure."

♥♥♥

Veronica and Tony eat quietly. She was still in thought and her feet keeps on tapping on the floor. She couldn't eat well and her stomach is twisting into knots.

"You don't like the food?" He asked.

"No. It's good." She said and takes another spoon.

"Eat more."

"I don't actually eat a lot for dinner."

"I know. But you look thinner than the last time. I'll do a body check later." He said it in his serious voice. The one thing she knew about Tony is—when he's serious. He was surely serious.

She washes the dishes while Tony is taking a shower. Soon, she clean the bedsheets organize her room. He got out naked with only a towel that covers his lower part.

"V, come here. I'll check your body." He said as he turn on the lights. Veronica laugh and crosses her arms.

"Stop this Tony."

"I am serious here, Veronica." He strode close to her and pull her wrist. He start unbuttoning her blouse and she stop him. He stop with exhales. He then pull her waist and measure it with his hands. She did lose weight.

He scoop her face and noticed she has dark circles and look tired.

"What's wrong with you?" She ask smacking his chest.

"V…" He scoop her cheeks. "Why aren't you giving me a chance?" She was again stupefied with his question. "Am I not caring enough?" She look into his eyes. She could read emotions and he looks broken hearted and lonely. "Am I not a good cook? Am I not good enough in bed? Tell me what I should do or change or enhance… I would do it."

"You don't understand. If you change, you are not Tony anymore. It's not really you. It's all in me. Tony, you can't just focus on me. There are lots of women who wants to marry you. Why choose someone who don't want to commit?"

"It's because I only want you." He kiss her lips desperately. She didn't respond. He release her mouth and lean his forehead to hers. Seeing the pain in his eyes again makes her heart stabbed with a hundreds of daggers. "I won't get married until you agree to marry me. I don't care how long it will take or how many months or years… Just you." He kisses her lips.

At that moment, Veronica was once again mesmerized. Like his words could hypnotize her and it scare her so much. The man was indeed in love with her but is it real or he just want to make love to her and then eventually mistreat her like his father did to her mother. She didn't want history to repeat itself. She was too scared of what's going to happen in the future though she shouldn't worry.

"Go take a shower." He kiss her forehead warmly.

She did take a shower after wrapping her wounds with silicon band. She rubbed her chest where her heart is located. She look at herself when she's putting her clothes on. She wore her three fourths sleeve sleeping dress.

He waited for her and she lay down on the left side of the bed. She pull the blanket and turn back from him.

"Good night." He kiss her temple and because of exhaustion, she fall asleep soon.

Tony wasn't sleeping at all. He saw something on her arm and he slowly pull the wide sleeve of the dress and saw a bandage wrapped around it. He pull it back and wrapped his arms around her. He caress her curve and her thigh and found something there.

He gently pull the dress and found a bandage around it. What happened to her? He immediately put it back and sat up. He cover the blanket around her and kiss her forehead.

He took his phone and went to the living room. He call the PI of Gabriel and gave him information. He wants to know what happened to her.

He went back to bed and hug her from behind.

"V," he caresses her hair. "V." he call her and she was half awake.

"Hmm."

"I love you."