Chapter 1 Do I Need to Make it Clear?
"Ophelia, I'm back. Zachariah is mine. If you're willing to quit the game, I'll give you twenty million dollars as compensation."
Ophelia Lowe's lips curled as she looked at the text message on her phone. Zachariah Chambers' true love, Cora Fletcher sent the text. Cora left Zachariah four years ago for some unknown reason, and it honored Ophelia to be her substitute.
Ophelia grabbed the phone and headed into the bedroom. She stood in the doorway for a while, enraptured by the tall figure standing by the window. She pulled herself out of her stupor after a while, striding over to him and wrapping her arms around his waist.
Then she whispered in his ear. "Mr. Chambers, Miss Fletcher texted me again. Shall I call her and clarify our relationship with her?"
"There's no need." Zachariah said lightly, "I have asked the lawyer to draft a divorce agreement and all you have to do is to sign the papers when they are ready."
Faking a sad expression, Ophelia responded. "What a pity. I wanted to carry the tales to Miss Fletcher. But congratulations, you can finally be with the one you love."
Even if Zachariah couldn't see her expression, he caught her brisk tone.
If she ever showed any sadness, it would greatly surprise him.
Ophelia was about to pull her arms away when Zachariah grabbed a hold of her and pulled her into his chest.
Embraced in his arms, she raised her chin and welcomed his kiss.
Their lips met, and they kissed passionately for several seconds. When they parted, Ophelia leaned back against his arms and sighed.
"Mr. Chambers, Miss Fletcher, the lady you continuously thought about is coming back. Aren't you afraid she'll be jealous seeing us like this?"
"You're still Mrs. Chambers," Zachariah said, implying that as long as they weren't divorced yet, Ophelia had to fulfill her obligations as his wife.
Zachariah lifted her chin, and their lips met again in a passionate flurry.
To be honest, Zachariah liked Ophelia quite a lot. Apart from looking almost identical to Cora, the woman he loved, Ophelia had a more filled-out figure.
Men were visual creatures. Unless they truly loved a woman, a woman with a better physical appearance would be more attractive to them. Compared to women who were showing signs of aging, men preferred young and beautiful women with perfect figures.
"Mr. Chambers, I got back and I'm drenched in sweat. Please, let me take a shower first."
Ophelia slid out of Zachariah's embrace like a charming serpent.
Zachariah looked at her with lust in his eyes and asked, "May I join you?"
Ophelia winked and walked into the bathroom, leaning forward, and said, "I prefer to bathe alone." Then she closed the door.
Zachariah's expression changed. He liked when Ophelia played hard to get, like a temptress, just waiting for him to make the wrong move.
Four years before, Cora left because of a misunderstanding and never showed up for their wedding. After that, he found a woman who looked just like her to serve as a substitute. What was shocking to the guests was that the bride wasn't the daughter of the Fletcher family.
Everyone said Cora was the one at fault. Both families knew she was the one who had run away from the wedding. The Fletchers were ashamed and apologized profusely to him. He didn't retaliate against the Fletcher family because he loved Cora. Instead, he found a woman who loved money to replace Cora at a critical moment.
And the Cinderella who was brought under the spotlight was none other than Ophelia Lowe.
*****
Their love making exhausted Ophelia and she didn't wake until seven o'clock in the evening.
After taking a shower in the bathroom, she put on a dress she had just bought and dressed up simply before going downstairs.
She walked toward Zachariah, who was enjoying his dinner, and gave him a light peck on his cheek before smiling at him.
"Mr. Chambers, why didn't you wake me up?"
"You were sleeping like the dead. I didn't want to disturb you," Zachariah said as he put some food on his plate.
Ophelia placed another kiss on his cheek and called out. "Mrs. Miriam, I'm hungry."
After a while, a chubby, middle-aged woman with a cheerful face walked out of the kitchen carrying a few dishes.
"Young master just said that young mistress might sleep longer as you seemed tired. So he asked me to reserve some food for you. I hadn't expected you to wake up so soon though."
Ophelia sat down with a smile. Seeing Mrs. Miriam had made her favorite dishes, her smile grew even wider.
"Mrs. Miriam, you're the best. You made all my favorites."
"Please eat up, young mistress. It's great to finally have you home again. I expect to see put on some weight. You look thinner now since the last time I saw you. I will prepare delicious food for you every day from now on," Mrs. Miriam replied with a smile.
"Thank you, Mrs. Miriam."
Zachariah had almost finished eating when Mrs. Miriam went back to her work.
He wiped his mouth and cleared his throat. "Dad is on a business trip for a few days and Mom must be bored at home alone. I'd like you to go over and see her tomorrow"
"Okay," Ophelia said, smiling sweetly.
Zachariah looked at her smile in a trance. He knew she looked a lot like Cora, but he always forgot she appeared even more similar when she smiled. Compared to Cora, Ophelia had her own unique characteristics.
"Remember to listen to Mom's words."
"Yes, Mr. Chambers."
When she saw Zachariah getting up from his seat, Ophelia got up as well. Then, she pointed at her cheek playfully and smiled at him, "Mr. Chambers, I want an evening kiss."
Zachariah glanced at her before walking over and placed a light peck on her cheek.
"You'll have to eat alone. I still have some unfinished work to attend to."
"Okay."
They were like an old married couple who'd been together for many years; a couple who knew each other's living habits inside and out.
Although there were no pretty flowers or fancy accessories to prove it, one could feel their silent understanding through their way of getting along with each other.
Though who would have thought their marriage was on the verge of divorce?
