Today was Andra and Evelyn's wedding. Both families had gathered, including the marriage officiant.
Evelyn sat beside Andra, who was preparing to go through the marriage ceremony despite being forced into it.
"Are you ready?" the officiant asked, looking at the two of them.
"Yes, sir," Andra and Evelyn answered together.
The marriage ceremony was carried out quickly, until the witnesses spoke the sacred words declaring them legally married. It ended with a prayer together.
Reluctantly, Andra stood and kissed Evelyn's forehead before sliding a ring onto her ring finger.
Afterward, they took pictures with their families and had to look happy because both of their parents were so excited.
Evelyn let out a long sigh. She was married to Andra, her idol at school and the student council president at Edenia High School.
"Andra, I'm entrusting Evelyn to you. Take good care of my daughter. I believe in you," Evelyn's father said, patting Andra on the shoulder.
"Yes, sir," Andra replied with a nod, pretending to agree.
"Congratulations, sweetheart. You're a wife now. Don't worry, you'll be living in a mansion near your school so you can learn to be independent," her mother said, putting an arm around Evelyn.
"Yes, Mom," Evelyn replied stiffly.
Both families looked genuinely happy because they had been close friends for a long time. Andra, on the other hand, felt like he was truly suffering.
Once they were in their room, the atmosphere suddenly became quiet and awkward. Evelyn sat stiffly on the edge of the bed.
"I'll sleep on the couch," Evelyn said, picking up her pillow.
"Don't pretend to be nice," Andra snapped. He moved to the couch and stretched out on it.
"Go to sleep, and don't expect me to touch you," Andra ordered.
Evelyn could only bite her lip. It wasn't as if she expected that. Why would Andra want to touch her? He probably wasn't even interested enough to look her way.
Evelyn quickly got up and went into the bathroom. There, she saw her reflection in the mirror and immediately wiped off her makeup.
"When you look at me, I'm really not that ugly. So why does Andra seem so unwilling to be with me?" Evelyn murmured.
Her face was almost perfect because her family's genes were strong. She had a small, shapely nose, thin red lips, a symmetrical face, and fair, radiant skin. Evelyn's hair was long and shiny, too.
"Is it because I'm not smart enough? Is that why I don't meet Andra's standards?" Evelyn murmured.
Academically, Evelyn didn't stand out much because she wanted to live an ordinary life without becoming the subject of other people's conversations. Being in the top ten was good enough for her.
Ever since she was little, Evelyn had wanted to live freely. Her family was constantly talked about, which was only natural since they were billionaires.
"Huh, maybe I should take a bath first so I can feel refreshed," Evelyn said.
The girl immediately took off her clothes and prepared to soak in the tub. Evelyn began to relax, closing her eyes as she grew calm.
Meanwhile, Andra, who was still in the room, needed to use the bathroom. He thought Evelyn was already asleep.
Andra quickly opened the bathroom door and walked straight in.
"Aahhh!" Evelyn screamed, covering her eyes.
Andra was startled, but he quickly returned to his usual blank expression and left the bathroom. He really hadn't seen anything.
After the door closed, Evelyn immediately rinsed her entire body and dried herself with a towel before leaving the bathroom.
"Andra, I'm sorry I took so long," the girl said, lowering her head. "It won't happen again."
Andra merely rolled his eyes and deliberately slammed his shoulder into hers before entering the bathroom without saying a word.
Evelyn winced at the pain in her arm. Andra really was incredibly rough, and his face was frightening, too.
"Huh, I have to be patient," Evelyn said.
Maybe someday, her husband would soften toward her. Wait—her husband... Evelyn didn't want to get ahead of herself. This marriage was only a business arrangement, just as Andra had said before.
Evelyn picked up her clothes and changed into pajamas, then rested comfortably on her bed.
The bathroom door opened, and Andra came out. Evelyn hurriedly pretended to sleep so he wouldn't get angry at her.
Andra glanced at her briefly, then slept on the couch. He was going to school the next morning and didn't have time to stay up late.
The sun had risen bright and clear. Both families gathered for breakfast before going about their day.
"How was last night, sweetheart?" Evelyn's mother asked her daughter.
"We were tired, Mom, so we fell asleep right away," Evelyn answered innocently.
"Andra, Evelyn is very innocent, so you have to be extra patient with her," his mother-in-law said, looking at her son-in-law.
"Yes, Mom," Andra replied with a nod as he ate his toast.
Evelyn sighed. Whenever his parents were around, Andra acted sweet. When it was just the two of them, he was always cold and sharp.
"You're both going to school together today," Evelyn's father said.
"But, Dad..."
"What's the problem, sweetheart? It's perfectly normal for you to go together. You're husband and wife now. If anyone asks, just say Andra is your boyfriend," her father said.
Evelyn would be doomed if she told everyone that Andra was her boyfriend. That guy would hate her for the rest of his life, and on top of that, his obsessive fans would attack her.
"Fine, Dad. Evelyn and I will go together," Andra said immediately.
"See? Andra's willing to do it. Why are you the one refusing?" his mother said.
Evelyn forced a smile, then glanced at Andra, who wore his usual blank expression. He was only pretending because his parents were right there in front of them.
After breakfast, they said goodbye and left for school.
Evelyn stood frozen beside the car while Andra had already gotten inside.
"How long are you planning to stand there? Until your dad gets mad at me?" Andra asked.
"Where am I supposed to sit?" Evelyn asked awkwardly.
"In front! What do you think I am, your chauffeur?" Andra snapped.
Evelyn nodded and opened the door before sitting in the front passenger seat. Then the car slowly pulled out of the mansion.
Evelyn sighed and glanced at Andra sitting beside her. He really was handsome and charismatic. Any girl who managed to win his heart would be incredibly lucky.
Partway there, Andra stopped the car. He glanced at Evelyn.
"What's wrong with the car?" Evelyn asked.
"Get out," Andra ordered.
"Huh?" Evelyn stared at him.
"Are you trying to ruin my reputation?" Andra snapped.
"But... Who am I supposed to go to school with? I'm going to be late soon," Evelyn said anxiously.
"I don't care," Andra said.
Evelyn finally grabbed her bag and got out of Andra's car. Andra sped away without caring about her.
Evelyn didn't waste any time and ran straight to school. If she waited for a taxi, she wouldn't make it in time.
She wiped the sweat gathering on her forehead, but Evelyn didn't care. She didn't want Andra to punish her, so she had to get to school on time.
After a few minutes, Evelyn finally arrived. The school gates were still open, and she smiled. But as she approached, the gates suddenly closed, shut by members of the student council.
"You're late," one of the senior students said, laughing at her disheveled appearance.
"Sorry, I—"
"No excuses. Run laps around the field," the senior ordered.
"What?" Evelyn was stunned. She had just run all the way to school, and now they were making her run laps around the field.
"Could I rest for a minute, please? My chest hurts," Evelyn said. "I'll drink some water first, then I'll run."
"No. Those are the rules," the senior said.
"What's going on here?" asked a long-haired girl as she approached them. The senior stepped back, looking intimidated by her.
"She doesn't want to be punished," the senior said.
Evelyn shook her head. "That's not it. I will do it, but can I rest for a minute? I ran all the way to school, and my chest hurts," she explained.
"All right. You can rest for five minutes," the girl said, giving her permission.
"You're too nice, Yuri," her friend said.
"It's okay. I feel sorry for her," Yuri replied.
Yuri was the girl who was close to Andra. A lot of people even supported the two of them getting together. She was genuinely kind, so everyone liked her.
"Yuri." Andra's voice called to her from a distance.
Yuri sighed. "I'm going now. Keep an eye on her, and don't be too harsh. I feel sorry for her."
"Got it, Ri," her friend replied.
Evelyn could only watch as Yuri approached Andra with a sweet smile. The guy welcomed her warmly. Andra didn't care about Evelyn at all—not even enough to glance at her.
"They really are perfect for each other," Evelyn murmured, knowing her place.