The Unwanted Bride

Chapter One

SAVANNAH

"PIER?! Where the hell are you?! Come out here?!" I shouted at my best friend's doorstep. The door opened, and I saw Ericka.

"Vannie? Is there a problem?" she asked me, but I went straight inside.

"Where's Pier?"

"He's still asleep, why?"

I headed straight to his room and slammed the door. I quickly pulled off his blanket and covered his face with a pillow.

"Oh my gosh, Van!! Don't kill him!" Ericka screamed when she saw Pier struggling. I removed the pillow and stared at him while he caught his breath.

"You idiot!! Do you want me dead?!" Pier shouted.

"I will really kill you, Pier! How can you be so careless?!!"

"What did I do? Girl, I was just sleeping and then you're blaming me for something I didn't know?! What's your problem?!"

I wiped my hands on my face. I looked at the two of them. Ericka looked really worried while Pier seemed a little irritated and bothered.

"They're sending me back to the Philippines," I whispered, but it was loud enough for both of them to hear.

"What?!"

"Really?"

They both shouted at the same time. I nodded and took an envelope, handing it to Pier.

"You signed a contract, Pier. You told them our agency would send our top model there in exchange for the ad campaign contract," I said, my voice trembling. Pier snatched the contract and examined it.

"You're the top model, Vannie," Ericka said, almost to herself. I looked at her as she realized what was really happening around us.

"I didn't sign any agreement about sending you back to those assholes, Van. Trust me," Pier said as he scanned the paper.

"Your secretary has your electronic signature. Maybe she signed it?" Ericka suggested. Pier turned pale.

"You gave your secretary your e-signature? Pier, that's insane!"

"I didn't know she'd sign this. I didn't even know we had an offer from Xan--" he stopped and looked at me.

"You didn't know?" he shook his head. I looked at Ericka, and she shook her head too.

"He's already found you, Savannah," Pier said. My stomach sank at hearing that.

XANDER

"How was it?" I asked my spy in California.

"Mr. Pier Rodriguez has already signed the papers, Sir. Their company will send Mrs. Montreal--"

"Mrs. Montreal," I corrected him. He cleared his throat and continued.

"Their company will send Mrs. Montreal just as you wish."

I couldn't help but smile.

"Well done. And what about the pictures?"

"They are in your email, Sir."

I opened my computer and looked at them.

"Anything else, Sir?"

"None. Thanks," and I turned off my phone. I opened the email my spy sent me.

The mail contained pictures of my wife while she is still in California. I immediately printed them out and placed them on my desk to examine them closely.

There were pictures of her taking pictures. So, she's also a photographer? I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride when I learned that. I touched her face in one of the pictures. She was smiling while talking to Pier and Ericka. I knew both of them, they've been friends since they were kids and also my wife.

My intercom beeped, interrupting my examination of the photos. I answered it immediately.

"Kathy?" I asked my secretary.

"Sir, your father is outside. He wants to talk to you--" The door to my office flung open, and in came my father.

"Where is my Vannie?" he asked, excited.

"Chill, Dad," I said, amused. He sat down immediately and took some of the pictures.

"Oh my Vannie. She really became even more beautiful. Seems like she's thriving away from you," Dad said, grinning mischievously. I snatched the picture from him and hid it.

"Come on, Dad. How supportive of you."

Dad chuckled and threw the paperweight at me.

"I love Savannah because she loves my child dearly. But my idiotic son threw her away."

I couldn't react to what Dad said. I know. What happened between us is my fault. I hurt her.

"That's why I'm doing this, Dad. To have her back," I told him. Dad just looked at me and shook his head.

"I doubt that, Alexander. After all you've done to her, I think she's far from accepting you again."

I felt a pang of pain when I heard my father say that. But I won't give up. I can't lose her.

"I have to go. I have a meeting. " Dad left me there. I looked at my ring finger. I'm still wearing our ring. I touched it and smiled.

"I'm going to have you again, Savannah. By hook or by crook, you'll be mine again. Mine. Just mine."

SAVANNAH

"Be careful, okay? Keep your distance from that bastard!" Ericka said while fixing my luggage. Pier just sat at the edge of my bed.

"Are you sure you'll be alright? You really don't need us there?" Pier asked me. I shook my head. I wasn't in the mood to talk. Grandpa just called me, saying that our family's private jet was on its way to pick me up. And up until now, I'm still annoyed because they're sending me back. Even Grandpa and Grandma joined in on that demon's scheme!

I shot up from the bed when I heard a knock on my door. I stood up and saw three guys dressed in black, with the Montreal emblem on their collars.

"Lady Savannah. The jet is ready," the tallest of them said. The other two entered and took my luggage. The other man stepped back.

"Take care, Vannie. Call us when you get there," Ericka said. I went to her and hugged her. I started sniffing. I was about to cry.

"Savannah Mikaella! Stop it! Don't cry!" Pier scolded me. I went to him, and he hugged me.

"Bro, I'm scared," I told him. He hissed and hugged me tighter.

"Hey! That's not allowed! You're not the same sweet girl from seven years ago! You're not weak anymore! So don't be scared!" he shook me. I wiped my tears away and smiled at him.

"Just three months, Vannie. After that, you can come back here as if nothing happened," Ericka said while caressing my back. I nodded.

"Take care of things here, okay?" I smiled at both of them. I followed the guy in black. He took me to the helipad of our building. I looked around and saw the jet. I squinted when I noticed that it was a different jet.

Alevannah

I exhaled sharply. He really combined our names? The nerve of that guy!

"Lady Savannah?" the guy approached me and helped me get on the plane. He started doing some safety checks. I put my headphones on and closed my eyes. I wish I could have a great night's sleep and that all of this is just a nightmare.

I felt someone rubbing my cheeks. I opened my eyes. I literally jumped out of my seat.

"Savannah, dear... how are you?" Mommy Alessa asked me. I blinked. She hugged me tight, and that's when I finally came back to myself.

"Mom..."

"I am so glad you are back, Savannah." I heard her choke on her tears. I patted her back. I heard a door creak, and I saw Daddy Alfonso rushing in.

"There you are!" he energetically shouted when he saw me. Dad hasn't changed. I laughed and went to him for a hug.

"Daddy."

"Vannie. My Vannie. I thought you wouldn't come back," he accused me. I laughed.

"I won't be staying long."

"Are you going back to California?" Mommy asked me. Dad also looked surprised.

"But why?" he asked.

"My life is no longer here in the Philippines, Dad. It's in California now."

"But Savannah--" Mom said. I looked at her and smiled.

"Mom, sorry. I don't want to stay here. I also know that no one wants me to stay here, except for my grandparents and the two of you."

Mommy shook her head and took my hand.

"That's not true. Xander wanted you to stay."

I scoffed. I shook my head.

"Xander and I are already over, Ma. He's the one who sent me away. So why would he want me to stay?" I just couldn't find the logic. Xander never wanted me. He only loves Sabina, and will love her.

"Because you're my wife. You should stay wherever your husband is."

I looked towards the door. And there I saw him.

The man I loved first.

The man I married.

The man who loves my sister.

My husband.

Alexander Montreal.