Chapter 4
Simon sat in the car, smoking a cigarette, feeling an unshakeable sense of frustration and panic. This time, Tiana really seemed upset
He cared for Jocelyn because he had discovered that she was the lifesaver he’d been searching for all these years. When he was a kid playing near the beach, a wave had pulled him under, and it was Jocelyn who saved him. She still had the gold. bracelet he had given her back then, and he felt obligated to repay that debt.
He glanced up at the villa’s second floor, sighing. Td talk to Tiana later. She loves me. She’ll get it.
Upstairs. Tiana stormed into her room, her anger turning their photos into trash, Leaning against the wall, a tear betrayed. her pain.
Just as she reached for it, a strong arm encircled her, pulling her into a comforting hug. Before she could protest, a kiss brushed away the tear. “Hope this is the last time you shed tears for someone else,” a voice said, warm and firm.
Tiana frowned at Enoch, the glint in his eyes hinting at danger. “I’ve been in love with Simon for years. I can’t just my feelings.
switch off
Enoch’s fingers, long and gentle, cradled her face, his thumb soothing her tear–streaked eye. “No worries. I’m the one with the body you’re stuck with.”
With a swift kick, Tiana aimed for his leg, but he dodged with a playful grin. Lifting her off the ground, he held her close. “Still got some fight in you, I see,” he teased, his tone a mix of danger and amusement.
She pushed against his broad shoulders, a light shove. “Stop it. I never took you for a flirt.”
His smirk widened. “Once you’ve had a taste of something good, it’s hard to resist going back for more.”
Speechless, Tiana remembered the quiet man from before. Now, he was spouting lines like a seasoned player. She thought, “Men are all the same.‘
“Put me down,” she demanded.
Without a word, he complied. “First things first, grab your ID.”
Tiana looked at him with one eyebrow arched high. “You’re really going to marry me?”
“Sure, why not?” he shrugged. “It’s a family rule: you’re with a woman, you take care of her.”
“Your family’s got some old–school values,” she remarked.
Seizing the moment while her dad and stepmom were out, Tiana quietly fetched her ID and headed to city hall with Enoch. It was a gutsy move, one she couldn’t fully explain.
Maybe it was to fulfill her grandmother’s wish. Or to one–up Simon and Jocelyn. But deep down, she knew marrying Enoch wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Exiting the villa, Tiana had swapped her burgundy engagement gown for a crisp white shirt and snug blue jeans that hugged her curves and showed off her figure. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, makeup subtle, yet enhancing her natural beauty and charm.
Enoch, waiting in the car, spotted her approach. His fingers, holding a cigarette, stilled, and his gaze went deeper.
1/3
Ramance..
Onen
16:24 Fri, 14 Feb MO
Chapter 4
Tiana chucked a crisp white shirt at Enoch as she slid into the car. “You’re in for a photoshone, not a wake the cement a playful grin on her face “We’re going wedding style, white attire required:
Enoch held up the shirt, his brows furrowing “This is a bit snug”
Tiana was momentarily stunned, thinking. This was meant for Simon, but since that’s not happening, Enoch gets the lucky break And Sumon, at 61“, is actually a bit shorter and less muscular than Enoch
“Guess we’ll have to make a pit stop at the mall,” Tiana announced, breaking the silence
Enoch, though, had other plans. “Hold up. Eve got this,” he said, stepping out to grab a shirt from the trunk Right there he pulled off his black top, not a care in the world about Tiara watching
His chest was a masterpiece, a perfect V–shape that narrowed down to his hips, all lean muscle and not Tiana tried not to stare, but her cheeks betrayed a subtle blush
cratice of fate.
After slipping into the white shirt, Enoch turned to Tiana with a mischievous grin. “Note to self: size 150 for shirts next time And just for the record, my underwear size is-*
“Stop right there. Enoch,” Tiana interjected, her cheeks now a full–blown red. “We’re playing pretend here, not shopping for a wardrobe. I’m not your personal stylist”
Enoch’s voice hitched a bit at the chill in her eyes. “Alright, alright. But I’ll make sure you enjoy the benefits in other ways” Tuna rolled her eyes, exasperated. “With your bedroom skille Keep dreaming”
The car ride to city hall was a quiet one, with Tiana’s irritation as palpable as the tension between them.
In a flash, just ten minutes, it was all done–snaps of the camera, scribbling on forms, a quick oath, and a stamp of approval. Tiana and Enoch stepped out of city hall, each clutching a glossy red marriage certificate
Tiana glanced at the photo on the certificate, their faces posed close by the photographer’s direction. Her lips turned up in forced smile, while Enoch’s smirk seemed ambiguous, a mix of genuine amusement and a facade.
Becoming a couple so abruptly felt bizarre. The day before. Tiana had been the butt of every socialite’s joke, ridiculed for her relentless pursuit of Simon for ten long years–pitiful and desperate.
“Mrs. Gaston, Enoch said, his voice a low rumble as he descended the stairs, “don’t dwell on the past. He’s not worth your
tears
Tiana’s eyes shifted, memories of her mother’s disappearance during a typhoon, the subsequent bullying and scorn at school. It was Simon who had been her solace, a ray of hope in the darkness.
“Enoch “Tiana beckoned him closer, her finger crooking. He leaned in, and she tugged at his shirt collar, her whisper a caress against his ear, “If he’s not worth it, what about you?”
“Tiana!” Enoch stiffened, her breath warm against his skin. Before he could respond, she drove her knee into his side, catching him off guard. He staggered back, his features clouding over, a tempest brewing in his gaze.
Seizing the moment. Tiana plucked the car keys from his pocket and sprinted to the car. As the engine roared to life and she was about to peel out, she shot him a teasing glance, one brow arched. “Enoch. I’ve been playing nice. But marriage doesn’t mean you get to push me around. Remember, I’m still the boss. And don’t get any ideas about us sleeping together!”
