Page 136 of My Ruthless Opponent

Within seconds they are up and gone, leaving me alone with the sounds of the waterfalls.

No longer hungry, I push the plate away and fish out my phone.

Pulling up Raleigh’s contact, I type a message.

Can we talk?

I erase it and start afresh.

Why are you being rude to me?

No. It shows I care too much. Sadly, I do.

We barely started this affair and we are already hurting each other. I am hurting him with my words. And he is hurting me with his actions.

I decide against texting him. And instead, go to find my team.

For the next few hours, I alternate between the banquet hall and the garden of Euphoria. We are having our wedding in a garden.

Nina had conveyed a message from Raleigh explaining that he won’t be available to help me guide the people.

He is planning something big for Round Two. And wants to concentrate on it.

I understand his drive for working hard because he lost the first round. So I don’t trouble him and take over both tasks alone.

Lunchtime is almost here and my stomach is growling, complaining about not finishing the breakfast.

I walk toward the men working in the garden.

We have chosen a blush and green palette for the wedding décor. With the perfect background of Euphoria and the sounds of crashing waves, Raleigh and I are going to exchange vows under the clear sky of Maui.

Jesus. I am getting married. It doesn’t feel like these people are working here formywedding. It feels so… technical. It feels like work. Well, it is indeed part of my work given that I am getting married for the contract.

I can’t help but feel dejected. These beautiful things, the flowers, and fabrics, the pretty details, everything is so breathtaking, yet none of these things could cheer me up.

The more I am inching toward D-day, the more I feel guilty. I am deceiving so many people. Victor, Archer, my team.

Guilt flooded me when Brielle and Mia were animatedly discussing my bachelorette party. The guilt never completely left even after working for hours straight.

Today the men are working on setting up the frame tent. Having an outdoor tented wedding was my idea. We were lucky that it didn’t rain these past days but to avoid ruining the wedding, we settled on the tent.

The sand wedding was also one of the suggestions but it is common and the décor is limited when you opt for a beach wedding.

I pass the tables and chairs that are littered around the grass and reach the man who’s perched up on the ladder working on a chandelier.

“That one was supposed to be all the way there.” I gesture to my back. “Please follow the design.” I shake my head and move ahead.

“Hannah!”

My head snaps to the right to see Brielle on another step ladder with a string-lights in her hands.

“Come here for a sec!”

I stride to her, careful not to stomp over the bulb lights laying on the grass.

“What are you doing up there?” I frown at her.

“Some guy told me to hold them for a minute. I couldn’t refuse because he seemed to be in a rush. Can you switch places? I need to pee really bad.” Her face contorts and her legs twist, rocking the ladder a bit.

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