HUSBAND... That word, gross. 

Her lips pursed; wait a minute. Just like that, she was married? Realization suddenly dawned on her. 

She now had a husband... she was now someone's wife... 

'Someone, please wake me up.' Mia cried inwardly, shaking her head as she stopped hopping on the bed.

Just like that? Marriage...? She was in deep shit. 

She was still in school... If the kids at school ever found out, her name would be slandered. To make matters worse, she wasn't just married--she was married to a man waaay older than her. And he was filthy rich. She'd be tagged a gold-digger for that. 

And her father? He'd probably disown her the moment he-- 

She'd have to keep this marriage a secret. She had to keep it all to herself. 

She pushed the thoughts aside for a while. Right now, she needs to enjoy the moment. You know the saying; enjoy now, suffer later.

Mia resumed hopping with one leg on the bed, giggling excitedly as she did.

Suddenly, a few seconds later, the door to the room flung open and revealed an exasperated, bare-chested Shawn. At the sight of him, Mia shrieked and immediately lost balance. She fell on the bed, her heart thumping hard in her chest.

"Stop doing that." Shawn had a towel wrapped around his abdomen.

He'd just finished taking a shower when he heard the girl's squeals, and the bed's squeaks. Both were irritating noises to his ears. He'd picked up on what she was doing when she heard those noises. 

What was she—a five year old?

He'd immediately regretted letting her stay in the room next to his. But he had no choice... He had to be cautious and rational... His grandfather might suspect something amiss if he let her stay downstairs... or in a room far from his.

"I'm so sorry." Mia apologized but she had her eyes transfixed somewhere they shouldn't be. On the man's perfectly carved abs. Sheesh! Such perfectly structured--even his chest was just too fine and smooth. 

Shawn noticed the girl's shamelessness... He clicked his tongue distastefully and scoffed. "You like what you see?" 

Hell yeaaa--shiit! Mia slapped herself hard on the face. It seemed she'd just said that out--loud and clear. 

Did he hear her?... She snuck a quick glance in Shawn's direction. 

What would he think of her now?... A pervert? No, no, no.

"I'm so sorry." She immediately apologized, cursing herself beneath her breath.

Shawn merely shook his head at her in regret. It hadn't even been up to an hour yet and she was already misbehaving... constituting nuisance in his house. This was the major reason why he never let people in his space. 

He wished he could turn back the hands of time... 

He clicked his tongue in sheer agitation and turned to take his leave without saying anything. 

But...

"Please, wait." The girl's tiny voice made him pause in his tracks. 

He turned, angling up his brow at her in a manner that said 'what's the problem?' 

In a kneeling position, Mia fumbled with the hem of her skirt hesitantly. She summoned up the courage and spoke, "can y-you pl-please keeeep the 'th-thing' betwee-een us a secret?" 

For the first time in a very long while, the CEO was dumbstruck. What did the girl just say?... Did she just say to keep their marriage a secret? 

And what was that she'd referred to their union as--THING?? Shawn's face turned black.

"Do you find me embarrassing?" His eyes blazed red. 

He couldn't help but ask that question, because...

Huh?... Mia was lost. 

"Not at all..." She trailed off.

She noticed that the room's temperature level had dropped drastically. Did she say something wrong?... 

She'd intentionally avoided using the word 'marriage' in order not to get him upset, so what was wrong now? 

In fact, considering the kind of person he was, she was sure he would like to keep things hidden from the public--he didn't like her at all. He wouldn't want to be associated with her.

Shawn's burning gaze pierced directly through Mia's eyes for several moments before he turned and took angry long strides to his room. He furiously banged the door shut and went to stand by the window. He needed fresh air to cool his temper. 

Daammit! Who did that girl think she was? He was the one who was supposed to tell her to keep their marriage a secret--he'd intended on doing so very early the following morning, before he left for work. But that girl...

And to think that she'd referred to their marriage to each other as a 'thing'. Preposterous! 

As the CEO's facial expression grew darker, the heavens almost crumbled down to earth. 

Was he unsightly?

First, she'd told him she wasn't interested. And now...

Dammit, no one in this world had ever rejected him in his entire life. He was the one who was always doing the rejecting.

People wanted to associate themselves with him... to be seen with him--shit! Not the other way round. 

Shawn heaved an exasperated sigh. Then his eyes dimmed--it was all strategy. The girl was strategizing, trying to play smart. 

He got it now. She was merely pretending not to be interested so that he wouldn't see through her evil intentions. Nice. But he was smarter than all of that. He saw through her already--and he would make sure to teach her a lesson she'd never forget in her miserable life. 

By the time he was done with her...

***

Mia limped down from the bed and closed the door that the demi-god had left opened ajar. 

She was still dumbfounded, but as much as she tried to process everything, she just didn't seem to understand what had just happened. 

Shrugging her shoulders, she headed to the bathroom for a hot shower. 

As soon as she was done, she re-entered the room and took the balm from the bed. She sat down before the dressing mirror and started applying it on her leg. 

After she was done, she shuffled through the closet, put on some comfy clothes, and got in bed, feeling refreshed.

Smiling sweetly, she slept off.

***

The Following Day. 

Very early in the morning, the couple woke up, took their bath, dressed up, had breakfast in silence, and went their separate ways. Shawn left for the company, while Mia went to school. 

By the time Mia arrived at school, she first went straight to the girls’ dorm to wear her school uniform. Due to yesterday’s attack, her uniform was ruined.

Thankfully, she had two school uniforms, so she was saved. 

The moment she entered the room, Martha dashed to her side at once.