Married by Mistake: His Wrong Wife

Under the broad daylight, Violet sat in the shotgun seat of Tyler's BMW. As what they'd promised, Tyler and Violet would visit Aunt Leila's house to meet the McGregor family.

After Tyler checked the vehicle's side mirror, he soon started the engine. The ride to Stone Lake would take a couple of hours, so before they departed, Violet ensured that their things were properly arranged.

As Violet noticed that Tyler had no plan of talking with her, she deliberately put her elbow on the window and watched the places they passed.

A few minutes later, Violet jerked in her seat when Tyler broke the silence, saying, "I know you still harbor hostility over what happened that night, but I didn't want to put my image at stake. We should be careful with our actions and act like a married couple to avoid public suspicion. My men and your father were already tracking your sister's whereabouts, so in the meantime, we have to make this marriage look somehow real."

Hearing this, Violet brushed off the discomfort that lingered in her heart and responded, "I understand." By agreeing to Tyler's terms, Violet didn't want her Aunt Leila to suspect her and find the truth. The whole ride was quiet and gloomy. Violet diverted her attention away from the anguish in her heart by peeking out the window.

When they arrived, Tyler parked the car suavely, and Violet couldn't help but swallow her nervousness as soon as they reached the lake. Soon, she set foot outside and was startled when Tyler took her hand and dragged her toward Aunt Leila. Aunt Leila was wearing a bohemian summer dress in her forties. She stood outside the rest house with anticipation upon their arrival.

"My sweet Violet!" Aunt Leila remarked and gave Violet a warm embrace. As Aunt Leila broke the hug, the woman smiled gently and said, "I knew you'd come. You didn't want this Aunt to get mad, right?"

Violet laughed as she nodded. Tyler brought their language upstairs with the help of the husband of her Aunt Leila. Aunt Leila's forehead creased as she asked Violet, "By the way, How's Sapphire? I hadn't heard any news about her. Did the brat create another trouble making your father detest you?"

Violet fidgeted, nervously biting her lower lip as she remembered she wasn't prepared to make excuses for her Aunt if she enquired about Sara's whereabouts.

She was about to speak when her Aunt spoke again, "Forget it. I'm sure she was having fun where she was right now. After all, that child loved to be young, wild, and free." The woman placed her palm on Violet's cheeks, "Sweetie, You really look like Viviene, so beautiful, and your Youngblood shows how such an angel like you possessed a brave heart."

After a few words with Aunt Leila, they entered the cozy rest house. Aunt Leila told her where Tyler was and where their room was located. When Violet heard that she and Tyler would share the same bed, Violet was stunned.

Violet sighed in relief when she stormed inside the room without Tyler's traces. It seemed like Tyler had gone outside, or perhaps the man hated the fact that they'd sleep in one bed and couldn't stand her presence. Besides, Violet was aware that Tyler despised her existence to the core.

Despite the exhaustion from the long ride, Violet still managed to arrange her clothes in the cabin and decided to take a bath. When she was done, Violet smiled upon seeing her reflection in the human-size mirror attached to the wall. She let her wavy hair fall and applied light makeup that defined how she got her beauty from her mother.

Previously, Aunt Leila told her that she was the one who took after her mother's beauty, unlike Sara, who got some features from their father.

Violet snapped back from her reverie when the door opened, revealing Tyler wearing a black and white striped polo shirt, pairing it with denim jeans and a pair of white sneakers. His eyes landed on Violet's face down to her body.

"Let's go," Tyler said, devoid of emotion, and left the room.

When the two of them went downstairs, their hands were intertwined on purpose. Violet felt her heart warm for a short time until they met the McGregor family in the small garden near the lake.

The salt air in the midday welcomed them. When Tyler attended to Henry McGregor on the rattan chair, he was the first to let go of Violet's hand. Later, Violet smiled faintly and pushed herself to move forward as she strode towards Aunt Leila's twins, who were playing under the oak tree.

"Margaret! Henry!" The twins at first looked on their sides with their brows furrowed until Violet giggled, which caught the twins' attention.

The two rushed up from their seats in a hurry and shrieked in unison, "Vie! Vie! It's Vie!" Margaret ran into Violet's arms as Henry wrapped his arms around her waist.

"It's been a long time, twins! I last saw you two when you were five years old, and now look at you two. You've both grown so fast!"

Margaret scoffed and expressed, "Vie, we're now seven! Does this mean I'm allowed to have a crush?"

Violet frowned. She messed with Margaret's hair and stated, "You are too young, Margaret. You have to reach the age of fifteen before you have your first crush!"

"But Vie, Garet already had a crush on one of our classmates at school," Henry interjected.

"Y-you! You promised me you won't tell anyone!" Margaret whined to her twin.

Henry hid behind Violet's back, stuck his tongue, and reasoned, "But it's Vie! She's our accomplice!"

In this situation, when kids fight, it would take a while before the argument subsided. Violet was about to speak when Aunt Leila called her. "Violet, come over and help me grill the meat!"

"I'm coming!" Violet shouted as she glanced at the two and ruffled the twin's hair.

"Henry, be good. Don't make fun of your sister. I'll be back, alright?" Violet stated as she walked in with graceful strides, leaving the two.

Meanwhile, Tyler's brow furrowed when he searched for Violet, but the woman was nowhere to be found. He then sat upright when Mr. McGregor spoke, "You have a good wife, Mr. Kurtzman. I've known that child ever since my twins were born. My wife always informed me that after her mother's death, Violet endured a huge sacrifice. She became the family's backbone and yet always hidden. Needless to say, she may seem warm and carefree outside but fragile like a brittle doll inside."

Tyler wanted to laugh at Henry's words. From his viewpoint, Violet was silver-tongued for manipulating the people around her. A woman who always holds aces in her hand, Vicious and poisonous.

As Tyler was about to speak, two tiny voices approached them and stared at him.

"Daddy! Mom kidnapped Vie from us!" cried the little boy who jumped on Mr. McGregor's lap.

"Vie said it would only take a few minutes, but it had already been nearly half an hour!" The little girl with twin braids in her hair duly seconded.

"Oh, It seemed like Violet helped your mother to prepare our lunch. Bear your misery for Vie, my little ones. Why don't you play with Vie's husband, then?" Mr. McGregor suggested.

"You are Vie's husband?! I am Margaret, and this is my twin, Henry!" Margaret introduced as she pointed at Henry, who seemed aloof.

Tyler didn't know what pushed him to nod his head and play with the two. While playing flying saucer with the two, his eyes shifted near the transparent window of a mini kitchen. And there, Tyler saw Violet, who was laughing. That was the first time he saw his wife in that state, which Tyler immediately brushed off from his mind and cursed silently.

A few hours later, Violet and Aunt Leila had prepared the food for lunch. Violet was busy plating the croissants and refreshments for dessert when Aunt Leila shouldered her and pointed to Tyler from a distance, who was playing with Margaret and Henry.

"Look at him. Earlier, my Henry seemed aloof with him, but they were now on good terms. It seemed like my prayer worked to break the ties between him and Sara way back then." Aunt Leila teased while pouring the lemon tea into the empty glasses.

As Violet's eyes transfixed on Tyler, sadness crept into her eyes, thinking that Tyler never expressed those emotions when he was with her. Seeing him having fun made Violet recall how she had secretly admired him since time immemorial. It had been so long since Tyler laughed like that, which is one of the reasons Violet loved him so deeply and made her silently hope that someday he would notice her.

They shared a meal filled with laughter and comfort. Being with McGregor made Violet teary-eyed. She used to eat alone without the presence of others. At least, even though this moment was only a borrowed memory, she somehow found the hiraeth that she had yearned for a long time.

When the night came, Violet couldn't suppress the happiness in her heart. She wanted to thank Tyler for this memorable day and for accompanying her. She saw Tyler, who was already on the bed while reading something on his phone. Maybe it was the report of the investigator that he hired regarding Sara's whereabouts.

Violet sat on the edge of the bed that caught Tyler's attention and muttered," Thank you for accompanying me and lending me your time."

""Violet, don't flatter yourself. That wasn't something I did for you. Aunt Leila was Sara's nanny too. I love Sara, and even though I hate being with you, I must act as a loving husband even if it disgusts me." Tyler reckoned, deadpan.

At a loss, Violet fell silent for a moment after hearing those words. She thought somehow Tyler might have treated her a little better, but her expectations had been shattered.

Violet smiled bitterly and rose up, suppressing the lump in her throat.

"I forgot. Aunt Leila told me to meet her in the evening." After saying this, Violet didn't let Tyler utter his response and stormed outside the room.

When she got outside their room, she rushed outside under the crestfallen sky. The tears that Violet had been suppressing gradually fell down her cheeks.

Stupid of her to think he would do such a thing for her sake? Of course, he will do it for Sara, and how dare she believe that they'll have good company with each other. She's just a substitute bride; once Sara returns, she will be the outcast again.

Violet wished she could look at him without feeling this love that had been bringing endless pain in her heart. She loved him for too long, but nothing changed. Because no matter what she did, she'd never had a chance to be loved by him.

Soon, the stars slowly appeared in the night sky, which illuminated the place as the bodies of the lake's water became crystal clear. Little did Violet know, A man from her past appeared from behind. At last, his search for the woman he had left for years ended.

"You were crying during my departure the last time we saw each other, and now I find you crying again? Come on, Violet, I didn't anticipated you to greet me with tears in your eyes." said the man as he extended his hand, holding a handkerchief.

Violet's forehead creased as her eyes widened, she knew that voice. She slowly raised her head and stiffened when she saw the man she would never forget, the pinky promise they made and how he once made her heart beat in love.