Contract Marriage starring Love and Revenge
Chapter 27. You look stunning

Chapter 27: 27. You look stunning

I’m extremely grateful for Mary helping me. The woman has blessed hands. She did my hair up in a nice curled and wispy chignon and helped me put on some light makeup, which I was rather surprised she could actually do.

Makeup is not actually my thing. I’ve tried to learn just the basic applications of concealer, foundation, powder, blush and eyeshadow. But even that never goes well. No matter how I tried to learn it, it was something I just could never do. But thanks to Mary tonight, I won’t have tk go through the process of even trying to apply it myself, let alone come out with a disastrous result.

After a while, I stood in front of the ground to floor mirror, and I couldn’t help but admire the person I was staring at. Indeed, thanks to Duke for the dress and the accessories that came with it, and to Mary for putting effort into my hair and makeup, I’ve been transformed into someone completely different and beautiful.

"You can’t keep staring at yourself in the mirror like that. At least let others admire God’s work." Mary says and I smile.

"Mary, this is all makeup and your touch."

"Honey, do not deceive yourself into thinking that. That thing on your face ain’t no makeup. How can you call a little powder, a little pink lipstick and a little blush makeup? You are beautiful, and it’s time you start acknowledging that." She has a knack for boosting my self-esteem. And for tonight, I really need all the boost I can get.

"Is he ready?" I ask, finally walking away from the mirror as I pick up my purse and black coat.

"He is. He’s joined the kids and Gio in their brick building."

"Alright, let’s do this, right?" I can feel my voice shaking. I’m nervous. I’m so nervous.

"Sugarpie, don’t ask. Say it with confidence, like you mean it." I nod my head and take in a deep breath.

"Let’s do this!" I clench my fist in front of me to show my determination and Mary laughs.

"That’s a little better."

...

Like Mary said, the boys and a girl are busy building bricks in the center of the living room. It is funny to see Duke seated on the floor in suit, coat and all, but I like that about him. Anytime, anywhere, any day, he is always ready to give his attention to his kids if he must. It’s cute to see that he’s such a good father.

"The lady of the house is ready." Mary announces, picking up her bag from a couch as she adds, "And I will be taking my leave now, I don’t want my boys to kill themselves."

At that moment, all eyes that were previously on the bricks turns to me. Even the twins turn around and simultaneously, the things they all held dropped to the ground as their mouths fell wide open.

"Now that’s the reaction I was hoping to see." Mary giggles as she briefly walks up to the twins who have already both risen to their tiny feets and are staring at me with big wide eyes and flushed cheeks. She places a kiss on both their cheeks and after saying a word of goodbye, she exits the room.

Leaving me standing here all alone, with wide eyes staring at me.

"Dio Mio!" Giovanni exclaimed.

"My words exactly." Duke says and heat reaches my cheek as they all stare at me like I’m some kind foreign object. Even the kids seem awestruck.

Do I look that strange?

"W_why are you all staring at me like that? Do I look that strange?" I have to ask the question out loud, because their stares are getting really uncomfortable.

Suddenly, Shelly runs up to me and grabs one of my legs, pressing his blushing cheek upon my leg. In the next second, Renny follows suit and holds onto my other leg.

"Mummy wis byubwiful." Renny says and I feel my heart skip beats. There’s just something tender and sweet about the manner at which they are looking up at me right now. So tender that I might cry.

"Am I?" I ask almost on the verge of tears.

"Yes!" They both echo together. And I instantly crouch down and hug them both. Is it dumb of me to say I love them? I know I haven’t been with them for long but still, this has to be love I feel for them.

"If I tell you you’re beautiful, will I get a hug too?" I hear his voice and I open my eyes to see he has finally risen to his feet and so has Giovanni.

I bite back a smile as I slowly rise to my feet, "That will depend. Will your words be sincere?" I ask and he walks towards me while Gio heads outside. As if silently giving their father a chance with me, the twins step aside, walking back to their bricks, making way for their father.

"How can I tell a lie in the face of such beauty?" He suddenly takes a step back, pauses and my lashes sweep over my eyes shyly as he silently scans me from head to toe.

I see his eyes stop at my legs, and impulsively, I cross my legs. "D_does it look weird?" I ask as I notice his eyes are still on my legs, "Everything was just so red, so I wore black stockings to tone it down a little." I explain as I feel the translucent black stocking is the reason his eyes are stuck on my legs.

"Did you perhaps know?" Something about the tone of his voice seems dark. Like a hungry beast waiting for its prey, and on the verge of losing patience. Am I just reading unnecessary meanings again?

"K_Know what?" I manage to ask. His stare is getting really uncomfortable. His gaze is getting hot, so hot that I can feel my body burning up. He’s not touching me and yet it feels as though I can feel every stroke of his fingers on my body. The more his gaze lingers, the hotter I get. At least say something.

"Mr G_Grand." I call out to him hoping he would say something rather than stare at me like he’s mentally stripping me of the dress and every other thing. And why won’t he stop looking at my legs!

The twins are making noise with their toys, yet it doesn’t seem to overshadow the tensed silence between the two of us.

"M_mr Gr—"

"Never mind." He finally looks up at my face and the corner of his lips rise to form a gentle smile, "Do you like the dress?" He suddenly asks and I mange to nod.

"It’s beautiful, thank you."

"Is it comfortable?"

"It’s not so uncomfortable that I cannot wear it."

"That means it’s not comfortable."

"No it means I usually don’t dress up, so I’m a little embarrassed but I find the dress to my liking so it’s not uncomfortable."

"Good," He says and finally takes a step close to me again. "Because you look effortlessly stunning in red." He says and takes my hand in his own, takes it to his lips and places a kiss on my knuckles. That compliment is similar to the twins telling me I am beautiful.

And yet, it’s not the same. There’s a seductive edge to his compliment. He compliments me in a way that makes my heart beat so loud I fear he might hear it. And every time he places a kiss on my knuckles just like he just did, it burns afresh. It always feels like he’s doing that to refresh the feeling on my hands, so I never forget what it feels like.

Again, maybe I’m reading too much meaning into his actions. Not just his actions, but his words and the look in his eyes too. Maybe I’m reading too much meaning.

"Daddy, won’t you kwiss mummy now?" Shelly’s sudden question rang through my ears and my eyes widened, my face flushed even more.

"What?" I say instantly turning my face from the man before me, forgetting his hold on my hand. With that hand, he pulls me back, with a devilish smile I’m starting to recognize as mischievous.

"The boy asked a question." He says, sudden pulling me close to his body. His hand slowly snaking around my waist before I can really understand what he’s up to.

"Shelly, Renny, do you want me to kiss mummy?" He asks with his eyes solely on me.

"Yes! Yes daddy!" They both echo together and the grin on his face only widens.

"You know I will do anything for them." He shrugs.

My heart is beating. It’s beating so fast I think he can fell and hear it because I am pressed upon his body and his eyes on me are not helping.

I desperately need his hands off my body yet I don’t think I can find the strength to shove him off.

"Mr. Grand—"

"Duke, dearest call my name. And this kiss, is long overdue."

Those are the last words he says before his lips fall over mine.

And at this very moment, maybe his lips has made me lose my senses, but as the smell of eucalyptus fills my nose and overtake my senses, all I can think of is, Dear God, please don’t let this first kiss be the last.

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Hey guys, go into the comment section to catch a glimpse of Pagne’s dress. I’ve dropped a photo of what I imagined when I designed her look.