His Untold Lies

Chapter 11 Celebration

KIA

The class ended with a loud bell ringing, signaling the students to pack up and head home. I collected my belongings and placed them in my bag. Most of my classmates rushed out, eager to leave, while others stayed behind, chatting and laughing amongst themselves.

Just as I was about to leave, Miaree approached me, her small eyes twinkling with excitement. "Kia! Wait! Are you free today? I wanted to see your new house and meet your husband. Can we come over?"

Before I could respond, Marcy hurried over, his keen ears catching wind of the conversation. "Can I come too? I'm really curious about your new home. Is it bigger than your dad's house?"

I hesitated for a moment, then replied with a fake smile, "I'm sorry, but I can't today. We're quite busy and have a lot to do, including cleaning the house. I think it's better if I check with him first before inviting you all over since it's his house. I hope you understand."

Their faces fell, and disappointment filled their eyes. They clearly wanted to meet Ares, but I felt there was a right time for that.

"I'm truly sorry. I promise to invite you all over if he agrees," I added, trying to ease their disappointment.

Before I could say more, my phone vibrated, and I saw an incoming call.

"Hello?"

[Hello, sleepy head! Where are you right now? I'm standing in front of your school's entrance. Are you still here?]

"What?!" I exclaimed, rushing to the window to look outside. To my surprise, I saw Ares leaning against his car, phone to his ear.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

[I'm picking you up. I thought I told you we were going out to dinner today.]

"No..."

[Well, now you know. Let's go. We might get caught in traffic later.]

"I'll be there in a minute," I replied before ending the call.

I hurried to the bathroom to freshen up quickly. I wanted to make sure I didn't look too stressed after a long day. I grabbed my makeup kit and applied a bit of lip gloss and powder, along with some blush to add a touch of color to my face. I didn't want Ares to see me looking like a zombie.

After my quick retouch, I rushed to the gate and took a moment to compose myself before greeting him with a shy "Hey." I was conscious of the students who had begun to notice our interaction.

I took his hand and gestured for him to get into the car, which he did without hesitation. He looked at me, curiosity in his eyes, wondering what I had done.

"I'm sorry; it's just that they were staring at us, and it made me uncomfortable," I explained.

He patted my head and flashed a warm smile. "I understand. It's okay."

He then leaned closer to me, causing me to shift slightly in my seat. My heart raced, and I wondered if he was going to kiss me. I closed my eyes, holding my breath, but seconds passed, and nothing happened. Slowly, I opened my eyes to find him smiling at me.

"You're such a fool," he said, chuckling as he pinched my nose. Before driving, he made sure to fasten my seatbelt securely.

I thought he was going to kiss me, and I felt utterly embarrassed. I wished I could disappear.

...

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Ares hurriedly exited the car to open the door for me, extending his hand to help me step out.

"I didn't get a chance to do this earlier, so..." he said as he assisted me.

"You've reserved a table here?" I asked, a bit surprised. "It looks quite expensive. I hope you realize this could cost you a fortune," I added, concerned about his finances. Ares was just an assistant, and I didn't want him to spend an entire month's salary on our dinner.

"Just enjoy the meal. Don't worry, I've saved up for this occasion," he reassured me. "Besides, the restaurant owner is a friend of mine. He won't charge us much. This is a celebration of our marriage, and I want today to be special. Come on, our private room is in that pavilion," he continued, pointing to a room.

The restaurant exuded a traditional Chinese ambiance, with a row of bamboo serving as a privacy screen and wall. The owner's idea was quite clever.

"I never knew there was such a tranquil place in this city," I remarked, glancing at Ares, who was still smiling.

What's with that smile?

"I'm glad you like it," he replied.

The staff entered the room and began serving the dishes Ares had ordered. He tried to explain the specialties of the restaurant, but I found it hard to concentrate. Ares's face had me captivated, and I had to remind myself to stay composed.

Why is he affecting me like this?

Suddenly, he reached into his pocket and took out his wallet, pulling out his card. Perhaps he intended to pay now.

"Well, this is my debit card. Since we're married now, I should hand over my debit card to you. Here, take it," he said, surprising me. My heart began to race, and I was momentarily stunned. "W-why are you giving me your debit card? I can't accept it!" I stammered, my words faltering.

"Take it! You're entitled to use my card," he insisted.

"Come on, Ares, we don't have to do this. Remember, we only got married for an agreement. We're planning to divorce after. If you do this, I'll feel pressured," I protested.

"Kia, at least for the next two years, we're legally husband and wife. You promised to fulfill the duties of a wife, so I need to fulfill the responsibilities of a husband," he explained, firmly placing his debit card in my hand. "I hope you understand what I mean. From now on, I want to share everything I have with you. Please don't refuse me."

What is he thinking? He's decided to let me spend his money. Is he not worried that I might take advantage and run off with it? This guy...