Sentenced to Marriage by MadlainQ

Seriously? I knew a lot about colors– I knew most of the number codes to describe them in programming, but I had never felt the need to mark some color as my favorite. Why the hell would I? 

“Everyone has colors they like,” Veronica convinced. “How about thinking about one color that soothes you and makes you feel comfortable? It could be related to your childhood toy or the place you visited when you were young. How about that?” 

Her suggestions swirled inside my head, but no childhood memory of mine was related to a certain color. I remember that Grandpa painted my room pink and lilac, and I loved that room, but it was because my Grandpa did it for me, not because I loved those colors. Discouraged, I decided to pick something random... 

I mumbled, “Blue.” 

“Pardon?” Veronica blinked at me curiously. 

Shyness flashed in my expression. I couldn‘t explain how I ended up picturing Aren in his navy blue suit. I adored him in every kind of suit, but, for some reason, his sexiness reached a whole new level when he wore any shade of blue. “Blue.” Voicing that one word again filled my whole body with strange agitation. “Oh, that‘s perfect!” Veronica exclaimed, clasping her hands together. “We have a perfect design for decorations with light–blue and ” 

LITTIIN 

“No.” I shook my head with confidence. “It cannot be light–blue. The shade must be darker, like cobalt blue, navy blue, or... indigo blue.” 

Her mouth curled into a mischievous grin, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Indigo blue! Let‘s go with indigo blue! It could be just perfect! We could order indigo flowers for the decorations and mix them with some white, and it will look amazing!” She giggled, searching through her catalog to show me what she had in mind. 

The pictures she showed me presented amazing flower arrangements and fancy table settings. My lips rushed to form a smile as I saw the gentle mix of white and deep, vivid blue. I instinctively knew these colors suited him––they suited us. 

Veronica turned out to be a true genius in her profession, able to apply her clients‘ weirdest ideas and make them fit into reality. When she showed me her previous creations, I felt that I was in good hands. At the same time, I kept comparing my level of visual creativity with all the colorful suggestions from her other clients and found myself dull. Sitting there with her and discussing the subtle differences between chiffon and organza was probably the most out of my comfort zone kind of thing I had ever done. 

Fortunately, my clever wedding planner must have had a sixth sense telling her that I could hardly understand what she was saying. Therefore, she simplified her language the best way she could to not make me feel like an absolute idiot. She talked me through the different ways I could set up the outdoor aisle for the wedding. She suggested using multiple flower garlands to make magical, romantic curtains that would lead to the makeshift bower where Aren and I would say our vows. 

Imagining every single detail felt bitter–sweet. It felt as if I was planning an event that could easily be every little girl‘s dream, except for the fact that it was all a façade. We weren‘t in love, and as much as I couldn‘t complain about my peculiar relationship with Aren, this marriage already had a termination date. In two years, we were supposed to go back to being strangers. 

“Mr. Lan, over here!” Veronica called out to my husband–to–be, pulling me out of my bemusement 

I turned my head around and saw Aren and Neil walking toward our table. My fiancé was wearing navy blue... Had he noticed that I found him most attractive in that color? I bit my lip, taking in the magnificent sight of him. As he caught me staring at him, a wicked smirk formed on his lips. He nodded, greeting Veronica, and then sat next to me, smugly kissing my hand at hello. 

Damn it! I was supposed to be pissed at him, but my freaking hormones would gladly make me act like a puppy, fawning over him! I ended up struggling not to smile while he grabbed my hand in his and placed it on his thigh. To make matters even worse, my flusteredness was obvious to both Neil and Veronica. Once Aren‘s assistant sat down next to our wedding planner, I could see them grinning in enjoyment while observing me blush around Aren. “Have you chosen anything yet?” Aren asked, shifting his eyes from Veronica to me. I smiled hesitantly, but before I said a single word, Veronica blurted out, “We will go with indigo blue.” 

“What?” Aren raised his eyebrows at me, his expression quickly turning to a deadly serious 

all about the color

one. 

color? The restlessness within me mixed with annoyance. He was the one who wanted me to choose, and now he was showing me that he had a problem

that?” he asked, his tone firm

proudly, ratting

Does anyone mind

he didn‘t say a single word. He

as well,” he said, commandingly. “Excellent!” Veronica widened her eyes in excitement.

represent my sunshine and her golden hair.” His voice, filled

I had never seen in his expression. I smiled back at him, but a huge question

Aren the details of our wedding. I struggled to find any traces of his discontent on his face, but he stayed too focused on our wedding planner to let me read him. He just kept my hand in his grasp, gently rubbing his

down our arrangements and left us alone in the café. Aren turned ‘my way with a smile and tenderly stroked my cheek. I was about to ask my question when the

to you—if you wanted my boss to lose his fucking head over you, then this was a master move.” I chuckled nervously. “I‘m still not sure what I‘ve done, and what is it about adding the gold color to represent me? Neil cleared his throat, his amusement rising by the second. “Well... he calls you sunshine, so I assume that has something to do with your golden blond hair, and that‘s why he‘s chosen gold to be your color.” He shrugged. “Yeah... I get that much, but what would represent him then?” I asked as my heart hammered against my

dumb, but I still don‘t get it,” I gave him a wry smile, Neil sighed, “Aren Lan is calculative and cold while making business decisions, but, like many successful businessmen, he often relies on his gambler‘s instinct. That sometimes makes him superstitious, especially when he notices a “sign,” helping him make his decision. And it so happens that his Chinese last name, Lan, means

The change 

of glass that formed a crystal vault. It was also in Lan Diamond Corporation‘s logotype, not to mention, the most obvious example of Aren‘s enterprises –– the Blue Crystal Hotel. I had long known that Aren cherished his mother‘s name. Perhaps he thought that by making her name‘s meaning present in his life, he could keep the memory of her vivid. I bet that it was also a clear message to the Winton family so they would know where his loyalty lay. I had never even thought that choosing the

Neil filled me in that there was one more place we needed to go that day, I had to get myself a wedding dress and Aren needed a tuxedo. Neil was supposed to accompany Aren while I was going to get help from

to one of New York‘s finest bridal boutiques, or you can get a dress that is specially designed for you by a promising talent on the market and Mr. Lan‘s friend, Michael Yang,” Neil explained

will gladly visit Mr. Yang if he agrees to design a gown for

the way I looked or what I wore, but I wanted the day of our wedding to be different. I wanted it to become special in every way, even if it was just an event that started our

and tried to cover his irritation with a warm smile he gave me, but the problem seemed to be too serious for him to keep his poker face. “What is it?” I asked, staring into his eyes with concern. He reached out his hand and stroked my cheek. “There was a problem with our European unit‘s supply. I know how to solve the problem, but I need to go to London in person.” I touched his hand on my cheek. “How long will you be gone?” He smiled wryly. “I’m going to get my measurements taken, and then I‘m flying out. I‘ll try to fix the problem as soon as possible.” The tone of his voice sounded different from the one

frowned. “What‘s the

“I will come

weeks...” I muttered nervously,

send the invitations, and you can invite even a hundred people if you want to. You just need to let him know,” he

are only six people in New York City that I could

interrupted, tuming his head around from the front seat. “Less work for me.”

his sarcasm searingly annoying. Fortunately, he caught the meaning of my stare and decided

sorry that I‘m leaving you alone with