Marissa opened her eyes and saw a familiar scene. 'I'm back home?'
The last thing Marissa remembered was her struggling to stay alive after she was poisoned by that vicious Lady Sophie! She should've died, but why is she here now, back home?
A maid came in holding a wedding dress and smiled when she saw that Marissa was awake.
"My Lady, you're awake! Please wash up and we shall get you ready. This is your wedding dress." The maid handed Melissa the white gown, but Marissa wasn't in a hurry to take it, instead she frowned at the sight of it.
This scene was exactly the same as a year ago. 'Does this mean I have been reborn?' Marissa felt her head throbbed.
A year ago, she was married to Earl Kendrick Hall under the agreement of both families. They didn't know each other before that. But she fell in love with Kendrick after they got married. However, she was framed by Lady Sophie, her husband's cousin who was secretly in love with him. Kendrick believed Lady Sophie and eventually forbid her to step out of the manor, and refused to meet her. She fell into a depression and spent her days alone in her room, wishing she could turn back time.
One day, Lady Sophie came to her, pretending to comfort her. But soon, her comfort turned to insults and eventually, she forced Lady Marissa to drink poison, causing her death. When she was on the brink of death, Marissa was feeling total despair, hoping she had never met Earl Kendrick at all. She regretted the day she married him.
Today was the day she was supposed to marry him, the day she had wanted to avoid the most in her past life.
Marissa looked at the maid. "Call my father."
When Duke Williams saw her pale face, he was extremely worried. "Marissa, what's wrong? Is everything alright?"
"Father, I cannot marry Earl Kendrick Hall." Her declaration was resolute.
"But why? We've agreed to it and today is the wedding day. The ceremony is scheduled to start in about 4 hours!" Duke Williams exclaimed in panic.
Marissa closed her eyes, and when she opened it, there were tears in them. She pleaded to the older man in front of her, "Father, I really can't marry him."
"Marissa dear, what's wrong? Please don't scare your old man like this. Please talk to me. Why the sudden change of heart? Did something happen?" Duke Williams tried to coax his precious daughter.
"Father, I had a dream. In the dream, I married the Earl and eventually I died because of that. I don't want that to happen to me. I still have many things to do in my life." Marissa said.
The Duke wanted to laugh upon hearing this but seeing his daughter's grim face, he stopped. He sighed deeply and took his daughter's hands in his.
"Marissa, have you forgotten why this marriage happened in the first place? It was your mother's last wish." Duke Williams said.
Marissa immediately cried at the memory of her mother. Immersed in her tragic fate, she had forgotten about her late mother. Duke Williams patted her back to console his crying child. She must've been scared by her dream. What did she see in the dream?
When Marissa stepped into the church, she saw the man standing waiting for her. Earl Kendrick Hall, the man of her dreams. But it's after marrying him that her life became a living hell. She's disappointed in him, she wished he wasn't the one she's marrying today.
Kendrick smiled at the sight of his beautiful bride. He had looked forward to this day since the first time he laid eyes on her. However, when Marissa stepped closer to him, he sensed her reluctance. Under the wedding veil, there was no smile. It was like she was forced to be here.
When the priest asked for her consent, she took such a long time to answer and only when Duke Williams came forward and touched her arms, did she answer. Kendrick was confused. What's going on with Marissa? He thought she had agreed wholeheartedly to this wedding.
When the ceremony ended and he lifted her veil to kiss her, her eyes were teary and she looked sad. He leaned in to kiss her but she turned her face and he ended up kissing her cheek instead.
"Are you okay?" He whispered to her.
Marissa merely nodded her head and didn't say anything else.
That night, Kendrick stood outside their bedchamber, unsure of whether he should go in or not. It was obvious she was not in the right mood today. Will she agree if he spend the night with her?
While waiting for Kendrick to appear, Marissa had a deep thought. Earlier, she couldn't think properly as everything was so sudden right after she was reborn. Now that she had time to think without any disturbance, she analysed everything that had happened before in her past life, and her future.
Why should she retreat even before the war? Now that she knew exactly who she was, and what's going to happen, isn't it better to fight head on? Furthermore, although she's disappointed and angry with Kendrick, he too, had been deceived by his cousin. She had framed Marissa so convincingly, even Kendrick couldn't refute the evidence shown to him.
With this new found realisation and confidence, Marissa braced herself to face Kendrick.
A soft knock could be heard before he entered the room. He saw Marissa sitting on the couch, deep in thought with her eyes closed. Kendrick's heart fluttered when he saw her. He went forward and sat next to her. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. He was stunned.
"Marissa, is everything okay? You seemed unhappy earlier today." He asked cautiously.
"Yes, I didn't sleep well last night. I woke up with a very bad headache this morning. I'm sorry if I acted weirdly." Marissa explained.
Without waiting for Kendrick to respond, she leaned in to kiss him and he returned her kiss. That night, the outside thunderstorm accompanied the couple's blissful night together.
That morning, Lady Sophie appeared during breakfast. It took some mental strength for Marissa to stay calm and not lunged forward to strangle her. Lady Sophie went to sit beside Kendrick, as if she's his wife. Meanwhile, Marissa sat opposite Kendrick, watching Lady Sophie.
"Congratulations to you two! Sorry, I couldn't make it to the wedding. Marissa, how are you coping? I can help you manage the estates if you find it too difficult. I've been helping Kendrick before you came, isn't that right, Kendrick?" Lady Sophie said coquettishly.
Kendrick looked at Marissa and smiled at her before he replied. "There's no need for that. My dear wife is capable, I trust she can do it."
Marissa heaved a sigh of relief. At least, this time Kendrick didn't go along with his cousin's suggestion. She returned his smile and agreed. "Yes, I can manage. You don't need to worry about our family, Lady Sophie."
Lady Sophie gritted her teeth, but she forced a smile. "Yes, of course. I'm merely suggesting."
"And I do think it's a bit rude for you to appear unannounced. I mean, even family alert each other in advance before a visit." Marissa said, while sipping her tea.
"But I've always come and go whenever I want. Kendrick, tell her!" Lady Sophie said.
"Well, that's before we got married. Now, it's different. What if we decided to do something naughty, right here in the kitchen? Don't tell me you, as an unmarried lady, wish to watch us??" With that, Marissa winked at her husband.
Kendrick laughed at her mischievous look and nodded his head in agreement.
Lady Sophie spat out the tea she drank and made a mess of her dress. She immediately stood up and excused herself. Marissa grinned at this scene. 'I'll return back everything that you've done to me!'
Kendrick strode over to where Marissa was and leaned in to kiss her. He whispered in her ears, "So, do you want to get naughty right now?"
Marissa laughed lightly and returned his kiss, "Why not?" With that, Kendrick held her up and their giggles and moans could be heard throughout the kitchen. The servants had tactfully left the main house and went about to do their work elsewhere, secretly happy that their Master and new Mistress were loving towards one another and that the bossy Lady Sophie was finally rid off.
- to be continued -
