Does She Know?


    The children really did seem like they were having fun. They chatted up the many celebrities like it was


    nothing and also enjoyed walking around. Edward, who was extra worried because he couldn’t be here


    in person, had sent a prettyrge army of bodyguards to guard me and his children. To be honest, I felt


    like they were more like over-paid babysitters instead. This event already had plenty of security and


    Zak never turned up to these events without an army of bodyguards of his own.


    “Yes, thanks to you and congrattions on another movie!” I said happily as I smiled at Zak.


    “Thank you, Madame,” Zak said teasingly as he took my hand in his and squeezed it.


    After Madame Francesca was arrested and things had quiet down somewhat, Zak and Annie finally got


    married. I had hoped, not for my own sake but for Zak’s sake, that perhaps the engagement would be


    called off because of the scandal around his mother but that clearly was not the case. Annie, I found


    outter, was persistent and adamant about marrying Zak.


    She refused to marry anyone else besides him and so the engagement was maintained, and they got


    married soon after. Unlike Zak, I didn’t have the mental capacity in me to turn up to his wedding like he


    did for mine. Instead, I called him to congratte him in my own way and apologized for not being able


    to make it to his wedding. He didn’t say it out loud, but I was sure that he got my message.


    Looking back on it, I guess it wasn’t because I wasn’t over Zak. I was as over him as I could possibly


    be in this life even if that meant that he will always have a special ce in my heart. The main reason


    was because I couldn’t bring myself to show support for Zak entering into a loveless marriage as if it


    were a in business contract, which by the way, was what his marriage was.


    I never truly understood at the time that the marriage was even worse than a loveless one. That was


    because, Annie was one-sidedly so in love with Zak…


    After a whole lot of convincing from Zak, I decided to meet him for dinner. After much debate, we


    decided that it would probably be best for Zak toe over to my house for dinner. Edward was


    surprisingly open to the idea and was considerate enough to give us personal space to dine alone,


    excusing himself for business for the evening.


    “You know, you have to get over it, Natalia. You’re married and all…” Zak said casually as he swirled


    wine in his ss.


    “Get over what? That you’ll be locked up in a loveless marriage?” I asked incredulously. I found all of


    this so ridiculous. How could Zak say that to me with a straight face like his life meant nothing?!


    “I’mpletely fine with it if you ask me,” Zak said without a care, and I found his attitude towards this


    the saddest part of all.


    “How can you say this without a care? What about Annie?” I asked desperately.


    “Nothinges for free, Natalia. I’m a Rosenhall, we don’t get to choose who we marry. It’s that


    simple. Annie wants to marry me. So, it’s all good for her,” Zak said emotionlessly before sipping his


    wine.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    “Does she know that you don’t love her?” I asked, trying to make my point.


    “Yes, I told her,” Zak replied with a shrug like it wasn’t his business and that he was just talking about


    someone else.


    “Does she know that you probably won’t ever fall in love with her…like…ever?” I asked, skeptically.


    “I don’t know. I never told her,” Zak replied, sounding bored. Clearly my point wasn’t getting across or if


    it did, he didn’t care about it.


    “Let me rephrase this, do you think your marriage to Annie will be sessful?” I asked as I stared at


    Zak’s handsome face.


    “In terms of business, definitely. That’s all we should care about, right?” Zak replied with another shrug.


    “What about personally?” I challenged.


    “Why are you asking something that you already know? I’m here to see you because I want to see you.


    I’m not here to talk about Annie…” Zak replied, clearly annoyed.


    “…just answer my question,” I said firmly.


    Zak probably doesn’t know that it would hurt me more than anything to see him enter into a loveless


    marriage when I was married to a man that I loved. I wasn’t sure if my marriage would have a happy


    ending or if it wouldst and I didn’t dare hope, but at least, Edward and I love each other for a start. I


    worried about Annie; she’s going to get so hurt by this. She, of all people, doesn’t deserve this.


    “Personally, it’s going to be a full-fledge disaster for Annie and a nagging annoyance for me. I have no


    interest in her as a person. This marriage is a business deal on paper only,” Zak stated emotionlessly.


    Zak’s golden eyes, blond hair and angelic face did not resemble his mother at all. However, the way he


    was talking now, reminded me that he was indeed Madame Francesca’s only son, Zak Rosenhall.


    “Does she know that?” I asked, once more.


    “It’s not my job to tell her. It’s herwyer’s and her father’s job,” Zak said, as he rolled his eyes at me.


    “So, you haven’t told her…” I surmised.


    “What do you want, Natalia? Should I get her to sign an agreement not toe within a ten meters


    radius to me? Just so we can be clear that we’re not going to develop any type of rtionship?” Zak


    suggested, half serious and half sarcastically.


    “That’s not what I meant. I can’t believe I’m saying this…Zak, I would prefer if you can develop a real


    husband and wife rtionship with Annie if you’ve decided to marry her,” I said honestly.


    There, I’ve said it. It’s time…Zak needs to move on, just like I have.


    It was like time froze. I watched as everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Zak slowly removed


    the wine ss from his beautiful lips and put in down on the table between us with a loud thud. For


    someone with impable manners like Zak, this action showed that he was boiling with anger inside. I


    sucked in a deep breath and closed my eyes temporarily as I steadied myself for what was toe.


    “Natalia…” Zak said my name and I opened my eyes to see him looking straight at me with a stern


    face.


    “…yes,’ I replied before biting my lower lip. I clenched both my hands together under the table so that


    Zak couldn’t see how anxious I felt, although, nothing I did could fool Zak.


    --To be continued…