This is a book collaboration

In the world where everyone wants to be a King on a chessboard, who will win?

Azazel is a type of guy who avoid relationship unless it gives him a road to success, that's why he married Emmeranne. And Emmeranne is a woman who willing to be his husband's pawn, but remember a pawn can be a Queen. The king who is insatiably hungry for power.

To avoid being overpowered, he turned the queen into a shadow behind him.

However, the queen, who is quiet but wise, devises her own strategy.

The king is significant, but the queen is the most powerful .

If one of them make a single mistake, do you think it will lead to domino effect? Can you guess who it might be?

***🎭—Cupidity (n.) - greed for money or possessions.

EMMERANNE’S POV

I was wearing a white dress that stood out over my dark color , my long curly dark hair was loose..

The surroundings are so beautiful and the church aisle is full of red rose petals.

I was here at the church as I approached the man that blurred face . He was wearing a tuxedo that fit his muscular body.

I feel that I love him very much and I know that he loves me too.

He held out his palm to me which I took and clung to his arm. Then I faced the altar but it was dazzling as if I would be blinded by its light ...

"It's just a dream" ... Maybe I'm just excited because I'm getting married...

It's already morning I need to get ready....

***

I should be happy because I'm going to marry the man of my dreams, but I can't even force myself to smile.

Imagine, I didn't get any sleep last night just to prepare for our wedding day but where is he? My soon to be husband doesn't even here, probably busy working his *** off. Ironic isn't?

It's just me and this piece of paper inside the church, and we're having a staring contest now. Of course, I lose. I picked up the ballpen and quickly signed it in, there's no holding back. If I want to change him, I must not give up.

Suddenly, I heard a sound of footsteps coming on my way. I looked back and was greeted by my mother-in-law.

“Are you done?”

The moment I nodded, she flash her one dollar smile to me. Like she won in a lottery.

Fast forward before y’all got bored.

“My favorite daughter-in-law~”she’s was still at the door but I could already hear her voice.

I wonder if she swallowed a hundreds of megaphone when she was young, should I call a doctor?

“Favorite? What do you mean by that? As far as I know, I'm your one and only daughter-in-law.”

“My favorite daughter-in-law~”she said again, ignoring my question.

Ah, I almost forgot.

That's her magic words when she wants something from me, a money. But before that, I will ask her first because I love hearing lies.

“Where will you use it?”

“For anti-rabies injection! Look at my hand! I got bitten by our dog!”she exaggeratedly said to me.

“But we don't have a dog.”

“I-i mean... He's a street dog but I treated him like our family. But this is all I can get after I done everything for him?!”

“We live in the middle of the sea, so it's impossible unless he can last for ten days straight— swimming just to get here.”

If you all wondering why we're here, it's because my husband is a famous actor and he doesn't want anyone to know that he's married. Wanna know why? Of course, to maintain his popularity. His so called ‘fangirls’ will go berserk if they found out about me.

Now it's my turn to flash my one dollar smile to her, how dare her ask for money when they're filthy rich like me?

Tsk, maybe it's true that some people who have more money will never get contented. It makes them more so much greedy.

“Oh! I forgot, maybe I'm too old so I can't distinguish between dreams from reality. Forgive this old hag for saying nonsense things.”

I immediately picked up my phone and dialed the number of her personal doctor.

“W-what are you doing?”she asked me.

“Oh no! Earlier, you said you can't distinguish between dreams from reality and now you can't be able to see what I'm doing??? I'm really need to call your personal doctor.”

“W-wait—!”I cut her off, “Yes, this is Emmerrane. Can you come here to check for my mother-in-law’s condition? It's urgent. Yes, thank you.”

Before she could protest, I already hang up my phone.

“You should rest, don't worry about anything. I will call you when the doctor come.” I reassured her.

She looked at me like she about to lose her sanity.

“Don’t be sad, do you want me to call for your son?”

The look on her face seems got replace by fear and it caught me off guard. Why she so scared? It's her own son, my husband, we're talking about.

Before I could utter a single word, she left me. I was left alone in the kitchen, wait. Why I'm here in the kitchen?

I immediately snapped my head back and to my surprise, there's no fire! I almost forgot that I'm cooking! It's a good thing it didn't get burned because I also forgot to put the stove on.

Maybe I'm the one who needs to consult with the doctor***.

The whole mansion is quiet, to my lucky my mother-in-law went out to follow her husband.

I am here on the balcony of our mansion.

While breathing fresh air and gazing at the beautiful ocean view as the moon reflected on it. I'm waiting for my husband to come, because this is our first night as husband and wife, I'm not really expecting to do that thing, I just want to meet my husband you know. But I've been waiting here all night but there was nothing. I think he's not coming.....

Well that's great I'm not expecting him actually so I just lay on the bed as darkness gradually covered my eyes.....

The night was long and cold.

Tomorrow comes but he still didn't come, and another day, and another until I lost count.

I let out a quiet sigh a i forced myself to sit up, glancing at the wall clock. It's already afternoon, I overslept.

My stomach growled so I quickly stand up, heading to the kitchen. I washed my hands, and took a food and ice coffee from the refrigerator. I walked over to the sofa, placing my plate and mug to the table.

I silently eat, grabbing the remote control to turn on the t.v and placed it down. A sudden news flash through the screen making me paused, it's him. He's wearing a unbottoned shirt revealing his chest, making his fans go uproar. He's having an interview now huh. So this is the reason why he's not coming home? I began to ponder a bit, what should I do to make him go here? Something that makes his name more trending.

I took out my phone from my pocket, dialing someone's number.

“About the donation, how many the orphanage we should handle?”I asked quietly.

[ A total of 20. ]

“Make it 30...”I trailed off, “But do not put my name on it.” I added.

[ Who should I put? ]

“Azazel Seth Smith.”

[ Alright, but what about yours? ]

“I’ll take care of it. Thanks,” I responded, hanging up my phone after he muttered a soft ‘okay’.

A smile creaked on my lips, I grabbed the mug and take a sipped on it.

*2 days later*

I felt like someone stroking my cheeks while chuckling. Who's that ?

It felt like dream and I'm in a cloud nine with full of stars.

The fragrance of a man's perfume entered my nostrils, a lavender with a jasmine refreshing scent that's exhilarating and distinctly masculine.

When I opened my eyes I saw a tall handsome man staring deep into my eyes.

I blinked a couple of times before I adjusted my eyes to see clearly. I restrained myself from smiling, he's here so my planned went well. I knew it.

“Azazel??”I asked calmly while sitting on the corner of my bed.

“Yes wifey, it's me.” Lifting his hand, he cups the side of my face bringing me closer to him.

My butterfly in my stomach is now spinning back and forth and my heart raced. I watched as he silently sat by my side, “I'm sorry I didn't come home on our first night. I'm just really busy with work and you know I'm an actor so the schedule I have is tight. Hope you'll understand.” He explained while looking straightly into my eyes.

My heart pounded as I looked at him as if it would explode anytime.

“I u-understand...!”

I felt my both cheeks is much more redder now. ‘Pull yourself together Asyun’ I reminded myself.

“Let’s go, I already cooked and I hope you like it.” he said, handling me a tray of food.

“A-aren’t you going to eat with me?”I asked, confused.

“Don't worry about me and just eat, okay?”

I hesitantly nodded my head off, grabbing my spoon and began to eat.

I tried my best to concentrate on eating my food as he watched me intently.

“Can I asked for a favor?”I suddenly ask, looking at him.

“Sure, wifey. Tell me anything you want.”

“Can we go visit together the orphanage?”

“Alright.”

I smiled at him, muttering a soft ‘thank you’. I hoped it always like this.

We spend the whole day together and I can't contain my excitement when I'm with him. We eat together in the afternoon and watched as the sun's goes down while we're swimming, I saw how some of the water is rolling down to his ripped chest and abs.

“Are you okay?”he asked, snapping me back to reality.

“Huh? A-ah, yeah.”

“Let's go?”

I nodded and we both headed to the front door.

.

.

.

.

.

.

I went to the orphanage ALONE, because my so called ‘husband’ got a call yesterday so he had no choice but to go back. What should I expect? After all, he's fame is much more important than me.