PROLOGUE
"Ninong Marius!"
That familiar yet small voice reached Marius as he walked through a mall. After finishing work, he came here to buy some things from a bookstore.
"Ninong! Ninong Marius!" the young man began searching for the voice that truly touched his heart.
"Andrea?" Marius spotted a young girl running towards him from a toy shop, and a wide smile spread across his face. "Andrea, baby!" he exclaimed, bending down and tightly embracing the little girl he had eagerly awaited seeing for months but had restrained himself from seeking out.
"Who are you with?" he quickly asked as Andrea let go of his embrace.
"My Aunt Sam!" came the enthusiastic reply from the child, who then turned to look behind her.
At that moment, Marius felt as if the world had come to a halt upon seeing the face that, whether he admitted it or not, was the most beautiful he had ever laid eyes on. He didn't know why, but that was the truth, and he couldn't lie to himself, or rather, he couldn't bear to lie to himself.
She looked stunning in a simple tan t-shirt and moss-green walking shorts, the length of which seemed to have been specifically designed to showcase the most beautiful and smoothest thighs and long legs he had ever seen in his entire life.
Beautiful, incredibly beautiful. And she became even more enticing in his eyes because of her brown, curly hair. She had a perfect nose, kissable lips adorned with thin lipstick, and smooth, fair skin. He noticed her striking resemblance with Andrea, which immediately raised suspicions in him.
"Hello," the young lady greeted him as she approached him.
In her simple outfit, he felt himself getting lost. Her slim, well-proportioned figure suited her height, which was probably between five-six to five-eight. Even in doll shoes, she looked tall due to her perfectly shaped long legs.
Marius's mind quickly started working. He smiled at the woman and extended his hand.
"Hi, I'm Marius, I'm Andrea's godfather," he introduced himself and couldn't resist giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
She chuckled softly and cleverly withdrew her palm from his grasp.
"Sam, Samantha Scott. I'm Andrew's sister. Lana already mentioned you to me, and I'm glad to meet you," she conveyed with sincerity, secretly delighting Marius.
"Isn't my Aunt Sam beautiful, Ninong Marius?" Andrea said with a tone of pride.
He heard Sam release a soft and delicate laugh, and he liked that. Then he smiled at Andrea again and answered her question truthfully,
"Yes, very beautiful, baby. You two look alike, both beautiful."
At that remark, he immediately gave Sam a lingering gaze, which he noticed caused her eyes to quickly flutter shut, accompanied by a rapid blush spreading across her cheeks. Marius seized the opportunity right away.
"Are you heading home?" he asked, keeping his gaze fixed on Sam.
He saw her slim, red lips quiver. "A-Actually, we're going to grab a bite to eat. Andrea says she's hungry."
The tremor in the beautiful woman's voice sounded like music to Marius's ears, so he took advantage of it once again.
"Good, I'm hungry too. Would it be alright if I join you?"
Andrea quickly answered his question with excitement in her voice.
"Yes, Ninong!" she exclaimed.
Marius chuckled softly and locked eyes once again with Sam, his gaze filled with intensity.
"Well?" he asked, knowing full well that the woman before him would be thoroughly flustered, and he was not mistaken.
"O-Okay," she replied, mustering a restrained smile.
As they walked together, Marius gradually formed a plan in his mind, confident that he would succeed.
"I will get my revenge, Andrew. And I will ensure that you feel the pain through what I'm about to do," whispered the dark recesses of his mind.
*****
"I'm glad you agreed to meet me today,” Lana said with a beautiful smile as she handed the wedding invitation to Marius.
Her close friend smiled back and accepted it. "Our friendship means a lot to me, Lana. I also love Andrea, and that's enough for me to set aside any feelings I may have for you," Marius replied.
Lana shrugged and chuckled softly. "You'll find someone better than me, I know that. You're kind, handsome, and smart. Everything is there; maybe the heart just can't be taught, and that's why I can only offer you so much."
"It turns out my partner is Andrew's sister?"
Lana felt amused by her best friend's comment.
"Yes," Lana replied, picking up her coffee cup and taking a sip. "She told me that you accidentally met each other a month ago."
He nodded in agreement. "Yes, she's beautiful. She looks so much like Andrea." Lana couldn't miss the intense admiration in Marius's tone.
"Do you have a crush on her?" Lana teased, unable to resist.
Marius looked straight into her eyes.
"Is it okay if I pursue her, just in case? What do you think? As her sister-in-law, do you approve of me for her?"
Lana smirked. "Don't ask my permission; tell that to Sam," she said, bursting into laughter.
A soft chuckle rumbled in Marius's throat as he finished his coffee. "I have to go; I still have some work to finish," he said, standing up.
"Take care while driving," she reminded him, getting up and kissing him on the cheek.
"Aren't you going home yet?" Marius asked.
She shook her head. "Not yet Andrew will pick me up in a little while," she answered.
Marius simply nodded before he left.
