"Just take me to the nearest mall. My friends and I are going to meet there. After that, you can go wherever you are goin,," I said while fixing my hair and checking my make up.

I saw him glance at me while driving the car. My brows shot up and I turned my head to look at him. He gave me consecutive glances that made me think he wouldn't answer.

"No. Your father said I will accompany you-"

I did not let him finish his sentence, for I had stopped myself and let out a soft chuckle. His brows furrowed and he glanced at me again, but it was quick.

"What are you? A bodyguard?" I chuckled again because him being a bodyguard would also pass for me. He really doesn't look like a business man!

His perfect jaw clenched, but he did not talk. I shook my head, still laughing, to make him more annoyed.

"You don't want me mad."

I stopped and nearly got chills because of how deep and gruff his voice was.

I felt nervous about his tone. I took a glimpse at him. His eyes were fixed on the road, yet he got a hard grin and his jaw kept on clenching. With that, my mouth was zipped the whole ride and my eyes were trying to busy themselves on the buildings we were passing.

This is going to drive me insane. Everything is! I don't know how Papa and Mama can stand doing this to me. And what did they do to make the Marzons say yes to their proposal? Obviously, I am thinking that all of these are my parents' doing. In particular, my father. Because I have seen them desperate just for the sake of our company. And now they would even make their daughter an instrument just to save it.

I am sick of it now that everything they do for the company irritates me and makes me hurt. My parents' line, "This is for you," makes me want to puke.

If they were only not attending meetings in my school, I would still probably understand it. But now? What exactly is this? This crazy arranged marriage? No! These are not enough valid reasons for me! I will never accept this!

The car stopped in front of the mall but my eyes were on the other side of the lane.

"I'll go now. You go somewhere else and don't disturb me," I said, craning my neck to get a better view on the shop. I wonder if my friends are already there.

"Okay but I will tell this to your father-"

I immediately turned my head to him. "Alright! Alright! But please, stay here! I will just meet my girl friends!"

"You are going to meet your friends yet I am not allowed to come with you?"

"Oh, come on! Who would bring a guy on a girl's date? My friends will ask. They will probably be awkward with it. And we will talk about girly things. I bet you don't want to hear those!"

With that, he let me go. That is the reason I was beaming when I walked into the coffee shop. But he gave me conditions; he asked for my number and told me that I only had one hour. I gave him my phone number, but I'm not going to do the second thing he said. I have an hour to talk with my friends? Hell, one topic takes 2 hours! Who is he to give conditions, anyway? I do not know him. I only know his name. So, if he thinks he can make me obey his commands, he should think again, because I won't.

"Chantylle! Here!" Eliana, who was sitting beside Vivien on the east side of the coffee shop, waved her hands at me.

I waved back as I walked towards their direction. On the way to their table, I noticed how the men turned their heads to me, which I was used to seeing. A grim line formed in my lips.

"Are you okay now?" Vivien asked when I sat down.

I rolled my eyes. "Of course, Vivien."

"Is that Alec's new car? I saw that you came out from it. You two have plans today?"

I looked at what Eliana was looking at. It was Vren's fortuner. I did not notice that our table was in front of the window where Vren parked his car. Now I don't know how to answer Eliana. I knew this would happen! I should've commuted instead!

"I'm thirsty, I will order now. You two didn't wait for me," I said, looking at their coffee, and carefully avoiding Eliana's question.

"That's because you're late!" Elaina whined.

Laughing, I picked my bag and stood up immediately. Before they could even notice what I did, I had already made my way to the counter. The men were again drooling over me. And even if they saw that I caught them looking at me, their faces were so thick that they did not even get embarrassed by what they were doing.

I shook my head and was about to walk past their table when one of them stood up on my way. My brows furrowed as I stopped.

"Hi. I'm Errol," the man who was standing in front of me said. He was wearing a black jacket and black pants.

"So?" I rolled my eyes and continued walking, but I still heard how his friends laughed at him.

I don't like to be rude, but in this circumstance, I don't have time to get to know new individuals. I already have a lot of difficulties right now, and being around new people will only make them worse.

While I was ordering, my phone buzzed. I recognized the sender even though the message came from an unknown number.

Unknown number:

Buy me a coffee too.

Rolling my eyes, I put my phone back in my sling bag and ordered two coffees. That's why when I came back to our table, Eliana and Vivien were wondering why I ordered two when I couldn't even finish one cup of coffee. Again, I did my best to avoid their questions.

"I still couldn't believe what you have said last night, Chantylle," Vivien said after she sipped on her coffee.

We had been talking for almost an hour now, and I thought they had already forgotten about it. And now that they opened that topic, I have to urge you to think of ways to avoid it again.

"Don't believe it. It's not really true," I lied.

"What? You... You almost made us believe it!" Eliana pouted and hit me in my arm.

Meanwhile, Vivien shook her head. "I thought I already got the chance to meet Vren."

I laughed, thinking if she's serious or not. "You were the one who told me how different he is to us. I mean, we're rich, but definitely not as rich as he is. Our worlds were still not the same. That's absurd."

I hope I'd still go in heaven.

Maybe I should keep the truth to myself for the meantime. It will never happen, anyway. So telling them would also be useless.

"Oh my gosh! You're a liar, Chantylle!" Eliana pulled my hair a bit making me snap out of my thoughts.

"What?"

I looked at her, but she wasn't looking at me. She was looking out the window. And when I turned my head to it, Vren was already closing the door of his car. Worse, he even approached me in the coffee shop, which made my jaw drop.

What the hell is he doing? Didn't I tell him not to go out? Now what?

However, I couldn't take my eyes off of him. The way he swiftly held the glass door to open it, my eyes went down to his firm arms. And I saw how people turned their heads at him. Girls from somewhere even squealed when he entered the shop.

My brows furrowed. I put down my cup and crossed my arms while looking at him walking to our table. His eyes were darkly making their way through the crowd, but when our eyes met, his eyes dimmed. He licked his red lips, and that made me look at it.

Oh goodness, Chantylle.

"What are you doing here?" I fired to him when he already reached our table.

He glanced at my friends. It made me look at them too. They were both stunned, staring blankly at the person in front of them. I couldn't help but to massage my temples. When Vren turned to me, I sat properly to keep my pose.

"You are not yet giving me my drink there, so I went out to get it myself," he said huskily.

"You should've texted me," I said firmly.

He licked his lips again and shrugged before he turned to my friends. He bow his head at them politely.

"Vren Marzon," he introduced himself. "I am Chantylle's fiancé.“

My eyes widened. "What are you doing?!" I asked as I glanced at my friends who were still both stunned.

He held my hands and forced me to stand up. In surprise, I immediately tried to get my hands off of him, but I couldn't. "Times up. Your one hour is enough," he said.

Before I could protest, he already dragged me out of the coffee shop.

The only thing I despised was when someone forced me to do something I didn't want to do. I mean, who wouldn't hate it, right? My parents, when I was young, did not force me to do things they knew could make me hate them. They would even spoil me with all the luxury they could give me. But everything really changes for a reason. The problem is, I don't know what that reason is.

And now I am so irritated with Vren, who is now dragging me without any care. When I almost got tripped, he just looked at me like he was telling me 'Are you stupid?' Can you believe that?

"Can you please let my hand go?" I said, trying to remove his hand on mine.

We stopped in front of his car. I immediately turned my head to the glass window to look at my friends inside the coffee shop. They were still looking at us with their jaws dropped. Hell. I wish they could help me with this, but in their state? I know they couldn't.

Vren let my hand go and faced me with creased forehead. "Shut your mouth up. You are annoying."

I was taken back on that but immediately got over with it. "You know what? I quit! Take me back to our house!" then I entered his car.

I slammed his door before I sat and fastened my seatbelt. I did not care if he'd get mad because I was more than mad. After that, I crossed my arms, frowning. My mood was really ruined. Taking a deep breath could not even lift my mood, which is making me more frustrated.

Seconds had passed but Vren was not yet coming inside the car, so I had no choice but to look at him, irritated because of his slow movement. And there, I saw him still standing in his position with his hands on his hips and elbows turned outward. His eyes were directly looking at me, despite the tinted window of his car. He could even see me through it. I felt like he knew that I was looking at him too.

But I came back to my senses and opened the window. I furrowed my brows as I looked at him.

"What are you still doing in there? Aren't you going to drive? Or you don't want me here? Just tell me so I could find a taxi."

He licked his lips before moving. When he came in, our eyes met again, and I snorted. I saw him shake his head, and after that, he started the engine quietly.

I tilted my head because of that, but before I could speak to ask him about his problem, my phone vibrated inside my sling bag. I slid my hand inside to get my phone. My dear boyfriend texted.

Alec: Let's meet, hon. I miss you. Where are you?

"Wait. Stop the car!" I blurted.

"What?" Vren turned to me with a confused face, but he did not do what I said.

"I said, stop the car! I am going to pee!"

He was confused he did stopped the car on the side of the lane. "Can't that wait until we get in your house? We're almost there-"

"It can't!" I said while quickly unlocking the seatbelt. When I finally unlocked it, I immediately opened the door, but a firm hand held my arms tightly. My brows automatically furrowed as I looked at him. "What?"

"Where are you going to-"

"None of your business!" I said as I pulled my hands back, went out and slammed the door.

I looked at my wrist watch and decided to run. But before I could do that, I heard him get out of the car too. When I looked back, he was standing outside his car. His hands were on its roof.

"Chantylle!" he shouted, his eyes were so dark.

I rolled my eyes after that I ran towards the mall. My phone rang as I ran. I answered it without looking who the caller was.

"Hon, you did not reply. Where are you?"

"I'm at the mall near our house. Let's meet here. Park your car on the back."

"Huh? Are you okay? Why is your breathing like that?"

"I am running!" I breathed.

"Running? Why are you running? Is someone following you?!" his voice became critical and loud.

"What? Following? No! Damn. I will explain it to you later when you get here at the mall. For now, I will end this call because this is obviously disturbing me," I stated as I hung up the call.

I did not waste any time. Vren is not dumb, I know that. As of now, he might have realized that I was just fooling him around. That is why when I entered the mall, I bought clothes and changed inside the public restroom. I made sure that I wouldn't be easily recognized.

Alec texted me again after a few minutes. I replied that I would wait for him near the escalator where there are lots of people.

"Chantylle?" Alec's voice filled my ears after how many minutes.

"Hon!" I exclaimed as I gets up. I hugged and kissed him in his cheeks. "You're late..."

"Hon, what are you wearing? You look like a kidnapper."

I sneered and took a step back because of what he has said. I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow on him.

"This is my style for today," I hissed.

"What about what you said earlier? Why are you running-"

"Don't mind it. I was just running away from Vren Marzon," I said nonchalantly while checking my nails. I grimaced on it. The last time I went to a spa was last month!

"Vren Marzon? I didn't know you are connected to him. You're friends with him?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and lifted my gaze up to him. That is when I realized what I had just told him. Slowly, I bit my lip to stop myself from telling him more information. I nodded my head at him.

"Yup. Just a friend.." I lied.

He was about to ask again when I decided to ask him sweetly to watch a movie. He immediately nodded and forgot everything. His mind was already clouded with dating. He was the one who bought our tickets and never let me go with him. His reason? He doesn't want me to be uncomfortable.

"Here, hon. Hold this first. I can't take the change," he said, chuckling.

I smiled and took the popcorn. He kissed me on my cheeks before he walked towards the counter again. Meanwhile, I checked my phone and lots of messages from Vren appeared in my eyes.

Vren: Where are you?

Vren: Answer my fucking calls!

Vren: You sneaked out with your boy?

Vren: You will be doomed.

I was scared by his texts, so I put my phone back in my sling bag. Alec, who was walking towards my direction, saw what I did. His eyebrows furrowed as he handed me our drinks.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

I gulped and shook my head repeatedly before standing up. "Let's go?"

I had been seeing Alec for about two years. He courted me when I was 16 years old. After a few months of dating, I said yes to him despite my belief that the duration of the relationship should take precedence over the courtship. He is a lovely, happy, and entertaining boyfriend. I was certain he would be ideal for me.

Naturally, my parents were unaware of it. I intended to tell them back when everything was still okay, but they were so busy that I was unable to say anything at all. That's why I decided against telling them right away. However, given how chaotic everything is right now, I don't believe notifying them is the wisest course of action. I'll keep our relationship private for the time being. I'll tell my folks right away when the moment is appropriate.

"Thank you, hon. I really had a great time today.." I said when I went out of his car and the cold windy night hugged my skin.

Alec smiled and kissed my forehead. "No problem. Anytime, hon. Next time again?"

"S-Sure.."

He said good-bye to me and then walked away. I stopped as I turned to enter our home. I looked at the person standing in the doorway with wide eyes, like a fool.

"P-Papa..."

"Get inside," he said firmly and with full of authority. I almost shivered in fear at the seriousness of his expression.

A man appeared behind Papa. My gaze went to him, and an enormous rage flared up in me. Vren, who was looking at me with blank eyes, was standing cool and proudly behind my father with his hands in his pockets.

Papa came inside, and so did Vren. I immediately followed them with so much fear and fury for the person who was on Papa's back.

"End your relationship with that man," Papa said when he sat on the long sofa in the living room.

"Pardon?" I acted.

"Vren here told everything to me." Papa looked at me angrily. "You cut all your ties with him or else, Chantylle..."

My mouth fell slightly open to talk but I dared not to utter any word.

I was grounded. Papa did not allow me to go out again, for two weeks now. I beg that time without even caring if Vren was still watching and listening to us. Papa's voice was very serious when he said that but I still hoped he would not take it seriously. I still hoped that he still have mercy on me. However, it really did happened. I stayed in our house and the guards that my father hired were so tight that I never got a step outside the door.

It was so painful for me. All I could do was to cry silently in my room. My wrath for the person who did this was beyond the top. Especially when Papa even confiscated all of my gadgets. Reason why I couldn't contact my boyfriend and friends. Alec must have been worried now that I wasn't texting nor replying to him. Luckily, he would not dare to come here because I strictly told him when we were still new not to come without my permission. Because if he will, I knew everything will turn into a mess.

Sitting on a wooden chair in my room while staring at the sun outside with teary eyes, I clenched my fist. This would not happen if it is not because of Vren Marzon. That evil jerk! Every bits of him despise me. How dare him tell Papa about Alec?

A tear from my eyes fell. What did I do for him to do this? I do not know him. We just met. Is it because my parents is so fond of him that is why he thinks he has the rights to do that? Or is it because... Of what he said? That he is my fiancé? That is so ridiculous!

"Chantylle. Go down for a bit to eat," Mama said coldly when she knocked in my room, one afternoon.

"I am still full, Mama," I lethargically answered.

"I said, go down for a bit to eat."

I had no choice but to go downstairs. My food was already in the table, so ready to eat that made me laughed with no humor. Atleast they are still feeding you, Chantylle..

Because of no appetite, I ate slowly. Well, I usually eat my food like that but this time it is more slower. Each time I bite, I was lazy.

My plate is on the way to be empty when I heard Mama's loud laugh in the living room. My brows immediately frowned. I know that laugh of my mother. She will just laugh like that when she's pleased over something. Even though I was so curious, my laziness to stand up forced me not to find out what's happening. I have a hunch that there's a visitor out there.

If it is my mother's visitor, they will just stay in thr living room. But if it is my father's and a very important visitor, then they will walk pass here. My father's office is located in the second floor and the stairs is just next to the dinning area where I am currently eating. So I will have the chance to take a peek on the visitor. And base on the footsteps that I am hearing right now, it is coming into this direction so I bet it was my Papa's.

"I am really very sorry for the inconvenience, Vren. My husband is just so persistent that he wants it to be finish quickly..."

My eyes widened in the name she mentioned. Vren? Vren Marzon? He's here?!

I sat properly and minutes did not pass, I saw Mama's wide smile as she walks. She was looking at her back, and there, Vren Marzon appeared onto my eyes. In an instant, my eyes were filled with hate.

"It is totally fine, madame. My full support is still on it, like what I have said.." Vren answered and his eyes drifted to me.

If looks could kill, he is probably now lying on the ground and not breathing. He saw it, I know. The desire of me, punching him. And what's making me upset more is his blank reaction.

"Oh, well..." Mama laughed again, so overwhelmed, then her eyes accidentally dropped in me. "What are you doing there, Chantylle?"

"Eating," I simply answered.

Grimaced, Mama shook her head before she turned to Vren again. Vren, on the other hand, is watching me darkly.

"This way, Vren. Anthony must have been waiting for a quite long now."

"Yes, madame.."

I turned away my eyes off him, slightly moved my body and bowed my head because of the uneasiness his stares was giving me. It was so deep that he was like digging my entire life. Like he is reading my mind.

On purpose, I waited for them to leave before finishing my food. Absent minded, I washed the dishes. After that, I went upstairs to my room but before I could go there, I stopped infront of my father's office when I saw the door is slighty open.

"You do not know how grateful I am and my wife right now, Vren. If it is not because of you and your father, maybe we have nothing now. We will forever be indebted to the both of you..." I heard Papa said.

"It was nothing. It may benefit to the both of us, so..."

"Still. We did not expect this. I mean, we know how wealthy your family is, Vren. Everyone knows you are not into this.."

Vren's soft chuckle filled my ears before he talked, "What's wrong having an arrange marriage? I see no problem in that."

"But I could not believe that it was you who-"

My brows furrowed, wondering why Papa did not continue his sentence. I peeked on the slight aperture of the door. It was dark that made me confused. I know what my father's office look like. Supposedly, I should now br seeing a bookshelf and a painting. But I couldn't see anything except a white botton in front of me. I blinked twice. Wait. Botton?

Before I could comprehend everything, the door I am lying at opened, making me almost fall down on the floor if I did not just grasp my hand onto the clothes of the person who opened it. He was standing infront of me and held my elbow so I would not really fall.

"Chantylle? What are you doing there?" surprised and worried was written all over Papa's voice.

I looked at him and saw him standing at the back of his table. His hands were resting on it.

"U-Uh, P-Papa," I muttered before I stood up properly and arranged my pose. "I-I was just..."

"She is obviously listening on us."

Like an automatic robot, my head turned to him with blazing eyes. I gritted my teeth as my forehead creased. He isn't looking at me but to my father. What made me angry even more is when Papa's reaction suddenly changed due to what have he said. From shock and worried, his face told me that he is not pleased that I am here and on what I did.

"Get out, Chantylle! What you are doing is not going to make my decision change!"

I almost startled at Papa's loud and thunderous voice. Afraid and hurt, tears formed onto my eyes as I rushed to my room.

Even though Papa changed for somehow long now, I am still not used to it. I am still hurting for it..

I cried and tried to sleep but I couldn't so I decided to go in the veranda. The warm wind touched my skin immediately as I opened the screen door. My sight automatically darted to the guards that my father hired. They were walking towards the gate, as if they are leaving.

My eyes lit up in an idea. I changed my clothes, fixed my hair and put some makeups in my face before I went down to the living room. As I sat on the long sofa, I took a glance on the main door.

It's open!

My mind knows how I wanted to run to it but I need to be patient...

Looking around, there is no CCTV camera. But who knows? Maybe Papa installed a very tiny one. Oh gosh. This is really crazy!

I slowly stood up and came close to the window beside the main door. The guards are no longer to be found when I pushed aside the curtains to look for them. I almost jump in enthusiasm. But I need to be calm.. I walked slowly towards the door now..

My heart is beating so fast and loud when I finally held the door knob. I was about to twist it so I could finally go out when someone talked behind my back.

"Looks like a naughty cat is going out, huh?"

Stunned, my eyes stared at the doorknob. My hands were shivering and I feel like the blood on my face were no longer in there.

"You are not allowed to go out. You know that," he said again with a serious voice now.

I breathed in deeply and gathered all my guts to face him. Vren is standing in the stairs, watching me intently. His hands were resting firmly on the staircase and his body built told me that he is physically strong. Our eyes met and his lips twisted into a grim line.

But despite of his image, it could not hide the fact that he is evil. He is a heartless man. What he did to me is too much!

"Why do you keep on meddling with my life?!" I almost shouted, tears were forming into my eyes.

"Why would I not? I am your fiancé-"

"You are not! And you will never be!" I shouted at the top of my lungs before I angrily ran towards him.

He stepped back that made me think that he thought I'll attack him. It made an easier access for me to ran pass him, though I still pushed him with all my might before I went straight to my room.