PLAN GOING SOUTH ON THE FIRST SCENE

We saunter back into the castle, to the smiley faces of our parents around the table. Their loud hums as Damian and I take our respective seats beside each other as reserved for us halt. From the look on their faces, they ought to have debated a lot in our absence, and I hope it is nothing as insane as this—the marriage agreement. If they were crazy enough before to come up with something as absurd as this marriage arrangement, I don't even want to speculate what else they can come up with. Perhaps the number of grandchildren they want to have? Beh!


I throw a quick glance at Papa. His expression doesn't look so optimistic. It is nearly flat, and I understand why. He probably thinks I chose the choice he gave me. It makes me wonder, though. If he was okay health-wise, and if Damian came clean on time, this would be such a beautiful gathering, right? This lying jerk would conceivably be slipping the second engagement ring on my finger right now. It would have been a blissful event, with everyone happy. I wish that was the case, but too bad. Just too bad. He had to ruin it all. Remind me why I am still wearing his ring. I should have slapped it in the face before we walked back here, right?

My frown might have caught the attention of everyone, and Damian decided to snap me from my engrossing thoughts by nuzzling my hand under the table. I snap at him, and I get a smile from him in return. I would roll my eyes at him if I could, but I chose this drama; this was my plan, so I traded a smile—a bittersweet smile.

"So, son?" Mr. Riccaforte speaks, sloping his glass of red wine on the table. "How do you like your betrothed? Does that glow mean that we made the right choice for you? You both can't hide. You look so cool together that one would think that you two have known each other for years."


If only they knew, but they don't have to.

Choice, huh? Just who gave them the freaking right? What right did they have to make this choice for us? All these heartaches and intricacies could have been obviated if only they hadn't made that choice for us. They had no absolute right. All these miseries in my life wouldn't have been there in the first place. I would howl that to their faces right now if only the situation wasn't this complicated at all. And again, the mere thought that it was my mother who brought about this idea stops me. What would she tell me right now if she were here and I told her what Damian did to me? What did the man she chose for me do? Would she change her mind about him and ask me to break this betrothal off? Or would she ask me to forgive him and continue this?


"She is..." I snap my face at Damian as he responds to his father. He makes sure our eyes are locked as he speaks, a grin tagging at the corners of his lips. "She is beautiful beyond measure, Father. I didn't know I was resisting a goddess all these years. I am smitten beyond words!"

That is not my betrothed speaking. It is my... I mean, it was Damian that I fell in love with. I smirk at that. He is playing a wild game with me. And that is just him—wild in everything and every aspect. So this is why he took on the college with so much vigor. He is taking advantage of the situation with my father and his family and using my love for him to his advantage. Hopefully, I won't fall for his flirtations. My plan will still work. Ooh, it will!

Choice, huh? Just who gave them the freaking right? What right did they have to make this choice for us? All these heartaches and intricacies could have been obviated if only they hadn't made that choice for us. They had no absolute right. All these miseries in my life wouldn't have been there in the first place. I would howl that to their faces right now if only the situation wasn't this complicated at all. And again, the mere thought that it was my mother who brought about this idea stopped me. What would she tell me right now if she were here and I told her what Damian did to me? What did the man she chose for me do? Would she change her mind about him and ask me to break this betrothal off? Or would she ask me to forgive him and continue this?

"She is..." I snap my face at Damian as he responds to his father. He makes sure our eyes are locked as he speaks, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "She is beautiful beyond measure, Father. I didn't know I was resisting a goddess all these years. I am smitten beyond words!"

That is not my betrothed speaking. It is my... I mean, it was Damian that I fell in love with. I smirk at that. He is playing a wild game with me. And that is just him—wild in everything and every aspect. So this is why he took on the college with so much vigor. He is taking advantage of the situation with my father and his family and using my love for him to his advantage. Hopefully, I won't fall for his flirtations. My plan will still work. Ooh, it will!

"And you, my dear?" Papa speaks beside me, summoning my attention. "Do you like your betrothed?"

I drag my eyes to Damian, meeting his bottomless ones again, the dark glow in them corroding the strength in mine. Do I like my broth? Do I like my fiancé? If only they could see through my heart or have a sneak peek at the life that we left in Mombasa, I doubt they would ever recover from the findings. I hate this guy for ruining that for me.