Chapter 1:

One year later,

Arya sighed wearily, as her hands moved towards the plate of scones, before she happily, yet tiredly stuffed a mouthful into her mouth.

She gazed at her mother opposite her and said, "Mother, I really don’t understand the point of this blind date you always set up. Didn’t you say that love can’t be forced?" her voice was rather rough.

Sofia, her mother, let out a whimper. "Arya, if I don’t do this, then I know you will not fix your love life after what Kelvin had did to you,"

Arya’s face darkened.

Kelvin,

That name that brought out the chills, how dumb was she to have love a man so much and in the end, he married your own friend, whom you trusted, and then your friends totally hates you, and calls you a wrench.

Arya picked the cup, and drank the entire content staring around, at least, she was strong, she didn’t let Kelvin disappointment gets to her, and she just had to be strong.

"Mother, I don’t love him anymore more, I have moved on."

Her mother had a sly look, something that told her she couldn’t be easily deceived. "Says you who are still single."

Arya leaned on the chair, certainly, being the second daughter of the most prestigious family wasn’t an easy task, she had to be forced to make public appearances, get married, and heck, and she wasn’t ready for that.

Sofia reached for her daughter’s hand, and squeezed it softly. "Arya," Her mother said, tenderness laced in her voice. "What Kelvin and Anna did to you was undoubtedly not bearable, but still you can’t make them win, move on and be happy, that’s the only thing I want of you."

Arya’s eyes moistened. Yes, she was still sulking, she hadn’t move on and even she knew she was still relying on her past.

Maybe, just maybe,

Kelvin would come back.

Arya bit her lips gently, trying not to act emotionally especially in her mother’s presence, "I am okay."

"Are you sure?" her mother gaze was heavy.

Arya nodded, gazing around in the interiors of Imperial restaurant, it was one of the restaurants quite famous for their sumptuous seafood, it was a classical French design, and it suited that the CEO was her best friend, Emma Roberts.

Arya picked up the glass and sipped it gently.

"Whom am I having a date with now?" A sober sigh found its way to her lips.

Sofia’s eyes glistened. "Oh. There he comes,"

Arya turned back, and her heart widened with horror, she sipped the water back into the glass, and squinted her eyes. Why in the heck would her own mother call her best friend to have a date with her?

"Ethan?" she called out.

He winked at her elegantly, taking a seat, "Arya."

Sofia giggled, before hurriedly walking away.

"I will leave you guys to yourself now."

Arya leaned on the chair, as she studied Ethan’s appearance, his hair was rather scattered, damn, they were literally scattered every time, and those emerald green spark that glowed in his eyes, so enchanting, it could melt anyone down. He was a Roberts, and they were popular for their looks, his twin sister, Emma Roberts.

His eyes bobbed shut, before they opened back. "Arya. I feel like…"

She gazed at him sharply, she knew what he wanted to say, Ethan was a playboy, someone who never took women feelings seriously.

"Ethan, I don’t know why my mother invited you, but I want to you to leave. Now." She munched the scones.

He leaned on the table, his elbows supporting his chin. "Then kiss me." She knew he was rather being playful.

"No, I would rather kiss a stranger, than kiss you."

"Okay. Then kiss anybody here, I dare you Miss. Arya." His eyes glistened humorously.

She fought the urge to smack him in the chin, but she maintained her composure, clearly sure that her mother was gazing at her with those hawk like eyes that told her not to mess up.

She gazed around everyone present, they were either in their late fifties, or early thirties, and even she knew she couldn’t kiss anyone here, Ethan was most likely her soul mate, well they bonded well, in exchange, He dared her to everything she knew she couldn’t accomplish.

"They all look old." She shivered.

"You sure?" He licked his lips, rather seductively. "Let’s make a deal, I bet you, I could kiss any young woman here if you kiss any man,"

Curiously, she gazed at him, her eyes perking to accept the duel; she couldn’t possibly find anybody right? And he, he wouldn’t kiss any stranger, right?

He clapped up his suit and stood up elegantly, walking over to some group of young ladies who were chattering about some business deal, he turned to the youngest, or so, he assumed.

Leaning in. "I need you t do something for me, just pretend as if I will kiss you, and I would give you ten grand,"

She paled, but her eyes glistened, "Okay!"

His lips nearly brushed against hers, with a satisfied smile, he walked back to Arya, brushing his lips with his hands.

"You actually kissed her?" Her voice was pale, and then she realized, she had to kiss someone in return.

He shrugged his shoulders. "It wasn’t that hard, Arya, just look around, find someone hot and boom. That’s a kiss."

She groaned internally, all her life, she had always lost all his duels, but this time. She certainly was not going to lose.

Just then, the door clinked open, and an well-dressed looking man walked in, his dark hair was smoothened, unlike Ethan’s, his eyes, they sparkled, the golden sliver like eyes danced in between his lobes. His suit was well fitted, and Arya assumed, he was coming back from his office.

Boom, Attacker found.

She licked her lips, pushing the table aside, “This time, Ethan, I would win."

Arya was never bold, except in the presence of her friends, and now she was about to kiss a stranger, someone she didn’t even know, but Ethan did it too, it can’t be that hard, right?

She walked up to him, a sly smile on her face, "Can I kiss you?"

He gazed at her harshly, his eyes dancing with anger; his voice was dark, cold. "No!"

Oh no, she wasn’t even the least ready to give up.

Tiptoeing to his level, she cupped his chin, and in the next moment, she crashed her lips, on his.