Chapter 3: Arrange Marriage Part 2

After dinner, everyone headed to the family room, drinking the latest wine produced by the Pattinsons. Andy sat in a corner sipping a glass of wine. The topic was all about weddings—who would be preparing for the bachelor/bachelorette party or bridal showers. She creased her brow hearing it, and the elders seemed to be happy about it. But for her—she wanted to scream out of the room and didn't want to hear about the wedding. She didn't want to see wedding dresses, flowers, and bells. It was just too painful for her. Painful in her eyes and in her heart.

Instrumental music in the ballroom was playing and could be heard across the hall. The atmosphere was heavy for her. She felt drained with these people. The music made her feel better, but the stares and glances gave her chills. Although it wasn't that hot or cold in the family room, she still felt freezing.

Percy Pattinson, the second son of Rafael Pattinson, came towards her. He was wearing a royal blue tux. His hair was arranged in the style of Korean men, and he had a cute smile on his face.

"Andromeda," he said. "It's been ages since we last saw each other. When was the last time? Five years ago? Or during college?"

"Percy, it's been ages since I last saw you in decent clothes. I believe the last time I saw you was during college when you were screwing a girl on the lawn?" she said frankly, and Percy laughed out loud.

"You still remember that? Do I have a nice bottom?"

"I think you need to do more squats." Percy laughed out loud again.

"You seriously have very great humor."

She and Percy were the same age, and he was the second child of the Pattinson family. The eldest son, and probably the heir of Pattinson, was the man she hated most. She felt his gaze on her, so she looked at him with sharp eyes. Zachary didn't even blink as he sipped his wine. She faced Percy again and excused herself to go outside.

She didn't feel out of place despite the people murmuring about her. She was wearing improper clothes at the party. She was the rebel of the family, but her grandfather doted on her more than anyone else. She looked at the girls murmuring about her. She knew them but didn't care about their opinions.

Soon the Mondragons and Pattinsons came out of the room and finally faced the people. Lots of investors came closer to the two elders and their sons to discuss business and other kinds of stuff.

Meanwhile, the women were gossiping in the corner.

"I heard that Zachary has been single. Never seen him with anyone."

"Does that mean he dumped Deborah? The woman is a model, right? Such a great body..."

"But she doesn't deserve such a god-like man like Zach. Have you seen his abdominals—oh damn... he's like a Greek god," said the other one who wore a gown that showed most of her skin.

Zachary passed by them and they waved at him, trying to get his attention. He only dipped his head in acknowledgment and glanced in her direction. She sipped the champagne and finished it. He was about to approach her when she turned her back and strode toward her grandfather.

Her grandfather introduced her to all the guests, but she promptly forgot their names. Maybe she was tired. Maybe she wasn't ready after all to face Zachary.

Then finally, the Pattinsons and Mondragons gathered again in the conference room.

"Okay, for my announcement..." her grandfather cleared his throat. "I found a suited husband for you."

She scoffed and then wanted to laugh.

"You are going to marry Zachary Pattinson."

It took a few minutes for those words to sink in, and when she finally understood what her grandfather had said, she felt a wave of anger and denial come over her.

She looked at Zachary, staring at him blankly, then at her grandfather. She wanted to break everything in rage. But she couldn't. Her hand shook and she clenched her fist, keeping her stare on her grandfather.

Everyone was quiet, and she didn't say a thing. Just kept staring. No one knew what she was thinking. Her grandfather thought that she'd refute for a while, but now it was so quiet. Aaron looked at her clenched hands, and he knew that something was off. Even James could predict that something bad was going to happen.

Andy was as stubborn as her grandfather. They couldn't get along sometimes and often went head-to-head. Her grandfather was always the one who gave in. James could see that Andromeda had been holding back her emotions all along. He saw her in a rage only once, and she was very dangerous and scary. He knew then that he couldn't even control his own sister if she entered into one of her rages.

She looked like she was going to kill someone. She strode toward Zachary and slapped him. The sound echoed inside the room, making everyone gasp in surprise. Zachary had never thought that she would only slap him. He simply accepted the slap.

"Did you make this up right now?" she asked him in a whisper. He looked back into her fierce, dragon eyes. They were dangerous and petrifying.

"What do you still want, Zachary?" He didn't speak.

"Andromeda!" her grandfather scowled and got up from his seat. "You will marry Zachary no matter what it costs."

"Or else what?" she asked her grandfather, still staring into Zach's grey eyes that she had always loved back then. Now, everything about those eyes was painful to think about—like she had been stabbed millions of times and had her heart pierced by a spear a hundred times.

"Bring me my gun," her grandfather said.

While everyone started panicking, Andy didn't even blink. She faced her grandfather, strode toward him, and faced him fearlessly.

"My gun, now!" her grandfather bellowed again.

It didn't take long for the butler to fetch his special gun.

"Grandpa, I won't marry him. I can marry anyone but not that asshole!" She wanted to have her special gun right now and just finish Zachary.

"You will marry him no matter what! That's an order!"

She stared at him blankly. Again.