Chapter 1: The Marriage Proposal

“Anna, please…” Dalton Guevarra begged for the hundredth time that week. "Don't do this to us. Don't ruin our friendship like this.”

Anna Delgado did nothing but let out a shaky breath in front of Dalton.

Dalton Guevarra, her best friend since childhood, has been begging her to change her mind about their arranged marriage. 

Two weeks ago, the Delgados and Guevarras sat Anna and Dalton down to announce their engagement. Dalton vehemently refused on the spot. But Anna, much to Dalton's shock and dismay, accepted the proposal. 

“Look at me, Anna." Dalton pleaded, trying to reach for her hands.

Anna swatted his hands away. 

Tears streamed down Dalton's face as he slowly dropped to his knees, looking pathetically up to Anna.

Anna gasped in horror when she saw Dalton on the ground. Her heart almost broke when she saw his tear-stained face looking pleadingly at her.

Her own tears streamed down her face. Never in her life had she imagined Dalton begging someone on his knees.

And to think that she was to be the heartless person to deny his request!

She turned her head to the side, unable to look him in the eye.

“Anna, why are you doing this?" his voice was breaking. “I can give you anything else you ask for, just not this." 

Anna wiped at her tears.

“Dalton, get up, please," she tried to steady her breath. "This was not my decision. This was our families’.”

"No, no,” he tried to convince her. "If we both say no, they'll have no choice but to stop the engagement.

“Just say no, Anna. If you do, they'll have no choice but to listen to us. I'm sure of it." 

"No.” Anna breathed out.

“What do you mean ‘no’, Anna?" Dalton asked, confused. “Yes, they will." 

Anna swallowed. She knew this was going to make Dalton resent her a lot. 

"If you're so sure, then why don't you ask them to stop the engagement yourself?”

"What?” Dalton stared at her in shock.

He staggered back. This was not the Anna he knew. His best friend Anna was a fierce girl, yes, but she wasn't heartless.

He was sure he was mistaken. Anna would never do something like this! She's way too kind to be this cruel.

"Tell them you want to stop the engagement. See what happens.” Anna stared at him. 

There were still tears on her face, and her cheeks were red, but she was looking at him with anger in her eyes.

"I tried, Anna," Dalton answered. “But they wouldn't listen because you already accepted. This is why I'm begging you to take it back." 

“I won't." Anna's voice was laced with certain finality that made Dalton take in a sharp, pained breath. 

Anna left Dalton crying on the floor. She was starting to feel suffocated, having to watch her best friend hurting because of her. 

Dalton watched her walk away from him. His eyes blurry with tears.

What happened to Anna? he wondered painfully. When did she become this heartless? 

He wiped his tears. What happened to his best friend?

***

Anna sat in her car, trying to calm herself down. She took several deep breaths before driving off.

Her father, Gordon Delgado, the CEO of the Delgado Company, called her to visit him in his office.

Anna had wanted to say no at first, trying to avoid her father. But after what happened with Dalton earlier, she thought she had to have a talk with him, after all.

Anna arrived at her father's company and immediately made her way to his office. When she arrived, she saw her dad watching the cars below through the massive glass wall.

“Dad…” Anna greeted, walking towards her father. 

Mr. Delgado turned to look at Anna. He smiled at her. Anna noticed that his usual warm smile seemed a little bit gloomy today.

It pierced her heart to know that her father was carrying a lot of burdens and worries on his shoulder. 

"Come here, my Anna,” Gordon hugged his beloved daughter tightly before ushering her to the couch.

“Why did you ask for me, Dad?" She asked once they were seated.

Gordon smiled faintly at her. "I just wanted to see you. I know I'm asking a lot from you right now.”

His voice broke a little at his last sentence. He reached out for Anna's hand and squeezed it tightly.

"I'm really grateful to you, Anna.” He wiped away his tears. “I know this isn't easy for you." 

“Dad…" Anna patted her father's hand that was still holding her.

Seeing her father like this is making her so weak. She never knew her dad could break like this.

Her thoughts went to Dalton when he begged her to cancel the engagement earlier. She had to be firm, she had to say no, no matter how much he pleaded.

It was a bit selfish, she admits, but her family is facing bankruptcy. Her father begged her for this connection. Her heart broke when she saw the fear in her father's eyes that time.

She had been visiting home when she smelled clouds of smoke from her father's office. She was so shocked to know that her health-conscious father had been heavily smoking.

That was the first time she realized that their company was sinking. They were on the verge of facing bankruptcy! 

Her father found a solution— to partner up with the Guevarras, a powerful family that they had been friends with over the years.

He didn't want to tell her at first, heartbroken at what he would be asking of his daughter. But Anna agreed, assuring him that she would do everything in her power to help their family.

In the end, the engagement was arranged. And Dalton had done everything in his power to put an end to it.

Anna was about to say something when the door opened, and Gordon's secretary walked in, looking frantic.

“Mr. Delgado, our stocks are going down fast!” The young man was obviously panicking.

Gordon immediately stood up, fixing his face. 

“What? Have you checked in with the investors?” he asked.

His secretary answered in the affirmative, leading him to another department. 

Anna was left alone in the office. She never knew things were this bad. Her father was so panicked, that he even forgot about her. That never happened before!

She stood up, she'll leave them to do what they need to. Meanwhile, she'll do everything in her power to get them that connection they desperately need.

Her phone rang, notifying her of an incoming call. One look at the screen informed her that it was Dalton.

She moved her finger to reject the call.

Dalton would resent her, she was sure of it, but she’ll just have to accept his fury.

I'm sorry, Dalton, her heart cried out. But I can live with myself more as a traitor to my best friend, than to my own father. Not when he's at his lowest!