Chapter 3: Firm Decisions

Anna entered a café. She scanned the room looking for the one girl she was here to see.

She spotted her seated at the back. Anna was glad for the privacy, since their conversation isn't exactly for the public ears.

Anna made her way to the table. She pulled back a chair and took a seat down.

The girl sitting in front of her took a sip of her coffee, her fiery red hair cascading gracefully down her shoulders.

***

Anna arrived at the Guevarra family mansion. Dianne called her over to talk about more details on the wedding. 

The security let her through easily. They're all already familiar with her, and they know that the family treats her as one of their own. Not to mention the fact that she is set to marry the heir of the Guevarra family fortune.

Anna smiled at the butler who led her inside.

“Hello Albert! Where's Mrs. Guevarra?" 

"She's at her office upstairs,” Albert bowed to her. 

After saying her thanks, Anna made her way to the wide split staircase.

The Guevarra family mansion screamed elegance and opulence. She had been mesmerized with the house when she first saw it as a child. The Guevarra family was rich, there was no denying it.

Anna made her way across the long hallway, Dianne's office was situated at the end of the hallway.

As she was walking, she heard tense voices coming from Chairman Guevarra's office. 

She couldn't make out what they were saying, but she was sure that it was a heated discussion. She inched closer.

“YOU ARE MARRYING HER. END OF DISCUSSION!” Chairman Guevarra's voice boomed across his office.

“No!" Dalton screamed back at his grandfather.

“I said no from the start. Why can't you accept that?”

"We had an agreement with the Guevarras. We can't abandon that agreement just because you're being difficult.”

"YOU made an agreement. I never agreed to anything. I'm stepping out of this engagement, and there's nothing you can do about it!” 

"What about Anna?” Chairman Guevarra was fuming. "This whole engagement had already been announced. You'd really abandon her in all of this just like that?”

Anna could hear Dalton's chest rising up and down. She had never witnessed Dalton be this angry before. In fact, this is the first time she saw Dalton expressly oppose his grandfather.

“Anna is a Guevarra, and braver than you think she is. She'll be fine.” Dalton replied.

"I cannot believe you are this selfish, Dalton!” Chairman Guevarra shouted at him.

Anna couldn't take any of their words anymore. She hurried down the hallway towards Dianne's office.

Dianne was busy talking to someone on the phone when Anna arrived.

“There you are, darling," Dianne motioned for her. “Come here." 

Anna obeyed.

“I wanted to show you the church decorations. I wanna know whether you like them or not.

"I can't get Dalton's opinion on anything. I asked him about the house, but his answer was…” Dianne's face scrunched for a bit, “it was not helpful." 

Anna nodded slightly. She knows what Dianne meant. She had witnessed firsthand how Dalton pointedly opposed the wedding to his grandfather.

“Oh by the way, Nora already sent the design of the wedding dress and suit to the dressmakers. They'll be ready in time for the wedding." Dianne smiled lovingly at her.

Anna warmly expressed her gratitude, and then they examined the decorations.

After they picked out all of the decorations, Anna bid Dianne goodbye. She had things to take care of.

Anna left Dianne's office and was shocked to find that Dalton was waiting for her outside.

He grimly walked towards her when he saw her step out of the office. He grabbed her wrist, and dragged her to the library. 

“Dalton, what are you doing?" Anna asked, trying to break free from his grasp.

“Anna, I'm not going to beat around the bush." Dalton faced her.

Anna exhaled angrily.

“If this is about the engagement, forget it. I'm not changing my mind.”

Dalton's brows furrowed dangerously. 

Anna saw dark circles under his eyes, his entire face looked quite tired. He had not been sleeping lately.

"Why Anna? Give me one good reason why you're willing to continue this madness!”

I can't, Anna thought. The media won't leave her family alone if they get even a small hint that their company was struggling.

"I already told you about Lara. Do you not care about that?”

"Dalton, whether I say yes or no, or even if Lara is in the equation or not, our families' decision still wouldn't change." Anna lied to his face.

Dalton studied her. 

"You're lying,” he breathed. "You're actually lying to me right now.”

"Do you think your family would believe you about Lara? They'd never heard of her before, and all of a sudden, you're saying you're in love with her?”

Dalton's jaw tightened at that. 

“I never mentioned Lara, because I didn't want the media to attack her.”

"And you think they won't attack her now?”

Dalton stared at her angrily. "Spare me the fake concern, Anna. And spare me from this hell you're trying to push me into!" 

Anna's hand trembled at her side. Dalton is hurting, she reminded herself. He does not know what he's saying.

“You're willing to protect Lara, but not me?" 

“I have protected you all my life, Anna. This is the only time I'm asking you to return the favor. But why does it seem so hard for you?

"If you keep this up, I don't think I can guarantee to continue protecting you.”

"Dalton…" 

“And I can’t promise how to act with you if this does follow through.

“What is the cost of our friendship to you, Anna? What is the price of my life for you?”

Anna didn't say anything.

"Nothing? That you're willing to throw them both away?”

Dalton walked towards the door before turning around to Anna.

“Would you still be firm with your decision, Anna? Even with everything that is at risk here?" 

With that, he left the room, with Anna breaking down in tears with his words.

Is this really the husband she's choosing to have? she thought. A broken Dalton? 

Would she really be able to sacrifice herself and Dalton just to save her father's company?