Chapter 7: On Her Own

Anna stared at the ceiling. "You really did forget your proposal to me when we were kids."

"How could you hold me for a promise I uttered as a young child?"

The disgust in his voice was apparent.

"So, I guess that means I can't count on your vows, as well?" she turned to him.

Dalton straightened himself. "I won't hurt you nor humiliate our families, if that's what you're worried about."

He stopped on his way out of the door. "But you're on your own, starting now."

Without another word, he left. He left her on her own, as she cried herself to sleep.

The next morning, Anna woke up to the breezy hum of the sea. She quickly dressed herself and stalked out of her suite.

The cruise ship their family picked for their honeymoon wasn't too large, but it was not exactly small either.

It was lavishly decorated, and largely spacious. Every corner of the ship screamed luxury, something she was used to all her life.

As far as Anna knows, there were only three cabin crews on board including the captain, and three helpers.

They all stayed on their part of the ship, unless they had to do something. Their families gave their instructions very clearly.

Anna was quite sure that she wouldn't knock into them when she descended the two-side stairway down to the lounge.

Imagine her shock when a butler suddenly appeared, handing her an envelope when she reached the bottom of the stairs.

"What is this?" she asked.

"Master Dalton asked me to hand you this letter." He bowed at her.

"And where is he?"

He looked at her curiously.

"He left last night. He talked about an emergency."

"Ah yes, of course,” she gave a smile. "I remember now. Thank you."

He bowed at her again.

Anna fell to the nearest chair. Does this mean he went to find Lara, after all? she thought bitterly.

She never told Dalton about her family's financial crisis. He didn't want him to pity her. She just never thought that he would actually despise her.

All this, she thought bitterly, for a girl she doesn't even care for.

Lara Kelly was a known beauty in Dalton’s university. She positively glowed amongst all of the business students.

She was pretty, famous, and talented. People can not shut up about her.

But Anna Delgado was famous in her own university as well. She was known to be smart, beautiful, and fierce. Not to mention, rich.

She was rich and well-known. People marveled at her.

Her fame did not stop at her university, but she had always been a media-favorite growing up. The spotlight was not new to her.

People can't say the same for Lara. Beautiful and famous as she may be, no one knew exactly about her status.

No one knew about her family or where she came from. And Anna's got to hand it to her, she has extremely succeeded in keeping her life private.

That was something not quite easy to achieve with the current media they were dealing with. But people know, or at least people assume, that Lara is rich, as well.

Truth be told, not everyone can afford to go to Dalton's university. Only people who either had a lot of money or connection, and in some cases, both, can manage to be accepted.

Being the two known beauties of the two universities, people somehow found a way to make the two compete.

There would be comparisons, polls, and competitions about Anna and Lara.

Anna had found it ridiculous, considering she thought, that the two hadn't even met that time yet.

The results of those excursions would vary, sometimes Anna would win, sometimes it was Lara.

She never commented on it. Never entertained it. She never let anyone know whether it was bothering her or not.

Dalton once told her that Lara thought it was a silly thing that needed to be stopped. Anna only rolled her eyes while sipping on her frappe.

Dalton laughed. "Do you enjoy it when you win?"

Anna made a face.

"An obvious winner, really. Miss Anna Delgado wins the poll!" Dalton mimicked the announcer from a recently closed poll about something she doesn't know about.

Anna picked up a grape and hurled it towards Dalton. He escaped from the single fruit, laughing.

"Come on! You've got to enjoy it at least!" he said.

Anna never knew that Dalton was actually serious all those times. She thought he was just joking.

But apparently, he had been observing her, trying to see her reaction.

She felt disgusted. How could someone she knew all her life think of her like that? As if he forgot all about her personality.

Imagine, he really did think that she was indeed trying to compete with Lara!

Anna laughed incredulously. She doesn't even have an opinion about the woman!

He was just like those drama-hungry media people. Who had nothing better to do in life, and so made money poking their noses on other people's business. Thinking ill about people who never did anything to them!

Why would she even compete with Lara? She was content with who she was. She doesn't need validation from anyone. And to get it against someone she barely even knows!

If Dalton likes that girl, why did he have to paint Anna in such a bad light? And why does he even like her that much?

She had only talked to Lara once, and that wasn't a good experience for her. She can't imagine what Dalton sees in the girl that made him throw away their entire friendship in a heartbeat.

Well, she thought, if Dalton wants to torture himself with that girl, then he can. We'll see what that will get him.

She got up, and went to a nearby drawer, looking for some penknife. She found one in the second drawer, and opened the envelope.

She quickly read the contents of the letter, a smile forming on her lips.