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TEASER

"Prince… Percival… Pierre… Cario…” I read the long string of names out loud, squinting at the elegant calligraphy on the front of the massive photo album. I let out a laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. “Come on, Dad. How am I supposed to handle four guys at once?”

Dad chuckled. “Kitty... "That’s just one guy. That’s the full name of Boss Valerion’s son.”

I stared at the album again. 

Oh. Well, I’d just read it off the cover without thinking. The name sounded like it belonged to a royal bloodline, not some random guy being lined up to be my future husband.

Dad nudged the album closer. “Go ahead, sweetheart. Open it.... Let’s take a look at Boss Pierre’s face.”

I sighed then I slowly opened the album’s cover, flipping past the initial page until I was staring at several printed photographs. They were clearly taken by a professional because of the clean backgrounds, expensive clothes, and lighting meant to make him look appealing.

And there he was.

They called my... future husband.

I studied his face in silence. 

“What do you think, sweetheart?” Dad asked eagerly, watching my face like I was supposed to fall in love at first sight.

I turned to him with the most unimpressed expression I could manage, letting my silence say it all before flashing him a sarcastic little grin.

Then I shook my head slowly.

“That face…” I said flatly, pointing to the picture. "Is an absolute disaster. He’s horribly ugly.”

"Kitty..." my father muttered, his breath coming out in a heavy sigh, a grunt of frustration. "You're only saying that because you just don’t want to get married... Haven’t we already talked about this? I’ve been telling you the same thing for over a month now... trying to make you understand."

I dropped my weight against the back of the chair, letting out a groan as I crossed my arms and scowled.

"From the moment Boss Valerion saw you... He chose you. He picked you to marry his eldest son. Their heir, Kitty. Can you believe that?"

I rolled my eyes.

Honestly, I was starting to regret ever tagging along to my dad’s workplace. 

It belonged to a famous, ridiculously wealthy family, people so used to getting their way that even real-life decisions felt like business deals to them.

Ever since that day, my life had started to spiral out of control. Things got messy. And apparently, Boss Valerion decided that I was good enough to become the wife of their heir.

"And that’s why I’m asking you... Kitty, my daughter…" His voice softened as he looked at me, pleading. "Please, stop making yourself look unpresentable... Fix your clothes and your face..."

“I said no." 

“My goodness, child! You look like someone living on the streets! Stop stealing my clothes… and for heaven’s sake, would you please comb your hair?!”

Yes, I was doing it on purpose. I wanted to look as horrible as I possibly could. I wore my dad’s oversized t-shirts and his old pants, the kind that sag and hang off my frame like rags. I didn’t care how ridiculous I looked, actually, the worse, the better.

My hair, which used to be sleek, straight, and silky, was now a complete disaster. I had messed it up so much that it started forming thick, tangled clumps. I hadn’t bothered to brush it in days. It puffed out awkwardly and the strands were so knotted, I wasn’t even sure a comb could get through anymore.

It was a deliberate rebellion.

“Kitty, you’re the reason why I was forced to marry you off to a man you barely even know..."

I clamped my mouth shut and turned my gaze away. 

“Because of your carelessness, everything we owned turned to ashes..."

Our house, the one my dad had worked decades to build, was gone. Burned to the ground in a fire that took with it not only the walls that held our memories but also all the valuable things we’d worked so hard for.

If it hadn’t been for Boss Velerion, I don’t even know where we would’ve ended up.

My father, was too embarrassed to refuse his boss. We owed him so much. When our home was reduced to nothing but soot and cinders, Boss Valerion didn’t hesitate, he bought us a new house and even gave us a huge amount of cash to get back on our feet.

Dad was too ashamed to say no to someone who had done so much for us even up to before. So now, here I am, left with no choice but to pay the price.

“My daughter…” Dad inhaled deeply, gathering the courage to say what he needed to say. Then he slowly let the air out, releasing it through his lips. “Please… wear the nice clothes I bought for your meeting tomorrow,” he pleaded. "Promise me you will. Please… I’m begging you.”

"I will." I scratched my head awkwardly, pretending I wasn’t feeling all the tension boiling around me. He raised his eyebrows at me suspiciously, like he still couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise." 

He reached up to the back of his neck, obviously stressed, and made a face like he was about to regret this decision for the rest of his life. "Just stop getting high blood pressure because of me, Dad. I already said yes to the wedding, didn’t I?"

"But you’re still looking for a way out of it! You’re clearly trying to find some excuse so the wedding won’t happen!"

I couldn’t help but feel completely annoyed. Boss Valerion was so smitten. He was obviously obsessed with my looks. As if I’d believe that nonsense.

"Katrina," my father interrupted. "Let me just remind you again… please, don’t curse. Don’t talk back to Boss Pierre, no matter what. And above all—" he clasped his hands together, almost begging. "Return to your old appearance. You’re pretty, but you turned yourself into a mess..."

My dad looked like he was about to cry out of pure frustration. I wanted to laugh. He was too close to losing it.

Still, I had other ideas brewing in my head.

I could always make myself look even worse, just to kill Boss Valerion’s interest in me. 

Who knows? 

Maybe he’d change his mind and call the whole thing off.

"So… what time exactly is our meeting tomorrow?" I asked, deliberately changing the subject.

"Make sure you’re already at Boss Pierre’s mansion before ten in the morning..."