Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Now or Never

Forbidden fruit really does taste the sweetest.

After that encounter, Tyler dragged me away. He said I shouldn’t get close to Leon.

“You know how I feel about him! Why do you keep meddling in my life when I never interfere with yours?” I shouted once we got back to the apartment.

“Your father asked me to. Have you forgotten you’re already promised to someone? You should be focusing on becoming a proper wife.”

I gritted my teeth, furious. “Why should I even try for a stranger? I know we’ll never get along!”

“Maybe you will, maybe you won’t, Avar Sloan. You know your life is already set in stone—so stick to it!” He snapped and threw the door open.

I stormed after him, but stopped short when I bumped into his back. “Move! Get out of my way!” I shoved him.

Tyler spread his arms wide, blocking my path. He was so much bigger than me, yet he stood firm. I peeked past him and saw Rose standing in the living room, holding a cup of coffee.

She stared straight at Tyler. The look they exchanged said everything they weren’t speaking aloud. I pinched Tyler hard on the side. He groaned in pain and glared at me.

“I said move!” I shoved him aside, squeezing past even though he was so broad. I ran straight to Rose and wrapped my arms around her, spilling a little of her coffee in the process. “Oops! Sorry!” I giggled.

“Ava, you shouldn’t get close to her—she’ll break your bones,” Tyler warned. I only shot him a sharp look.

“That only applies to you. I’m sure you did something to piss her off.”

And I was right. He’d turned the apartment into a whorehouse, even going into Rose’s room—she’d even found dog waste there. No wonder she was still furious with him.

“Yeah, whatever! You two deserve each other!” He stormed off to his room.

Rose and I looked at each other and burst out laughing. Tyler really did look ridiculous when he was riled up.

“Glad they let you out,” Rose said once we were alone.

I waved away the smoke from her cigarette before answering. “I earned a new skill—so they let me out as a reward. But I have to come back the moment Mom calls.”

“And what skill did you learn?”

I knew it was basic for her, but I was proud of it anyway. “I can cook adobo now!”

She gave me a look that said 'really?'

“I know it’s nothing to you—you grew up doing this—but for me? This is huge.” I explained myself even though I didn’t have to.

Rose chuckled. “That’s not what I meant. I mean—just adobo? No other dishes? Have you tried making something your own?”

I shrugged. “I wouldn’t know where to start.”

She frowned. “You really don’t want things to change, do you?”

I bit my lip. I had no answer for that. Even if I wanted a different life, it always led back to what I was born for. I’d accepted it.

“Why not give yourself a chance? Maybe your life isn’t meant to follow their plan. Have you ever even tried to say no? You have a choice—”

“Choices are for people like you, Rose,” I cut her off. “Mine were taken from me before I could even speak. Everything was decided long ago. All I can do now is follow it.”

She looked at me sadly. “Have you ever tried saying no? What about the things you actually want? Like Leon… don’t you love him?”

Love. The word felt dry and foreign on my tongue.

“Yes—love,” she repeated, like I hadn’t heard her. “You wouldn’t chase him everywhere if you didn’t. That’s too much effort for someone who’s nothing but red flags.”

I paused. I chased him because I wanted him. I liked watching him from afar. That wasn’t love… was it? Just… a habit?

I wasn’t sure. But when I saw him, I felt alive. For once, I felt something real. He was the only one who made my heart race, who made my stomach twist in knots. Even when he looked at me like I was prey… it still felt like something.

Was that love?

I didn’t think so. Love wouldn’t make me want to hide every time he looked my way.

“Rose… I don’t even know what love is. Maybe I just want him because he’s Leon… and because I can’t have him. Well—not forever anyway.”

Rose sighed, like she was carrying my pain too. “What if he wants you too?”

I scoffed. “He’s Leon. He only wants me in his bed—not his life. And honestly? That’s all I can give him. I’m running out of time.”

I wanted him to come to me. I’d never turn him away. But everyone kept getting in the way! First Rose in the elevator… now Tyler warning him off.

How was I ever going to get what I wanted?

“Have you ever felt love at all? From your parents? From anyone?”

The question made me think of the life I’d always known. No… I’d never felt it.

“I really don’t know what love means,” I admitted softly.

She gave me a gentle smile. “I want you to know that I love you—even if we aren’t related by blood. Even if we haven’t known each other long, I love every part of you. Your flaws, your mistakes… all of it. And I see you.”

Something warm wrapped around my heart. My cheeks burned, and I pulled her into a tight hug. “Oh Rose… is that what love is?”

She laughed and gently pushed my face away. “That’s my love for you—as family and a friend. It’s different when it’s someone you want to keep forever. Love is doing anything to make them happy—even if that means letting them go… or keeping them all to yourself. No one can define it for you. You just know it when you find it.”

“Wow… that’s deep,” I murmured.

She rolled her eyes playfully. “And you… you’re hopeless.” She stood up to get another bottle of wine.

I stayed with them for few days. Rose took me around Kyoto—even though I’d been there before, it was so much better with someone who actually cared. I took photos of her, posted them online, and showed everyone how lucky I was to have her. Tyler was never like that—he always pulled away, only getting jealous when he saw me happy with someone else. But ever since Rose came… he’d been different.

Then Mom called. I booked my flight right away—if I delayed again, she’d freeze my cards. And I hated asking anyone for anything.

Back to lessons again: cleaning, cooking… even baking. I’d done it in grade school, but it felt so much better now. Slowly, I began to enjoy it. Even if I never knew if my future husband would care, I was proud of what I could do now—something more than just spending money and going places.

“Why didn’t I learn this before?” I asked Mom while mixing cookie dough.

“You said it was a waste of time. That the maids could do it all,” she replied.

I winced. That was exactly what I’d told her. Lazy, entitled me.

“I heard Rose is back in the country.”

I paused. “She is?”

Mom raised an eyebrow. “She’s here for work—not play. And you three are invited to an event too. She has to go—they’ve been asking for her. She’s become quite the rising name in business.”

I smiled softly. “Sometimes I wish I had her life.”

I glanced at Mom when she didn’t answer. “What?”

She gave me a sad smile. “You’ll learn to love who you’re meant to marry. I’m sure he’s not hard to love.”

I rolled my eyes. Love.

I still didn’t know what that was.

When my lessons finished, I went straight to Rose’s project site. I knew the place well—Grandpa and Grandma Neri had taken me there before. And sure enough, people were already trying to drag her to the event. But I wouldn’t let her go until we were both there.

I dressed carefully, knowing Leon would be there too. The last time I’d seen him, he’d been kissing his ex-girlfriend—the one he’d been with for almost a year. I’d gotten drunk that night, and woke up the next morning curled up beside Rose.

On top of that, Kagami was now at the mansion claiming she was carrying Tyler’s child. I didn’t know the truth—only Rose knew what had really happened in Japan. But Tyler had come back early, and I was pretty sure he was running away.

This was my last chance. I’d heard Mom and Dad talking about meeting my fiancé soon. Once that happened… there would be no turning back.

It was now or never.

This time, I’d go to him. And I hoped he wouldn’t turn me away.

“Looking good, Ava!” Tyler’s friends called out as I walked past.

I gave them a knowing smile. “Make way, please.”

They stepped aside, watching me—but I wasn’t here for them.

Then I saw him. Leon turned his head right toward me.

His eyes said everything.

He wanted me.

Even with another woman clinging to his arm, his gaze never left mine. And for the first time… I truly believed he might give me exactly what I wanted tonight.