Chapter 2: Contract

I don't know what to do or what to say, especially when he finally gets close to me. He was just looking at me seriously, his face showing no other expression while his hands were in the both pockets of his black slacks. 

I also don't know why the whole surroundings suddenly went silent inside my head, as if it was just the two of us here. My lips remained parted while I was still staring at him, trying to look closely at his features. 

Even if I am already wearing heels, he's still taller than me. He has thick brows, mysterious green eyes, a perfect nose, kissable lips, and a perfect jaw.  Wearing a dark and manly tuxedo, he's immaculately handsome. I think he has a foreign blood. 

I just noticed that he has long hair that is tied up right now that suited him very well. I didn't notice that earlier in the hospital because he was wearing a surgical hair net. I suddenly had trouble breathing as I stared at him. He was too perfect on the outside that it really looked so unbelievable. 

"Are you done admiring me, Miss? Or should I call you Mrs. Vanderbilt now? " He asked with a smirk on his face which quickly brought me back to my senses.

I just swallowed and felt my cheeks suddenly heat up when I realized that I was already staring at him for too long and I know now that he's aware of that which made me feel even more ashamed.

Oh my goodness! It's so embarrassing! How I wish I could just sink from where I am right now!  And wait! What did he say?! Mrs. Vanderbilt?! But we're not married.... yet!

It was a good thing that the host called us again so we could go to the front, which caused his eyes to turn in a different direction because otherwise I might faint while he's talking to me. 

The two of us are now walking towards our parents while my left hand is anchored on his arm. Every step I take feels like I'm going to run out of breath, especially since my heart is beating so fast because of the shame that has happened. I was also praying that he doesn't feel the trembling of my hand on his arm.

It was only then that I finally breathed a sigh of relief when we stopped walking and I removed my hand from his arm. I was now in front of my mom and my dad and just like my reaction earlier when I saw the man next to me, mommy was also very surprised and I also saw fear in her facial expression that she's trying to hide while she couldn't look directly at my... uhm... fiance.

"S-Shantelle, these are your in-laws — Dr. Steven and Dra. Stephanie Vanderbilt. Steven and Stephanie, this is my eldest daughter Shantelle," Mom's nervous introduction.

Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt came up to me right after mommy spoke just to hug and kiss me on the cheek with a big smile on their faces. I couldn't help but be amazed by their beauty and handsomeness. They still look young.

"It was nice to finally meet you, Shantelle!" Mrs. Vanderbilt said cheerfully while she held my hands and because of that, the nervousness I was feeling lessened a bit.

I could see in her eyes and her husband's eyes how happy they really were meeting me so I smiled at them too.

"Nice to meet you too, Ma'am and Sir," I said politely.

"It's mom and dad for you, Shantelle! You're already part of the family, so you should practice calling us mommy and daddy from now on, okay?" 

I tried not to get emotional when It was like someone gently touched my heart when I heard those words. 

Family...

"Alright... Mom," I said shyly which made her smile even more.

"So Stefano, my son, when are you and Shantelle getting married?" Mrs. Vanderbilt's question for her son right after she introduced Stefano to my parents.

"It's tomorrow, Mom. I've already prepared everything. I will send you guys the details later," he just answered simply.

I immediately looked at him after being surprised by what he said and I never thought that our eyes would meet. I tried to open my lips but no words came out.

What the f?! We're really getting married tomorrow?! That fast?! Won't he ask me first if I agree to marry him?! Oh my goodness!

"But doesn't it seem like it would be better for you to marry her after she graduates, son? You'll only have to wait for just two months," Mr. Vanderbilt suggested and as I look at him, I see the resemblance between him and Stefano. They really have a foreign blood.

His dad was right. I will be graduating within two months. It would be better if he will be waiting for me to graduate before the wedding takes place. 

My studies were one of the reasons I told my mom why I didn't want to agree to get married. I would rather finish my studies and start a business before anything else. I have many plans in my life and I still want to do many things, but it seems like I won't be able to achieve them anymore, especially since my parents are already determined to get me married even if it's against my will.

"No, Dad. I don't want to wait. I want her to use my surname on her graduation day. I want to give my last name to her so that when she graduates, her full name printed on her diploma would be Shantelle Kyle Z. Vanderbilt and nothing else," he answered seriously to his father while his eyes were on me, his eyes that seemed to want to convey something to me. He was staring at me as if there was nothing I could do anymore about what he wanted to happen.

When he mentioned my full name with his surname, I felt something strange in my system that I cannot name. I'm having trouble breathing properly again, especially that he's just right next to me.

Shantelle Kyle Z. Vanderbilt... It sounds... good...

Right after he spoke, someone suddenly called his name, which is why his attention was immediately drawn to it. Our parents were also already busy talking, that's why I had no one to talk to, so instead of just standing there and listening to what they were talking about, I decided to take a walk.

As I walked, many people greeted me and I smiled back at them. I noticed immediately that everyone is wearing designer clothes. I saw many women my age as I continued walking, so I couldn't help but think that out of the many women he could marry that is here tonight, why did he choose me and not others?

I was so busy thinking so many things that I didn't realize that I was already in the backyard of their mansion. A large heart-shaped swimming pool appeared before me. The full beauty of the backyard is visible even at night because of the beautiful colors of the lights everywhere.

I walked a little further until I came to a hammock hanging from a large tree and then I sat down there. I'm in a pretty dark area right now so I'm sure no one will notice me here. 

Along with the pleasant breeze, I took a very deep breath. I was suddenly dumbfounded while my eyes were on the high wall in front of me and when my eyes accidentally caught sight of a tall ladder made of steel, an idea suddenly entered my mind.

I need to escape! I don't want to get married! 

When I got close to the ladder, I immediately climbed it. It looked like this ladder was used to cut branches from tall trees. The ladder was so high that it reached right to the end of the wall so if I can reach the top, I'm sure I can successfully escape.

I'm sure that mom won't immediately notice my absence because she's more busy talking to the people at the party, especially to Stefano's parents. It's better for me to go through here in the backyard to escape so that no one else can catch me because there are more people in the front yard if I were to pass by there.

I climbed slowly so I wouldn't fall and step on the ladder by mistake, especially since it was quite dark and I'm still wearing heels. I was about halfway up the ladder when I heard a scary voice from below and when I turned my head from that direction, I saw Stefano with some of his men who were facing the swimming pool and not in my direction.

"What do you think you're doing, woman?! Are you out of your mind?! Do you want to die already?! Get down here now!" Stefano shouted and I could feel the anger in his voice as he looked at me darkly.

I must admit that I suddenly felt scared when he screamed, but my eagerness to escape is even stronger so I wouldn't have to marry him tomorrow. I have savings that's why I know I can finally start to live on my own away from all of them once I finish climbing this high wall. I just don't know how long it will take for my savings to run out. I'll just look for a job wherever I can find one.

"Just leave me alone and let me escape peacefully! I don't want to marry you!" I shouted back to him and continued climbing again.

"Do you think you can escape from here easily?! I just want you to know that your mother's men are just on the other side of the wall that you're climbing right now so even if you reach the top, they will still see you and catch you!" He shouted again and the nervousness and fear I felt doubled when I heard what he said.

Even though what he said was possible, I chose not to believe him so that I wouldn't lose my focus while climbing.

"You're a liar! I won't belie—" I didn't finish what I was going to say because I stepped on the ladder by mistake and fell down. I closed my eyes as I waited for my fall to the floor, but I didn't expect that when I opened my eyes, I would be in Stefan's arms and because I was pressed against his chest, I could feel his rapid breathing.

He fucking catch me with his arms!

He didn't take his dark gaze off me. I could see the anger in his eyes. I was about to speak to order him to put me down but I couldn't when he just suddenly walked quickly towards a tall plant and hid there while still carrying me in a bridal style.

Just a few seconds later, he finally put me down. I was about to scream at him when he suddenly pulled me closer to him and covered my mouth right away. I was already ready to bite his palm when just suddenly, I heard someone talking near from where we were hiding.

"Ma'am Shantelle is not here in the backyard. We haven't seen her for a while now. I'm still not sure if she's with her fiance because we also couldn't see Mr. Vanderbilt here. Her mother has a strong feeling that she ran away. Just continue the search and one of Mrs. Zimmerman's instructions is that we can shoot Ma'am Shantelle in the leg if we catch her running away to stop her."

I felt like I suddenly lost my strength because of everything that I heard. I didn't even struggle against Stefano's grip on me when he picked me up and carried me again in a bridal style. 

The voice that I heard was very familiar. I was one hundred percent sure that he was one of mommy's men. I was suddenly dumbfounded. I couldn't believe that mommy would order some people to hurt me.

Is she really that obsessed with the Vanderbilts' wealth that it's okay to risk her daughter's life?

I don't know how long I was in a daze. I just came back to my senses when I heard a loud noise coming from the table in front of me. When I looked at it, there was a white folder with papers inside and there was something written on the folder that caught my eyes.

Contract Marriage

My head moved when I heard Stefano's voice, so my attention went to him.

"Sign that contract. I will help you hide and escape from your family but in exchange for that, I want you to marry me tomorrow because my parents have been pestering me to get married for a long time now. I'm getting irritated because they keep repeating themselves. Our marriage will only last for three years so you can save up and be able to support yourself on your own without your family when you already escape from them. I just want to remind you again that you are heavily guarded by your mother's men, so if you don't want to get shot and put your life at risk, you'll sign that contract. All the terms and conditions of the contract are also there. You can check it. You don't have to worry by the way because I will protect you from everyone, especially from your own family," he said seriously with arms crossed against his chest.

Right after he spoke, my eyes slowly moved to the contract in front of me. The corners of my eyes quickly watered as I realized that I really had no other choice anymore but to agree marrying him. With trembling hands, I took the pen and the contract and before my tears could even flow from my eyes down to my cheeks, I quickly signed it while my heart ached for the new world that I would face as a married woman.