Chapter 3: Home

"Tomorrow right after our wedding, I will give you a copy of this contract. Hide it somewhere where no one can see it. Make sure no one finds out about this, especially our parents, because otherwise, you will pay me one hundred million as stated in the contract," he said after one of his men took the pen and the contract from the table right after I signed it as if I'm going to tear it up if they don't take it right away from me.

After he spoke, my attention quickly turned to him. My heart beat faster because of what I just heard.

What the?! One hundred million?! Is he serious?! Where will I get one hundred million if our parents suddenly find out about all of this?!

When he saw the surprise on my face, he smirked, still not taking his eyes off of me as if challenging me.

"You don't have to worry because when our agreement is already over without them knowing all the truth, I will give you one hundred million," he confidently answered that it just seemed like a very small amount of money to him. 

I didn't feel the slightest bit of excitement when I heard how much money he is going to give me even though I knew to myself that it would be a big help to me when it is already time for me to live alone away from my family. It's really different when you're a billionaire. It seems like a million is just a coin to him.

I didn't say anything. I just stared at him. He also stared at me and I don't know how long we were doing that before I decided to speak up to ask him a question.

"Why, out of all the women here at this engagement party, did you choose me to marry you?" I asked seriously and because I still didn't take my eyes off him, I saw how he smirked even more right after I spoke.

"I'm sorry to burst your bubble but I wasn't the one who chose you to be my wife, Ms. Zimmerman. I don't want to waste my time searching. Your parents approached and asked my parents to make this happen and like you, I also didn't agree with this marriage bullshit thing. I also had no choice but to obey my parents' wishes so they won't bother me over and over again anymore to get married already, that's why we are here right now in this fucking engagement party of ours," he explained while the smirk still lingered on the corner of his lips. "Our parents expect us to be together forever so that both our families' businesses can grow even more, which is why all we have to do from now on is just pretend that everything is okay between the two of us until we finally both get the freedom after the three years stated in the contract," he added.

Wow! Even though I've already sacrificed a lot for our family, I still can't believe it. Mommy and daddy will really do everything just for the company even if it means jeopardizing their child's future, huh?  

Did they first make sure that I would marry a good person or were they more concerned with how they would benefit from this marriage?  

I probably don't need to ask my parents about this matter anymore because if they really cared about me, they would have asked my opinion on the matter in the first place and wouldn't have forced me to get married. And if I will try to talk to them right now so that the marriage will not continue, I'm sure they won't even listen to me that's why I guess there's really nothing I can do about this anymore but wait for three years before I can escape and be finally free.

"Let's go back to the party now. Your mother has been looking for you for a while," he said after a few minutes of silence.

He didn't wait for my answer anymore and immediately walked out. I took a deep breath first before I followed him but when I suddenly saw a mirror hanging on the wall, I decided to go there first to check my makeup.

Even though I had just finished crying, my makeup didn't even mess up. Thanks to mommy's professional makeup artist.

I just fixed my slightly messy hair and then I went out right away. After one of Stefano's men opened the door for me, it was only then that I realized that he had taken me to the basement of their mansion while I was out of my senses crying earlier.

As soon as I got out, a staircase appeared before me. When I didn't see Stefano, I started climbing the stairs carefully, afraid of making the same mistake again as happened to me earlier outside when I planned to escape.

After a while, I arrived at the kitchen of the mansion. I could see the eyes of the busy maids there widen when they saw me. They all bowed together and greeted me.

"Good evening to all of you too," I greeted back with a smile on my face. "I'm so sorry for the inconvenience," I added because I felt a little guilty because I must have disturbed them from what they were doing, so right after saying goodbye to them, I left the kitchen right away.

When I left the kitchen, I passed the dining room and immediately saw the entire living room. There were a few guests there who were so busy talking that they didn't notice my presence.

I suddenly wondered if I should continue walking or not, especially since I didn't know the people who attended this engagement party. I'm also sure that there are still more people outside that I don't think I can face alone, so I looked around, hoping to see Stefano, but I failed because I didn't see him even at least his shadow.

I was about to turn around to just spend some time in the kitchen with the maids when suddenly someone spoke from my side, surprising me.

"Why are you here all alone, Miss? Are you looking for someone? Do you need some accompany?" A man in a tuxedo asked with a smile on his face.

Because of my shock, I couldn't speak right away. I just stared at him, not knowing what to say.

He is the same height as Stefano. He seems to be a happy person while Stefano always seems to be an angry one. I can say that he is also handsome but if I compare him to Stefano, Stefano is more handsome than him. Oh, wait! Why am I comparing him to Stefano?! Erase! Erase! Erase!

"I'm Steven by the way and you are?" he introduced himself casually, extending his hand to me, still smiling while waiting for my answer.

My eyes dropped to his hand and I was about to accept it for a handshake when I felt a presence from behind me and before I could even look back, I felt a hand touch my back and then pull me closer to his body which made my eyes widen.

I was about to break free from his grip so I could see who he was when he suddenly spoke and when I heard his voice, I quickly realized who he was.

"What the hell are you doing, Steven?! She doesn't need to know you and don't pretend you didn't hear her name earlier when the host introduced her to everyone!" Stefano said furiously to the man in front of us.

After Stefano spoke, the man's gaze shifted to me and at the same time, Stefano's hand tightened around my waist which made my heart beat even faster and because our bodies were against each other, I could feel his rapid hot breathing from behind me.

What the hell is Stefano doing?! Why is he hugging me?!

I tried to break free from his grip but I was unsuccessful. He just only held me tighter until I felt his palm on my stomach that I couldn't barely breathe properly.

"I'm sorry, Stefano, but I was late so I didn't catch the start of the program. Mind telling me the name of this beautiful woman and how are you related to her? This is the first time I've seen her," the man answered and instead of looking at Stefano because they were the ones talking, his eyes were focused on me which made me uncomfortable that's why I averted my eyes from him right away.

I don't know why Stefano seemed even angrier because of the man's answer. Even from behind me, I could feel his restraint for some unknown reason.

"She is my fiance and you don't need to know her name, you fucker! Get out of here!" He replied angrily and when my eyes turned back to the man, there was already a smirk on his lips as he took turns looking at me and Stefano. It's as if he doesn't care that the person he's talking to is now angry with him.

"Oh, okay," he simply answered and based on his voice, it seemed like he really didn't care about what Stefano said. "My only advice to you, Stefano, is to never leave her alone again because she might suddenly meet someone better than you. See you around, Miss beautiful and my cousin Stefano," he added and then he immediately turned his back on us.

They are cousins?! That's why they had a slight resemblance to each other the first time I saw him!

I was about to try to break free from Stefano again when I heard mommy's voice from our side so my attention turned there.

"Oh, Shantelle, my daughter! I've been looking for you for a while. I'm glad you're with your fiance," mommy said nervously and she even managed to hold my hands while she took turns looking at Stefano and me, especially in our position right now and while also she had a fake smile on her lips.

"So she's your daughter now, huh?" Stefano asked seriously which made me nervous and stoned against him and from where I am standing.

He's now talking about the incident at the hospital earlier!

I could see the fear and nervousness on mommy's face so clearly that she could barely look at Stefano while still not letting go of my hands and from there, I could feel the coldness of her palm.

"A-Ahm... I-I'm so sorry about what happened to the h-hospital earlier, S-Stefano. M-Maybe my worries about Shantelle are the reason why I felt that w-way. I-I couldn't control it so I hope you can still forgive m-me," mommy answered and even from her voice, I could also feel her nervousness.

I can't believe what I am witnessing right now. This is the first time I've seen mommy humble herself and apologize to someone else.

Stefano didn't respond to mommy's words and when I looked back at him, he was just staring at her while still not letting me go.

It seemed like Stefano had no intention of talking to mommy anymore, that's why I decided to speak, but before I could do that, I heard mommy's voice again.

"S-Shantelle, just tell me if you already want to go home, o-okay? I already had your room cleaned at home."

Instead of being happy about what I heard from my own mother, I felt a pain inside my chest because all my life I was the only one who cleaned my room.

She forbade our housekeepers from helping me with everything, that's why at a very young age, specifically at two years old, I already learned how to wash my own clothes.

I was about to answer her even though my tears already pooled in my eyes when I heard Stefano's voice.

"No, Mrs. Zimmerman. She won't come with you. She's coming home WITH ME," he said with finality and then quickly pulled me away from mom without even waiting for her answer.