FREL.

‎‎Alice’s POV

‎“You are getting married to Victor Arc soon.”

‎My father’s voice was calm.....too calm for the storm those words unleashed inside me.

‎For a moment, I just stared at him.

‎My lips parted, but nothing came out.

‎My heart slammed hard against my ribs like it wanted to escape.

‎“W-what?” I finally whispered.

‎“Who?”

‎“Victor Arc,” my father repeated, folding his arms as if this was a normal conversation. “He brought a letter to the house. It states that you and him were engaged as children and should be married when you turn twenty-five.”

‎The room suddenly felt too small.

‎Too hot.

‎Too suffocating.

‎“A letter?” I echoed, my voice barely mine.

‎I had never heard of such a thing. Never.

‎“He said his father told him about it before he died. Though, I was not aware there was a letter like this but I believe it's from my friend because it's his handwriting and the letter looks old,” Dad continued. “Mark Arc was my best friend once… before we fought over that land. After that, everything fell apart. Our friendship ended and your uncle disappeared leaving me and you all alone. It has not been easy for me, you know. This marriage is going to grant me a son, a son I can talk to.” His eyes brighten as he said the last sentence.

‎I swallowed hard.

‎Getting married to Victor?

‎That would be the worst thing that could ever happen to me.

‎…Wouldn’t it?

‎You might be wondering why there’s such bitterness between us.

‎Victor Arc was my childhood friend.

‎No… more than that.

‎He was my first crush.

‎Back then, it was always the three of us.... Victor, Evans Moss, and me.

‎We were inseparable.

‎I can still remember the laughter echoing in Victor’s compound, the way we’d run until we were breathless. Those were the happiest days of my childhood.

‎Our parents were close too… until the land dispute.

‎After that, everything changed.

‎I was no longer allowed to visit Victor’s house.

‎I still remember the night my father told me.

‎I cried myself to sleep, my hands clutching my pillow as if that would somehow bring my best friend back.

‎At first, Victor had only been like a big brother to me.

‎But when I grew older… something shifted.

‎I began to notice the way my heart raced whenever he called my name.

‎How my cheeks burned when he smiled at me.

‎How my stomach fluttered when he winked.

‎And whenever he stood close to me, I felt… safe.

‎Like nothing bad in the world could ever reach me.

‎Victor wasn’t just my friend back then.

‎He was my whole world.

‎“But that was years ago,” I muttered, folding my arms tightly across my chest as if I could shield myself from the past. “I know better now. I won’t let myself get tangled with him again… especially not now that he’s… promiscuous.”

‎The word tasted bitter on my tongue.

‎Different women on his arm every day. I knew. I had seen the photos.

‎Not stalking… just following him on social media.

‎My father’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.

‎“And now, I want to honour my late friend’s wishes. The letter is authentic. I trust Victor and I gain a son who will take care of my daughter and my empire. So you must get married to Victor Arc after your twenty-fifth birthday.”

‎His words yanked me back to the present. My stomach dropped.

‎“But Dad…” My voice came out smaller than I intended. “I don’t love him. I barely even know him now. He’s not the same Victor you knew.”

‎My father leaned back in his chair, studying me carefully.

‎“How do you know he’s not the same Victor?”

‎My throat tightened. I opened my mouth… then closed it again.

‎Because I had no answer I could say out loud.

‎“Well?” he pressed.

‎“I’m not marrying him,” I grumbled, my nails digging into my palm.

‎He sighed, the kind that meant the conversation was already over.

‎“Since you have nothing to say, you will marry him. So get ready.”

‎Heat rushed to my face. I spun on my heel and stormed out of the study, my vision blurred with anger.

‎And promptly walked straight into something solid.

‎“Oof....”

‎Not a wall.

‎A chest.

‎Warm. Firm. Breathing.

‎My hands were pressed against it. Slowly, I looked up.

‎Victor.

‎For a second, the world went completely still.

‎I hadn’t seen him in ten years… not in person.

‎But he looked… bigger. Sharper. More dangerous. His jaw was harder, his shoulders broader, his eyes darker.....yet painfully familiar.

‎He stared at me like he’d been expecting this moment.

‎“Hello, Allie. Long time.”

‎He winked.

‎My traitorous face flushed instantly, just like it used to when I was younger.

‎I hated that my body remembered him before my mind could protest.

‎I shoved him away, harder than necessary.

‎“I am NOT getting married to you,” I snapped.

‎He didn’t move. Didn’t even look offended.

‎Instead, that slow, confident smile spread across his face.

‎“Oh, my little Allie…” he said softly. “You will get married to me.”

‎My heart slammed violently against my ribs at the nickname.

‎No one had called me that in years.

‎“No, Victor. I will never marry you,” I shot back, my voice shaking despite my effort to sound firm. “You’re promiscuous. Wicked. And completely terrible.”

‎He raised a brow, amused.

‎“Promiscuous?” he repeated, chuckling under his breath.

‎“What made you say that?”

‎His eyes sparkled with mischief.

‎“Have you been stalking me?”

‎“That’s not....” I stopped myself, clenching my fists.

‎Bloody hell, that smile.

‎It did ridiculous, embarrassing things to my stomach.

‎Victor was devastatingly handsome.... and worse, he knew it.

‎I felt heat creep up my neck.

‎I brushed past him quickly before he could see how flustered I was and rushed into my room, shutting the door behind me.

‎I collapsed onto the bed, pressing a hand to my chest.

‎“Calm down,” I whispered to my racing heart. “Calm down…”

‎Through the wall, I could hear Victor’s voice drifting from my father’s study.

‎Laughter followed.

‎I stared at the ceiling, confusion twisting inside me.

‎Victor had always treated me like a little sister.

‎So where was this marriage coming from?

‎He could have ignored the letter. Destroyed it. Forgotten it.

‎So why now?

‎Why bring it back after all these years?

‎I swallowed hard.

‎What is he planning?

‎