2. Bad News

A few months ago...

"We are messengers from the Levion family, informing you that according to the will your father left you, you will be matched with their son."

A match? To the son of the Levion family? Who is this Levion family? I had never even heard of that name during my father's lifetime.

"Wh-who did you say?" I asked, stammering.

"The Levion family, your late father's best friends during his lifetime." The man then took out a brown envelope and the contents—a piece of paper with something written on it. However, for some reason, there seemed to be something odd about this. "I brought proof of the will your father wrote."

I grabbed the paper from the man's hand and read the contents. It was true—written that my father would match me with the son of the Levion family.

What kind of joke is this again?

"Can you guys not talk about this first? Please look, I'm grieving right now!" I said in a hoarse voice. I had spent the whole night mourning my parents' passing and now had to receive this unpleasant news.

Of course, this news was not what I was waiting for. It was like being struck by lightning, and I was just stunned and frozen. My tongue felt numb, unable to respond to what I had just heard.

The news they brought made me wonder, why didn't Mom and Dad say anything about this arranged marriage? And who were they? The Levion family or whoever it was—who were they? What does this have to do with my parents?

And... why is it only now that the news of this arranged marriage is being relayed to me when my parents are already gone?

"I'm sorry, Miss Carra. We must convey this as soon as possible, for in two days, there will be an entourage of guards picking you up and taking you to Eastonville."

What the hell?! What was this again? Not done with the statement he had just made, there was more news. In two days... does that mean I will no longer be living here?

Don't they have any manners? I'm in mourning, and they should know that instead of coming and bringing this kind of nonsense. My father never even said anything about marriage, let alone arranged marriage.

I put the paper away and looked at the man sitting straight before me. "Tell the Levion family I'm in mourning and still can't give any assurance regarding this matchmaking will."

"But, Miss. Mr. Levion wishes for us to return with you."

"Haven't you heard? My mother and father's bodies weren't even found! We only cremated their possessions that were found at the scene. How could you—"

I couldn't continue, anger and sadness crowding my chest. I then stepped up to the door and opened it wide. "You'd better out and say what I said! You or anyone else has no right to tell me when I'll get there and whether I'll agree to the match!"

The man bowed briefly in respect, turned around, and placed a rose on my parents' coffin, which, of course, wasn't filled with their remains, and then left me sitting on the sofa with tears that I couldn't hold back anymore.

Knock, knock, knock!

A knock on the door broke my trance. My best friend and assistant, Mariana, poked her head in, checking whether I needed her and bringing other news I couldn't take anymore.

That night, like a nightmare in broad daylight, news that was too sudden and shocking was written in the history of my life. My parents had met with an accident while traveling to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

According to some sources, terrorists had hijacked the plane they were traveling on, and I can't imagine what happened up there. It must have been tense, and all the passengers wished they were dead right then and there.

I was still blinking weakly. I didn't want to get out of bed because no one would greet me affectionately. No one would yell at me to come down and enjoy dinner together or nag me all day because I was too busy with my world.

The two of them, the beloved people in my life, are now gone, along with the memories they took with them, including half of my life.

"Zane, one of the fellow reporters who died in the accident, came. He left this for you," she said.

"What does he say?"

"Your mom and dad's hard drives and some vacation tickets, I think they booked for you." Mariana opened the suitcase that was still sealed and took out the contents one by one in front of me. "Three tickets and accommodation for you to go to The Emirates. The place where they're celebrating. Would you like to see it?"

I, who had been lying down, quickly got up and approached Mariana to confirm her words. And she was right. I examined the sheet, and the writing was still quite evident. There was a precise departure date for the plane and hotel two days from now.

I just remembered that Mom and Dad planned to stay there for a while. But, strangely enough, they suddenly called and informed me that they had to go back because they had important matters to attend to.

I have to admit, all of this felt awkward to me. The problem was I couldn't be sure what and where the awkwardness was.

"Put those things in the closet, except for the tickets, Mariana. We're going to The Emirates, according to the date written on it," I said, getting up and preparing my suitcase and its contents.

"But, Zane. The Levions want you—"

"Are you coming or not, Mariana? If not, I'll go there alone. If you're coming, pack your things now. Tell Ray we're leaving tonight."

Mariana nodded and rushed out of my room to prepare just as I was now.

My two confidants and I finally arrived at The Emirates after traveling for several hours by private jet. I deliberately did not use commercial transportation, as I did not want to attract too much attention.

The Emirates is a country of skyscrapers I could see on the roadside when we arrived at the airport.

Mariana was immediately ready when we arrived at the hotel, inviting me to have some fun with her, but I declined, as I just wanted to be alone for now.

However, I finally decided to leave the room when I felt the boredom getting to me. I decided to stop by a beach club and downed a lot of alcohol. I didn't even care that the club was filled with a sea of people, dancing to the point of crowding and bumping into each other, drinking, and even making love to random people there.

I felt my head spinning and started to stagger. However, I had to go back to my room and lie down. I didn't want to spend one hot night with some random guy.

BRUGH!

Someone happened to collide with me. His drink spilled on my clothes. He seemed to be mumbling silently. I couldn't make out what he was saying, like the buzzing of bees—my consciousness seemed to wane.

"What? What are you talking about?" I asked.

"I'm asking, are you okay? Where's your room? I'll drop you off so you don't get lost since you seem quite drunk."

"No, there is no need. I can go back to my room by myself." Yes, it's better that way. This man was definitely in the mode. Unfortunately, my body was almost unsteady, and he swiftly supported me.

"I got you! Don't be reckless. Show me your room; I'll safely take you to bed."

"Fuck what you're going to do! You have to get me to my room safely."

And I no longer realized what was happening until something seemed to push into the part between my groin until it seemed to tear there.

"Ah, Stop! Stop it, it hurts! What are you doing to me?"

"You asked for it yourself, Zanina. Do you want me to stop?" he asked.

Hey... he knows me! He knows my name! Do I know him? I hadn't given any response to his question until, in the next second, I saw his face tighten as if in pain.

Is it not wrong? Shouldn't I be the one in pain? This man is molesting me, and he says I asked for it? Is it really like that?

"No, no... Ergh! Please, not now—" He moaned, mumbling to himself. He then stopped his rhythmic movements for a moment. "Tell me, do you want me to stop?"

"No, don't stop! You're already in there," I replied, already on cloud nine from the pleasure this man was giving me. "Do what you have to do, and finish it."

He nodded and continued his movements over me. And over the next few minutes, he spurred his hips quickly, which made me go crazy because of what I was starting to feel between my thighs. Then, not long after that, there was this incredible magical feeling that seemed to explode from down there, from the lower part of my body that I had always guarded.

Between the disjointed consciousness caused by the hormonal explosion that made me tremble, my gaze fell on the figure still panting above me.

"Wh-who are you? Is there a costume party going on?" I asked when I saw the figure with a furry body. I couldn't help but chuckle amusedly. "I like your costume. You look adorable in it."

Yes, he was adorable.

"Come here, puppy... let me hold you for a while. You might be a present from Daddy before he leaves me," I mused.

I hugged him for a while. A warm puddle seemed to flow from the corner of my eye. I wiped away the remaining tears, then released my embrace from him and gazed at the pair of hazel irises with a piercing look that belonged to the man who was still on top of me.

"What's your name?" I asked among the only half-consciousness.

"Julian. My name is Julian," the man replied. And instantly, everything turned dark.