Chapter 3: Party

Party

"Marry me," he repeated for the ninth time.

That's the only words I hear from him. Eversince I entered this car, he didn't stop asking me that, every minutes, every seconds! He's so annoying!

I heave a deep sigh. A sigh of resignation. He already have me, even when he keeps asking me, I know that I will end up marrying him. This is probably the purpose why he's locking me inside his house.

I don't even know where we are. This is probably not the province I am living in. That explains why my father is having a hard time finding me. It's almost a week now yet I am still in Ismaiah's hand.

"Marry me, Elysian."

I shut my eyes tightly in annoyance, "Stop it already, Ismaiah! Its not funny!"

"I'm not making you laugh, minutes from now, we'll arrive at our own engagement party, so you need to answer me with a yes now."

I stared at him in disbelief. Is he seriously telling me this? I know for sure that I don't have any choice here. The only annoying part is how he keeps asking me to marry him! I said no and he still continued to prepare for the wedding.

What the heck is wrong with him?

"What's the use of asking me if you already planned everything?"

"I don't want to marry you without hearing that yes," he uttered as he roll his tongue over his lips, glancing at me with his deep yet gentle looking eyes.

"Do you even want to marry me?" I queried weakly. Looking at how he acts right now, it seems like he do not want to. What is stopping him from accepting my no?

He's clearly not fond of things like this.

"Just say yes, Elysian."

"Just marry me, whatever your reason is, I will still hate you," I said in exasperation.

"The wedding is on Monday, invite who you wanted to invite now."

"I don't want to invite anyone."

"Okay then," he shrugged.

The moment the car stopped on the parking lot of a resort, I immediately got out of the car and walk towards the entrance without waiting for him.

Engagement party huh...

I was just planning to attend a party with my friends the night when I woke up inside that room. I still can't remember how they got me there. I will definitely fight back if I was conscious when they took me.

The only thing I remember is I was about to enter my father's office, the rest is too vivid and blurry.

"Elysian Yoki, wait up," I heard him call.

My face contorted at that. Him, calling my name gives me anxiety, I am not lying. Days from now, my life will turn 360 degrees. My freedom will vanish. I will be locked in with him inside a house I am not even familiar with.

My steps halted when I felt his hand circling around my waist and pulling me harshly to face him.

I winced in pain because of his hold.

"I told you to behave right? Do you want me to take off your clothes right now and own you?" he firmly warned, voice is low yet with authority.

It made my knees weakened. I feel like I do not even have the right to get mad at the situation I am in so that I won't anger him.

"Stop doing this, Elysian. I am being nice here," he added.

I sarcastically chuckled at that, "You call this being nice? Pressuring and forcing me? This is you being nice? Don't make me laugh, Ismaiah."

"Why are you being like this? Don't make it hard for me, Elysian."

The corner of my lips lift up, "What do you want me to do then?"

I tried to get away from his hold but it's too tight that I can't even feel my skin on my waist now. I tried yanking his right hand way from my face and glared at him.

"You're hurting me!" I hissed, voice is trembling in annoyance. I want to cry! I badly want to cry!

I need to face people inside that I don't even know, not I'm feeling so small in front of him, being dominated by his frame. This is too much for a day!

I saw how his jaw clenched at the sight of me being on the verge of crying. He retracted his hold from me. I immediately took a step backward away from him.

"Let's go inside," he said before leaving me alone here.

I cupped my cheeks to calm myself down.

When are they going to get me from here? I want to go home!

I can hear the soft music from where I am standing. His acquaintances are probably waiting for us now. I am still standing on where he left me. I don't have the strenght to enter that place. If I do, I will be left with only one choice. Marry him.

Why do I need to marry him? Why me? He obviously doesn't like this too so why?!

"Ma'am, Mr. Cojuanco is already waiting for you inside." A waitress called me.

How about my friends? Aren't they worried about me not showing up at our schedules? I don't know anymore. It feels like no one is even trying to find me.

"Let's go," I monotonously uttered as I clung on his arms.

"Marry me, Elysian."

I pressed my lips tightly and sighed, "Just put the goodamn ring in my hands, Ismaiah."

He was taken a back by that. He stared at me for a minute before taking the small box put of his pocket.

I looked away as he took my hand and made me wear the ring. I am really doing this huh? Can I runaway? I don't know. The moment I wandered my eyes around this place, all I can see are his men, keeping their eyes on me.

I didn't even focus on what's happening around me. I just realized that we are already up on a small stage prepared for us, in front of unfamiliar faces, clapping their hands enthusiastically like they're happy seeing us here. Well, I am not and will never be happy about this!

"You can at least try to look happy, Elysian," Ismaiah whispered.

I rolled my eyes at him, "You don't seem happy at all too."

"Smile, your friends are watching."

My eyes doubled at that. What does he mean? My friends? My friends are here? Are they here to get me? Hell, I want to get out of this place immediately!

I roamed my eyes around to find my friends but what I found made me more dumbfounded. My father is there, along with the crown, clapping his hands, watching me stand here like nothing even happened, like I was not kidnapped at all!

What is happening? Why aren't they doing something to get me out of here? Why do they even look so happy and pleased seeing me up here beside this man? This is not funny at all! I don't like this joke!

"Dad..." I weakly whispered as our eyes met.

Dad gave me a small nod and smiled. My mouth hung agape in disappointment. He smiled... he fucking smiled! He doesn't even look like he's worried! He was just standing there, watching us with a small smile on his face! Entertaining all the person that is coming towards his way to greet him!

This is... a fucking joke right? Am I hallucinating? My father won't do this to me! He won't! He firmly said that he'll let me do what I want! He won't just let me marry this man without knowing him!

"See? The people you love are all here, Elysian. I invited them on your behalf," Ismaiah muttered as he leaned in closer to my face.

I stared at him in confusion. What is happening? I am lost.

"What do you mean?"

He mischievously gave me a chortle and cupped my face, right in front of everyone making me flinched on my feet. My lips started trembling as I balled my hand into a fist.

He leaned in. I didn't even move an inch. His stare lingered on my face for a few seconds before giving me a peck on my lips.

"You're really pretty," he murmured. "And I like to own pretty things."

"You're crazy!" I hissed.

"Shh, they might here you."

"Are you being serious right now?" I snorted.

His lips portruded. He promtly looked away and pulled me closer to him.

I saw my friends on one table. They are all wearing elegant suits and long dresses. They look clueless at what is happening to me. Why is that? I'm sure my father made a huge fuss when I went missing. Why is everybody acting so normal?

"Eli! You look so gorgeous tonight!" Amythest complimented as she saw me walking towards their table. She even stood up from her seat to welcome me with a hug.

I don't even know if I look happy right now wearing a fake smile. I am so confused.

"You didn't even inform us beforeheand that you're getting married! We just heard it from the news!"

News? What news? What the hell is happening?! I've been asking that since earlier to myself yet I can't seem to have an answer. I am so lost.

I don't even know what to feel now. Disappointment? Confusion? Agitated? Mad? Annoyed? I don't know, everything is confusing me. Even Ismaiah is confusing me!

"What news?" I confusedly asked.

"The tabloid! You were the headline there! The daughted of the mayor is marrying the richest CEO in town."

"What do you mean? Headline?" We were on the headline? The hell? I was kidnapped yet I was on a headline but with a different reason?!

My eyes immediately darted to Ismaiah who's been watching me intently from his seat. He's playing with a glass of alcohol in his table. Some woman keeps trying to talk to him but his eyes are only on me. He's not even giving them a glance!

He really planned this out really well huh. That explains why no one even tried to find me.

I almost jump from my place because of shock as a hand snake on my waist from behind. I was about to push him away when I heard his voice.

"Dave!" I awkwardly greeted.

I tried to take his hands off from me but he won't budge. My friend s face turned sour. They probably don't like what they're seeing right now.

Dave is a suitor of mine. He was once our friend but he changed and started drifting apart from us and then months ago, he started courting me even when I already said no.

Guys really don't know how to accept a rejection huh? They are all the same. Keep pushing theirselves on a girl that doesn't even like them.

"Let me go, my fiance is here!" I hissed at him, still trying to take his hands off of me.

"What about it? You don't seem happy on the stage earlier. Do you want me to take you away from here?" he offered making me look at him in disbelief, but somehow I am thinking that I should ask him to do that.

I want to leave this place. I want to runaway from here. Can I resort to him?

"Get your hands off of my wife," Ismaiah's vpice boomed around us.

He pulled me towards him and protectively wrapped his arms over my small waist.

Dave instincly step forward to get me but I took a step backward with Ismaiah. My friends immediately stood up in between us.

Amethyst and Lia is beside me. Lithus and Reck is stopping Dave from going to me.

"Hey, don't ruined this party, Dave!" Lia strictly hissed, annoyed at the guy for provoking Ismaiah.

"Stop this mess," Dad get in between and hid us on his back. Dave then smirked and tilted his head to catch my gaze.

"My offer is always available, just call me," he said, waving his hand goodbye before turning his back onto us.

"Excuse us please," Dad excused and asked me and Ismaiah to come with him.

My face remained stern. I am mad, confused and scared at what's coming to me.

"What is this Dad? I am fucking kidnapped here and you're acting all normal in front of me?" I can't help but combust in anger the moment we arrive at a closed room.

Ismaiah then held my arm to stop me from dashing towards my father.

"Calm down, Elysian." Ismaiah tried to pulled me towards him but I just pushed him away.

"What is happening right now?! I am so fucking lost but no one is telling me something!"

"You should marry him. I'm sorry Elysian." Dad weakly uttered.

I can't help but point a finger at him in anger, "You don't tell me what to do! This is my life!"

"I'm sorry, Eli."

"What the fuck are you sorry for?! Just tell it straightly to me and stop playing around the bush!"

"I'm sorry. I sold you to them."

My mouth went ajar at that information. I nearly fell on my knees because of shock. If Ismaiaha didn't catch me, I am probably on the floor now, staring at nothing.

Sold to them? Why? How? Am I worth a money? How much do I worth? I can't believe this. My own father sold me... for what?

"Elysian..." Ismaiah softly called.

I let myself get wrapped around by his embrace. I want to cry but my tears just won't fall. It's like I don't even know how to react on this anymore.

"Do you want to leave?" Ismaiah worriedly asked.

I stared at him blankly, darted my eyes back to my father and then back to him.

I sarcastically chuckled. I'm going crazy. I think I'm inside a dream.

I then, pressed my lips tightly together and held Ismaiah's hand.

"Let's get married, I want to get married right now, Ismaiah." I said that left them in awe.