Love Me Harder

"After five years—finally, we graduated!" Alena's best friend, Penelope, said excitedly as they walked to her car. "Stupid college, goodbye!"  

She just stared at her best friend. Don't get her wrong, she was as excited as her. But her parents had an announcement, and she didn't know why she was worried. Her father had a serious look on his face. Maybe something happened to their company or her sister, Avrielle.  

"No more stupid professors!" Penelope shouted while smiling.  

When she didn't say anything, Penelope turned to her, frowning. She was always the one to back her up when she talked about how she hated college. Her best friend, on the other hand, loved college for some weird reason.  

"A, what's wrong? Aren't you excited to work?" Penelope asked, taking her hands and jumping up and down.  

She chuckled at Penelope's behavior. "Of course, I am. I was just thinking."  

"Are you thinking about what your parents have to tell you?"  

"Yes," she answered honestly.  

It really looked important, and she had no idea what it was.  

"If it doesn't kill you, then everything's fine. Plus, there's a gala tonight."  

Her father and Penelope had been working together and were friends for years now. So she and Penelope had been friends since. And tonight, there was this gala. She had to go with her parents, and Penelope would be there too with her parents.  

"Yeah. I'll see you tonight then," she said, hugging Penelope before heading to her car and going home.  

The first thing she heard upon walking into the mansion was her parents' voices.  

She made her way to the living room and saw her parents there, and their conversation stopped when they saw her walk in.  

Willa was her stepmother, but she had been just like a real mother to her and her sister. Willa never tried to take anything from her father or make her forget about her mother. She always respected her mother's memory.  

Her father married Willa six years ago, three years after her mother's death anniversary. He really wanted them to grow up with a mother, and he truly chose the perfect woman. So she was completely fine with it.  

Avrielle was her older sister, who got married a year ago. Their parents chose the man for her and got her married. Unfortunately, that was how they worked. Avrielle's husband, Lucio, was really a good man. At first, Avrielle was against it. She remembered her locking herself in her room for days. But after talking to Lucio once or twice, Avrielle suddenly developed a crush on him.  

"Alena, we were just waiting for you, baby," she heard Willa say from the living room.  

She took a seat next to her father.  

"How was your day? We are proud of you. You finally graduated," her dad said, smiling at her.  

"Thanks, Dad." She hugged her father and looked at Willa, seeing her smile at her too. She got up and went to kiss Willa's cheek. "I'm going to my room. I am seriously tired."  

"Baby, it's already 5, and we are leaving at 8, so be ready on time," Willa told her, referring to the gala.  

"Yes, I will," she said, heading to her room. She lay down for a little bit before starting to get ready for the gala.  

After hours of just lying in bed, thinking about the creation of the world and food, she finally decided to get up.  

But seriously, how do people just create recipes and make such good food? Those people are real geniuses.  

She undressed once she got into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and wondered if she looked like her mother. She had jet-black, long hair and green eyes from her mother. Maybe Avrielle looked more like their mother, though. Or maybe it was just because Avrielle was older. But none of them really took after their father's features, except for his black hair. That was for sure.  

Once she was done with her shower, she went out and saw her dress on her bed. It must have been Willa who put it there.  

She blow-dried her hair and started doing her makeup, finishing with nude lipstick. Then, she put on her dress. It was red satin.  

It hugged her body and was backless but covered her chest.  

She looked at her phone and saw it was almost 8, so she went downstairs. Her parents were already there.  

"You look gorgeous, baby," Willa gasped, hugging her. "He'll fall head over heels for you," she muttered, more to herself.  

He? Who is he?  

She looked at Willa, confused, as her father cleared his throat. She heard Willa muttering something before smiling at her again.  

"I mean, all the people there will completely love it," Willa said nervously.  

She just knew that something was up. She just had to find out what.  

They headed out of their mansion. She texted Penelope, telling her they were on their way.  

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped. They got out, went inside, and took a few pictures.  

A waiter with drinks came to them and offered some. Her parents took champagne, but she didn't take anything. Instead, she looked for Penelope until she saw her waving at her, wearing a white, tight, strapless dress. Then she headed towards them with her parents, greeting each other, and started talking and complimenting.  

"Alena, come here. There is someone I would like you to meet." She heard her father say. She turned around to see him and saw that he was alone. Where were Willa and Penelope's parents?  

Her father walked towards the big room where the other guests were. She and Penelope quickly followed him.  

The room had many paintings that would probably be sold tonight. They followed her father until they saw Willa, Penelope's parents, and two other men and a woman. One of the men and the woman looked like they were in their sixties, while the younger man looked like he was probably in his thirties. When they got there, Willa smiled and came beside her.  

"Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, I would like you to meet our daughter, Alena," Willa said, then turned to her. "Alena, I would like you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal and their older son, Edmund."  

She smiled, and Mrs. Cardinal gave her a tight hug. "I'm so glad to finally meet you, iha," Mrs. Cardinal said, smiling at her. "What a beautiful young woman you are."  

"Thank you, Mrs. Cardinal." She smiled politely at them. She looked at Willa and her father, who had the biggest smiles on their faces. What the hell is wrong with them today?  

"Here is our son, Edmund," Mrs. Cardinal pointed out.  

She looked at him and saw that he was already staring at her. But his face was emotionless. But God... he was a gorgeous man. His black hair, his perfect jawline. He was tall. Probably 6'3.  

Snap out of it, Alena! She told herself.  

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Edmund Cardinal," she said politely and looked away once she realized she had been staring at him for about two minutes.  

"The pleasure is mine, Miss Alena," Edmund said in his husky voice.  

"This is so exciting. I can't wait for the wedding," Mrs. Cardinal said excitedly.  

What?!  

Her jaw dropped, and her eyes widened. It felt like the world had stopped revolving.