Chapter 1

"After five years — finally, we graduated!" Alena's best friend Penelope said excitedly as they were walking 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 have an announcement, and she doesn't know why she's worried. Her father has 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 was talking 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 in and jumping up and down.

She chuckled at Penelope's behaviour. "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 have been working together and are friends for years now. So she and Penelope have been friends since. And tonight, there's this gala. She had to go with her parents and Penelope will be there too with her parents.

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

The first thing she heard walking in the mansion was her parents' voice.

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

Willa is her step mother, but she has been just like her and her sister's real mother. Willa never tried taking anything to her father or for her to forget about her mother. She always respects her mother's memory.

Her father married Willa six years ago, 3 years after her mother's death anniversary. He really wanted them to grow with a mother and he really chose a perfect woman. So she was completely fine with it.

Avrielle is her older sister, who's married a year ago. Their parents chose the man for her and got her married. Unfortunately, that is how they work. Avrielle's husband, Lucio, is 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 had that 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 while smiling at her.

"Thank, dad." She hugged her father and looked at Willa to see her smiling 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 out to her room. She laid down a little bit before starting to get ready for the gala.

After hours of just laying on bed, thinking about the creation of the world and food, she finally decided to get out of her bed.

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

She undressed herself 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 and long hair and had green eyes from her mother. Maybe, Avrielle looked more like their mother though. Or maybe, because Avrielle is older. But none of them really took their Father's features, except his black hair. That's for sure.

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

She blow dried her hair and started doing her makeup, finishing it by applying nude lipstick. Then, she put her dress on. It was a 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 there already.

"You look gorgeous, baby." Willa gasped hugging her. "He'll fall head over heels for you," she muttered, more than 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're on their way.

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

A waiter with drinks came to them and offered some drinks. 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 to meet." She heard her father say. She turned around to see him and saw he was alone. Where are Willa and Penelope's parents?

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

The room had many paintings that will 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. They got there and Willa smiled and came beside her.

"Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, I would like you to meet our daughter Alena," Willa said, and 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 smile on their faces. What the hell is wrong with them today?

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

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

Snap it out, Alena! She told herself.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Edmund Cardinal," she said politely and looked away once she realized she was 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 eyes widened. It felt like the world stopped revolving.