Chapter 2

Alena was just twenty one. She just graduated. She knew it would come but not this soon.

God, she couldn't believe her parents would do this to her. Right now. Don't get her wrong. She always wanted to get married at a young age. But this took her off guard.

They came back home about an hour ago and she was in her room right now, avoiding her parents. She ain't ready to get married. Well at least not right now. She gotta admit that Edmund Cardinal is handsome, but that doesn't change her mind.

After her parents' 'surprise', Penelope was literally fangirling about how gorgeous and rich he is and how lucky she is. She doesn't even know what to think about the whole thing. Her brain just went off. This is supposed to be scaring her. And it is.

Right now, she was in her night dress, brushing her hair for the night when there was a knock at her door. Her bedroom door opened and Willa walked in. She smiled at her then came to her, took the brush and started brushing her hair.

"Baby, I know how you feel about this whole situation. But try to understand," Willa said, looking at her through the mirror. "You know, Edmund is really a good man when you get to know him. Just try. Get to know him. We will never force you into anything and you know it. Just try. And if you don't like him, we will cancel."

She sighed. "I know. I just didn't know I would be engaged this early."

She drew a deep breath. She doesn't want to fight with her step mother nor her father right now, so she'll just agree. Willa kissed her forehead then left.

She couldn't believe what was happening. She stared at her reflection then her eyes started watering.

The next morning, she woke up with a weird feeling. She couldn't tell what it was but she just wanted to go out for a girls day, so she called Penelope and Avrielle to tell them and agreed to meet.

She got out of her bed and did her morning routine. She did her makeup, straightened her hair, got dressed and went downstairs. Fern, one of their housemaids, told her Willa had already left but her father was still in his office. So, she headed there.

She knocked at the door and opened it without waiting for an answer.

"Good morning, dad. Me and..." Her sentence was cut in between when she laid her eyes on the other person in the room.

Edmund Cardinal...

He was handsome in his black suit and his eyes were also on her. She just stared at him with a blank expression.

"Good morning, baby," he dad said, greeting her. Her father stood up and walked towards her. She smiled at him as he kissed her forehead. "Edmund came because he wanted to take you out for dinner tonight."

She looked at Edmund and saw him staring at her still with his cold face. Does this man ever smile?

"Mr. Sandoval, I would like to talk to your daughter in private if possible," Edmund announced, still staring at her the whole time. He's making her nervous. Why can't he talk to her while her father is here?

Her father looked at him with furrowed brows.

"Nothing funny, Mr. Sandoval. I just want to invite her in person."

Her father turned to her. "Alright," and then leave his office.

She gulped. Once her father left, Edmund got up from his seat and started walking towards her, but she took a few steps back. He smirked and stopped in front of her.

"Are you scared of me, Alena?" he asked her, looking straight into her eyes. Before she could take another step back, he put his arm around her waist and pulled her to his hard chest.

She looked down, very nervous as he released her. The carpet suddenly became really interesting.

"Look at me, Alena," he ordered softly and she just kept staring at the carpet. "Alena..." she ordered again, and finally looked at him and stared into his eyes. He did the same but then he spoke. "You are really beautiful..."

She just stayed silent. Maybe because she knew she might stuff up if she opened her mouth. That's why she just keeps it shut.

He looked at her again. "I will pick you up at eight," he told her before heading out of her father's office.

When the door closed, she collapsed on the couch next to her.

Oh my God, what the hell just happened? What the hell just happened?

She looked down at her shaking her hands, letting out a breath and shook her head to get back all her senses.

After some time, she was heading out of the house towards her car and started the engine.

She kept thinking about Edmund Cardinal and what happened in her father's office. She, literally, couldn't stop thinking about it. She was really surprised, and honestly doesn't know what to think about him right now. Well, she hopes the dinner tonight goes well.