MARRIED BY FORCE, LOVED BY CHANCE

DISCLAIMER:

This is just a work of fiction. names, characters, business, places, events and incidents are just a product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual person, living, dead or actual event are purely co-incidental.

***

      I could barely hold back my tears while reporting the loss of my wallet, containing my personal documents and bank cards. I stood face-to-face with this handsome man, convinced he was the culprit. He was the only one who bumped into me outside the mall, so I had no doubt he was to blame.

“You! Aren't you going to confess that you stole my wallet?” I shouted furiously, but he remained completely unfazed. He sat there calmly, his head resting in his hands.

He is devastatingly gorgeous, and I can't deny it. I found myself captivated by his gray eyes and defined features. He wore a suit that fit his slender build perfectly, looking every bit like a high-end model with his height and broad shoulders. Anyone else would think he was too perfect to be a criminal. However, his stunning appearance didn't fool me. Looking good didn't mean he wasn't capable of stealing from me.

“Won’t you please stop eye-raping me, Miss?” he asked arrogantly, which only fueled my anger.

“Really? So, you’re not only a thief, you’re an arrogant bastard too!” I exclaimed in disbelief.

“I told you I didn’t steal your wallet!” he insisted denying my accusation. “Can’t you see? I am a businessman. In fact, I have meeting to attend. That’s why I was in a hurry earlier. It’s just that you suddenly blocked the way and I accidentally bumped into you,” he added in a serious tone, looking like he was running out of patience.

I let out a small chuckle. Even though I found the situation slightly amusing, I still didn't buy his story.

"Do you really expect me to believe that? These days, there are plenty of scammers who dress in expensive, flashy clothes to make themselves look rich and trustworthy, and then—"

"You don't know me, Miss, so stop judging me!" he snapped.

His sudden outburst caught me off guard, leaving me speechless and unable to finish my sentence.

"Miss Freya, what do you expect us to do? The suspect isn't confessing, and you have no actual proof that he took your wallet. We can't charge him without evidence," the officer intervened.

"What? So, you're just going to let him go, Chief?" I asked, my brows furrowing in disbelief.

"This is a complete waste of time!" he declared angrily. He rose to his feet, preparing to walk away.

"I have far too much to do. I will send my lawyer here to deal with you," he stated.

"No way!" I protested instantly. "You're just trying to buy time so you can run away!"

Rather than arguing back, he stayed quiet and pulled something out of his pocket.

"Here is my business card," he said, handing them to me. "If my lawyer isn't here within an hour, you can go straight to my office or have the police arrest me there. My address and my house in Melbourne are right here. I'm sure that's more than enough for you to track me down."

I was speechless, my eyes glued to the business card in my hand. I was so stunned that I didn't even realize he had already left.

"Miss Freya Miller, there is someone here looking for you," the officer called out.

I stood up instantly as I saw my mom approaching.

"Freya! Are you even thinking straight? You are so careless!" she scolded loudly.

"What is it now, Mom?" I asked, frowning.

"You left your wallet at home. I found it on the table right after you called me earlier," she said, pulling the very wallet I had been panicking over out of her bag.

My eyes went wide as I looked at the two officers, who had just witnessed my utter foolishness and humiliation.

I quickly apologized to them and then explained the whole situation to Mom. She looked at me in sheer disappointment.

"So, what are you going to do now?" she asked, her brow still furrowed. “I feel sorry for him! You blamed him for something he didn't do. You owe him an apology,” Mom ordered firmly.

I nodded, though my mind was made up, I was never going to look for him. I had already lost enough dignity today. Why would I willingly go and face that gorgeous man again just to be humiliated a second time?

“Can we just go home, Mom?” I asked quickly. I was relieved when she took the hint and agreed.

Without a second thought about the lawyer he mentioned earlier, I practically pulled my mom out of the station as fast as I could.

Once we reached the car, Mom offered to drive, so I let her. But after some time, I realized we were heading the wrong way…this wasn't the route to our home in Melbourne.

"Mom! Where are we going?" I finally asked, unable to hold it in any longer.

"You promised to apologize, remember? We are going to find him right now," she stated firmly.

"Mom, you can't just decide this on your own!" I protested. "And besides, I don't even know where that man resides!" I said, my brows furrowing in frustration.

"Liar! The address is right there on the card. How could you not know?" Mom insisted.

It was only then that I remembered I was still clutching the arrogant man's business card. I took a proper look, and what I saw left me stunned. Dylan Anderson, Chief Executive Officer.

My entire body went cold. I turned to Mom and desperately tried to talk her into going home, but she wouldn't listen.

The whole ride there, I was a nervous wreck. I couldn't even sit still. How on earth was I supposed to face him now?

Desperate, I came up with an idea. I pretended to have a terrible stomachache. Mom panicked instantly, immediately turning the car around and speeding towards the nearest clinic.

After waiting for a while, the doctor finally checked me. Since he was our family physician, it wasn't hard to convince him to keep my secret. He spoke to Mom and made up a story that successfully convinced her I really was in pain.

We ended up staying at the clinic for nearly three hours, long enough for Mom to completely forget about the man I had accused.

Just a few minutes later, her phone rang. I could tell it was Dad based from Mom's tone of voice that they were having problems again.

"Freya, let's go home. Your father needs to speak with us urgently," she said sadly.

"Mom, is this about the company?" I questioned anxiously.

For the past few weeks, I had been overhearing my parents talk about the company and it’s slowly losing money.

"Come on, honey! Let's just buy the medicine that the doctor prescribed so you'll feel better," Mom said. I didn't argue and just followed her silently.

Upon arriving home, we saw Dad sitting in the dim living room with a glass of wine. I greeted and gave him a kiss on his cheeks.

"Dad, are you okay?" I asked, my voice laced with concern.

"I'm fine, princess," he assured me, though his expression looked heavy.

Slowly, he turned his gaze towards my mother, who sat beside him in silence.

"Uhm... Elizabeth, I need to ask a favor regarding our daughter." He sounded hesitant, and I frowned as I watched them, waiting anxiously for him to continue.

"Frederick, what kind of favor? Why didn't you mention this when we were on the phone?" Mom asked.

Dad let out a heavy sigh before responding. "Our company is on the verge of bankruptcy, and I cannot let that happen. It would change everything for us. If we lose this, we won't have the money to maintain our lifestyle or even cover our daily needs."

"How are we supposed to help the company, dear?" Mom finally broke the silence.

"I have decided that Freya must marry soon," Dad replied with a grave expression.

"What?!" I couldn't help but shout.

"Really, Frederick? Arranged marriage? Is that still happening nowadays?" Mom laughed, thinking it was a crazy idea.

"I don't care if it's common or not. We just need to save the company," he stated firmly.

"That is unfair! Freya is not some object to be traded!" Mom snapped. "You cannot force her to marry someone she doesn't know and doesn't love!"

I was completely stunned, unable to utter a single word. I just sat there watching them argue, my mind unable to process everything they were saying. The only thing clear to me was this: I had to get married just to save our company.