2. Hopes.

"Um... I've wanted to tell you this... For so long. Umm... I... I love...you." Riya stuttered.

"God. Why can't I just say it? Why do I keep stuttering so badly?" Riya said growling, keeping her hands on her waist.

"That is because you are nervous." Riya heard a familiar voice saying.

Riya immediately turned around and saw her mother, Grace, standing in her bedroom doorway.

"Mom." Riya called.

Grace smiled and walked in towards her daughter. She handed her a glass of orange juice and patted her head.

"You are just nervous, that's all, Riya. You just wanted to confess your feelings to Damon but...guess what?" Grace asked, smiling.

Riya frowned and raised her eyebrows, confused by her mother's sudden enthusiasm.

"What?" Riya asked.

"Uncle Thomas and your Dad already decided to talk to Damon about your wedding." Grace answered with a big smile on her face.

"What?!" Riya shouted, her eyes wide and a smile, immediately adorned her youthful face.

"And they decided to talk to Damon about it tonight." Grace said.

"What? Are you serious? Damon is coming to our home tonight?" Riya asked.

"Yes. He will be here in an hour or so. Cathy is already downstairs waiting for you." Grace answered.

"Aunt Cathy is here and you didn't think to tell me so? Let's go meet her, mom." Riya replied, making Grace nod her head whilst Riya placed the orange juice on the table and walked out of the bedroom.

Riya’s footsteps were quicker than usual, lighter, like she was floating on top of a euphoric cloud.

They both walked downstairs and saw Cathy talking to the cook. Thomas was sitting on the living room couch, his limbs spread out languidly, engaged in casual conversation with Arthur, Riya's Dad.

"Uncle Thomas!" Riya called him out.

She walked towards him, making him look up at her.

"Uncle Thomas, I’ve missed you. How are you?" Riya asked, wrapping her arms around Thomas and he smiled engulfing her into his large arms.

"I miss you too, Sweetie. I am good, how are you?" Thomas asked, smiling.

"I am good too. You’re finally visiting us again after so long. I’d thought you’d forgotten me." Riya pouted and Thomas chuckled, shaking his head while Arthur smiled at them both.

The atmosphere here was relaxed and retrouvaille. And smiles found their way onto every face, including Riya’s mother and aunt.

"No, Honey. I was just busy. You know how stressful managing the work can be." Thomas said as he shrugged and Riya nodded her head.

"Yeah. I know... But, you need to rest once in a while too. You can't overwork. It's not good for your health." Riya reminded him.

"Yeah, I will rest once Damon gets married and returns to his company after his honeymoon with his wife." Thomas teased, smirking at her and Riya blushed.

"Aww... Look, whose blushing?" Cathy, Damon's Mother gushed, making the blush on Riya’s face deepen.

"Aunt Cathy, you are such a tease." Riya said.

"What? I didn't say anything, just made an observation." Cathy replied, laughing and others joined in, making Riya cover her burning cheeks.

"Come on, guys... Stop teasing me." Riya said.

"Aww... You are going to be our daughter-in-law. It is a joyous thing, why not laugh at it?" Cathy asked.

Riya smiled and looked up at her Dad. He nodded his head with approval, nudging her towards Cathy.

"I know, you love our son more than anything. You’ve been in love with him since high school, right?" Cathy asked, smiling at Riya.

Cathy ran her fingers through Riya’s black hair, caressing the strands and smoothing the stray ones.

She stares into Riya's Brown eyes trying to see how much she loves Damon. She is such a beautiful and kind girl with small eyes, round lips, small nose, and thick eyebrows. She is a girl with a kind soul and beautiful heart.

"I’ve told you to confess your feelings to him several times now but you didn't... But it's okay. I know he loves you too. I don't have a single doubt on that. I’ve seen it in his eyes when he looks at you, how much he loves you." Cathy said, caressing her hair.

"Yes and I am sure he wouldn’t even dream of denying our decision. He loves you too much to let this slip away. Let him come, and we can discuss ceremonial details." Thomas replied.

"Yes. We are so lucky to have Riya as our daughter-in-law. You are amazing, Riya. The way you respect everyone is beautiful. You are kind and beautiful. There's no one on this earth who wouldn’t love a kind soul like you." Cathy said and Riya smiled.

Just then the doorbell rang, and the butler hurried over to let the newcomer in. Grace and Arthur exchanged secret smiles when they heard their daughter's soon to be in law. They understood that Riya was going to be safe and secure in their home with Damon by her side.

Damon Blake was the third generation son of the Blake Companies. One of the top 5 richest people in the world. His fashion companies rose to the top only a few months after the reins were handed over to him. He was merely 23 years old at the time. His popularity rose even higher, being one of the most lusted after bachelores the business industry had ever seen.

He is handsome, muscular with a black hair and eyes. Every woman falls to their knees at his feet with the hope for him to just take her in for a night. And they would be blessed by the man of their dreams. But Damon had never shown interest in any girl before.

Riya Reymond was one of the closest friends of Damon, having known them since they were in kindergarten. They were always together as their parents were close associates. Damon had always been protective of Riya and she fell in love with him, his kindness, his thoughtfulness and his devastatingly beautiful features.

She was the pampered, spoiled princess of the Reymond family, perhaps because she was the first only child their ancestry had likely ever seen. Blake and Reymond companies were closed and were merged when Damon was 20 because Kylie's companies were rising both in media attention and financial status that Blake Companies were about to go bankrupt. They were saved when Arthur saved Thomas by merging both companies.

Arthur wanted nothing but to see his sweet Riya get married to Damon so that he could hand over his ownership to Damon since his daughter was not at all interested in business and choosed medical studies.

Arthur was so happy when Thomas started to talk about getting Riya and Damon married. It was a match made in heaven, childhood best friends to lovers all that. He knew of Riya’s crush on Damon and since Damon was a gentleman he thought he would be the perfect match for his daughter.

Arthur wanted his daughter to be happy, it had been all he worked for, to adhere to her every need, making full use of their wealth to provide his only child with the greatest pleasures life had to offer.

But now she was all grown up, and she needed to stand on her own two feet. But what he worried about the most was the side effects of growing up sheltered and privileged.

She had no agency, and was used to getting what she wanted. Virtues like respect and kindness were all well and good but they were insufficient for the real world. That’s why he wanted Damon to be her husband, so he could take care of her and hopefully help her slowly get used to being without her parents.

Arthur was also happy that he was going to get his daughter married to the guy of her dreams. Seeing her happy was the only thing that mattered to him more than anything. Now, all he needed was for Damon to accept this marriage with Riya.

Arthur could already picture Riya and Damon living a happy peaceful life with their kids in the near future but little did he know life was going to hit Riya hard in many ways.