Chapter 2

My lips parted slightly, but moments later, a bitter laugh escaped me.

Is this real? Am I just seeing things?

If what I’m seeing is true, then fate must be playing a cruel joke on me!

"Why her?" I murmured to myself as my gaze swept over her, from her pink hair down to her stilettos.

“Purple tie?”

The words came out slowly, deliberately, from the woman who couldn't close her mouth. Her finger remained pointed at my purple tie.

If I’d known she would be the woman I was going to marry, I wouldn’t have worn this tie. I should’ve listened to Jac and backed out of this.

Then I wouldn’t be in this situation now. I wouldn’t be haunted by memories of the past.

I’ve long buried those memories. I’ve moved on. Why is this happening? Why am I being toyed with like this?

“Pink hair!” I chuckled faintly as I said those words, shoving my hands into my pockets and heaving a deep sigh.

Her shoulders slumped. The shock I had seen on her face moments ago was now replaced with disappointment.

Like me, she must have realized she wasn’t imagining things. What she saw was real—no hallucination.

“Why you?” she asked, her gaze unwavering as it bore into mine.

Like I had done earlier, her eyes roved over me, from head to toe. Then she repeatedly slapped her forehead, her finger still pointed at me.

“Of all the men in the world, why you?”

I laugh and shake my head. That was the same question I had been asking myself.

I could tell she was as surprised as I was. But my shock was far greater because the person I had hoped never to see again—the person I didn’t want to remember—was standing before me. And she was the woman I was going to marry.

If I had known she was the one I’d been waiting for. I wouldn’t have come back to this country.

“Oh, God! Why you?”

Finally, she dropped her finger and raked her hands through her pink hair. I couldn’t tell if it was real or not.

I kept shaking my head. Of all the women in the world, why Dorry? Why her?

It wouldn’t have mattered to me who my bride was, what she looked like, or her background. I wasn’t picky. I just wanted to fulfill my grandfather’s last wish.

But why her? Why the same woman who broke my heart over and over again?

She was the reason I stopped believing in love.

She was the reason my heart turned to stone. And now, she’s the woman I’m bound to marry.

“Nelson De Vedra and Dorothy Castillo.”

We both turned to the woman standing at the office door.

“Dorothy Castillo, Dorry…”

I smiled as I said her name.

How ironic. We had been friends for years, living together on an island. I even fell in love with her. Yet, I never knew her real name.

“Nelson, why you?” she asked again, ruffling her hair in frustration. Her face was a picture of dismay.

Every part of her seemed to reject this marriage as much as I did.

I laughed faintly. “We’re asking the same question, Dorry. Why you? Why you, of all people?” I emphasized, locking my gaze on her.

Her expression wavered. She looked like she was about to cry—angry yet concerned.

“Do we really have to go through with this?” I asked.

She sighed deeply but didn’t answer. Instead, she turned to the woman still waiting by the door.

“Miss, please give us a minute. We need to talk,” she said. The woman nodded and stepped inside the room.

“To be honest, I don’t know. I’m not sure anymore, Nelson!”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “You don’t know? You’re not sure anymore? Why, Dorry? Is it because I’m the man you’re marrying? If it were someone else, would you be certain by now?”

She didn’t reply. She just stared at me, her brow furrowed.

“If it were another man standing here right now, the wedding would already be over, wouldn’t it, Dorry?”

Her gaze sharpened, but moments later, a bitter smile spread across her lips.

“I don’t know what point you’re trying to make, Nelson. From what I understand, we’re both being forced to agree to this arranged marriage.”

Her tone was firm as she spoke.

“Whatever your reasons are, I don’t care. As for me, I know why I’m here and why I agreed to marry a man I don’t even know.”

“Don’t know…” I repeated softly, those painful words hitting me like a slap.

But she was right. We didn’t know each other. She didn’t know me.

Yes, we had lived together on an island for a long time. But during those times, we were both carrying heavy baggage.

The Nelson she knew back then was different—a simple man living a humble life among people who treated me as family, even though we weren’t related.

I was poor, with nothing to my name. Maybe that’s why she rejected my love. Maybe that’s why she never gave me a chance to prove how I felt.

She was wealthy, after all. And everyone thought I was just a lowly boatman with no future, destined to remain a boatman forever.

“All I’m asking is, Dorry, do we really have to do this? Do you still want to go through with this wedding? As you said earlier, we’re forced into this arranged marriage.”

She laughed bitterly and crossed her arms. “You may look like a different person now, but your brain is still weak! If I didn’t want to go through with this, I would’ve left long ago!”

I smiled faintly. “And now I’m the weak one? Your mind is the one all over the place! You said you weren’t sure anymore.”

“Yes, I’m not sure anymore. But I never said I’d back out. I have to do this, Nelson. I need to do this. Even if every fiber of my being screams against being tied to you, I’ll still go through with this!” Her words were sharp and resolute.

I didn’t know if she was just putting on a brave face or if she truly meant every word.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked again.

“Yes! Stop asking!” she replied, her eyes rolling in frustration.

I chuckled faintly. “You won’t back out when we’re inside, will you?” I asked, giving her a meaningful look and a sly smile.

She didn’t answer but walked toward me slowly.

“I already said I have to do this! I have my reasons for agreeing to this arranged marriage. So stop talking and let’s get inside and get this over with.”

I nodded and gave a small smile. “Alright then, let’s do this!”

I opened the door as I spoke. She walked in slowly, her sharp gaze fixed on me.

“Mayor, we’re ready,” I said, wrapping an arm around Dorry’s waist. Her lips parted in surprise at my bold move.

“Make sure you won’t regret tying the knot with me,” I whispered, making her eyes widen in disbelief.