Chapter 1 Rude Man

Right after I sent that voice message, Zach rapped the table impatiently. He tugged on his expensive tie and spoke to me like I was beneath him.

"Snitching to your useless friends already? Don't push your luck, Jessica. You should feel honored that you got me as your blind date."

His phone's screen was still lit up. Sure enough, his mother, Lina Hausen, added shrilly, "Bring her right home, son. I've never seen anyone who can't even crack a crab. Who does she think she is? A princess? I will not bless this marriage until she does all the dishes!"

I sniffled, tears swirling in my eyes. I had never once had to do such menial tasks, even when I was a kid. So, doing the dishes wasn't exactly my forte.

Besides, my house was filled with antiques, and my nephew always looked like he'd kill himself if I broke a single one by accident. I had it on good authority that he'd rather strangle himself with his hair than ask me to wash them.

"I'm not going." I put my hands under the table. My voice was soft and nasally. "I'm going home."

The chairs here were hard enough to make my back sore, and the AC's wind was blowing in the wrong direction. My head was spinning due to the restaurant's terrible environment. Staying here for even a second longer was definitely not on my agenda.

I was going to leave, but Zach's face fell. He shot up from his seat, his chair scraping against the marble ground so harshly that the screeches seemed to tear through the air.

He grabbed the Birkin bag I placed on the table and tossed it to a waiter. "Don't play hard to get. I bet this bag's a fake, too. Did you rent it? Or borrowed from a friend just to see me?"

He went around the table and tried to grab my wrist.

I was caught off guard by his impropriety as I dodged away. Alas, my back hit the chair, causing me to gasp in pain. "Don't touch me!"

My skin was delicate, and his rough fingers just scratched the back of my hand. Just as I expected, red welts appeared right then and there. Fiery pain burned through my flesh, and my tears rolled down my cheeks.

Sadly, my obvious distaste for him only fueled his anger, and his chest heaved. "How dare you! You should feel honored that my mother is asking you to do the dishes! She's teaching you the rules of our household!

"You think looks can coast you through life? Once we're married, you will serve my parents. You will wake up at 6 a.m. to cook for us, and you will give all the money you make to my mother for safekeeping!"

Zach turned to the manager and snapped his fingers. "Get the bill, Clark, and it's on Ms. Gray."

The manager came over obsequiously, holding a POS machine in his hand.