CHAPTER 3

Nancy finishes drying and combing her long golden hair so it cascades down her back. She leaves her room and heads downstairs to the living room to join her parents for dinner.

She feels her stomach growling loudly with hunger, so she grips the iron railing for support as she descends the stairs, careful not to fall or miss a step.

Nancy sees that some guests have arrived at her parents' home, which makes her frown. She hates the layout of her father's mansion—the living room connects directly to the dining room, making it easy for guests to spy on family affairs. She dislikes being monitored and values her privacy.

She notices a tall, handsome Black man exuding authority; he stands in the living room, watching her as she reaches the bottom of the stairs.

Nancy feels uncomfortable under his watchful gaze. His dark eyes stare intently, making her feel as if he is stripping her naked with a look of desire.

She finally looks away from the man and turns to her parents, who stand nervously in the living room.

Nancy approaches her mother and asks, "Mom... Is dinner not ready yet?"

Mrs. Olivia is nervous—she hadn't expected Charles to visit personally. She responds hesitantly, "Nancy, dear, come meet your groom."

"My what?" Nancy gasps in shock and swiftly turns to face Charles. She meets his handsome dark gaze, which hasn't left her for a moment. He stands in the living room, watching her.

Nancy snaps out of her shock and asks her mother, "Mom... When did I get married to him?"

"You're not married to him yet, Nancy. This is Charles Alejandro, President Nolan Alejandro's only son and child. The wedding is in two days," her mother replies.

"Two days!" Nancy gasps, nearly fainting.

"Calm down, Nancy," Charles says, and she shivers at his deep, masculine voice.

Nancy cannot believe she is getting married to Charles, with the wedding just two days away. She gathers her courage and says to him, her lips trembling, "I cannot marry you, sir."

"Nancy!" her father shouts to silence her. Charles Alejandro is the most feared young man in the city.

Senator Logan warns, "Nancy! You have no right to object to this marriage. Charles has seen photos of many pretty young women and chosen you. You should be grateful to become the country's future first lady."

"No, Father! I cannot accept this marriage. I cannot marry him!" Nancy steps back, bolts toward the stairs, and dashes upstairs to her bedroom. Her hips sway seductively as she runs to the top floor, enters her room, and slams the door shut.

"Nancy! Come back here!" her father calls, but she refuses to answer. She does not want to marry Charles. She locks the door and collapses on her bed, crying.

"Hmm, let me go upstairs and call Nancy back," Mrs. Olivia offers, but her husband stops her. "That won't be necessary."

Senator Logan looks at Charles and apologizes, "We're truly sorry, Your Excellency. We haven't informed Nancy about the arranged marriage with you."

"Hmm," Charles stands speechless in the living room, staring up at the second floor. He hopes his chosen bride will peek out and look down at him. The way her hips swayed seductively has made his muscles tense with desire to claim her.

Charles doubts he could control himself if left alone with Nancy. She looks even more beautiful than her photo. He turns back to her parents and meets her mother's nervous gaze—she resembles Nancy.

Mrs. Olivia smiles nervously and says to Charles, "Don't worry, Your Excellency. I'll go upstairs now and speak to my daughter. The wedding will still happen."

"Hmm, that's alright. I'm looking forward to the wedding. I came to welcome my bride on her return to the city, but it's clear she doesn't want to see me. Please, give these flowers to Nancy and let her know I truly love her and want to marry her." Charles hands the bouquet of rose petals he is holding to Mrs. Olivia.

Mrs. Olivia smiles, accepts it, and steps aside. Her husband apologizes again, "We are sincerely sorry, Your Excellency. Please forgive our daughter's rude behavior toward you."

"That's alright. I understand Nancy's fears, but it's not a problem. I came to welcome her on her return. Send my greetings to her and let her know I want her. I must be on my way now. Goodbye, Senator Logan."

"Yes, goodbye, Your Excellency." Senator Logan escorts Charles out of the living room and to his car.

The stationed security men open and close the car door as soon as Charles enters his Jeep. The three cars drive out of Senator Logan Marlon's residence.

***

Nancy stands at her upstairs bedroom window, staring down at the garage. She watches Charles walk out of her family home, get into his car, and drive away with the other two vehicles.

She cannot believe her parents want to force her to marry Charles Alejandro, the president's son. She has never met him, but she has heard about him—the way netizens ridicule and abuse his family online for refusing to leave power.

Nancy has also heard about Charles affairs with many pretty young women in the state. He is rumored to be a male prostitute, not the kind of man she wants as her husband.

The sound of her room door being pushed open jolts her back to reality. She turns from the window to face her parents, who enter angrily.

"Nancy! What was the meaning of that silly drama you just displayed in front of Charles Alejandro? Don't you know plenty of young women would jump at the offer with joy and accept him immediately?" her father questions angrily, standing by the door and glaring at her.

Her mother stands silently, holding the bouquet of roses Nancy saw with Charles.

Her father yells, "Answer me, Nancy!"

"Dad, that's not the kind of man I want. I don't love him, and that's the truth." Nancy breaks into sobs. Charles Alejandro is not the man she wants to marry.

Nancy wants a good man who will love only her, not a cheater like Charles, who won't value her as his wife.

She searches for the right words to make her parents understand she cannot marry a man like Charles or become his wife.

"Love? What do you know about love, Nancy? You'll grow to love Charles with time, after you marry and become husband and wife. That's how your mother and I got married, and we're still together today. What if you sit here waiting for a man you love first, but he doesn't love you back, and you end up loving him alone?

I cannot reject the Alejandro family's proposal, even if I know you'll object. They rule the country and would feel deeply insulted if you reject their only son. He chose you, Nancy Marlon, among all the other pretty young women whose photos he must have seen. So you will marry Charles whether you like him or not," her father declares.

"No, Father! I cannot marry Charles!" Nancy screams, bursting into tears. She cannot believe her father wants to force her into this marriage.

Her father turns to leave the room, pauses at the door, and says to her mother, "Talk to your daughter and prepare her with everything she'll need to become Charles's wife. This Saturday, she goes to the presidential villa to live with him, whether she likes it or not."