Chapter 3

Willow shook her head but the crowd applauded even louder. Whistling and cheering could be heard over the clapping noise that rang through the diner.

Willow felt sick to her stomach.

She wanted to walk away but he held her hand tightly in his firm grip. His sea green eyes stared intensely at her snow white face. Her pink lips pursed into a thin line and her brows furrowed.

Sitting next to him, she felt suffocated. She knew that her fellow colleagues always had their eye on him, they often talked about marrying him and being one of the wealthiest woman in the city. Willow did not even think about such things, she was already twenty-one and half way through her medical career.

Losing her parents at the age of five, Willow had always been a survivor.

Her parents had passed away in a horrific car accident one snowy,winter's night.

Willow was in the car with her parents travelling to her grandparents home for the holidays when a truck skid off the road ,leaving the trailer to slam into the front of their car.

Willow remembered the day as if it was yesterday, that day was etched in her memory,eating at her heart everyday.

Her parents were killed on impact but Willow Winter was retrieved without a scratch.

No family had come forth to claim her and she was forced into foster care.

At the age of eighteen the system had pushed her out and Willow was determined to fulfill her dream of being a medical doctor.

Carla walked over to the table with a large slice of cake," congratulations."

Although Carla smiled, her smile did not reach her eyes.

Gregory nodded and picked up a forkful of cake and brought it to Willow's lips.

Willow looked at him and pursed her lips shut. He dangled it at her lips for a while until she finally opened her mouth.

Taking the forkful of cake in her mouth, she felt the ring loosen on her finger.

Gregory smiled and scooped up a large piece of cake. He shoved it elegantly in his mouth while Willow sat looking at his face.

She pictured him as a monster, he had married her against her will. She stared at him confused, how can this man, this monster look so elegant while shoving cake in his mouth.

She did not know how she felt,she pinched herself thinking this was all some dream she was entangled in.

The pain seered through her arm,confirming that it was not a dream.

Willow stood up clapping," wow guys, you really got me! Bring out the camera's. This was a really good joke!"

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Willow.

Carla walked over to Willow," oh honey, what are you talking about?"

"Sorry everyone, I think Willow here is still in shock. I apologize for the disturbance. Please enjoy your meals." Gregory stood up and draped his coat around Willow's shoulders.

Willow stood still and rooted her feet to the ground, she would not be leaving with him tonight. She would not be leaving with someone that she just met, someone she served coffee and cake to once a week for the last six months. She did not know him.

Gregory leaned over and whispered in her ear," I am just going to drop you off at home. What sort of a fiance' would I be if I left you here?"

Gregory pulled out his wallet as they neared the cashier.

He placed it in Willow's hands.

Willow looked at the thick wallet in her small palms,she had never seen so much money before.

She shoved it into his chest and dug into her apron, pulling out a hundred dollars and giving the cashier," keep the change."

Carla sneered in the corner," look at her now. Keep the change. She thinks she is better than us."

Gregory looked at Carla coldly and immediately she stopped talking.

Gregory held Willow's hand as they walked to the door together.

Once outside, Willow threw his hand out of hers and began to run. She needed to get away from him. This was all some kind of misunderstanding. She is Willow Winter, the once famous miracle child, orphan girl that hustles her way through life. She did not need a hand out or a knight in shining armour.

Marriage is a big step, Willow still believed in fairytales. She still thought about the love her parents shared. She was apart of a fairytale until fate took them away.

She ran as fast as her little legs could carry her, not looking back.

She didn't know where she was going to run to,since home was in the opposite direction.

Reaching the end of the road, Willow looked back, Gregory Green was not chasing her, instead he was still standing in the car park.

Willow looked at the dark street ahead. The street was quiet with many small dodgy alleys. She looked up at the houses which looked dilapidated and knew that this was a neighborhood with thugs and goons.

The whistling in the air sent a shiver down her spine. Deep within her ,she felt the danger coming. Her intuition drove her to turn around and run back to the diner.

She turned on her heel and started to run when firm hands grabbed at the coat she still had on.

In one swift tug it was pulled off.

The man looked at the coat,inspecting it before he turned his gaze to Willow.

"This is an expensive coat for a little peasant like yourself! Armani? What a name brand, limited addition too." The man commented. He has round as a barrel and much taller than Willow. She stared the man dead in the eye," give it back."

Her command was loud and firm but the man began to laught loudly, snorting inbetween.

"Are you going to make me give it back? A puny little insect like you ?"

Willow's cheeks turned red with anger.