PROLOGUE AND BLURB "How could you do this to me, mom?! Why does it have to be him? And why so soon?" I sobbed, my voice trembling with anger and disbelief. My mother sat calmly in her usual spot on the balcony, stitching clothes for the upcoming winter season. I couldn't understand why she was so focused on her mundane task while my world was falling apart. Her silence was unnerving as she focused on the cloth fabric and ignored me. As a result, I turned to my father, who was sitting beside her engrossed in his book, then, I shrieked, "Dad! How can you expect me to marry that man? Do something about it! It's ludicrous to think I would agree to marry someone whose family we don't even know and who you brought into our home out of the kindness of your heart--" "That is enough, Stefani Carter!" Summer Carter, my cold-hearted mother, thundered, making her point clear. "You can beg all you want, but you can't escape this marriage. You will marry him, whether you like it or not!" My mot

Piolo Fitz, Stefani's ex-boyfriend was taken aback when he laid eyes on her, but her shock surpassed his own. Of all the places, this was the last one on her list where she expected to see him. After all, he had been a nerd during their college and high school days."Stefani..." Piolo called out, his voice trembling with nervousness. He was now completely transformed from his previous self. His eyeglasses had been replaced with brown contact lenses, his once neatly hair now styled into messy brown color, and his shy demeanor had been replaced with newfound confidence due to these changes."Paolo?" Stefani asked, seeking confirmation. "Is that really you?"His face turned red as she grabbed his shoulder and examined him closely. Behind this confident man, there was still a trace of the once nerdy boy who had fallen in love with this playful girl. However, he quickly adjusted his demeanor upon realizing this. To match her nature, he knew he had to change based on her preferences."Yea

‘Why is she here?’ Stefani asked herself as her eyes darted behind Jacob.Shaina and Shaira were her two cousins from her father's side. Shaina, the younger one, was always around, but Shaira, the older one, had been absent for five long years. So, when she spotted Shaina's car in the parking lot, she never expected to see Shaira there too. The sight of her cousin after all this time sent a wave of fear rushing through her heart.Shaira and Jacob had a history together. Stefani was just eighteen when they ended their relationship, and Shaira decided to leave New York and explore other countries. She completely cut off all ties and disappeared from their lives. That's why it was such a shock to see her standing there again.As Stefani watched Jacob release the grip he had on her and exited the elevator, she couldn't help but notice the shock on his face. It weighed heavily on her heart, making her wonder if he still had feelings for Shaira. After all, she had no clue why they had broke

Shaira's heart skipped a jealousy as she witnessed Jacob's possessive gesture, his hand firmly clasping Stefani's waist. In that moment, she realized that their bond had transcended mere siblinghood and evolved into something deeper and more profound. Something more...The upcoming days had Shaira filled with anticipation for Sunday. She had a plan in mind - to convince Jacob to stay the night. In order to make that happen, she needed to take action. Shaira grabbed her phone and dialed Stefani's number. After a few rings, Stefani answered the call."Shaira?" Stefani said, confirming her identity."Hey, Stefani! How have you been lately? I went to Aunt Summer's and Uncle Steven's villa, but they mentioned that you no longer live with them. I was wondering where you're staying now," Shaira asked cheerfully.Stefani, feeling a sense of panic on the other end of the line, didn't know how to respond. "Uh... why do you want to know?""What do you mean why? Wouldn't it be great if we could

Summer, Steven, and Shaira's parents had always been close. And when Senior Carter passed away, their bond grew even stronger. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the Miller family, Shaira and Shaina's dad, was not originally from this city, they lost touch before. It was their mother, who was originally from New York and a Carter by birth, that brought them back together.They finally reunited when Stefani turned twelve years old, and that's when she first met Shaira and Shaina. Shaina was the same age as Stefani, while Shaira was nineteen years old, the same age as Jacob. Perhaps one of the reasons the two became so close was because they shared the same mindset, being of similar ages. "Mom, Dad!" Shaira called out, capturing the attention of the elders. "Auntie, Uncle!" Her parents were taken aback as they saw her and asked, "Shaira? Why are you here?" Summer, who was also a little confused, glanced at Stefani, who had fallen silent. When she turned her attention back to Shair