(Anastasia's POV)Cutlery scrapes the plate, there’s wet chewing and loud swallowing. Elbows are drawn in, backs straight, eyes falling everywhere but on other eyes.This is the quietest and most awkward breakfast I have ever experienced since we moved here to Italy.Grandfather visit us with Alice and Adam. As Alice was having a long vacation and time off from school. She begs him and stays here in Italy until her vacation time ended.I don't even have any clue how she persuades this strict old man. After breakfast, he talks to mom in private which makes me confused. I mean, this is not the first time they talk alone but it was just weird and I feel uneasy in my seat now while glancing at the door, leading to the garden.Alice block my view, "What?""You look weird. Do you want to poop?" she asked as she jumps unto the couch beside me.I throw her a pillow while glaring at her. "Stop lying low here. Do your paper works instead." I scowl at her.She rolled her eyes, "C'mon, it's my v
(Anastasia's POV)My mind went blank as I stares at the white folder for almost an hour now. Did not know what to do in this situation to the fact that this is Grandfather wish me to do.Is this what they called Arranged Marriage?I only read this in books and saw this situation in movies as the two people tied the knot without love involved but all because to joined forces with their companies to be more powerful in the business world.Am I experiencing the same situation?I let out a deep sigh while running my fingers through my hair out of frustration as I throw my body on the bed. "What should I do?"How to decline his will? How to disobey his words? Will he kick me out if I do?"This is frustrating!" I got up on the bed and walk back in forth inside my room. "I can't believe Mom agreed to this."I don't want to get married to a stranger! H-How can we provide a new generation if... if we are not in love? We can't force ourselves to have sex. That... was absurd!From this moment, I
(Anastasia's POV)I walk inside the office room where Grandfather was busy on some papers. He is staying here at our house in the meantime. So, it was so hard to move around, having his presence in this house makes me nervous all the time."Grandfather?""Yes, come in," he said with a firm voice. Don't be mistaken, he always has a firm and stern voice.I gently placed the folder on his desk. "I change my mind. I wanted to meet Stephen Harllo--""Oh! Mr. Walton called earlier and they wanted to set the date of the wedding. When do you want?"My brows creased in confusion. "W-What? N-No, I... I don't like hi--""But I like him, Anastasia." WHAT? "He's gentleman, he has a keen eye in business, and he has a common sense which I think we will get along with in the future." he smiled in satisfaction and continued, "You choose the right guy this time, Anastasia."An irritation starts to form on my face but I forcibly smile. "But you must read his past doing, right?""That does not matter. As
(Anastasia's POV)I woke to the phone rings resonating inside my room. Who would call this early morning?Lazily reach the telephone as the sounds make me annoyed it's repeating rings. "It's time for breakfast, Madam." then she hangs up the phone.That was Alice, trying to annoy me in this early and silent morning. My eyesight reached the clock, marked 8:35... it's not early. Thankfully, it's my day off, with no early bird, no paperwork, and no Charles that will annoy me today. I forbid him from visiting my place. Because of him, I've never gotten a blink last night. His wisdom of words gives me nightmares and it keeps resounding in my head like a damaged cd tape.I was about to go back to sleep but the telephone rings again. I groan while reaching for the telephone. "Yes?""I said it's time for breakfast!" Alice yelled.Since when did she have no manners?!"Stop bugging me!" I yelled back.I dropped the phone harshly on its place and throw my body back to the bed as I covered my bod
(Caleb's POV)It's been a year and seeing her still makes my heart beat furiously. I wonder how she was doing after a year. But seeing her in front of me, with her dark blue trousers, partnered with a dark blue blazer and plain white v-neck t-shirt, and a high heel, she dressed differently from before. I believe she was doing great with her new family. She really became a Laverde. It should be.I noticed her hair grew longer with side bangs and it suited her, she looks stunning as ever even though her hair was quite messy, she look like she had just woken up, and it shows on her swollen face. Similar countenance whenever I woke up beside he--"G-Good day, Mr. Carter," she coldly responded after a couple of seconds. I can sense how she firmly said my name. Of course, I expected her to be this way, giving me a cold shoulder."You two already knew each other?" Atty. Ford, my lawyer.As this is an important matter for the sake of my company, I have to personally visit the person who bough
(Anastasia's POV)As soon as his car fades away, my eyes felt warm, did not realize that tears starts streaming down my face. I abruptly wiped my tears before my secretary see me in this condition."A-Are you alright, Madam?"I lowered my countenance, "Yes, don't mind me."I control my emotions as I don't want to feel weak in front of my employee. They are never used to seeing me this vulnerable, helpless, and fragile.As we arrived at the company, I immediately bid goodbye to my secretary and headed to my car, parked in a parking lot, a few distances away from my secretary's car.I slammed the door open and slump in the driver's seat, leaning on the steering wheel, weeping silently as his face and figure flashed in my head. I badly miss him.But my heart felt a pang when he called me as if he just met me. He looks so stern, the usual Caleb I've seen whenever his CEO mode is turned on. He treated me as one of his co businessmen, he look at me in a way that he never miss a bit of me,
(Anastasia's POV)I entered the building with a gloomy feeling and low energy. My eyes were still hurt and swollen from crying last night. As my grandfather said, he wanted me to get married to that jerk Charles within this month, which is incredulous and unbelievable.His demands were still echoing inside my head, and it made me frustrated just by visualizing being the wife of that womanizer. How can I deal with these things? The elevator stopped and I drag my feet inside my office, throwing my bag and slumping on the couch while letting out a sigh, continuously."Oh, God!"I ran my hands through my countenance, planning what should I do to prevent the wedding from occurring.My thoughts were disturbed when a knock on the door resonated inside my office.I sigh and fix myself, striding towards my table before I yelled to the person behind the door to come inside. I look up and saw my secretary Mina, walking towards my table while carrying a bunch of documents."Good Morning, Miss."
(Anastasia's POV)Pretending to be busy in front of my laptop while taking a glance every second at the two men, comfortably sitting on the couch on opposite sides. They're talking as if they were in a restaurant, catching up on each other's life, reminiscing the past, not even taking a glance at me.From what I've heard, Caleb and Charles were classmates during college and they were varsity players on a basketball team, alongside Damian.Seeing them, exchanging smiles makes me wonder if they really did get along during that times. But I noticed they were comfortable with each other, proof that they have a brotherhood in the past, together with Damian.I did not intend to interrupt their reunion but a knock on the door resonated inside the room."Come in." Mina came inside with a worried face. "Uhmm..."I stood up. "Is there something wrong, Mina?"She greeted the men on the couch before she strode in my direction. "Madam, Henry is arrived, with the news."I deeply sighed and stood u