03-Headlines

The Wilsons, Kords, the paparazzi and even the crowd gathered were thrown into shock. Their disappointment reverberated in their unexpected gasp. Elliot smiled.

Selene was about to turn around and leave when Kevin got up on his feet and grabbed her wrist just in time. He twirled her around.

"Selene," his voice cracked "Why..why won't you marry me? Did I say or do something wrong?"

Selene jerked her wrist from his grip.

"You're blind, Kevin." she replied "That's what you did wrong! You're blind and you want to use me to cover up your weakness!"

"Selene, why would you think so? I'm not using you," he paused and added "I'm marrying you because I love you."

"No, don't lie to me! Do you want to deny the disgrace that accompanies marrying you-a blind man! You speak of fulfilling my dreams, Kevin but this is not my dream. I don't dream of getting married to a blind man who walks around with a stick to find his way."

Kevin opened his mouth to speak and then shut them again, hurt by her choice of words.

"Selene, please-"

"You, please. I can't believe you would deceive me this way."

With that she stomped off the beach with murmurs rising among the crowd. Ian crosses over to give Kevin his stick.

Squeezing his shoulder, Ian remarks "You're bound to make headlines, tomorrow."

Kevin is quiet through the drive home and so is Mrs Kord. No one expected Selene's rejection and to think it was publicly.

"Well, who will you marry now brother?" Elliot mocked

"Will you be losing your inheritance, Kevin?" Mr Kord asked and when Kevin did not reply, Mrs Kord answered.

She said, "No. He will get married. I will find him a wife."

"Trust me, Mrs Kord.." Elliot began "No woman will agree to marry Kevin especially now that a woman such as Selene, who is high in social ladder, has rejected him."

"I did not ask for your opinion, Elliot. Keep them to yourself." Mrs Kord snapped and Elliot replied with a grin.

Upon arriving at the mansion, Kevin picks up two bottles of wine and locked himself inside his room. Still in a daze, Kevin is unable to believe Selene's rejection.

....

Having served Aunt Maya and Zachary breakfast, Karen is in haste as she is late for work.

"At least have breakfast," Aunt Maya calls as Karen runs out of the house.

On getting to the company, she immediately settles on her desk. Being the personal assistant to the CEO, Karen had loads of documents waiting on her desk. Glancing at the office directly opposite hers, Karen heaves a sigh seeing that the chair was empty. It meant that the boss had not yet arrived.

"You're late again," Mr Daniel comes out from nowhere, giving Karen a near startle

"I'm so sorry, Mr Daniel."

"You always are," he narrowed his brows as he stared at Karen rather closely.

"I won't let this repeat itself, sir."

"Hm." he turns and walks into his office. Rather than closing the door, he leaves it open and keeps on staring at Karen making her feel uncomfortable.

Not long after, Sam arrives and bounces on her seat next to Karen. Grinning widely, she leans in and whispers,

"Did you see the news??"

Buried in her work, Karen answers "What news?"

"The CEO of the Kord family got rejected yesterday."

"Rejected?"

"Yes, rejected," Sam confirmed "By the only daughter of the Wilsons. Everyone is shocked as they seem to be a perfect match. Can you believe that??"

"No." Karen answered absentmindedly.

"You're not listening, are you?" Sam took the pen away from Karen in order to get her attention.

"Sam, I have lots of work."

"A little gossip won't hurt."

"Why should I busy myself with the life of others?"

"You have to know what's happening around your society, do you not agree?"

Karen heaved a sigh, "It's nothing of importance that always happens in Willow-ridge, Sam."

"Of course not! The CEO just got rejected and you say it's less important?"

"He's a human being, why can't he get rejected?" replied Karen as she snatches her pen back from Sam.

"It's painful to think that he got rejected due to his blindness." Sam thought aloud meanwhile, Karen is already buried in her work.

Time passed and Karen finds herself back home. During dinner, Zachary brings up the same topic that Sam talked about.

"He deserves it," thought Zachary "He is arrogant and unscrupulous. Until he knows how to treat a person he deserves to be alone."

"What's so special about him that everyone is speaking about this?" Karen asked as picked up the bowl of soup.

"Seeing that he is the son of the most influential family here in Willow-ridge what do you expect Karen? Everything about him will make headlines."

"I guess so," answered Karen.

Smiling, Aunt Maya chipped in "Now that I think of it, it will be nice if one of you can get married."

"Certainly not me," answered Zachary.

"C'mon.. you're twenty five, Zach" Karen teased "You should definitely have a female interest. Just like Aunt Maya said I'd love to see you get married"

"I don't have a female interest," Zachary answered "Love is a crazy thing."

"Well, if you are not interested perhaps Karen will." Aunt Maya said.

Karen merely smiled, "I wish I could experience it, Aunt Maya but I don't think so."

"When you were a child, you always wished for a Prince Charming like that of Cinderella. You spoke of love and being loved and described your marriage to the point of perfection."

"I guess I didn't know what marriage really entails, Aunt Maya."

After dinner, Zachary and Karen retired to the kitchen and did the dishes together. Knowing how messy the kitchen will be after their soap fight, Aunt Maya excused herself and retired to bed.

Laying her head on the pillow, Aunt Maya smiled ear-to-ear at the hearty laughter coming from the kitchen. She travels down memory lane thinking of how Karen and Zachary would run around the whole house when they were little kids.

Her mind wanders back to the discussion at dinner. She had really hoped that Karen would get her Prince Charming exactly the way she had envisioned however she had to be diagnosed with such deadly disease.

Pushing the thought to the back of her mind, Aunt Maya resigns to sleep. However at that moment her phone begins to ring.

The caller is unknown however Aunt Maya still picks the call.

"Hello?"

"Well, uhm..is this..Amaya?" the caller on the other end asked.

"Yes. Who am I speaking with please?"

"It's Marie," the voice answered quietly "Marie Kord"