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Chapter 10
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2021-09-13 15:13:03"What? Did I do something? What's with his gaze?" I asked in confusion. We watched him until he entered the elevator.
"That guy is so weird sometimes," I commented before entering my condo and inviting Nikki inside.
"If appropriate, can I ask why you ask me to run a background check on him?" Nikki asked after he put the groceries on the counter table.
"Hmmm, because I found him interesting?" I answered. That was true. I found Mark interesting and I wanted to know him more.
"I hope you don't put yourself into trouble." Nikki seriously said. I chuckled. Yeah, I hope so too. But for me, the existence of Mark itself already screams trouble. And I don't understand why I have this feeling that I will embrace that trouble soon.
"You don't have to worry, Nikki. I know what I am doing." I told him even though I am not confident with what I said.
"Ma'am, I don't know if I am appropriate to say this but I'll say it for your safety. You know that the Wang-"
"Let's stop there, Nikki," I said to him with a smile on my face but he knew what was the meaning of that smile.
"My apologies, Ma'am." He said.
Even though I lived in a different country and just arrived here, I am updated on what is happening here and who are the people that my family knows. Kieffer was keeping me updated for some reasons and that included the chances that when I came back at least I knew who those people were even if they didn't know me. I also know their background and those things about their business. Those were not secrets for us, well, for others, it was.
After we ate, Nikko said that he'll be back to his duty. He will be in his car after he checks the surroundings. And for me, I spent the rest of my time inside the condo doing anything that came to my mind.
After weeks of being independent, Kieffer called saying that we will be having a family dinner tomorrow evening with our family friend. But I doubt that after I received the location. We rarely have family dinners in luxury and fancy restaurants. We always ate at home together except if there were other gatherings.
Kieffer said that he can't come because he has a meeting tomorrow, so I need to go there alone. And that only made me feel more nervous. Does this 'family friend' know me? Kieffer didn't tell me who this 'family friend' was because he didn't know.
What are they planning to do?
I dressed up presentably and nicely. My parents said that they will fetch me but I said that I can go there alone.
I don't feel like driving this evening so I ordered Nikki to drive me there.
"Who's the family we will meet today?" I asked while staring outside.
"Wang family, Ma'am," Nikki answered. I closed my eyes as I leaned on my seat and sighed heavily.
"Why? I doubt that what will happen later is not just an ordinary dinner." I said. My voice was calm but my heart was beating fast due to nervousness. Suddenly, I don't feel like going.
Nikki didn't answer my question so I opened my eyes. He was looking at me in the rearview mirror. His eyes were worried.
"Say it. So I know what I will do." I said using a weak voice.
"Mr. Andres, your father, has a project and the Wang will support your father since Mr. Andres already lost a lot of money while working on the project."
"In exchange for what?" I asked but Nikki looked away. My lips parted and I clenched my hands on the dress I am wearing.
"I thought I already got my freedom. I guess I am wrong." I bitterly said after I realized what will be the situation I will be facing later once I arrived at that restaurant.
"Nikki," I called him before I got out of the car. "Once you see me suddenly standing up in the middle of this damn dinner, please get me out of there," I told him before I gave him a small smile. He nodded at me and gave me an assuring smile.
"Yes, Ma'am." He answered. Then, I breathed deeply before I got out of the car and walked inside the restaurant.
The waiter assisted me to our table. I immediately saw my parents and the Wang family. The couple and their two sons, Yael and Henry. My mind wondered about Mark. Didn't they invite him? This is a family dinner after all. Or they didn't include him in this kind of event since Mark was adopted?
"Kathy, you're finally here!" Mom said as soon as she saw me. Dad stood up to greet me.
"Let me introduce to you my daughter, Catherine Andres. Honey, this is Mr. Jeremy Wang and his wife Mrs. Yeri. These two handsome men are Yael and Henry." My mother said, I looked at them and politely greeted them. By the look of the brothers on me, I knew that they already knew what would happen tonight.
"My eldest son, Kieffer, could not come because he is still in a meeting right now," Dad told them.
"It's okay. It's good to have a responsible son like Kieffer. I see that he is interested in business. I guess it runs on the blood." Mrs. Wang said then, laughing.
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After we all sat together, my parents were having a chitchat with Wang while I was playing with my phone under the table. I know it’s rude but I am uncomfortable, especially when Yael and Henry are staring at me. "Good evening. Sorry, I'm late." I immediately raised my head when I heard that familiar voice coming from our back. He’s here. Looking at the time, I guess he just came from his work. I noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Wang didn’t even glance at him while Yael and Henry only glanced at him. "And who is this handsome man?" Mom asked after Mark sat in front of me. Just by looking at his face, he didn’t notice that I was there. He might be thinking that this was a coincidence but it was not. He didn’t know me- the real me so I will assume for now that he also didn’t know my family… personally. "Oh! He's Mark. The boy we adopted at that orphanage." Mrs. Wang said like he was nothing. I didn’t feel that they cared for him but why? Why adopt him if they are going to treat him li
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I don’t want to marry a guy that I didn't love. I looked at Mark who was playing with his wine. He looked uninterested in this drama. I will make him interested, then. “I..” They all looked at me except him. “I will marry your son,” I said before I looked at Mrs. Wang, who smiled widely, and was satisfied with my answer. I ignored Mom’s reaction. If they can’t fucking stop this situation, I will. I will do all I can just not to have my family bond with the Wang Family. “I will marry one of your sons.” I continued. They wanted me to marry Yael and I will not let that happen. "Oh! That's good then, both of them were single anyways. So, who will you choose-" Rude as it is, I stopped Mrs. Wang from speaking when I looked at Mark seriously. “I want him,” I said with a serious and final tone while looking at Mark. I heard their gaps. I knew this would be their reaction. Who would not be shocked if I wanted to marry an adopted son of theirs? A man without Wang's blood. Mark and I’
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“You knew about that? My arranged marriage?” I asked my brother after I sat on the couch. Just by looking at his guilty face, he knew it. “I’m sorry. It’s already late when I found out about it.” He answered. I nodded. “And what’s more amusing about it was you chose their adopted son instead of Yael and Henry, huh.” There’s sarcasm and interest in his tone. I shrugged, “Though he is adopted, Wang faked the paper, so Mark is not their family. It’s interesting, right?” I said to him as I wiggle my eyebrows. Kieffer shook his head at me as if he was proud at the same time thinking that I was crazy. “Why do you think they faked his adoption? Do you think Mark knew about it also, his friends?” I asked again. “I don’t think so. His friends knew that he was adopted because Mark said it himself to them. I could not imagine how Mark would react if he knew that.” Kieffer said. “That poor guy,” I whispered as I sighed. I became silent for a few minutes when I didn’t notice that my brot
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I went inside my room, jumped in my bed, and buried my face in the pillow, as I felt embarrassed about how I acted in front of him. Did I make it too obvious that I was worried about him? Oh, gosh! Minutes later, my phone beeped. When I checked it, my eyes widened and I almost threw my phone. Mark replied! To: Mark Nextdoor I’m fine. “Shit!” I cursed. Just two words and I am already losing it. I didn’t reply. I just stared at his message. Even though he said he’s fine, why do I feel like he is not? His eyes… When I stared at those eyes, I saw sadness lurking in those mysterious eyes. Or am I the only one who sees that? I sighed before I decided to call my mother. “Hey, Mom.” I greeted. “Hello, darling! Why did you call?” I bit my lower lip. “Uhm, Mom, about Mark…” I stood up and went near the window. “What about him?” Mom’s voice became serious now. I sighed again before I said what I wanted to say. “Don’t touch him. I’ll handle him.” I said. There was a long pa
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It was like visiting and entering that orphanage will make the wall Mark built collapse. In the following days, I remained in my place. Since the majority of my friends are abroad, I don’t have any friends to hang out with except Lanie. But she was busy with her life so I decided not to bother her. I entertained myself by watching series and sometimes, reading the files that Nikki sent me about Mark. I looked at the door when I heard the doorbell ring. I am not expecting any visitors right now. When I opened the door, my lips parted when I saw who was standing in front of me. He was wearing a plain white shirt, black shorts, and white shoes. In his right hand, he was holding a paper bag. He looked at me casually. I tilted my head as I looked at him again from head to toe. “Glad to see you alive,” Mark said. “What?” “You’re not going out for the past few days. I’m just checking if you are still breathing there.” He said before he stole a glance inside my place and then, looked a
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I went back to my senses when my phone rang. Mom’s calling. When I answered it and listened to my Mom, my brows furrowed as I went to my room and looked at my calendar. “What? Really, Mom?” I sarcastically said because I can’t believe what I am hearing now. “Mom, my birthday is coming… why…” I sighed heavily and closed my eyes for a second. My head is aching because of this sudden news. “You should at least ask me, Mom,” I said. Then, she explained so many things that I couldn’t understand because I can’t still process everything. After the call, I remained staring at the floor. And then I realized that reality started to hit me. “Wow… just wow,” I uttered. I looked at my phone when I received a text from my mother. From: Mom I’m sorry, darling. They wanted to have your wedding as soon as possible. Then, another message came. Both of you can still prepare. Your wedding is two months away from your birthday. It is a private wedding anyway. I didn’t text back after I r
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Then, he sighed. “Okay, then. I’ll tell them to cancel the dinner.” With that, I immediately looked at him. “What?” “I’ll cancel the dinner, Katherine. We both know that it is not just a dinner. We- no, They are planning our wedding.” He smiled a little after he said those. Yeah, we are both aware that it is not just a regular dinner. “Don’t do what you don’t want to do. Please do what you want to do without caring about what they will say about your decisions. That is your life, Katherine.” He stood up. I remained sitting as I looked at him. Then, he smiled at me, put his hand above my head, and caressed my hair gently. “After all, we are all just people who want freedom, not a chain, right?” I felt a hot liquid forming in the corner of my eyes. He kneeled in front of me as he continued caressing my hair. He is tall, so when he kneeled, our gazes were just equal. “I know you went here to get your freedom. I don’t want to be the reason, and my family, why can’t you get that?
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I ran when the elevator was about to close. “I’m sorry!” I said as I entered the elevator. When I look at who I am inside with, my lips form a smile. “Hi,” I greeted.“Katherine,” He greeted. Tiredness was evident on my face, but it lit up when our eyes met. He smiled as he opened his arms and welcomed me, but he was just… asking for a hug. I shook my head and smiled as I moved towards him and hugged him. It feels like home. Him. His hug. I am… finally home. He held my hand as we both went out in the elevator. “I’m going to stay in your place.” He said. “I’ll just take a shower, and I’ll be back.” He gave me a small smile before he went to his place. “What’s the matter, Mark?” I asked as I handed him a can of beer. He was sitting on the couch while watching the news. His hair was still messy and wet from the shower, and he wore a pair of pajamas. He looks so comfy. I sat beside him as I dried my hair using a towel. “Nothing. I just want to stay here with you.” He said. He stood u
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I ran when the elevator was about to close. “I’m sorry!” I said as I entered the elevator. When I look at who I am inside with, my lips form a smile. “Hi,” I greeted.“Katherine,” He greeted. Tiredness was evident on my face, but it lit up when our eyes met. He smiled as he opened his arms and welcomed me, but he was just… asking for a hug. I shook my head and smiled as I moved towards him and hugged him. It feels like home. Him. His hug. I am… finally home. He held my hand as we both went out in the elevator. “I’m going to stay in your place.” He said. “I’ll just take a shower, and I’ll be back.” He gave me a small smile before he went to his place. “What’s the matter, Mark?” I asked as I handed him a can of beer. He was sitting on the couch while watching the news. His hair was still messy and wet from the shower, and he wore a pair of pajamas. He looks so comfy. I sat beside him as I dried my hair using a towel. “Nothing. I just want to stay here with you.” He said. He stood u
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Then, he sighed. “Okay, then. I’ll tell them to cancel the dinner.” With that, I immediately looked at him. “What?” “I’ll cancel the dinner, Katherine. We both know that it is not just a dinner. We- no, They are planning our wedding.” He smiled a little after he said those. Yeah, we are both aware that it is not just a regular dinner. “Don’t do what you don’t want to do. Please do what you want to do without caring about what they will say about your decisions. That is your life, Katherine.” He stood up. I remained sitting as I looked at him. Then, he smiled at me, put his hand above my head, and caressed my hair gently. “After all, we are all just people who want freedom, not a chain, right?” I felt a hot liquid forming in the corner of my eyes. He kneeled in front of me as he continued caressing my hair. He is tall, so when he kneeled, our gazes were just equal. “I know you went here to get your freedom. I don’t want to be the reason, and my family, why can’t you get that?
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I went back to my senses when my phone rang. Mom’s calling. When I answered it and listened to my Mom, my brows furrowed as I went to my room and looked at my calendar. “What? Really, Mom?” I sarcastically said because I can’t believe what I am hearing now. “Mom, my birthday is coming… why…” I sighed heavily and closed my eyes for a second. My head is aching because of this sudden news. “You should at least ask me, Mom,” I said. Then, she explained so many things that I couldn’t understand because I can’t still process everything. After the call, I remained staring at the floor. And then I realized that reality started to hit me. “Wow… just wow,” I uttered. I looked at my phone when I received a text from my mother. From: Mom I’m sorry, darling. They wanted to have your wedding as soon as possible. Then, another message came. Both of you can still prepare. Your wedding is two months away from your birthday. It is a private wedding anyway. I didn’t text back after I r
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It was like visiting and entering that orphanage will make the wall Mark built collapse. In the following days, I remained in my place. Since the majority of my friends are abroad, I don’t have any friends to hang out with except Lanie. But she was busy with her life so I decided not to bother her. I entertained myself by watching series and sometimes, reading the files that Nikki sent me about Mark. I looked at the door when I heard the doorbell ring. I am not expecting any visitors right now. When I opened the door, my lips parted when I saw who was standing in front of me. He was wearing a plain white shirt, black shorts, and white shoes. In his right hand, he was holding a paper bag. He looked at me casually. I tilted my head as I looked at him again from head to toe. “Glad to see you alive,” Mark said. “What?” “You’re not going out for the past few days. I’m just checking if you are still breathing there.” He said before he stole a glance inside my place and then, looked a
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I went inside my room, jumped in my bed, and buried my face in the pillow, as I felt embarrassed about how I acted in front of him. Did I make it too obvious that I was worried about him? Oh, gosh! Minutes later, my phone beeped. When I checked it, my eyes widened and I almost threw my phone. Mark replied! To: Mark Nextdoor I’m fine. “Shit!” I cursed. Just two words and I am already losing it. I didn’t reply. I just stared at his message. Even though he said he’s fine, why do I feel like he is not? His eyes… When I stared at those eyes, I saw sadness lurking in those mysterious eyes. Or am I the only one who sees that? I sighed before I decided to call my mother. “Hey, Mom.” I greeted. “Hello, darling! Why did you call?” I bit my lower lip. “Uhm, Mom, about Mark…” I stood up and went near the window. “What about him?” Mom’s voice became serious now. I sighed again before I said what I wanted to say. “Don’t touch him. I’ll handle him.” I said. There was a long pa
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“You knew about that? My arranged marriage?” I asked my brother after I sat on the couch. Just by looking at his guilty face, he knew it. “I’m sorry. It’s already late when I found out about it.” He answered. I nodded. “And what’s more amusing about it was you chose their adopted son instead of Yael and Henry, huh.” There’s sarcasm and interest in his tone. I shrugged, “Though he is adopted, Wang faked the paper, so Mark is not their family. It’s interesting, right?” I said to him as I wiggle my eyebrows. Kieffer shook his head at me as if he was proud at the same time thinking that I was crazy. “Why do you think they faked his adoption? Do you think Mark knew about it also, his friends?” I asked again. “I don’t think so. His friends knew that he was adopted because Mark said it himself to them. I could not imagine how Mark would react if he knew that.” Kieffer said. “That poor guy,” I whispered as I sighed. I became silent for a few minutes when I didn’t notice that my brot
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I don’t want to marry a guy that I didn't love. I looked at Mark who was playing with his wine. He looked uninterested in this drama. I will make him interested, then. “I..” They all looked at me except him. “I will marry your son,” I said before I looked at Mrs. Wang, who smiled widely, and was satisfied with my answer. I ignored Mom’s reaction. If they can’t fucking stop this situation, I will. I will do all I can just not to have my family bond with the Wang Family. “I will marry one of your sons.” I continued. They wanted me to marry Yael and I will not let that happen. "Oh! That's good then, both of them were single anyways. So, who will you choose-" Rude as it is, I stopped Mrs. Wang from speaking when I looked at Mark seriously. “I want him,” I said with a serious and final tone while looking at Mark. I heard their gaps. I knew this would be their reaction. Who would not be shocked if I wanted to marry an adopted son of theirs? A man without Wang's blood. Mark and I’
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After we all sat together, my parents were having a chitchat with Wang while I was playing with my phone under the table. I know it’s rude but I am uncomfortable, especially when Yael and Henry are staring at me. "Good evening. Sorry, I'm late." I immediately raised my head when I heard that familiar voice coming from our back. He’s here. Looking at the time, I guess he just came from his work. I noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Wang didn’t even glance at him while Yael and Henry only glanced at him. "And who is this handsome man?" Mom asked after Mark sat in front of me. Just by looking at his face, he didn’t notice that I was there. He might be thinking that this was a coincidence but it was not. He didn’t know me- the real me so I will assume for now that he also didn’t know my family… personally. "Oh! He's Mark. The boy we adopted at that orphanage." Mrs. Wang said like he was nothing. I didn’t feel that they cared for him but why? Why adopt him if they are going to treat him li
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"What? Did I do something? What's with his gaze?" I asked in confusion. We watched him until he entered the elevator. "That guy is so weird sometimes," I commented before entering my condo and inviting Nikki inside. "If appropriate, can I ask why you ask me to run a background check on him?" Nikki asked after he put the groceries on the counter table. "Hmmm, because I found him interesting?" I answered. That was true. I found Mark interesting and I wanted to know him more. "I hope you don't put yourself into trouble." Nikki seriously said. I chuckled. Yeah, I hope so too. But for me, the existence of Mark itself already screams trouble. And I don't understand why I have this feeling that I will embrace that trouble soon. "You don't have to worry, Nikki. I know what I am doing." I told him even though I am not confident with what I said. "Ma'am, I don't know if I am appropriate to say this but I'll say it for your safety. You know that the Wang-" "Let's stop there, Nikki,"
