PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

"YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED."

Ciandrei could not believe what he heard. She wanted to complain to her parents, but she didn’t. She never disobeyed the parents who adopted her. She sees a lot of gratitude from them so she doesn’t want it to disappoint them. And, she loves them dearly. She doesn’t know what to do without them.

She’s just twenty-two years old, and fresh graduate from her course. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture. She was always fascinated with different buildings and structures, that’s why she chose that course. She planned to work after getting her degree and license. She planned to be a career woman, not a housewife!

Of course, there’s nothing wrong being a housewife. It’s just. . . it’s not for her!

Well, she has never experienced love or relationship. She doesn't have time there even though she is surrounded by different men.

No one can deny how beautiful Ciandrei is. She looked like a celebrity. Right! She looks like a young Angeline Jolie because her lips are similar to the woman. Her hazelnut brown eyes are also very beautiful. Her nose is pointed, and her eyebrows are fine, and the eyelashes are long. She has brown and long wavy hair. Right now she is wearing a red tube dress that accentuated her white complexion. No doubt, he was like an angel.

Ciandrei took a deep breath. She can’t believe how rushed this fixed marriage was! Tomorrow, her mother said, she will be introduced to his future husband. Then next week the wedding will be held. It looks like a prank is going on. She’s really damn confused!

"Why do they seem to be in such a hurry for this wedding?" Ciandrei whispered to herself.

Now she and her friends, Izy and Francia, are going to the bar. They invited her because she was so frustrated with what was happening. She needs a break! She did not want to get married, but she also did not want to disobey his parents. S, s he would just vent her resentment on the dance floor.

“Seriously? Are you really getting married? ” Francia, who was driving the car, turned to him. She looked a bit worried about her. Ciandrei just rolled her eyes and continued combing her wavy hair.

"You heard it right, bitch!"

“Oh my goodness! Are you really ahead of the three of us? I can’t believe this! Whoever is the man-hater, she will be the first to marry. The irony! ” Nothing has changed, Izy is still chatty as ever.

“It’s not like I want this!” She pouted her lips and continued combing her hair.

"Even! The point is you will still get married! ” he said.

"You'll be tied up and you won't be able to bar!" Francia whispered in conversation.

"Correct!" said He.

"I say ... deserve!" Francia groaned.

The two laughed and sighed. He just shook because of them.

She doesn't really like to go to bars and dance. But this was her comfort place. It seems that dancing at the bar has been her stress-reliever. She feels like he is in another world.

"Introduce us to your husband! Come on, girl! I am so curious about your soon-to-be husband," Izy said and chuckled. She is trying to tease Ciandrei.

Ciandrei just shrugged. "Even I ... I don't have an idea who will be my husband."

“Seriously?!” pronounced by Izy and Francia at the same time.

"Yep."

“You’re so doomed!” said Francia.

"I know right!"

Ciandrei really can't refuse her parents. Aside from the fact that she is grateful, she loves them very much. She doesn’t want to see them disappointed in her. Even though she knows that what she's going to do might hurt her... she doesn't care. She just want them to be happy... even though it's exchange for her happiness.

“Well, let's not even think about that! Tonight we will have fun! ” Francia giggled. “You know… it's very rare to bond with you, girls! So let's not think of anything and enjoy!”

“Yuh! We will party! ” Ciandrei said.

As soon as the three of them entered the bar, many people were kind to Francia and Izy. Well, it's usually the two of them who go to bars. Where the party is, they are there. So it is no wonder that people know them.

Also, Izy is famous at the university. She’s a vlogger. So, just a search on her name on Youtube you will find her immediately. Often her content is about her personal life, night life, routine, sometimes pranks, foods, and travel. Well, at least she’s happy to what she’s doing and as her friend. . . For Ciandrei, as her friend, she’s very happy for her.

“Is that Franchesca Zulidaga and Isabella Zyrelle Velasco?” Ciandrei heard a woman whisper at the other table.

Franchesca “Francia” Zulidaga is the only daughter and child of senator Vicente Zulidaga. Her mom, Filomel Lopez, came from an elite family that owns a company that supplies paper.

Isabella Zyrelle “Izy” Velasco is the youngest child of the Velasco family. Her father is an engineer and owns a construction company. Her mother is a professor in a university and also a lawyer.

And yes. . . they are Ciandrei’s friends.

They were also the only ones who persevered with Ciandrei. It’s like two extroverts adopt an introvert. And Ciandrei will always be thankful to both of them. She never expected that even temporarily. . . she was able to forget all the bad things in her past. All thanks to them!

“Yeah! You know those two. Where there is a party, they are there,” a woman replied to her colleague.

"Oh ... Valerio is with them too?!"

“Oh! The child of those who own the real estate? I was not aware that they were friends. ” Their whispers continued. They didn’t even think the three were just at the other table and they could possibly hear them. But it looks like even if they hear them, they won’t stop.

“Well, who knows? Maybe they have the same feathers,” said a woman and was followed by an insulting laugh.

Izy and Francia also seem to hear the women but they don't care. They are busy drinking their martinis. After all, they are always like that — unbothered! They are unbothered to what people says.

Ciandrei sighed deeply. She also doesn't care about them and she doesn't have time to argue with them. She is here to get rid of annoyance and make the most of the little time left in being free. Tonight, she will live the best moment of her life. She doesn't care about what will happen next or whatever...

Tomorrow she will meet the man to whom she will be forcibly tied up.

"Hey girl! Let’s go to the dancefloor, ”Izy shouted.

Francia and Cundrei just followed them and danced on the dancefloor. She is seriously loosing my control while dancing. For her, this is a new form of freedom ... a freedom she might not get again after this night.

“I want to kiss somebody ...” she softly uttered herself.

She didn't know why she said that. Maybe because she's already drunk. She could hardly stand. She was already rocking while dancing with someone on the dance floor.

Ciandrei would have planned to go back to friends sitting in the corner and accompanied by men unfamiliar with her. Suddenly her body hit the chest of a tall man. She looked up to see who it was.

Even though Ciandrei's vision was blurred due to the influence of alcohol, the man's beautiful eyes were still very visible to him, they were gray. His face seems to have been molded to perfection. From the eyebrows, down to the lips. One more thing, he smells so good! Ciandrei suddenly felt like she was drowning in his scent. He smells so fucking good that she feels addicted.

Even though she can also smell the alcohol in him ... she doesn't but ... it made him more sexy.

'What the hell is wrong with my nose?'

"Hey miss, are you okay?" he heard the guy ask her. Ciandrei groaned upon hearing his voice. He sounded so manly ... and sexy.

'Who is this guy?'

That's the question inside her head. The man's appearance was slightly brighter than she could see when the light hit him.

'Goddamn! It's Damien Atticus Enriquez! '

Of course she knows the face of this bastard. This is the only child of the person he hates ... the person who ruined her life! She was swallowed several times. She didn't know how to act in front of the man.

"Wanna dance?" he asked.

She can sense that this is a bad idea! To be near with an Enriquez is a whole fucking mess!

"Y-Yeah..."

'Why the hell did I say that?' Ciandrei was shouting those words inside her head. She felt like there must be something wrong with her ... maybe the influence of alcohol. She's so sure that if she's in her right mind, she won't even let him get near to her.

But now... it's a different case. He's holding her thin waist and it feels right... She feels right doing that stuff. She feels good dancing with him in the middle of a boisterous crowd. As if they were the only person there.

"You feel so good..." he whispered in her ears.

Ciandrei suddenly feels jittery. She doesn't know why she's feeling this way. She felt like she's going crazy.

"Uhh... same to you."

'What the fuck is that? Why the hell did I say that?' That's what's going on inside her head.

She seemed to be under hypnotism as the man's eyes met. She knows that she's in trouble! This guy is huge trouble.

She knew she should not approach this man. And what the hell is this man doing here? He's a fucking mayor! Oh well, he still has a personal life. But, isn't this going to tarnish his reputation?

Oh she forgot! This club is private and for VIPs. So, probably that's the reason why he's here.

"You know what? Nevermind... I will go back to my friends," she said and instantly avoided his gaze.

"That's sad, I want to dance with you more..." Ciandrei heard him say those words. "Can I at least know your name ..."

Ciandrei hesitated, she didn't want to say her name. "My name is..."

"Huh? I can't hear you!" he shouted. The man could not hear her because of the loud music that enveloped the place. "Can you tell me your name, miss?"

Instead of answering she pulled him and kissed him. She could not understand how he felt. He is bad news! This is a bad decision. But for one day, she wanted to be a bad girl and betray herself.

"Call me Annie."

And that night, they shared something wonderful. However, before he even woke up, she left him. She doesn't want him to see her.

Unfortunately, when he woke up... he couldn't remember anything.

---

CIANDREI URRIEDLY WENT BACK HOME. She took a taxi cab. She can't afford hearing my mom nagging at me. Plus, her mother said that today she will meet my soon-to-be husband.

"Ciandrei, where the hell did you come from? My goodness! We will meet the family of your groom this five o'clock. My god, Valeciana Andrea!" Her mom was panicking, obviously.

She took a deep breath before the gaze met the mother. "Mom, it's only one o'clock! Can you calm down?"

Right! It was one o'clock when she got home. She can't believe it's such a time that she came home. She's so fucked up!

'Goddamit! What's wrong with me?!'

"My god, Ciandrei! You need to prepare! For heaven's sake! I'm the one who's panicking with you!" she yelled at Ciandrei. She walked back and forth as if she was restless.

"Alright, I am sorry! I will prepare now. Sorry, mom!" Ciandrei said and kissed her cheeks to calm her down. "Even though I dislike this idea of ​​getting married to a random guy. I won't disappoint you, mom."

Her features softened. "I am sorry, Ciandrei." Silvestra Valerio held her hand tightly. "I made sure that this guy is a good guy. He will take care of you."

"I hope so too, mom. I hope we get along."

After Ciandrei said that, she immediately got dressed. She chose a red backless dress and on her feet was a pair of stilettos. She also put make-up on her face. She thinks that her make-up is appropriate for her dress.

After Ciandrei put on make-up she took a deep breath. She didn’t expect to be really tied down that he really was. After a meeting held later, they will get married tomorrow—right! The wedding date was adjusted again! And Ciandrei is confused as heck why there's a huge rush! Civil wedding will take place tomorrow. Next up will be the grand wedding—probably next week or next month.

Ciandrei could not understand why they were in such a hurry to get married. She had no objection. The only important thing was that she didn't hurt his parents. But she hopes that she gets enlightened about the situation.

After she got dressed she immediately went downstairs. From her direction the man she was going to marry turned his back. He was wearing a black tuxedo.

"Oh! My daughter is here!" Ciandrei heard her mom giggled.

After Ciandrei came down, she first kissed her parents before glancing at the face of the man she would marry and his family. She was knocked to her feet when she recognized who they were.

'No fucking way...'

She swallowed deeply as she looked at the man. It was also staring at him.

"This is Damien Atticus Enriquez, your groom."