Betrothal

STEFAN'S POV

 Mom's explanation about a betrothal between me and someone made me frown immediately.

 Ever since I began dating, all my experiences had turned into regret and nightmare for me. None of the girls I dated ever lasted with me; in just a few months—less than four—they'd be taken away from me by the claws of death.

 I had just lost Miranda, my sweet girlfriend, a few hours ago. How can it be that it was at this moment that mom was telling me I was betrothed ever since I was a child and I will be getting married to that someone soon?

 How can mom tell me to marry someone just like that when I was still mourning Miranda? Besides, didn't she care about the girl? Did she forget how all my love and relationship ended abruptly due to the fact that death and disaster were taking all my girlfriends away from me?

 I stood up with a cold expression on my face and protested. "No, Mom. I'm never getting married to someone else again nor am I going to date any girl either. So tell Mr. Johnson that he should look for another way to save his company because I and nobody will be getting married." I explained and turned to leave, but before I could take a step, my mom stood up with an angry expression on her face.

"Stop there, Stefan. How dare you walk out on me when I am talking to you? Is that how you should behave to your mother? Is that how I trained you?" She cried out in an angry voice that made me have no choice but to stop in my tracks. Even if I was a star or something, the truth is I hate making mom annoyed at me because she had raised me as a respectful person but still I couldn't help but think that this wasn't my fault. Mom knew all the strange things that's going on with me, how can she still expect me to get married?

 I turned, wanting to let out a protest "Mom, you know I do listen to you, but this..."

"You'll be getting married to her whether you like it or not! Both of you will tie the knot in less than a month." She replied in a strict voice that gave room for no hesitation. Unfortunately it made me unable to contain my anger.

"Mom, how can you talk that way? Miranda, my girlfriend for two months, had just died. Did you know how much my heart aches? How can you order me to get married to someone else on the day Miranda died? Did mom not..."

"Did you hear what you had just said? She's just a girlfriend. Only a girlfriend! I'm talking about your wife, your future wife, where does your girlfriend stand?" She replied in a strict tone that made me shake my head in disbelief. When did mom also become like this?

  I stared at mom's cold expression with disbelief and I can't help but take steps back away from her.

 I didn't know or understand what mom was doing by putting an innocent life in danger, "Mom! Did you know you're putting the girl in danger? You know all what happened to my previous girlfriends; every single one of them, where are they now? They are dead! None of them is alive! I don't have one ex alive. You should know by now that something is wrong with me, how can you endanger someone else's life? Mom, you're being unfeeling and cruel here!" I cried out angrily because I never expected mom to be like this.

 Mom should understand my pain better, how can it be that she was the one who wanted me to marry someone else at this time?

"Shut up! Don't you dare raise your voice at me, young man! And my words are final: whether you like it or not, you're marrying that girl and if you dared to run away from it, I'll have the guards lock you up in your room and force you and the girl to sign a certificate, so I'll see if you can hide away from this." She replied sharply. She had never used this voice with me. No! Mom had never been the one to force me to act against my wish, but she was doing so at this moment.

 "Mom, how can you talk that way?" I asked her with helplessness. I clenched my fist hard and tried to refrain myself from breaking down. Only if Mirabel was alive, I wouldn't have gone through this.

 Mom sighed and sat back on the chair while massaging her forehead, "I'm doing it all for you." She replied in a soft voice that made me angry.

 Doing it for me? My parents had always told me that everything they did was for him, but it was all a lie! Just like how dad had forced me to be a porn star with lies that it was all for my good.

"You're certainly not doing it for me. Not you or Dad." I angrily threw and began to make my way outside, but before I could take three steps...

"Guards lock him up. Without my order, he can't leave the house." Mom ordered in a strict voice while drinking her wine nonchalantly.

 I was angry and more done about how they were still controlling my life up to this age so I was unwilling to submit to mom's demand this time

 Mom's guard immediately charged at me in order to lock me up but I swore not to give up so I began to fight the guards but when ten of them crowded me, I lost the fight woefully.

"Lock him up in his room." Mom continued to order, which made my expression change.

 Seeing mom being strict like that, I knew I had no choice other than to follow her orders. "Stop," I yelled when the guards were about to lead me upstairs.

 I stared at mom blankly and I seemed to catch a trace of helpless glint in her eyes but it disappeared quickly. "Is it getting married, Mrs. Annabel? Then I'll get married to Mabel or whatever you call her like you want but don't blame me for whatever happened later." I replied angrily and left the mansion immediately.

"Mr. Stefan?" The driver looked at me worriedly, but when I gave him a cold glance he shut his mouth and focused on his job instead. I don't need other's sympathy nor do I love anyone poking their nose into my life matters.

"Drive to the bar." I closed my eyes and pronounced weakly.

 I let everything that happened replay in my mind, and I couldn't help being annoyed.

 Since mom wants me to marry that Mabel, then I would, but it's up to me if she has a great life in that marriage or not. Such a gold digger like that person, I'll make life hard for her!

 With that thought, I sent a text to two of his friends, Owen and George. 

"Come out to the club." I texted and closed my eyes with a sigh.

'Stefan, I won't leave you like them, trust me