Prologue

—Valerie Wills—

“I will not marry that old man, dad!” I said, yelling, trying to convince my father.

We are currently having our dinner. My father is twitching his pasta with the golden fork in his hand.

“We are not discussing this anymore, Valerie. You are going to marry him because that is necessary,” dad said in a calm tone.

I throw my stare at my mother who is currently eating her vegetables salad. He just gave me a blank face, meaning she will not be going to help me out of this situation.

"I am not marrying him!"

"You will! You must," he said.

“Dad, he's old enough for me. I am still young. I just graduated from my baccalaureate degree. Now, I am going to marry? It's quite funny! No! It's hilarious!”

Dad continually being the coldest man on Earth. He didn't even think that this matter was concerning me and the rest of my life.

“It doesn't matter now, Val. Age is just a number. Maybe he's old enough compared to you. But at the end of the day it's his money that matters.”

“You're just making me think that I am not valuable to you, dad,” I said, removing the napkin placed on my chest.

“And where do you think you are going, Val? Don't be disrespectful. Everything about this marriage is always concerning you and your future.” Dad was quite serious. I stopped lifting my ass and put it down again.

“Dad…”

“Val, I and your mom talked about this. This is really for you. And you will never understand this now. But hopefully, you will understand this in the future.”

“How could this be concerning me? It's making my life a total nest of sadness. I don't want to live my marriage with someone I don't love, dad.”

My mom cleared her throat.

“Valerie, I and your dad are both getting old. You are young, you should have a lot of possessions and you should live a wealthy life after we leave.”

I rolled my eyes. I don't know what to do anymore.

“Mom, if you are doing this because you think that I don't have a plan to work and earn, please, stop. I am reading my application papers and make it ready to be submitted in every company I know. Perhaps, I can enter your company as a financial—”

“You are not going to live a life, working all day. You are destined to marry Eldifonso Suarez.”

I closed my eyes. Slowly, I let go of the warm air.

Eldifonso Suarez is rumoured as the top businessman in the whole Asia. He owns airlines, ships, buildings, resorts, restaurants, event centers, and arenas where celebrities are having concerts.

“Dad, I can't. I haven't seen his face.”

I am not being judgemental but it is unimaginable to marry a man I haven't seen.

“Like age, physical appearance doesn't matter nowadays.”

“Have you seen him? Have you met him?”

“No one does, Val,” mom answered.

I covered my face with both of my palms. It's depressing me. I can't handle things like this.

“Then how on Earth did you declare marriage with him? We didn't know if he likes me or someone who is a con will pretend to be Eldifonso Suarez and take me away and kill me.”

“You better finish your dinner. You will attend a masquerade ball, right? Mister Suarez is said to be coming in that ball. His assistant sent an email. He said that you should wear this diamond ring,” mom said.

This is really unbelievable.

My parents were doing this for a long time. I feel groomed by my own parents. They took care of me for a long time and made the most beautiful lady out of my innocence, and made me marry a man they haven't met themselves.

“No more chit chat, Val. Make it quick. I heard that it is important to have time management if you are going to marry Eldifonso.”

My parents left me with no choice.

After dinner I went to my room and fixed myself.

I am wearing a black, silky, and soft long gown. My back was revealed. I took the diamond ring that Eldifonso said I should wear.

Holding tight to my LV wallet and the silver mask, I am walking down the stairs. My parents were waiting for me.

“Oh, lovely. You look like a flower in the midst of the night, Val.”

Dad was always praising me. But he was treating me like a good business. Certainly, he was in to this marriage because of money.

If it is only me who decides. I would prefer to look for a man that is my taste, I love, and no money or business involved in our marriage.

“My daughter has grown up to be the most beautiful woman in this country,” mom said with her eyes starting to gather tears in their corners.

A sudden smile flashed before their eyes.

“I have to go,” I said.

“Be well, Val.”

“Enjoy, love,” said my mom.

I walked abruptly off outside our mansion.

I don't get my parents. We were wealthy, stable, and fancy. But they were both eager to get more possessions, connections, and widen their names in the field of business.

Maybe, they really can't find contentment in the things that we have. Even though they might lose me all the way, it doesn't matter to them.

The van was waiting for me to enter. I also stumbled because of my high heels.

I sat quietly while the driver drove fast.

When we arrived at the hall. Two men were waiting for me.

The door opened so I stepped out.

“Miss Valerie Wills?”

I showed them the ring I wore and they nodded at me.

We walked in the altar where many masked people were standing, dancing, and chit chatting.

They brought me to the room where everything is red. A few white curtains added taste to the surrounding.

“We will leave you here,” said the man on the left.

The other man pulled the chair and he assisted me until my butt kissed the chair.

“Take your seat, Miss Valerie.”

I did.

They really left me here alone.

I rolled my eyes for the nth time because until now he was still not around.

The audacity of him controlling others' time and movement while he couldn't submit to his own words.

I got chills when I heard how the door made a sound as it opened. I really wanted to move my head and turned to face the door. But there's a force controlling me, making me steady looking at one corner.

The sound of his steps ruled over the room. I suddenly closed my eyes and I almost lost control of my weight because of his smell.

His aroma was corrupting every corner of this room. It was strong as his posture, not reactant as a warrior, and uncontrollable as the Jordan River.

“It's my pleasure to meet you, Miss Wills,” his masculine, cold and husky voice said, trying to swim in the depths of my bones.

My jaw dropped when this man made me feel stiffened. This was unusual for me. Even if it were my parents, they couldn't make me tongue-tied. But this man with a half faced mask. He literally makes me want to be obscured.