Nicole's POVThis is a very happy day for me.I've put on a white dress, a veil of the same color neatly attached to my head, and all the decorations that complete my appearance today. Everything is really beautiful and natural.I had deliberately arranged this beforehand, not wanting to over-decorate myself and not wearing too much jewelry from head to toe because I wanted to make my marriage with that man more meaningful.My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my body. The beating felt too incredible because I still hadn't expected this moment to come.Almost a year ago, I was still hating the man who was going to marry me, planning and carrying out revenge after I had recovered somewhat from the horrible incident that happened to me. I didn't think I would ever recover, nor did I think of it as a thing of the past, but in the end, the opposite happened.I now have a family, a child, and a future husband to marry. Everyone approved of my relationship with Chris. Congratulati
Catherine's POVMy life has always been comfortable. I could get anything from the people around me because I grew up as a beautiful and kind girl. Everyone loved me, and it wasn't hard to get them interested in me, even if they met for the first time.They saw me as friendly, cheerful, and not difficult to approach. There was nothing imperfect in my life; I had all the things that most people wanted. That's how most people who had only seen me or exchanged pleasantries with me once in a while judged me.In reality, that's not true.My family is made up of hardened people. The Varma family. A long-established family with ancient rules underlying our family's existence. While other families have begun to blend in with modern life, that is not the case in my family.As a woman, no one in my family of that gender was allowed to wear pants. It was against our family law. Only men could wear pants, and the other female family members had to dress modestly like a lady in accordance with the
Catherine's POV"What are you going to do after this, Cath?" Benny asked.He approached me in the class that had just ended. Most other students had already left, moved on to different courses, or taken a break, so he and I were here. Classes moved quite quickly because there was limited time in between, and the rooms were only sometimes close to each other.I was just about to clean up my binder and other equipment so I could put them in my bag, but I looked at my watch for a moment before turning to him.He seemed to be watching me as I spoke. "Hm, I have to go to another class after this.""Is your schedule empty after that?" the man asked again, his eyes looking a little hopeful.I shook my head. "I have to get together with my group to talk about the assignment. Each of us has so many ideas that we'll inevitably have to choose one by majority vote."The assignment wasn't difficult since I got into the major I really wanted, and my groupmates were also excited, but I wasn't the on
Catherine's POVI was eating with Benny, but I had been thinking about something else. I was reminded of what my father had said a few days ago before I left for my first day of college when we had breakfast together at the dining table.His face looked hard, looking at me coldly as usual. "Benny is the best future husband you can get, Catherine. You should feel lucky because it's not easy to find another man like him."He explained Benny's advantages, which I already knew well. At the same time, I was forced to put down the cutlery to conform to our family rules when my parents were talking. I could only listen and stare at him for as long as I could."Not only that, you should also feel grateful to Dad. He was the one who invited you to the party a few years ago so that you could meet him."I nodded, thanking him softly as he wished.It was true that my first meeting with Benny was at the party my father had talked about, not at school. The party was attended by various extended fam
Catherine's POVI had breakfast with my sister, mom and dad. My father was at the head of the table, my mother was on his left side, I was next to my mother, while my sister was on my father's right side. During the quiet breakfast, I could feel my father's gaze for a few moments before his call sounded."Catherine." He called me in a cold, piercing tone. "You mustn't forget to invite Benny Thompson here. You should get closer to him, especially since that young man seems to have an interest in you."The man stated what I already knew and had said before about Benny. I was also impressed by how the background of the man who had long been a friend felt like family to me, rather than all of them who felt like strangers in my life.He was still talking while I was still trying to chew the food slowly, but the inside of my mouth was surprisingly dry, and my food felt hard to swallow. I always felt like this when my father reminded me of his interest in marrying me off to Benny.I was like
Catherine's POV"Why did you do something like that?" I asked the man who was walking with me.He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, helping me calm down after the way he treated me a moment ago. I was really startled by the sound of the horn coming from his car, and then I saw the man's car waiting in front of the house.Benny admitted that he had been waiting for me to leave the house since earlier, but I didn't realize it. Naturally, he didn't tell me at all. I didn't pay attention to my surroundings because I was still thinking about what my father said about him a moment ago.The man looked at me. "I've called you several times, but you didn't hear me at all, Cath. I didn't know you could be that surprised.""Oh, yes...." I shook my head. I didn't hear his voice at all, so I must have completely lost my focus earlier. "I didn't hear you at all."He nodded, rubbing my shoulder for a moment before releasing his shoulder hug. "I'm sorry. You must have been very surprised...."I nod
Catherine's POVI was startled when I saw the man's brown eyes, which looked both deep and sparkling beautifully. I could see the twinkling look in his eyes even though there was no particular expression on the man's face.It was the first time in my life that I had seen someone's eyes that clear. The man's hair was also brunette in colour, which seemed to complement his casual but neat appearance, like that of a model student at school.This was the first time I met the man in front of me, but strangely, I felt like I had already seen him on another day. I don't know when and where, but I'm sure that his face is something I've seen before.I didn't think about it further, already coming back from my fixation on his eyes and noticing that his expression and attitude were very different from my assessment of the man's facial features that suited my taste.I grunted, standing up to face him directly and glaring at him as sharply as I could. "Why don't you help me? Isn't helping someone
Catherine's POV "What's with your expression?" Benny asked when we met. I looked at him for a moment before averting my gaze again. "Ah, I had a chance encounter with that annoying person earlier." "Hm.... I see." He muttered under his breath. "You don't need to think about that annoying person. Let it go, someone like that is not important to think about for too long." I nodded. "Yes, you're right. I really don't want to keep thinking about him." That man did have beautiful eyes and quite an interesting mindset, but thinking about the attitude of the man whose name I didn't know to me still felt annoying. I was silent for a few moments, still unable to get the man out of my mind before looking at Benny. "Ben, I have something to ask you." I finally spoke again. He gave me a curious look. "About what? You can ask it directly." "If I'm not mistaken, a few days ago you talked to a guy, right? Do you know anything about that guy? Like his name or major maybe." The man who had bee
Edwin's POVI didn't realize that loving someone would make me feel things I didn't know. Although my first encounter with Catherine was not good, it still left a deep impression on me.She was just an innocent woman who knew little about the world around her, even worse than me, who had always received a private education before deciding to attend a public university.However, the more I got to know her and talked to her, the more I found out that she wasn't just a spoiled child from a rich family. She had her own difficulties and realized that she couldn't just stand by and accept the injustices that were always said in favor of her family.We also became friends in the end, but something went wrong.I didn't have a problem with it at all. In fact, I liked it a lot. That woman had a lot of eyes around her, who noticed her and were obviously interested in her from a mild level to infatuation, just like her best friend.Although I didn't really understand the concept of love or anythi
Benny's POVI was very surprised to hear that Catherine would marry Edwin. Her father had rejected the proposal letter sent by my father a while ago, so I called her immediately."Yes, I'm going to marry Edwin, Benny." She answered without hiding anything else.I was silent for a long time, unable to believe what I was hearing even though Catherine had admitted it herself. She didn't seem to realize what I was feeling until she started telling me what had happened.My frown deepened as she told me, unable to contain my shock about what had happened to her. The fact that the woman I liked was pregnant with a man who had been hanging out with us for the past few days, making friends as usual.The man didn't show that their relationship had changed, but the truth was more than I could have imagined. The threat that I felt from Edwin finally came true. He usurped my position to be the only man who could be by her side.In the end, the relationship I tried so hard to build with Catherine m
Catherine's POV"Wow, you really made my parents speechless, Edwin."I praised him, feeling a little amazed by the man who could make me look at my father, who could only be silent without being able to do anything. My mother also looked very surprised and watched the man stunned, but still, my father's reaction was the best thing I had ever seen.No one had ever rivaled him, not even Daniel. My father only relented or made compromises regarding my brother, unlike when dealing with Edwin, who seemed to have slapped him to reality.We were already outside my house. I had deliberately escorted him to the residence fence because I didn't want to be with my parents and still wanted to chat with the man who had caused such a stir inside our house.The man snorted softly. "I know someone like your father. He wouldn't dare to contradict someone like me."I nodded, remembering my father's face, which could only harden, but I could not say anything. After all, Edwin's family was far more impor
Catherine's POV"I am happy for your relationship, Catherine and Young Master Duncan, " my father said with a disgusting smile. I had no idea that we would become a family so soon."He laughed to himself while I felt increasingly uncomfortable with the old man's increasingly blatant attitude. My father did not hide his pleasure at all with what Edwin and I had said today after my examination at the hospital.My gaze fell on the man sitting next to me. He still looked calm, giving me a quick glance as he reached out to take one of my hands. This made me feel less alone among my greedy family members.My father still maintained a smile, looking at Edwin and me in turn. "The relationship between you two should be kept a secret immediately so as not to cause any inconvenience to Young Master, don't you think?" He looked at the man and then at me with a faint smile."You are very clever, Catherine." His gaze pierced me. "You've managed to find a wonderful future husband for our family."I
Catherine's POVI was shocked by the man's words and looked at him. I liked him, but I wasn't sure about his feelings for me after finding out I was pregnant. After all, his sweet treatment back then and our current situation are different things.I swallowed my saliva and nodded. "Yes, Duncan. This baby is your son."I shifted my gaze in another direction. The man was probably angry. We had done it that time with the same desire, sharing the warmth of an intimate activity I had never experienced before. Still, it would be to my detriment if he was like any other man.He might turn out to be selfish and not care about me anymore after sleeping with me. I've heard several times from my friends that when a woman gets pregnant during a one-night stand, she has only two options. Keep the baby with no one or abort it and experience pain for who knows how long.Neither is good, and I don't want to go through it alone.One thing's for sure: in most of the stories I've heard, the man who spen
Catherine's POVWe arrived at a nice hospital, but I felt uneasy. I didn't feel dizzy anymore and was able to walk well, but Edwin was still holding me as if he was afraid I would falter again like before we arrived at this place.I looked at the man walking next to me. "I don't need treatment, Duncan. I'm already fine.""You can't." He shook his head without looking at me. "The doctor should at least check on your sudden limp while walking. He can prescribe medicine for you later."I exhaled, feeling his hand around my shoulder getting tighter, as well as his other hand clasping mine. I felt like I was getting too much attention to the point of feeling uncomfortable, but I was still grateful that he seemed genuinely worried about me."Alright.... I'll do it." I finally said.He nodded.This was my first time in a public hospital so being here felt quite strange. There were a lot of people and most of the people waiting around us were some women who looked pregnant or with their part
Catherine's POVMy life became more enjoyable after opening up to my two friends again. We often hung out together, spending time like the days before and sometimes joined Benny's friends who were quite friendly.After the closeness between the two men, people assumed that Edwin and Benny were inseparable friends. They often walked together, joined the same activities and organizations and were both in the spotlight among other students.It was a natural thing. Not only were their attitudes and personalities polar opposites, but the two men both came from prominent families and owned businesses that they would continue as the only sons of their respective families.They also had brilliant achievements in their respective majors, as well as good looks that were loved by many female students around campus, be it seniors or juniors."I like Edwin Duncan, he's very cold and handsome...." A woman said with a soft sigh.Her friend had a different response. "I prefer Benny Thompson. He's fri
Catherine's POVI entered the lecture again but avoided Edwin and Benny, who were trying hard to get close to me. Both men seemed equally stubborn in saying hello and being nice to me, even though I was always cold to them.They invite me to lunch, but I walk past them, accompanying them to read or study in the library. Then I moved further away and only had one seat, and then I just walked alone to my class.I actually don't mind being alone for now. There were too many thoughts swirling in my head, and my father warned me not to do anything wrong if I still wanted to go to college. A few days ago, my words made me a rebellious child, not something that did me justice.I regretted it a little, but I also couldn't deny that I had managed to say most of the things I had wanted to say a long time ago. Even if they didn't care at all, the important thing was that I didn't just keep those words bottled up inside me."This is tiring," I complained in a low voice.Sarah sighed next to me. "
Catherine's POVAfter hearing my words, I could see my father's gaze become sharper. I felt a little scared, but then I emboldened myself by returning his gaze more boldly.He frowned, still looking at me with his sharp gaze. "What do you mean?""I don't want to get married, Father," I said the meaning of my words more clearly, trying not to tremble in front of him. "Do you think I live only to get married for the sake of this family? If it's not with the man of Father's choice, I'll still be passed on to another man who doesn't fully match my wishes. I don't want to."There are still many things I can do even without getting married. I wanted to determine my life, like the women who weren't bound by the Varma family's nonsensical rules.They could do whatever they wanted, have fun, study, or whatever they wanted for their own future, without worrying about finding a husband who would be helpful to their family.Even if I don't get married, it doesn't mean I can't continue my life wel