2| Last Wish

Sianna's POV

"I'm not going to marry him, Dad."

I made it clear to my father that I will not marry that ruthless, arrogant, cold-hearted, self-centered, chauvinistic, egomaniacal, pompous narcissist.

"But, Sia, why?" With a broken heart, my father inquired.

"Because I hat...." "I mean, I don't like him, dad," 

"But the two of you used to be best friends, and you wanted to spend every minute, every second with each other. Remember how difficult it was to separate you two?" With a glimmer of hope in his eyes, he inquired.

"Yes, we were friends until I was 10 and he was 14, but everything changed the day he left the country to study abroad. We were kids who couldn't understand anything except games at the time, and now we're adults who are polar opposites."

When we were kids, we used to pretend to be couples and play house. He was very possessive of me back then, and he never allowed me to marry or date another boy. He acted as my bodyguard, shielding me from all threats and pushing away the boys who tried to befriend me. He kept me safe in his cocoon, away from the world's misfortunes.

But everything has changed now. He left the country when he was fourteen to further his education; after all, he was the son of the world's richest man, and now he is the sole owner of that fortune.

He is the wealthiest person on the planet, and his wealth has taken its toll on his mind. Even his name contains the word "Rich," and he enjoys it when people refer to him as "Lion," as his surname contains the word "lion."

Mr. Aldrich Lionel

This is what his name is!

When he returned after finishing his studies, he was no longer the same person who had been my friend, Richie.

He has become so cold and stone-hearted that he is unconcerned about anyone else's suffering. All emotions are absent from his heart. He is only concerned with himself, his money, and his name.

I started working for his father's company about a year ago. Previously, I worked as a librarian to help pay for my college tuition and my father's medical expenses. After finishing my education, I went to work for his father's company. I was walking down the street with a cup of hot coffee in my hand when I collided with a pillar, the coffee spilled all over my thighs, and my skin was burning like hell. I looked up to see Aldrich Lionel, the son of our company's CEO, standing there.

He looked at me as if it were all my fault, checked his most expensive suit for any coffee stains, and then walked away without apologizing or helping me in any way.

He has never attempted to contact me or communicate with me in any way. He appears to have completely forgotten about me. He acts as if I didn't exist in this world.

I began to despise him after that incident. He uses people with fewer resources as stepping stones to the pinnacle of prosperity, and when he's finished, he crushes them under his feet.

Only the fittest must survive, according to his theory, and the fittest is the one with money, name, and fame. The rest of humanity is simply designed to serve the fittest. This is the thing that makes me dislike him even more.

He despises poor people, and I despise rich people like him!

"Sia... Sia... are you even paying attention to me?"

My train of thought was broken when Dad shook my hand.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I was distracted."

When someone uses his name, his thoughts take over, rage cripples my veins, blood rushes to my brain, and I forget everything.

"So I was saying that I know you two are totally opposite, but remember that opposites attract," he smiled, trying to draw me into his words.

"No, dad, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to marry him no matter what. It is a matter of life and death. How can we possibly live together if we don't even like each other?"

"What's the big deal? Not every marriage is a love marriage!" He is clearly not ready to comprehend what I am saying "We barely knew each other when I was married to your mother. Ours was an arranged marriage, but love blossomed after we were married, and I loved your mother so much that after her death, my soul became restless, and my heart wrenched so badly that it now suffers from heart disease," he chuckled, "but I am happy that soon I will meet my love." "His eyes glistened with moisture.

"Dad..." tears welled up in my eyes. I dislike it when he brings up the subject of death.

"Sia, you must now accept the fact that your father will not live long. I only have six months "He revealed the truth to me.

I opened my mouth to ask him not to talk about it, but he cut me off, and I closed my mouth without saying anything.

"Ignoring this topic, Sia, will not change the reality; it is better for you to accept this truth as soon as possible. I'm on my deathbed, and every night I go to sleep thinking this is my last day of life."

He attempted to sit up and grab my hand, but I stopped him, made him lie back on the bed, and moved my hands forward, and he immediately wrapped his hands around the back of my palms.

"Sia, you are my one and only child, my heart, soul, and the most important part of my life. How can I abandon you? You get sick so easily, and I know you'll become even more careless after I'm gone. I want you to settle down, get married, and start your life as soon as possible. I don't get to play with my grandchildren, but I want to see you happy before my eyes close for good "Tears welled up in his eyes as well, but he tried to hide them with a smile on his lips.

"But there's no guarantee I'll live happily ever after with him," I told him the truth.

"I am confident he will keep you happy."

"How?"

"Sia, he is the wealthiest person in the world and you are asking how? With that money, he can buy you the entire world's happiness. All of your difficulties will be resolved."

"Dad, you already know that I want to marry a man who loves and cherishes me. Aldrich's desire for money is so strong that he will never love me. In fact, he can never love anyone because he does not understand the true meaning of love. He has a heart of stone. The only thing he desires in life is money, money, and more money."

"This is not correct. You have failed to understand him. "He is a good man with everything, you just have to seep into his heart and you will know that," he paused and continued when I didn't respond "For you, I can never find a better suitor than him," his eyes welled up with tears "Will you not fulfill your father's last wish?" Do you not wish for your father's soul to rest in peace?"

"Da.... ad," I stumbled, my chin quivering.

In the family name, I only have him. My heart wrenches whenever he talks of leaving me forever.

"I can not leave you alone,who will take care of you after me?"

"You're forgetting Sia; I've been admitted to the hospital and will most likely die here. How much longer will you struggle in your life alone? You are welcome to come and meet me wherever you want after we marry "He cracked a grin.

"I... I can't," I said, looking down to hide my tears.

"This is my final wish. Aldrich, please marry me. I know your points of view, your way of life, and your thinking are diametrically opposed, but I have faith in you two to make it happen because you two are" he squeezed my hands a little tighter "MADE FOR EACH OTHER.""

"Dad, please..." I asked him once more.

"Please, Sia," he almost begged to persuade me.

Oh, my God! So, what should I do next?

Neither I want to marry that jerk nor I have enough courage to deny my father's last wish.