CHAPTER 4

ANNA'S POV

As I approached the mansion, I noticed a black SUV parked near the entrance. A man in a suit sat inside, but no one else was there.

I wondered who he was there to see.

When I entered the mansion, I noticed Madam Angelica sitting under the peach tree with a young man I didn't recognize. I slowly made my way towards Madam Angelica and the young man.

As I got closer, I noticed they seemed to be deep in conversation, and I wondered who he was. The young man's face looked grave, and Madam Angelica's eyes were filled with concern.

When they noticed me approaching, they stopped talking and looked up at me expectantly.

I cleared my throat and asked, "Is everything okay?"

Madam Angelica looked at me with a mixture of relief and concern. "Thank goodness you're here," she said. "This man," she said, indicating the young man beside her, "wouldn't say a word until you arrived."

I was taken aback by this revelation. I took a seat, set my handbag down on the table, and sat up straight, facing the young man. I spoke without thinking, "I'm sorry, but who are you and why are you here?"

I was suddenly feeling very protective of my mother.

The man was dressed in a well-tailored black suit, and his demeanor exuded confidence, almost to the point of arrogance. There was a hint of a smile on his face, but it seemed slightly unhinged like he had just a bit too much swagger.

"My name is Kevin Beyer," he said, his smirk growing wider.

His tone was smug and patronizing, and it put me on edge. I could tell that Madam Angelica was also feeling uneasy.

He went on to say, "I am a businessman; I came back for the just concluded funeral of my late father.".

"Ok, so why are you here?" I replied in a hurry.

He clears his throat before saying, There have been rumors about this particular mansion.

It was no longer a secret that one of the neighborhood's most gorgeous mansion owners was being evicted. I had already made my inquiries before visiting.

"Ok, so why are you here?" Madame Angelica responded; I could see the sign of embarrassment and desperation in her eyes already.

"Well, so that's why I'm here to make you an offer," Kevin elaborates.

"What is the offer?" I loudly said it without hesitation. I could tell by the way he sounded that this was going to be more like the devil's offer, with something in exchange and not pure intentions.

"I'll take care of the debts and everything," he stated unexpectedly.

Madam Angelica was taken aback. She leaned forward, her eyes widening as she couldn't believe what he had just said.

Could this be a joke? Why would he be joking about something so important? I reflected on myself.

Excuse me, Mr. Kevin; what's the catch? I mean, why would you just walk up here and make a crazy offer without even understanding the amount of the debt?"

"I will take care of the debt; I don't care," Kevin responded. "But there is one condition: your daughter, Anna, must marry me." He said.

For a minute, I was unable to think. All I could hear was Kevin's voice, telling me what I needed to do. The statements appeared to reverberate in my ears, leaving no room for disagreement. I felt the beat of my heart drop into my gut. I had hoped for some sort of assistance, but not like this. How could I agree to something so unbelievable?

"I'm sorry, but I can't accept your offer," I said, my voice quivering with passion. My mother sat motionless, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"You have until tomorrow to make your decision," Kevin explained, laying a golden card on the table in front of me. He rose and headed towards the gate.

"I'll leave you to think about it."

As he left the garden for the gate, I could feel my heart hammering in my chest. I looked at my mother, who was still and expressionless.

I hurriedly left, enraged and ashamed, hurrying to my room. I attempted to correct my notion, but I was still not thinking clearly. I pulled off my clothes and entered the shower. I switched on the shower and the warm water cascaded over my body.

I closed my eyes and tried to rest, but I couldn't stop thinking about the tragedy that had just happened.

The following day, Monday, I returned to work. I got out of bed and realized I hadn't slept well.

I went to the kitchen to prepare my breakfast. As I entered the kitchen door, Madam Angelica was already preparing my breakfast, so I withdrew in quiet and sat in the dining room, attempting to ignore her presence, knowing full well that we would have to discuss the marriage proposal eventually.

Madam Angelica placed her tea on the table and stared at me sharply.

"Calm down and stop acting like a frightened kitten who's lost its mother," she stated firmly. "I've spoken to Mr. Kevin about the proposal, so be ready for your wedding - it's coming sooner than you think."

I felt my rage bubbling over as I stood in front of her, tears streaming down my face. "How could you do this?" I questioned, my voice trembling with feeling. "You understand how I feel about him! And the idea behind this marriage.

"You cannot simply marry me like that. I am not a piece of property to be exchanged! I have ambitions and emotions of my own. I will not let you toss them aside and trade me off to the rude guy.

Madam Angelica continued to listen carefully, her countenance austere and immovable. She remained still while I ranted, my emotions boiling over.

"You know how important this is for our family," she stated forcefully. "I've already consented to it, and the wedding planning is underway. I'm sorry, but it's beyond my control."

"That isn't fair," I said, my voice cracking. "I cannot marry someone I do not love, no matter how convenient it is for you. "I am not going to do it!"

I was shivering with wrath.

Madam Angelica sighed heavily, her expression intensifying. "You're being selfish, Anna," she said. "It's not just about you; it's about the entire family and the future. I understand you don't want to marry someone you don't love, but I need you to understand the importance of this decision."

I was at a breaking point. I'd always been a polite girl, following what I was taught and never challenging my family's judgment. But this time, I was willing to fight for what I wanted. My joy was too precious to sacrifice for the sake of family responsibilities.

"I won't do it," I shouted."I won't be part of this arranged marriage" I clutched my bag firmly and dashed off to work in rage.