The Chosen Bride 1

Vlora's face turned red. Andreas' sharp words brought an indescribable sense of shame. She wanted to curse and swear, but how could she inadvertently mention Andreas' name? To make matters worse, was she swayed by that kiss?

A crooked grin still lingered on Andreas' handsome face. His eyes sparkled with an intensified charm. It seemed he took pride in the fog he successfully created in Vlora's eyes.

Andreas shifted his focus. Now it was directed at Vlora's glossy and slightly swollen lips.

There was no need to ask. Surely, that was the result of his actions.

A sense of joy spread through Andreas' mind, contrasting with what Vlora was feeling.

Ding!

Vlora and Andreas both looked towards the source of the sound. Specifically, the slowly opening elevator doors. One signal elicited two different responses from the pair of human beings.

Vlora took a deep breath, while Andreas smirked.

Unfortunately, the smirk did not last long. A moment later, Vlora pushed Andreas and quickly ran out.

Andreas stood there momentarily stunned. His thumb gently pressed against his lower lip.

A trace of red clung there. Andreas stared at the mark with meaning, and a decision was made. He ran and caught up with Vlora, who was heading towards the designated parking area.

With a short distance separating them, Andreas saw Vlora hastily approaching her black car. She took out the car keys from her bag, and Andreas only needed five large steps to reach her.

Andreas took action. His hand moved. He held the door just as its owner intended to open it.

Vlora flinched. She turned with surprise and shock upon seeing Andreas.

“Calm down. I won't kiss you again,” Andreas quickly said before Vlora could retort. “At least not for now and not in a place like this.”

Should Vlora be thankful for Andreas' honesty? Oh, it seemed not. Andreas' honesty was not in the right place. His honesty had proven to embarrass and anger her at the same time.

Vlora clenched the car door handle. She tried to contain her emotions, which became increasingly difficult to control.

“I chased after you just to tell you something. I never play around with what I say. That includes what I'm going to do.”

Vlora lost control. A scornful snort escaped uncontrollably. Andreas raised one eyebrow teasingly in response to the condescending remark.

“You? Serious?”

A wrinkle appeared on Andreas' forehead. He clearly noticed the different tone in Vlora's voice.

“Perhaps you could say the same thing to all the women who have been your lovers. If, of course, you were serious.”

Ah! Andreas was not offended at all. On the contrary, he was thinking of something else. Something that compelled him to silence Vlora with two questions.

“Tell me, Vlo. Do you know about my life all this time? Have you been finding out about me?”

Vlora fell silent. She took a deep breath, and the oxygen cleared her momentarily disarrayed mind. A smile spread across her face, and she spoke.

“I don't think that's unusual. Who doesn't know you? Especially because you often spend time with my boss. Didn't you mention several names of women who have been your lovers?”

Perhaps oxygen was not enough to unravel Vlora. It was evident. She could regain control. Unfortunately, it did not come with the decorum she should have maintained.

Strangely, Andreas felt pleased without that decorum. It felt more familiar, did not it?

Andreas grinned. “Ah! So, you overheard our conversation?”

“Just because I happened to be delivering coffee.”

“Okay, okay,” Andreas chuckled briefly. He would not ignite Vlora for something insignificant. “It's up to how you perceive it, but apparently, you were quite curious about my life. That's somewhat flattering.”

“You—”

Andreas cut off Vlora's words at the right moment. “Listen to me first. I won't be hypocritical or lie to you. As you said, yes, I have had a string of lovers.”

Vlora's face hardened. It was a signal for Andreas not to waste a single second.

“However, you need to know something. I never told them I would marry them.”

Vlora's eyes rolled lazily. She abandoned the desire to open the door now. Both hands rose in front of her chest, and she crossed them.

“So now you're trying to convince me that you're not at fault here?”

“I never thought having lovers was a mistake,” Andreas replied casually. His facial expression seemed innocent, as if he had no faults. “Listen, Vlo. It's one of my ways to enjoy life. So, where's the problem? I never forced anyone. Just like you, they knew about my life with other women. So, am I wrong?”

Lovers. Enjoying life. Not forcing anyone. Vlora could only let out a long breath.

“You…”

Vlora forced herself to smile. She also provided the conclusion Andreas wanted.

“...clearly aren't wrong.”

Andreas smirked. “I'm glad we agree.”

“Unfortunately, you're clearly wrong about something else.”

Andreas' eye movement conveyed the unspoken words. He was curious and awaited the continuation of Vlora's statement.

“You're wrong to assume that I want to be your next lover.”

Andreas's smirk slowly disappeared. That confident demeanor was replaced by a meaningful smile.

“Sorry, but I never intended to fulfill the checklist made by a man's ego. I'm too valuable to be part of your collection.”

Andreas stared at Vlora without blinking. He stood straight, unaffected.

“Besides, I hope you remember this,” Vlora continued, reaching for the car door handle again. “I never eat my own words. So, feel free to be disappointed.”

Andreas grabbed Vlora's hand. Ignoring Vlora's surprise, he leaned closer to her. Positioning himself close to Vlora's ear, he whispered softly.

“I'm not asking you to be my lover, but to be my wife. Those are clearly two different things, and I hope you understand the difference. For that reason, I also hope you remember this. I don't want to see you eating your own words.”

Andreas looked at Vlora. He could see every bit of tension in her face.

“I want to see you eat mine.”

*