1. Agreements and Lies.

Chapter 1 Agreements and Lies.

 

Mr. Leblanc is on the phone, anxious in a heated conversation with a Campbell, one of the most influential men in the state. He could have been one of the most influential men himself if it weren't for the Leblanc family, the family to which Elizabeth belongs—the only family considered the most powerful and influential in the city.

 

"I just ask for a little more patience," pleaded Zeus Leblanc, concerned.

 

"You said we should marry when she turned eighteen, but four years have passed since then. How can you expect me to wait so long? You're not keeping the agreement you promised me. Is this something the Leblanc family does?"

 

"Mr. Campbell, I know we've made you wait longer than usual, but... our daughter has been struggling a lot with the idea of marriage. I want her to accept it willingly. Elizabeth has become a remarkable woman whom you won't regret marrying."

 

Campbell sighed heavily, showing dissatisfaction.

 

"I'm a mature man..." He smiled casually. "I'm not going to play tag with your daughter. If you want to wait for her goodwill, it's your problem. I've waited so long; do you think it's fair? I've spent four years alone because of a woman who's playing games? I'm sticking to the agreement, but I'm reaching my limit."

 

"Alright, let's do this: I know I can convince her in at least two weeks. Just give me a little more time. But... if during this period you're already with someone else, I'll take the blame, and we'll sign the business agreement without the need for marriage."

 

"That's what I want. We're losing money waiting for this cursed marriage. We could be great now. I know you're at the top, but I know it's not just me who'll benefit from this business union. It's time for the Campbells and Leblancs to become one."

 

"You're right?" He reluctantly agreed before ending the call. "Elizabeth..." He grumbled annoyed, then made another call. "Get evidence as quickly as possible. I want this man away from my daughter as soon as possible."

 

"Yes, sir, the investigations are ongoing, and I can already tell you the news might be encouraging for you," the investigator informed before ending the call.

 

Meanwhile, magnate Campbell became excited. After Zeus allowed him to marry, he was willing to find a fake wife to avoid marrying Elizabeth. It had been four years since he was forced to wait for his union with Elizabeth, even though it was a loveless relationship; he wanted it for economic purposes.

 

Even though they were promised to each other, he never knew what Elizabeth was like, nor did Elizabeth know who the man she was promised to was. Despite investigating and prying into her father's things, she couldn't find a photo or any information; the man remained shrouded in mystery.

 

Elizabeth meticulously dressed herself in front of the mirror. She knew how much her mother hated her new way of dressing, but that day, she was determined to please her family and show them she would leave behind her simple life and return to her natural position as one of the billionaire heiresses of the Leblancs.

 

As the youngest daughter, she was lucky to have two older brothers who protected her fiercely, which allowed her to do as she pleased. However, that day, she was determined to convince her parents and submit to whatever they wanted once they accepted her marriage to Taylor Campbell, the son of a family also quite famous in the city, albeit smaller than the powerful Leblanc family.

 

"Elizabeth is driving us crazy with this relationship. When will you finally play your final card and end this?" Eliza Leblanc asked while her husband kept a cold stare on his cellphone, receiving some files.

 

"It's all right, Elizabeth is coming. I have a plan to put an end to their relationship once and for all."

 

Eliza sat silently, waiting for what her husband intended to do. Elizabeth, their youngest daughter, was also the most complicated in terms of obedience. For four years, she had been finding excuses not to marry the man she was promised to.

 

She persistently tried to convince her parents that he was a good man, but ever since she mentioned he belonged to the second richest family in the state, they began investigating the young man, and the results were startling.

 

Since Elizabeth revealed that Taylor was from the Campbell family, her father started to investigate. For some reason, despite knowing the Campbell family well, he didn't know the young Taylor. Elizabeth was so certain he would accept her marriage, but to him, something was still very wrong. During the time he delayed his daughter's response, to his surprise, the young man was a member of the Campbell family, but only the son of the man who married the true Campbell heiress, a man without a surname who gained prestige by marrying Aloury Campbell. However, upon further investigation, he discovered that this man had been married twice: first to Aloury's deceased older sister and then he seduced the younger sister and married her. This made Elizabeth's father suspicious that this man was merely seeking power within the Campbell family, and automatically he didn't trust his illegitimate son, who was not of Campbell blood.

 

The lawyer notified him that he would send all the files from months back, but what caught his attention were the recent photos from that day. The tall and elegant man exuding authority now smiled casually as he passed each image, revealing Taylor's true intention with Elizabeth.

 

"You know... I'm glad to know this will end sooner than I planned. I was tired of dealing with Elizabeth. Even after experiencing the downside of life, she remains naive, believing in anyone. And she just proved once again that if it's not us protecting her, she'll end up sinking into disgrace," he asserted with a tight voice.

 

"Is it that serious?" Eliza asked.

 

"See for yourself!" he ordered, handing her the phone.

 

Eliza covered her mouth, skeptical of what she saw in the photos, while Zeus felt relieved and ready to destroy the man who dared to toy with his daughter.

 

"Father, mother!" Elizabeth stumbled into the room, already dressed up.

 

This time, her mother didn't wrinkle her nose at her appearance. She was dressed as befitting a billionaire heiress. Since she was sixteen, Elizabeth hadn't behaved like an heiress. She had slipped into her nanny's house and pretended to be a poor girl.

 

"We've made a decision, dear," her father announced kindly, going to greet her. The girl's large topaz eyes desperately pleaded for a drop of hope, for any good news.

 

"Please say you'll accept, please!" she begged anxiously, hands clasped in front of her chin, in supplication.

 

"With a condition, we want to make a decision, but you'll have to bring him here... today still, it's almost lunchtime. We want both of you here so we can have a first family moment."

 

Elizabeth vibrated with joy but restrained herself.

 

"Alright!" she agreed without delay, leaving her father's room.

 

"What... exactly are you going to do? I thought you'd show her the photos," Eliza said.

 

Zeus smiled mischievously.

 

"As if you don't know your daughter. It's easier for her to accuse us and say we're deceiving her and plotting against her boyfriend. Just wait a few minutes;

 

 she'll see with her own eyes," he announced calmly, sitting in the armchair, eyes on the clock, counting each second while waiting for Elizabeth to leave and be close enough for him to send the photos.