Chapter 1

Caroline slammed the door to her room after discovering Alexander had revisited their house. Alexander invited her on a date, and her mother quickly agreed. This was against Caroline's will as she was scared of Alexander.

"Open the door, Caroline. Alexander is here to visit!" Glenda, Caroline's mother, shouted as she knocked on the door.

"I don't want him, Mom. Yes, he's rich, but he's an addict and a psychopath. I don't want to marry him!" Caroline shouted in frustration.

Alexander Mercedez is the son of one of the wealthiest individuals in the business industry in the Philippines. He is indeed an addict and a psychopath. He has had feelings for Caroline for a long time, and he has intimidated all of Caroline's suitors. Caroline's parents and Alexander's parents found out about this, leading both families to believe that marriage between the two would be the solution to reform Alexander.

"Alexander loves you, Caroline. Can't you see that? They are wealthy, and the wealthy should be with the wealthy. The poor should be with the poor. He is willing to change for you. You will learn to love him once you become husband and wife," Caroline's mother explained, trying to convince her.

Caroline couldn't help but cry as she realized she had no way to stop her parents' wishes.

"I don't want him, Mommy! Can't you understand that? I don't like him! I want to marry someone whom I love and who loves me back! Love cannot be measured by someone's social status, Mom!" Caroline shouted, tears streaming down her face. "This is my life, and I should be the one making the decisions!"

"How dare you say that to me? Open the door before I break it down!" Glenda exclaimed, attempting to open Caroline's bedroom door. She cursed under her breath as she continued knocking on the door. "You won't get your inheritance if you don't obey me!" Glenda threatened her daughter.

"Leave me alone, Mom! Send Alexander home. I don't want to see or talk to him! I'm willing to marry someone else as long as it's not him. I don't want to be tied to someone who is addicted and dependent on his parents!" Caroline pleaded.

"I can't do that. You know I made a deal with his father, Mr. Mercedez!" Glenda revealed, her voice filled with frustration.

Caroline let out a deep sigh. She didn't know what to do to change her mother's decision. She couldn't fathom how her mother could allow her to marry a man with a history of addiction.

All Caroline wanted was to be truly loved. She had never felt any love from her parents. She obediently followed all their wishes because she was afraid of being rejected and losing her inheritance.

Caroline sat on the floor and leaned her head against the edge of the bed. She didn't know what to do. She was afraid to see Alexander.

"If you don't come out of your room, I will be forced to block all your ATM cards!" her mother threatened.

Caroline had no choice but to obey her mother. She gathered everything except her money because that was the only thing that provided her with some sense of freedom. Some say that happiness cannot be bought, but for Caroline, happiness can be bought because having money allows her to do things that bring her joy.

"I'll just freshen up," Caroline said softly.

She stormed into the bathroom to wash her face. She stared at her reflection in the large bathroom mirror and noticed that she looked flawless, even without makeup. Tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed at herself in the mirror.

"Caroline, do you know what you're going to do?" her mother repeatedly asked as soon as she stepped out of the room.

Caroline was exhausted from daily arguments with her mother, enduring sermons in the past months, and up to now. She sighed and continued down the stairs.

Her parents adored Alexander for her. She knew her parents were only after the man's family wealth. If she didn't obey her parents' wishes, she wouldn't receive her inheritance, and there was a possibility of being disowned.

"I've been telling you for so long to accept Alexander! Even from the first time he expressed interest in courting you, I don't understand why you're still hesitating!"

Caroline took a deep breath and faced her mother. "Stop it, Mom."

"Use your brain!" Glenda scolded her daughter before turning away to go to Alexander who had been waiting for Caroline.

Caroline gave Alexander a stern look and walked out of the house without looking back at her mother.

She raised an eyebrow at Alexander as the car door suddenly opened. She entered with a huff and rested her head on the car seat. She closed her eyes.

"Is that how much you hate me?" Alexander asked before starting the car engine.

Caroline didn't respond. She remained silent. Even the sound of the young man's voice frightened her.

"Where are we going?" Caroline asked when she noticed that they had already left their house.

"Where do you want to go?" Alexander asked, glancing at Caroline. She still had her eyes closed. "How about a bar?"

Caroline opened her eyes and looked at the young man. "Okay," she replied shortly and leaned her head back on the car seat.

"We're here!" Alexander said cheerfully, parking the car in front of the bar.

Caroline quickly got out of the car and walked ahead into the bar. She didn't want to be with Alexander, especially when she knew many people there.

"Wait for me!" Alexander shouted, hurrying to catch up with the young lady.

Caroline rolled her eyes and quickly withdrew her hand when she felt Alexander holding it.

"Don't touch me!" Caroline snapped at him. "Leave me alone. You know I don't like you but you keep getting closer to me!" Caroline angrily exclaimed and left Alexander behind.

Alexander had no choice but to obey the girl's words. He realized that pushing her would only push her further away. He needed high patience when dealing with Caroline. He liked Caroline, so he decided to change himself when he found out they were being set up by their parents.

Caroline sat at a table near the dance floor. She secretly watched Alexander drinking at the other table with his friends. She wanted to escape from him and leave the bar, but she was afraid he might report her to her parents. They left the house together and were supposed to go home together.

She drank a bottle of alcohol continuously before standing up and heading to the dance floor. She wanted to dance and forget all her problems. She wanted to forget what her parents were saying, hoping their decision would change.

She danced as if it were her last day. She glanced at the table where Alexander was sitting. She smiled when he turned his back and didn't look at her. Caroline joined the crowd and continued dancing. She wanted to enjoy the night and temporarily forget her problems.

She took two glasses filled with alcohol from the waiter and drank it all. "This is so good!" she whispered as she savored the taste of the alcohol.

Caroline paused in her dance when someone suddenly held her waist.

"You're a good dancer," the man whispered in her ear. She smiled when she realized it wasn't Alexander. "And... you're so hot!"

She slowly turned around to see who it was. "Thank you," Caroline softly said, placing her hands on the man's waist.

The man leaned down and looked at Caroline intently as she danced. She's so sexy while dancing. He matched every move she made.

The man's gaze lowered to Caroline's thin, red lips. Her lips were enticing, and he couldn't resist himself from kissing them.

Caroline didn't resist what the man did. It was not her first kiss, but she felt addicted to his kiss. She wanted to kiss him too.

Caroline wrapped her arms around the man's neck before he was captured by the kiss. She didn't care if Alexander saw them. She wanted to enjoy the night and now decided to give herself to someone she didn't know.

Caroline's lips parted as the man suddenly stopped kissing her. "Let's get a room," the man whispered to her and quickly pulled her away from the dance floor.

Caroline swallowed and suddenly felt nervous. But she thought that this was what she wanted to do. Despite her nerves, she still went along with the man.

The man supported her as they walked because she was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol. He still had his hand on her waist. She couldn't help but smile. She was afraid of Alexander's touch, someone she had known for a long time, but she wasn't afraid to go with this man whom she had just met.

"Let's go straight to my condo," Caroline said after the man started the car engine.

"Are you sure?" the man asked, and Caroline immediately nodded. "Where is your condo?" the man asked her huskily.

"Can I drive?" Caroline asked him. The man didn't answer her immediately. "Don't worry. I'm not drunk. I can still drive," she assured him.

The man smiled and planted another kiss on her lips. "It's a no, baby. Just tell me where your condo is, and we'll go there."

Caroline bit her lip before pointing out the way to her condo.

"What's your name?" Caroline asked, unable to contain her curiosity as they neared her condo.

"I'm Miguel, and you?"

"Caroline."

Miguel glanced at Caroline. "Your name is as beautiful as you are," Miguel said, then returned his gaze to the road.

Caroline smiled secretly. That was not new to her ears. She knew she was attractive.