Chapter 3: Love and Betrayal

“You can't escape with my touch and with my words because you'll be married to me soon, Amelia.” Raize said in a harsh tone.

His words rang in Amelia's ears, a harsh reminder of the reality she was about to face. She looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of defiance.

“Well I'm not trying to escape, Raize,” she replied, without a hunt or being afraid. “I'm well aware of our arrangement. But remember, a marriage is a partnership. We may be bound by this arrangement, but that doesn't mean I'm at your mercy.” Amelia nodded, stepping away from him.

Raize ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face.

“We will be married soon, maybe I should start treating you as my wife?” Raize starts caressing Amelia’s shoulder stiffened under his touch. Amelia's eyes meet him in a silent challenge.

“We're only married soon on papers only, Raize! Better you know, I'm not your slave.” Amelia quickly removes Raize hands. Her movements swiftly and decisively. She took a step back, putting some distance between them.

His words and actions often leave her feeling unsettled. Hence, their marriage is for the sake of their business, there was a tension between them that was hard to ignore.

Amelia found herself constantly on edge, bracing for his next outburst. His harsh demeanor was a stark contrast to the gentle man she had hoped he would be. Yet, she reminded herself, this was the man she was to marry. This was the man she needed to find common ground with.

“If we're going to make this work, Raize,” she said. We need to communicate better so our pride won't be wasted." He looked at her, his expression unreadable. “Maybe you're right, Amelia,” he said after a moment. “ But I'll never forget the things you have done to me years ago.” He hissed.

About 20 minutes later, after they had talked about their situation, Amelia went home. She felt drained, both emotionally and physically. The conversation with Raize had been difficult, but necessary. As she drives towards her home, she replayed their conversation in her head, trying to make sense of it all.

An unknown number called Amelia, “Hello, who is this?” Her voice filled with curiosity. She had just woken up from her much-needed rest when her phone rang.

There was a brief pause on the other end, then a voice she didn't recognize. “Hello, Amelia.” A deep tone of voice answered her.

Amelia sat up, surprised, washing over her. “Who are you?” Amelia couldn't help but feel afraid by the sudden influx of attention and curiosity from people she didn't even know. The unknown number on her phone screen was just another reminder of how her life was changing. She also received a note from an unknown person.

The voice on the other end of the line said, the tone harsh and threatening. Amelia felt a chill run down her spine, but she forced herself to remain calm.

“Who is this?” she asked, her voice steady.

“That doesn't matter,” the voice replied. “Just know that marrying Raize would be a big mistake.”

Amelia took a deep breath, her mind racing. “I don't know what you’ve said,”she said. “And I'm not going to back out now.”

There was a silence on the other end, then a sigh. “Remember, you've been warned.”

The call ended abruptly, leaving Amelia with a sense of unease. She didn't know who the caller was or why they were trying to scare her, but she wouldn't let them sway her resolve. She was committed to this marriage, and she wouldn't back down without a fight.

“No, mom! I wouldn't live in a Raize house unless we're married.”

Amelia explained over the phone, her tone firm yet gentle. Mr. And Mrs. Laurier is on a business trip. Her parents had been worried about her safety, given the sudden media attention and the anonymous call she had received.

“I understand your concerns, mom,” she said. But moving in with Raize before the wedding isn't the solution. We just have to take precautions to ensure my safety.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line.

“Alright, Amelia.” Her mother finally said, her voice filled with worry. "Just promise me you'll be going to tell this to Raize or perhaps I will be the one to tell him about it?” Her words are full of concern.

Amelia didn't know what to do. Their family has many competitors and the situation became even more complicated. The news had stirred up a hornet's nest, with competitors seeing it as a chance to destabilize their businesses.

“What should I do now?” Amelia murmuring herself.

Feeling overwhelmed, Amelia decided to seek counsel from her trusted confidantes. She called Lovely, her best friend who is now living in New York.

“God, what took you so long to answer your phone?” Amelia said in a stressful tone as she faced Lovely on a video chat.

Lovely doesn't have a hint why Amelia called her. She doesn't even know that her best friend will be married soon with her boyfriend years ago.

She asked Amelia, concern evident in her voice. She had known Amelia for years and could read her like an open book.

Amelia took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. “Best, I have something to tell you,” she began, her voice shaky. “I'm getting married.”

There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end of the line. “Married? But to whom?” Lovely asked, confusion lacing her words.

“To Raize,” Amelia replied, bracing herself for her friend's reaction.

“Wait, Raize? As in your ex-boyfriend Raize?” Lovely's surprise was palpable. “W-wait…when did this happen? And how?”

Amelia explained the situation, the arranged marriage, the business alliances, everything. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Surprise, confusion, concern - all these emotions washed over her.

“Amelia, are you sure about this?” Lovely asked, her voice filled with worry. “You and Raize... you had a complicated history.”

Amelia sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I know, Ly. But this isn't just about me and Raize. It's about our families, our businesses. And besides, people can change, right?”

Raize and Amelia’s relational years ago, was filled with ups and downs, misunderstandings and reconciliations. Amelia and Raize had been young and impulsive, their emotions often getting the better of them.

Their relationship had been intense, passionate, but also tumultuous. They had loved and fought with equal fervor, their strong personalities often clashing. Eventually, the strain had become too much, and they had decided to part ways.

But now, five years later, they were being brought back together by circumstances beyond their control. The thought of marrying Raize brought back a flood of memories, some sweet, some bitter.

Amelia knew it wouldn't be easy. They had a lot of past issues to resolve, a lot of hurt to heal. But she also knew that they had both grown and matured over the years. They were not the same people they were five years ago.