Chapter 3: Running away

Nancy was done drying and combing her long, golden hair, letting it cascade behind her back. She walked out of her room and went downstairs to the living room to have dinner with her parents.

She could feel her stomach growling loudly in hunger, so she held onto the iron railing to support herself as she descended the stairs, not wanting to stumble or miss a step.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Nancy noticed some guests had arrived at her parents' home, which made her frown. She disliked how her father's mansion was designed, with the living room connected to the dining room, allowing guests to easily observe her family's affairs. She valued her privacy and hated being monitored.

Her eyes fell on a tall, handsome Black man exuding authority, standing in the living room and watching her. Nancy felt deeply uncomfortable under his intense gaze, as if he was already undressing her with his desire-filled eyes.

She quickly looked away from the man and focused on her parents, who seemed to be standing nervously in the living room.

Nancy approached her mother and asked, "Mom, is dinner not ready yet?"

Mrs. Olivia Marlon was visibly nervous, not having expected Charles to visit their home personally. She nervously responded to Nancy, "Nancy, dear, come meet your groom."

"My what?" Nancy gasped in shock, swiftly turning to face Charles. She met his captivating black gaze, which never wavered from her.

Nancy snapped out of her shock and asked her mother, "Mom, when did I get married to him?"

"You're not yet married to him, Nancy. This is Charles Alejandro, Mr. President Nolan Alejandro's only son and child, and the wedding is in two days," her mother explained.

"Two days?!" Nancy almost fainted at the news.

"Calm down, Nancy," Charles said in his deep, masculine voice, causing her to shiver.

Nancy couldn't believe she was being forced to marry him, and the wedding was in just two days. Gathering her courage, she said to him, her lips trembling, "I cannot... marry you, sir."

"Nancy!!" Her father shouted, trying to silence her.

Senator Logan warned, "Nancy! You have no right to object to this marriage. Charles Alejandro has seen many pretty young women's photos before finally choosing you. You should be grateful to become the country's future First Lady."

"No, Father! I cannot accept this marriage. I won't marry him!" Nancy cried, quickly backing away and dashing upstairs to her room, her hips swaying with her hurried steps. She reached the top floor, entered her room, and locked the door behind her.

"Nancy! Come back here!" her father called, but Nancy refused to answer, unwilling to marry Charles. She went to her bed and started crying.

"Hmm, let me go upstairs and call her back," Mrs. Olivia Marlon offered, but her husband quickly stopped her, "That won't be necessary."

Senator Logan looked at Charles and apologized, "We're truly sorry, Your Excellency. We haven't informed Nancy about the arranged marriage with you, sir."

"Hmm," Charles stood silently in the living room, staring up at the second floor, hoping Nancy would peek out and look at him. The way her hips had moved and swayed seductively had captivated him, and he doubted he could control himself if left alone with her. She was even more beautiful in person than in the photo he had.

Charles finally looked back at Nancy's parents, meeting her mother's gaze, as she resembled Nancy.

Mrs. Olivia Marlon smiled nervously and said to Charles, "Don't worry, Your Excellency. I'll go upstairs now and speak to my daughter. The wedding will still be held."

"Hmm, that's alright. I've come to welcome my bride on her return to the city. But it's obvious she doesn't want to see me. Please, give these flowers to Nancy and let her know that I truly love her and want to marry her," Charles said, handing the bouquet of rose petals to Mrs. Olivia Marlon.

Mrs. Olivia Marlon smiled, took the flowers, and stepped aside as her husband apologized again, "We are sincerely sorry, Your Excellency. Please forgive our daughter's rude behavior towards you."

"That's alright. I understand her fears, but that's not a problem. I've come to welcome her. Do send my greetings to her and let her know I want her. I must be on my way now. Goodbye, Senator Logan."

"Yes, goodbye, Your Excellency," Senator Logan escorted Charles out of the living room. The stationed security men opened and closed the car door as Charles entered his Jeep, and the three cars drove out of the Marlon residence.

++++++

Nancy stood at her room window, watching as Charles left her family's home. She couldn't believe her parents wanted to force her to marry him, a man she had never met before but had heard was notorious for his affairs with many young women, a rumored male prostitute - not the kind of husband she desired.

The sound of her room door opening jolted her back to reality, and she turned to face her parents, who had angrily entered her room.

"Nancy!! What was the meaning of that silly drama you displayed in meeting Charles Alejandro? Don't you know many young women would have joyfully accepted his proposal?" her father questioned angrily, standing beside her door and glaring at her. Her mother stood silently, holding the bouquet of roses Charles had left.

Her father yelled, "Answer me, Nancy?"

"Dad, he's not the kind of man I want. I don't love him, and that's the truth," Nancy said, breaking down in sobs. Charles Alejandro was not the type of man she wanted to marry. She desired a good man who would love her, not a cheater like Charles who wouldn't value her as his wife.

She needed to find a way to make her parents understand that she couldn't marry a man like Charles, nor become his wife.

"Love? What do you know about love, Nancy? You'll come to love Charles with time, after you're married. That's how your mother and I got married, and we're still a couple. What if you sit here waiting for a man who doesn't love you back, while you end up loving him alone?

Well, I cannot reject the Alejandro family's proposal, even though I know you'll object. They're the ones ruling the country, and they'll feel extremely insulted if you reject their only son's proposal to you! He chose you, Nancy Marlon, among all the other pretty young women's photos he must have seen. So you'll have to marry Charles, whether you like him or not."

"No, Father! I cannot marry him!" Nancy screamed, bursting into tears, unable to believe her father was forcing her to marry Charles.

Her father turned to leave her room, pausing at the door, and said to her mother, "Talk to your daughter and get her prepared for all the things she'll need to become Charles' wife. This Saturday, she'll be going to the presidential villa to live with Charles, whether she likes it or not."