Ch7 - "My Queen"

Mariane woke up when she felt something wet on her hand. While holding it caused his forehead to furrow. When Mariane opened her eyes, she saw the person who caused her hand to get wet. Anastacia held her hands while silently crying.

“Mom? Why are you crying?” Mariane asked. She sat up on her bed and wiped her mother’s tears.

Anastacia sniffed. “N-nothing.” Anastacia’s voice broke.

“It’s just that… Today, you’ll be marrying a stranger. You can not blame me for worrying you. What if he’ll mistreat you? What if he’ll abuse you?” Anastacia stated.

Mariane heaved a sigh. “Mom… You already knew me. Did I let them bully me?” she asked, which made Anastacia shake her head. “So, you don’t have to worry about me. I can take care of myself.” Mariane reassures her mother that nothing will happen to her.

***

On the other hand, David woke up early to prepare for his reunion with Mariane. He was eating his breakfast while reading the file with a piece of information about the person Mariane wanted him to find.

As they discussed, David looked for the man who abused Mariane's mother, Anastacia. He found out that the man who ruined Anastacia's life had been dead for a long time. His name was Andrew Morgan.

‘I think this will be okay. Mariane will accept her father’s death.’ David thought while he looked at the folder that had Andrew’s details.

In just one snap, his secretary, George, came. “Master,” George informed him of his arrival. 

“Is the ring that I ordered ready? Tell our servants to clean the house, especially my room, and make sure they will spare enough space for Mariane’s clothes next to my wardrobe. And tell them that the Queen will arrive later. Also, prepare our men. We will go to Mariane’s house to pick her up.” David ordered.

George excused himself and did as David had told him to do. He informed the servants about the arrival of the Queen in the mansion. Then, he went to the barracks and called their men to prepare.

After fifteen minutes, David finished his breakfast. He immediately went to the garage, where his men were waiting for him.

“Let’s go,” he ordered them.

In just two hours, David and his men arrived at the street where Mariane and her parents lived. The people in Mariane’s neighborhood couldn’t help but look at them with complete curiosity. They wondered why many cars came to their place with men in black suits on board. They were also wondering who will they came to visit in their area.

Later, the men in black suits formed two lanes, as if they were blocking both sides, where David would pass through. George opened the back passenger seat, and David came out of the car, making the people gasp.

“Is that… David Cruz?”

“What is he doing here?”

“Who will he pay a visit for?”

People keep gossiping about the newcomer. And they followed him through their gaze, in which house he would go. People were surprised when David stopped by in front of Mariane’s house.

“They went to Diego’s house?” 

“What will they do there?”

“Will see later. I can’t wait to go to Anastacia later and ask why the famous businessman came to their house.”

George and David heard others kept on gossiping, but they just let them talk and be curious.

George knocked on the door for his boss. Anastacia welcomed them and opened the door wide so David could go inside.

“Good morning, Mr. Cruz.” Anastacia greeted him.

“Good morning, Mrs. Ramos. I came here to pick up your daughter.” He informed her.

Anastacia smiled weakly. “I know. But may I have a word with you for a second?” Anastacia asked as she looked at David awkwardly.

“Sure, madam. What is it that you want to talk about?” he asked.

Anastacia turned her gaze to George, who was standing next to David, before looking back at David. “I mean… If it’s okay, just the two of us.”

David signaled George to wait for them outside, and so George went out of the house.

“I know this was too sudden… And we only know you because we see you sometimes on tv. I honestly don't know what and who you are. I don't know if I can trust you with my daughter.” Anastacia took a deep breath.

“But as a mother of Mariane, I will ask you not to hurt my daughter. Either physically or emotionally. Mariane has been through a lot. All her life, she was looking for the protection and love of a father. All her life, Mariane did not show her weakness. Instead, she always keeps being strong and brave for me. But I know my daughter. She’s vulnerable like any other girl. Mariane has the purest heart, so I hope you take good care of her.” Anastacia asked a favor to David.

“Don’t worry, ma’am. I will treat your daughter as my Queen.” David promised.

After the conversation between Anastacia and David, Mariane came out of their room with her luggage. She looked at the two people sitting in the living room with a frown.

‘Are they talking about me? Why did they become silent after I came out of our room?’ she wondered. But later on, she shrugged her thoughts away. ‘Whatever it is, I hope he did not threathen my mom.’ She thought.

“Don’t bring so many clothes,” David told her, which made Mariane’s brows furrow.

“Why?” she asked.

“We will stop by at the mall later. I will buy you new ones.” He informed her.

But Mariane shook her head. “NO! I don’t want you to buy clothes for me. I have enough clothes. And I can buy it on my own if I have to.” Mariane refused.

David shrugged. “Alright, then… If that’s what you want.”

David called George to pick up Mariane’s luggage while Mariane bid goodbye to her mom.

“Mom, call me anytime if you need my help. I will come here right away.” Mariane said.

“Don’t worry about me, dear. I should be the one telling you that. Call me if you need me.” Anastacia said.

“Shall we?” David asked.

“Bye, mom. I will come here and visit you often.” Mariane hugged her mom tightly before they parted.

As they came out of the house, people in the neighborhood darted their eyes at them.

“So they came to pick up Mariane?” They looked at Mariane in disbelief.

“How dare she seduced the billionaire.”

“The nerve,” some of them looked at Mariane in disgust.

Mariane said nothing but followed David from behind. But David stopped, which made Mariane bump into his back.

“Sorry,” she muttered.

David did say nothing. Instead, he stood right next to her and held her hand, making the people gasp and envy her.

“George… Look at those people who kept looking at Mariane and make sure to punish them later.” Mariane got shocked at his order.

“No. You don’t have to.” Mariane pulled her hand away from his. “Don’t you dare do that to my neighbor! I know how powerful you are, but don’t use your power over those people.” She warned him.

David caressed her face and looked her in the eyes. “I just don’t want anybody to mess with my queen,” he said before he kissed her forehead, making the audience gasp in surprise and Mariane astounded.

‘What did he say? His Queen?!’