The Decision

Lucille POV

It was that time again – the day before my birthday – when my aunt tries to hook me up with every man she comes across. But this time, I don't even know him, and they want to rush into marriage because it's my 20th birthday.

"Are you listening to me, dear Lucille?" she asked in her honey-toned voice. I shifted my gaze from the bird that had just landed on my window and stared at her.

"Yes, aunt," I said.

Even after all the years we've spent together, I still couldn't understand why she was hell-bent on selling me off to someone to marry. Did she really hate me that much?

"I have told you several times that in order to pay off the debt you owe this family, you need to marry the richest man available. This person I've found for you comes at a very suitable price," she clapped her hands excitedly as she rose up.

My eyes followed her movement without actually paying attention to what she was saying.

"So that's why you want to sell my happiness?" I blurted out dryly, then widened my eyes in disbelief when I realized what I had said.

"Your happiness?" She questioned, followed by a chuckle. "Do you think you deserve to be happy?" The pen in her hand snapped into two, just as my heart seemed to skip a beat.

I gripped the pillow on my thighs tightly, hiding my rage very well. She shouldn't know I was angry right now.

"I understand," I cut her off through gritted teeth, noticing that she clicked her heels noisily, as if waiting for me to agree with her. Something she always does.

"Good girl," she walked straight at me and patted my head. Since my head was low, she couldn't see my expression and my rage.

"Now, go get dressed. You have to look your prettiest tomorrow. After all, you are the flower goddess in the family." I bit my lip. Without even looking up, I could imagine her smile-stained lips and mischief glowing out of her green eyes.

I nodded and simply went into my walk-in wardrobe, something I didn't deserve but was forcefully given.

Inside my wardrobe, I slumped against the door. I couldn't control the hot tears that dribbled down my face. To stop my voice from being heard by her, I pressed a hand to my lips and sobbed silently.

"I don't deserve to be happy," she told me. Why? Wasn't I a human being? My heart felt like it was being picked up and shattered on a cold floor.

"Lucille~~~" she called my name in a sing-song voice, and I jerked up to it. She was cruel.

"You better get ready. We'll be leaving for the mall in a few minutes~~" she hummed as she left my room, slamming the door behind her.

As if a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders, I sighed in relief, but that still didn't stop the pain in my heart from spreading like wildfire. I felt weak.

After I felt okay enough to do anything, I walked into the bathroom to fix my face. I wouldn't want my aunt to know I was crying like some pathetic loser.

I picked the plainest dress that wouldn't draw any attention – a flowery dress seemed like the right option; I would look like a flower shopkeeper.

I packed my hair into a bun and slipped my foot into a sandal. Just as my aunt stepped in, without even commenting on the clothes – for which I was grateful – she dragged me out of the room.

The whole day was boring, and I wanted the day to not end because tomorrow was my birthday and the day I sealed my fate.

When we finally returned home, I was physically and emotionally drained. I had to drag my feet to my pink comfy bed.

Lying face flat on the sheets, I thought about the person I might meet tomorrow: a smelly old man? A playboy? A slave trader? Or a monster?

What would Jacob think of this? I haven't even told him about what my aunt was planning because of the sudden prior notice. I am sure he was going to propose to me tomorrow. Picking up my phone from my table stand, I decided to text him.

While I was trying to dial his number, I decided not to and dialed Danielle's number instead. I flipped to lie on my back so I could see the ceiling, wishing they were stars. The phone rang for a while before the other end picked up.

"Hey... Danielle, I need to talk to you..." I hesitated.

"I am kind of a little busy right now. Can I call you back?" Danielle whispered into the phone as if she was trying to be quiet so someone else wouldn't hear her. I didn't care, though.

"But it's urgent. My aunt is planning to sell me off to some stranger I have never even met in my life," I snapped, and there was a short silence from the other end.

"...Danielle?" I called out before I could hear soft breathing from the other end. My face became flushed. Why would Danielle be doing something promiscuous when she was on a phone call?

"Who is that on the line..." The phone slipped out of my hand before I could even comprehend the male voice I heard. Jacob? I heard Jacob, right? My heart drummed against my chest when I realized what was going on.

My words echoed in my head: 'my aunt was going to sell me off to a stranger' and 'he was going to propose to me tomorrow.' I thought I was done crying, I was already emotionally tired; I wanted to sleep and never have to wake up.

Jacob had been sleeping with my friend for quite some time now? Why would he do it? He was the one who told me he was going to take me on my 20th birthday.

He made me wait only for this to happen. I felt my initial soul leave my body, and I felt empty... so empty that I couldn't even think. Your parents died, your aunt wants to sell you off, and now your boyfriend prefers your best friend over you.

You are worthless and useless. You don't deserve to be loved. These words were the only thing echoing in my mind.

My day was already bad, yet it had to be worse. I have to leave everything; I have to run away. I couldn't marry some stranger, neither could I marry the man I loved but who didn't love me back.

It was easier said than done, but it was something I would better do. Rather than marry someone I didn't want to, I would rather relocate and start a new life with the money my parents left for me.

Yes, I do have my inheritance, but my aunt, who so coveted it, never knew where it was. Only I, the daughter of the Walker family, knew where it was.

"I hate you, Jacob Miller," I sobbed, and I didn't even notice I was still on the call. Nothing mattered anymore. After what looked like 2 hours, I didn't even have the strength to cry anymore. I had a splitting headache, and I just wanted to sleep, but I couldn't sleep right now.

A loud bang made me jerk up on my bed, sitting up right. My hair was almost like Medusa's, and I glared at the door.

"Lucille, Jacob is here for you! Quickly open the door," I groaned. Why was he here? To end us finally? I didn't want to even open the door.

"I don't want to see him. He should return to the woman he was mingling with!" I shrieked, making my head ache even more. After that, silence ensued.

"Just hear me out, Lucille..." Out of anger, I picked up the lamp on my desk and tossed it at the door. The lamp shattered, frightening the other person at the other side of the door.

"You bitch! You will pay for the cost of that lamp," my aunt screamed as she banged her hands against the door! I slumped back into the bed and used the pillow to cover my ears.

After a while, I didn't hear anything, and I bit my lips in pain. I couldn't cry again. He didn't push anymore; that meant he had given up explaining things to me.

Not like I would forgive him, but the fact that he isn't trying to explain things to me and instead decided to leave proves to me that he never loved me in the first place. He only used me to get closer to Danielle.

All of today's endeavor got me thinking – Who actually loved me? I have just been living a life to please others, when I could just run away from all of it.

In the dead of the night, I left the house. I would have broken my leg after hitting the stairs, but no one heard me, so I was safe. And now, before me was the only hotel I found that was farther away from my house.

I turned to look back, and I couldn't help but feel happy. The breezy night caressed my hair and skin, and I felt like it was really good to feel free and start afresh.

Turning back to my destination, I trudged defiantly to the entrance, but just when I thought my freedom was right there, a big hand blocked my vision.

I frowned and raised my head to look at the huge bouncer who was looking at me coldly.

"Sorry, we are all booked for the night." He smirked, and I could clearly sense that he was trying to mock me. Were they trying to lie through their teeth because I looked like a teenager?

"But I checked, and they told me that there were still rooms available!" I claimed as I scrolled through my phone. When I finally saw what I was looking for, I shoved it at his face.

He stared at it for a while. The furrow on his brows told me that he was thinking about what to say next. "Miss, the staff haven't registered all the rooms yet. There are clearly no more rooms available."

I was pissed off. I stomped my foot in anger; I had come this far only to be stopped at the entrance.

"Blatant lies! Who sent you? I bet it's that Jacob of a guy who told you not to let me in. I have enough money to fund myself." I boasted as I crossed my arms.

"Just run back home, little miss." The bouncer nonchalantly brushed me off, and I was more furious than ever. Did he just call me little? I was going to be twenty tomorrow.

"I—" I wanted to defend myself, but then I felt a light tap on my shoulders. Curiously, I turned around to ask the person what happened.

"You are causing traffic," my words got stuck in my throat before I could even acknowledge him. Who is this guy?

"I am very much sorry," I apologized, and with a head bow, I gave way to him without looking up. When he passed me, another of his guys passed, but I don't know when the third person passed me, I flinched. There was this sudden coldness that I felt that made me shiver.

I raised my head to check out what it was, but I met with a blue, cold, and detached gaze. It was staring at me, skimming through my body, even though he was looking straight into my eyes.

I was intoxicated, not because he was very handsome, but because under his gaze, I couldn't even move. I was trapped, like a human in the presence of a predator. Like a wolf staring at its prey.

"She is with us."

His voice was like a low rumble beside my ears, and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard.

This man, who was he? Why did he make me frozen in place like this? I couldn't even explain the multiple sensations my body was feeling right now.

But one thing I knew. This man was dangerous.