Chapter 01

"And I pronounce you husband and wife!" Shayne hears the priest say and she glanced everywhere, her forehead wrinkled. What is she doing on a white veil occasion?

"Are you alright, my love?" She looks up and saw someone in a suit makes his way to touch her but she steps back. Why can't she see the man's face? "Is something the matter, my love?"

My love? Shayne looks down and her eyes widened. Why am I wearing a wedding dress? And she's even holding a bouquet of quickly fading flowers. The faster it withers, the more she felt terrified of what's happening around her.

Her breathing heaved and she needed to disappear from this situation. She looks up at her husband once more, frowning when she could not see his face.

"I'm sorry," she whispered and dropped her bouquet, turning away while she lifts her wedding gown and ran away from that altar.

She was almost out of the doors when someone grabbed her by the arm, making her swivel and her eyes widened.

"Let go of me!" she demanded when she saw everything burning. "I don't want to marry! Let go!"

Her heart was palpitating, her eyes full of tears when her now husband dragged her back to the altar. She was crying for help but no one seems to be hearing her.

And in her hopelessness Shayne's eyes flung open, breathing heavily as she just stare at her ceiling which was filled with colors. She felt sweat rolling from her forehead as she abruptly sits up. A nightmare. 

Since that talk she had with her parents, she clearly lost herself and she started having these creepy nightmares about marrying someone. Oh, the chills deep down her spine!

Shayne has nothing against couples marrying each other whether they love each other or not but when it comes to her, she personally thinks a wedding is a funeral and marriage is the grave. And now they're asking for her to take responsibility and marry a man she has never met!

Given the fact that 'this man' is around her age, it is convincing enough that their parents would not succeed. Unless this man agrees to this marriage then she is doomed for life!

"I pray he doesn't want this as much as I don't too," she whispered, bringing her hands together and closing her eyes, "please, please, please!"

A knock on Shayne's door made her abruptly gaze at it with wide eyes. In a minute if she doesn't say anything, that door will open on its own. She needs to decide quickly if she will pretend to fall asleep or--

"I'm coming in, my dear!" And there goes her door flung open, spitting the image of her graceful mother in a marvelous pastel dress paired with her infamous two inched heel shoes.

"Dear! You're sweating!" Angeline exclaimed, her forehead wrinkled.

Thanks to you and dad, yes, I am, she wanted to say but instead just stayed quiet and plastered a big fake smile.

"Good morning, mum!" She greeted and rashly wiped her sweat with the back of her hand which made Angeline grimace. "What's the agenda for today?" she asked.

On normal mornings it is her Nana Catalidya that would barge into her room after a minute of knocking. The fact that it is her mother in front of her, there should be something planned that she isn't aware of... again.

"We've spoken to you about the--"

"The marriage which I clearly stated I don't want any part of, mother." She interrupts Angeline. "Naomi married the man she loves so why can't I do the same?"

Yes, her older sister, Naomi got married a year ago and it is to a man she loves. Even though it is a man Shayne loves she would not marry. It's just something she doesn't believe in.

"Darling, it's different now!" Angeline strides and sit down on the corner of her bed, taking her hand. "You must understand that our family's business is tearing apart! As a Taylor, this is your responsibility."

"It's unfair, mum!" she cries. "I had only turned twenty; just out of the teen but I'm still young. I need to ex--"

"Precious Shayne Taylor!" Angeline's voice was loud and clear which shut her up. She inhales deeply and lets it all out at once. "For the sake of the family, you will marry the Findley's youngest son and you will be meeting him today."

Her eyes widened. She always believed that dreams and nightmares are associated with one's emotions but she knows now that they can be omens. She should have known and run away.

"What time are we leaving?" she asked.

"Don't even try to escape, my dear." Angeline warned her beforehand, standing up and looking at her with great wickedness on her face. "In about an hour so you better dress nicely and impress the young man."

When Shayne didn't respond, her mother gave her back and left her room. Rage. She felt it tingling in her fingers. Why don't they listen to her? It's unfair! It's their fault the family has financial issues but she's the one to pay! Why are they like that?

"Was I born to be their treasure getting sold off to some family?!"

"Oh, Precious!" A feminine voice made her look up and when she sees her Nana Catalidya, her face softened, lifting both her hands to embrace her Nana. "Dear! You should not cloud your mind with such a comparison!"

"It can't be helped, Nana! They're literally selling me off to save the company!"

"You must understand, dear, that this is hard for them as it is for you." Nana broke the hug and caress her face. She looks deep into her Nana's eyes and saw the fields and green mountains that she loves.

"If I accept this marriage, I can no longer explore the wonders of nature, Nana. I would be doing those wife things that mothers do! I don't want to be controlled by anyone, especially by a man! What if he hurts me?"

"That is why you are meeting him today, dear!" Nana Catalidya giggled. "Who knows, you might find love in him."

Shayne was quick to snort. "Oh, please!" She rolls her eyes. "The only good men are fictional and I love villains, Nana. Never the main character and there's no such thing in real life!"

"Exactly! Real life is this at the moment and you cannot run away because you love your parents, you love this family."

"Right at this second, I don't! I could run away!"

"You heard your mother, did you not?" When Shayne only rolled her eyes, Catalidya stood up, still holding the young woman's hands. "Should you take a bath now so you can dress accordingly and be on time?"