Chapter 04

It took her a couple of minutes to blink and look away, laughing awkwardly. She feels bad for him but no.

"What in the I don't want to marry, do you not understand, Raven?"

"It's Waren," he corrected again, looking away as he sighs heavily. "I won't force you but I'm telling my parents that I do want to marry you."

"You have a girlfriend!" she shouts. "I'm sure you and her could work it out and fix whatever problem she--"

"Your parents will force you for me," he interrupted her.

Shayne has never felt so furious before. This guy can't be trusted and he has got motives. He is dumb for love.

"There's no way that I am going to marry you," she tells him. Shayne reached for the door but she stopped halfway as she hears the lock that made her abruptly look at him, eyes sharp as ever. "Let me out," she demanded.

"I will if you give me your number. We have to meet again in about," he glanced at his wristwatch, "an hour and forty-five minutes."

"I can go home," she said. "You can tell my parents that."

"Come on, now. They'll think I was an asshole who stood you up."

"Aren't you one?"

"Just because I want to marry you doesn't make me one."

"Marriage is for people that love each other!"

"It's not like that anymore."

"It still is to me!" she roared, catching her breath. It's a puzzle why she's so worked up over this matter.

"You want the freedom to do whatever you want," he calmly said. "If you marry me you can do that. I won't even care about you. I just need the money I am getting out from my parents. If you marry me, your parents won't bug you anymore and they won't be disappointed in you. Think about it."

A wedding is a funeral but with the right person, it can set her free from her parents too. She has to think about this carefully.

"Meet me here after an hour and thirty minutes," she told him. "I'll have to think about it."

One corner of Waren's mouth curved up and he unlocks the doors. There's a big possibility that she would ditch him but looking at her expression, she might agree to this.

"I'll see you later," he said before she slams the door.

When Shayne was gone, he heavily sighed in relief. He was glad that he didn't have to meet some crybaby and clingy ass fiancee. At least this one, they can get along at one thing and that's not liking each other.

"Jezel will understand," he murmured. It'll be tough for them. He's going to be married and she will have to be with a married man.

Waren clenches his jaw. This wasn't the type of life she was going to give Jezel but what can he do? He's tied to his name and this name is helping his girlfriend.

If he accepts this, his relationship with Jezel will have to be a secret and he doesn't want to keep her a secret. What else can he do? He didn't want to lose her too.

*

Shayne went to her favorite place in the city; field archery is her finest pastime but because her parents think it's not for her, she keeps it a secret from them. It's either mountain climbing, swimming, or archery that she enjoys the most.

"Hey, Taylor!" a masculine voice greeted her.

There's no one else who calls her by her last name but Rei in this club, the guy who inspired her more to learn archery. He is a tall young man with short, loose brown hair swept away from the forehead, and large gray eyes. He is stated to have a good physique and his elegance draws a lot of attention and so Shayne was caught in it.

"Hey!" she greeted back.

"How come you're here?"

"Can't I be here too?" she sarcastically asked back which plasters a smile on Rei's face. "I'll be gone in an hour. I just need some time to think about something."

"By something do you mean your marriage?"

She pierced her sharp eyes at him. He was quick to raise his brows with two hands up in mid-air.

"I'm just curious. No need to give me those siren eyes, Taylor."

Shayne shook her head, chuckling softly as she heads to the dressing room. She does the Japanese martial art of archery which is known as Kyūdō. It has been a year since she transitioned from the modern one to this and it requires more focus, graceful movements, and peace of mind. 

When she finished she went out and Rei was still there. He has become her best friend but a girl and a guy can't be best friends without the other one liking the other and yes, she likes him at one point. As time passes, she had to give up. There were just too many females fanning over him and he never once gave her any hint that he would like her as something more than a friend.

"Want to have a little competition between us?" he invited.

"No, thank you. I know you're better at this than I am so I respectfully decline."

This made him giggle, following her to the platform.

"But you get the chance to defeat me." He suddenly came in front of her, his charming smile distracting Shayne. "I just want to make you feel better."

"You can't," she sighs.

"Ouch! Aren't we bestfriends? Shouldn't you share your thoughts with me?"

Shayne raised an eyebrow at Rei. It's not nice for her to tell him about this because even if she would, what can he do? Would he take her away even if it wasn't romantically? She wished he would ... but Rei was too good for her.

"One unbothered shot and I'll tell you what's on my mind," she uttered.

With a grin on Rei's face, he finally step aside, letting her do her shot. The art of archery is the best she could ever ask for. Everything about it isn't boring and it's meticulously what she needs every time she's annoyed. 

"Not bad," Rei remarked. "So, what's in your pretty little mind?"

Shayne puts down her exceptionally tall bow with her hand, glancing at Rei.

"I'm supposed to be in my pre-engagement today."

"Pre-engagement? Is there such a thing?"

"My parents had arranged a marriage for me and they told me about it over a week ago. You know about it and I met the man earlier. I hate him to the bone." Shayne waited for Rei to comment but he didn't say anything and so she continues. "Apparently he has a girlfriend but he agrees to this marriage so it's just up to me to run away."

"Then run away," he abruptly said which made her look at him with big eyes. "If you don't want him then run away."