The mysterious death of Max

LEONA’S POV

Ever since Mommy Rose took me in, I promised on her dying bed to fulfill her agreement with her best friend, which is to marry his son. I looked at myself in the mirror before facing the Flinch, reminiscing the day Mommy Rose found me.

****

I lived on the street when I arrived in the human world. I ate with the stray animals and scavenged food in the trash to survive. Mommy Rose saw me. Since then, she never stopped giving me food and clothes. Until she brought me home one day. She gave me a home, a family.

She taught me many things, and Mommy Rose was surprised to know I could read and write. I told her what we do in training back home. Mommy Rose was stunned. She said we were like Amazons—the warriors of God.

Her library is filled with books which I’ve never seen in my whole life. Every day I read one, and the television is also one of my favorite things. It featured moving objects and moving humans. Amazing how they fit into that tiny box. She introduces me to movies, music, food, and wine. Also, she taught me how to drive a car, and I got my license immediately. I am lucky to meet such a good soul.

Shortly, she enrolled me in home school, gave me her name, treated me as her own daughter, and called her Mommy Rose. My mother in the human world. I became Leona Eldrich.

I went to college and took up a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She gave me a car and a cellphone as a gift for my achievements. But she got weaker, old, and disabled. She hired a private nurse to take care of her. I refused, but she wanted me to focus on my study. My guts told me that she wouldn’t live for long, and I wanted to be by her side till that day came.

“Leona dear, come, sit here,” Rose called tremblingly.

“This is yours,” she handed me an envelope as I sat on the chair next to her bed.

“What is this, Mommy?”

“Open it.”

I opened the envelope and saw her last will, deed of sale, land titles, certificates, and my adaption paper.

“I am leaving everything to you when I’m gone.”

“Mommy, don’t say that.”

“I can feel it, Leona, and you do too.”

“Mommy, don’t think about me. You have done enough. I will never be who I am today without you.”

“No, I won’t be at peace knowing you are not properly taken care of. So I’m leaving you this house and everything that I have. But there’s one thing,” Mommy Rose took another file.

“It’s an agreement between my best friend and me. This is legally bonded and signed by both parties.”

“An agreement?”

“Yes. It stated that his firstborn son will marry my firstborn daughter. If I have a daughter, but if it’s a son, it will be revoked. And now that you are here, as my legally adopted daughter, you are my firstborn.”

“What?” I suddenly felt cold. She never mentioned this before.

“I have a share in their company. My lawyer will contact them when I die and will guide you with the details. You may read everything in that file.”

None of her words sink into my brain. Overwhelmed, I nodded to ease her mind.

“Promise me, Leona, you will try to get along with your fiancé.”

“Ye~Yes, Mommy,” I answered to stop her worries.

“Thank you. I can leave in peace now.”

With my diligence and hard work, I graduated college. Sadly, Mommy Rose died after. And in her dying bed, she reminds me again about the agreement. She said with my marriage; my future would be ensured. Until death, Mommy Rose still thinks of my welfare, and I will be forever in debt and gratified by her kindness.

A knock startled me, bringing me back to reality. It's Amanda, Mommy Rose's lawyer. She approached me after the burial and set this day after talking to the Flinch. I am not sure if they would like me to be part of their family, but I am crossing my finger, and hopefully, my fiancé is nicer in person than the snobbish picture Amanda showed me.

"Are you ready?" Amanda peeks at the door.

"I think so."

"You look lovely in that dress. Now come down. They're waiting for you."

"Okay. I'll be right behind you," Amanda went back downstairs.

"Whew! You got this, Leona. Just meet your fiancé and his family, and this will all be over; if he doesn't like me, then good. We can all move on!" I said to myself in the mirror. I retook a deep breath to ease my nervousness.

Don Rafael and Madam Sonia meet me with warm hugs and big smiles. My fiancé, on the other hand, is in the restroom. Maybe fixing himself, or who knows what he is doing there to keep us waiting.

"I am so delighted to meet you, Leona, finally!" Madam Sonia peck my cheeks, "Such beauty and grace! I'm sure our Darren would love her! Right, Rafael?"

"Of course! I will cut him off this time if he still refuses to get married! What’s taking him so long in that restroom anyway?" Don Rafael glanced at his Rolex.

Refused? Does that mean he was betrothed to other women before? I asked in my addled mind.

****

In the restroom, Darren is nervous. He was fully aware of his parent's agreement with Rose Eldrich being her father's best friend and one of their business partners, but it never crossed his mind that this day would come since the Eldrich wasn't blessed with a child. Never did he imagine she adopted one.

"Chill, Darren. Women are all the same," Darren spoke to himself in front of the mirror and inhaled.

Darren fixed his coat and returned to the living room, where a lovely woman with a very innocent and angelic face caught his eyes.

"There he is!" Don Rafael collects and pushes him in front of Leona, "Darren, son, this is Leona, your fiancé."

"What is that smell?" Darren pinches his nose.

"Not again!" Madam Sonia rolled her eyes, gritting her teeth, "Will you stop that nonsense, Darren? Every time!"

"I mean it, mother. This time it's a different smell!" Darren stared at Leona and came near her, sniffing her entirely.

"It came from her! But, it’s different?"

"Cut it out, Darren!" Don Rafael pulled him.

Leona stood there in awe.

"So she's my fiancé? I don't like her smell, and I don't like her. You can forget about the agreement," he turned away, heading to the door. His deceptive words hit Leona like a bomb, rejected by his fiancé.

"Not so fast, Darren! I have had enough of your stupid sniffing thing! You are not getting any younger, and neither are we. You will marry Leona whether you like it or not, and that is final! Or you can forget about your inheritance and this family!" Don Rafael walked away, slamming the door behind him.

"Mom?" Darren turned to Madam Sonia.

"You embarrassed us, Darren. Your father is right; enough is enough! I won't be on your side this time. So fix yourself and be a man!" Madam Sonia turned to Leona, "I am very sorry, dear. Do not worry; the wedding is still on, and we shall see you again."

Madam Sonia kissed her cheek and followed Don Rafael. Darren approached Leona narrowing his eyes.

"I will make sure the wedding will be off," he covered his nose again. He was about to leave when Leona uttered a word.

"Whatever, mate!"

Darren turned back around, "What did you call me? Mate?"

"Whatever!" Leona stormed upstairs.

"Wow! That went well. Anyways, nice to finally meet you. Excuse me. You know the way out," Amanda glanced at the door and followed Leona.

Darren was left speechless, repeating Leona's word.

"Mate? Insane!"

Leona was mumbling when Amanda entered her room.

"That boorish, arrogant, and conceited guy! Who does he think he is? So what if he rejected me?" Leona shrinks in her bed.

First time to meet her fiancé, and got rejected. Although her mouth and brain are telling her it's okay, deep in inside, it hurt badly. Werewolves have one mate in their lifetime. Even if she's human, her instinct tells her that Darren Flinch is bound to be hers. But now, he refused to be her mate.

"Ouch!" she uttered in dismay.

"Leona?" Amanda slid herself into her room without knocking.

"Come in.”

"I just got a call from Don Rafael. The wedding is still on. Looks like Darren can't get away this time."

"Great! I will live my life with the man who hates me! What a lucky woman I am!"

"Well, you are the last option for Mr. and Mrs. Flinch to give them a grandchild. And with the agreement, you and Darren are tied to each other. Don Rafael let their son get away with his previous engagement, but not this time. Given the fact that his best friend fulfilled their agreement."

"Let's say, if that Mister snobbish fiancé of mine and I agreed not to get married, would that affect the agreement?"

"Yeah. Darren maybe will lose his inheritance, and your conscience will haunt you."

"I can live with that."

"But not him. He is the only child. I'm sure he doesn't want their hard-earned money to go into charity, and he will not make things easy with you and his parents."

"Then I guess my life is screwed.”

Amanda gave her a half-inch file of the Flinch's biography and saw Darren's photo when he was a child. He was smiling widely, looking like a sprightly kid.

"Why are you giving me this?"

"Learn about your fiancé’s background. Besides, your mom asks me to give it to you. I guess she planned everything for your future. Study well," Amanda waved at her and left.

Leona was still shocked at how drastically her life had changed. She tossed the file in her luggage and continued packing.