CHAPTER FOUR

                 I flutter my eyes open. I hear the sound of a blast hovering in my mind and everything turned dark after that. tears fall down my cheeks for unknown reasons. The hushed whispers stop around me and my loud heartbeat begins to beat in my ears. 

     "Sarah!" I feel a grip over my shoulder. My gaze meets with my dad. He looks worried, "Call the doctor, Leo." He says to his assistant. 

     Leo is close to my father's age. He's leaner and more agile than my father. They are friends from their school time. 

            Like Louis and I. 

     I feel nervous. I try to push myself out of the bed. But my father's hand over my shoulder stops me, "You need rest." He offers a smile. Which I couldn't return. 

     "She looks perplexed," My head jerks in the sound direction. I feel calm seeing in his dark blue eyes. 

     There is a bandage over the side of his forehead, "Luce," I breathe, whispering his name. 

     "Are you okay?" He asks, taking a step close to the bed. 

     "What happened? There was a blast." I try to remember. But I couldn't recall anything. After hearing a blast, I passed out. 

     "A little accident in the kitchen. You pass out." He tells me, looking at my father. 

     Dad must have told him. Louis died when the library of the college caught fire. 

     The family doctor walks in. I know it's the end of the talk. I place my head back on the headrest. Something haunts me from inside, I feel a burden on my soul. Everything is so confusing. I keep my head down as my father steps back making room for Mrs Blake, our family doctor. She was appointed for me years ago when I was a kid. 

     I can feel his gaze on me. I glance at him. My guess was right. He's looking at me. He turns to my father, "See you at the meeting, Charlie." He says to my dad. 

    They shake hands. With a last glance at my side, he paces out of the room. 

    I peer at the picture, resting on the nightstand. Louis' smiling face couldn't bring the peace I'm demanding right now. 

    "Princess," My father puts his hand on my shoulder. I look up at him with glassy eyes, "You're good." He asks, smiling. 

     "Yes," I'm good but I'm feeling strange. Is it because I met Luce today? I can hope. Dad won't stretch this topic again. It only makes me itchy to hide somewhere. Nothing is going to help. I take a deep breath and calm myself down. 

   

                    I walk out of my room. The doctor suggested that I should rest. I don't see myself sitting in the same room for the entire day. 

    The sun is going down. Walking out in the garden can do miracles with my sad mood. I can only hope. 

    I pass through the hall but stop when I hear my father whispering to someone. I turn to the library. 

    I freeze at the threshold. My father is holding the cup of tea and sipping from it. Luce is sitting on the front seat of my father. 

     "What's he doing here?" I mutter under my breath. 

     I take a step back and glance at his blue eyes as he lifts his head. The sight of him makes me rethink everything that happened in the restaurant. It still doesn't make sense. I can't pass out just hearing a bang. 

    "Sarah! What are you thinking?" I couldn't catch what my dad said to me. 

     I heave a deep sigh and turn to the double door without answering. I remove my slippers to walk on the grass. I begin to pace straight. 

     "I thought. You'll walk in and demand more answers." 

     My heart begins to run. I stop and spin on my heels. He's looking at me, shoving his one hand in his pocket. His blue gaze is locked on me. 

    I twirl without a word and begin to pace again.

    "Sarah, " My feet pause hearing the soft voice of my father. 

    I whirl again and look at him, "You should go out for dinner with Luce," He says. 

    I pace forward with a frown, "He's not a child, dad. He can ask himself." My words perplex me. My eyes widened in shock. I quicken my feet to go away from them. 

     I hear them chuckling. I love the sound of my father's laugh. I didn't stop walking away. It's embarrassing. Just one meeting with him can't change anything. I love someone else. I can't love anyone. 

     "Hi," He says, catching up with me. 

     I turned my gaze from the grass at him, "I didn't mean that." I walk forward, leaving him behind. 

     He matches the pace with his long strides, "Will you go out on dinner with me?" He asks, making my feet freeze. 

     I let out the breath I was holding, and the tears prick my eyes. I shake my head and turn away from him. I ignore my father's gaze on me and run in the corridor away from them. The tears fell down my cheeks. 

     I suck in a deep breath as I halt before my room's door. 

     "It's rude, Sarah," My father says, walking toward me. 

     "You need to stop making decisions on behalf of me," I say, still looking at the door. 

     I hear him sighing deeply, "You're my only kid. You're my family and everything after Lissa's death. I have lost your mother. I can't lose you. So, I have decided. You and Luce are marrying." 

    Silence fills my ears. More tears slip down my cheeks. I don't want him to know that I'm crying. I know he's upset. He never looked at another woman after mother's death. it must be hard for him to see me broken. But I can't help it. 

     I keep my head low. I'm tired of arguing, telling him what I don't want. 

     I hear his soft footsteps, "If I say no." I ask, challenging him. 

    "Then, I'm feeling sorry for hundreds of children losing their only home." His voice is full of sadness. 

     My body jerks with tension, "You can't do this, Dad?" I stride to him. Shocked at his words, "Orphanage is mother's dream." 

     "Marry him. Save your mother's dream." He says. Swivelling his neck, he walks away.

     I get shivers understanding the meaning of it. I turn to the door and push it open. 

    I kick the door shut behind me and swipe on my cheeks angrily. I drop into the sofa and stare at the picture of him, "I don't know what to do?" My voice breaks. 

     I lower my gaze. My lower lip begins to tremble. I can't let him ruin my mother's dream and life of innocent children. 

    A soft knock resonates in the room. The door cracks open. I glance up at him. His blue eyes watching me. 

   "Are you okay?"

   He must have seen my emotions through my eyes. My lips flatten in exasperation. I avert my eyes elsewhere. I hope he'll get the sign and leave me alone. 

    "You don't look okay," He says, walking closer to me, "Dinner date can wait," 

    I couldn't hold back snapping my head up at him. My gaze always seems to freeze on his eyes. 

    His lips tilt up in a soft smile, "I didn't mean to invade your privacy."

    "But you are!" I retorted. 

    His head swiftly turns to me, "Get used to it then," He says, a soft laugh following his words.

    He should be offended. His smile astounds me, "I can't love you." I say. 

    "Your father has told me. I'm not bonding in the wedding for love, " 

    Frustration builds up, "You're not even getting that. " 

    My skin feels warm when he slips his finger under my chin and tilts, "Wrong!" His smile broadens.    

    "I’m not your possession, " Not wanting to be alone with him, I push myself away from him. I can see a hint of a smile on his lips. I crinkle my lips and pad toward the door. He's looking calm while talking all this sh**I'm feeling beyond annoyed. 

   I want to see his smug smile disappear. He's annoying me.