Chapter 16: Chapter 16

It felt like bliss.

I rested my head on his shoulder, and we stayed in that position for a few more minutes while he massaged my thumb.

"They say it can relieve your stress," he said, referring to what he's doing with my hand.

My lips immediately formed a smile upon hearing his words. I'm not quite fond of these kinds of things, but with him, I find them charming and adorable. With him, I find everything even more comfortable. Maybe Deniece is right.

Maybe I'm already whipped.

Yet I'm certain.

I'm certain that there's this strong feeling I have for him, and God knows that I'm ready to conquer everything for it. When it comes to this kind of war, I'm always ready. I'm always gearing up for the battles that we may face.

And I'm willing.

I'm already willing to be with him. No matter where the future will lead us, if there's one for us.

We continued to stay there, not until I saw Aunt Lucille's curious face while looking at the van I'm in. There's also Reagan behind her, who's trying to stop her from walking, but she's clearly invested her attention on this van.

I looked at Kendric, who already understood the situation. He's still holding my hand, and even tighter.

"I'll make it up to you," I whispered.

"Come back into your apartment, alright?" He demanded.

I lowered my head and stared at our hands.

This is what I fear the most. We're not on the same page of our lives now. He's beautiful and kind, but I'm a mess. He knows it, and he surely can manage it, but I fear I might lose him if my father puts an end to this.

I got scared for a moment. I already think about what could happen or what might be the result of this kind of strong feeling.

Strong feeling. I couldn't even name it, but my certainty is on another level when it comes to him. He's my kind of drug that will slowly wither my soul if I don't take it under control.

A knock from the window made me gasp loudly and Kendric laugh about it. I turned on my back only to see Reagan standing firmly while blocking Aunt Lucille. I slightly smirked at the situation. At least, Reagan knows where his loyalty and trust truly lie. It's a relief for me.

"Hey!" Kendric caught my attention by pinching my cheek. "Are you sure you'll be fine here?"

He's looking at Aunt Lucille, and I'm pretty sure, like me, he doesn't like the vibe of that old woman. But I shouldn't scare him.

"It's my dad's house, so I'll be fine anyway," I said to assure him.

Kendric is not smiling, and I can't see any reaction flashing on his face. He's just looking at the back of my head.

"How about him?" he asked, probably pointing at Reagan.

I cupped his face to get his gaze. I looked at him intently and suddenly pinched his cheek too. I laughed at how he groaned softly at what I did.

This is madness! I'm insane for having him. I'm insane for wanting him, knowing that there will be someone who will get in our way.

"Reagan's a friend; he'll never hurt me," I said, stopping myself from laughing too hard because of his reddish cheek already.

I heard a knock once again, and that's my cue to say goodbye to him. I felt him stiffen when I hugged him tight. Based on his body reaction, he's in shock, and his face is surely flustered by this.

"I'll see you again," I whispered in his ear.

He eventually recovered himself and hugged me back. He buried his face on my shoulder and planted a kiss on it.

"I'll see you soon," he whispered back.

When I let go of him, I picked up the cap on the passenger seat and put it on him to cover his face. As soon as I got out of the van, Aunt Lucille's face got me laughing.

She seemed so irritated.

"We are currently not attending to any kind of visitors here inside the villa, miss," she said, sounding with such authority.

I raised an eyebrow and looked at her.

"I never asked for your opinion about this matter," I coldly replied. I walked past her, but she suddenly grabbed my arm. My fist clenched, and my patience got tested because of her again.

"We should be following your father's order!" she protested.

I aggressively moved my arm away. She glared at me in an instant, but the sheer feeling that they are up to something is corrupting my mind and making me want to rebel even more. This could be worse if Dad is walking around here and putting up the coldest stare he would give us if something is not going as he planned.

"Don't put words in my mouth as if you're part of our family," I said as I glared back at her.

This woman should not test my patience, for it is just a thin line that will totally break once she pushes me even more.

I continue to walk when she steps back. Kendric's van eventually moved back and made its way to exit the villa. The moment I heard the gate close, I walked faster back to the house. I even forgot that Deniece was on hold, but when I glanced at my screen, the call had already ended. I texted her to express my gratitude because I knew she was also behind that kind of move.

"I'll see you soon," he murmured back.

At the point when I let go of him, I got the cap on the front seat and put it on him to cover his face. When I escaped the van, Auntie Lucille's face made me chuckle.

She appeared to be so disturbed.

"We are at present not going to any sort of guests here inside the estate, miss," she expressed, sounding with such power.

I raised an eyebrow and checked her out.

"I never requested your perspective about this," I briskly answered. I strolled past her, however she unexpectedly snatched my arm. My clench hand grasped, and my understanding got tried due to her once more.

"We ought to be following your dad's organization!" she dissented.

I forcefully moved my arm away. She scowled at me in a moment, however the sheer inclination that they are looking for trouble is debasing my brain and making me need to rebel considerably more. This could be more terrible on the off chance that Father is strolling around here and setting up the coldest gaze he would give us in the event that something isn't going as expected.

"Try not to speak for me as though you're essential for our family," I said as I glared back at her.

This lady shouldn't test my understanding, for simply a dainty line will thoroughly break once she pushes me much more.

I keep on strolling when she ventures back. Kendric's van in the long run moved back and advanced toward leave the manor. The second I heard the door close, I strolled quicker back to the house. I even failed to remember that Deniece was waiting, however when I looked at my screen, the call had proactively finished. I messaged her to offer my thanks since I realized she was additionally behind that sort of move.

To: Best Deniece

You're really amazing, mwah!

She messaged back right away.

From: Best Deniece

Everything has a cost, so give me 1,000 bucks immediately.

I just snickered at it and returned to my space to rest for a brief period since I got to contemplate what I ought to do about my father. Screw lunch: my temperament was demolished at any rate as a result of that overseer.

Beneficial thing I actually had an effective method for beginning my morning before that witch raised her disposition toward me.

Earlier today appears to be a thrill ride, yet I trust the evening is greatly improved.

...

I awakened at precisely four PM as I heard a boisterous bang outside. I delicately scratched my eye when I felt dust in it. Ugh! I ought to have cleaned it before I dove squarely in some time back. My shoulders are still weighty, yet the noisy bang from outside continues onward on for like a moment.

At the point when I opened the entryway, Bertha was going to thump, however rather she recently grinned and offered a plate loaded with food.

"I heard from my auntie that you didn't have for lunch," she said in an exceptionally concerned tone.

"All things considered, I don't have a hunger for your auntie," I made sense of.

Bertha just moaned while putting the utensils on my food plate. She additionally assisted me with setting up the table in my room before we both plunked down.

"Since your family moved to the huge city, she behaves like this is her home as well," she abruptly whines as I eat next to her.

"Significantly seriously choking out now you're here once more and the way that the expert of the house is debilitated; she will put in more effort for more compensation, obviously."

I snickered at her grumblings. She kept on talking until I completed my food. While she was caught up with tidying up my plate, I got some information about something.

"Did you previously had at least some idea that I'm going to get hitched when I returned here?"

She stopped for some time and grinned at me. Obviously, she knew. I bet everybody in this family understands what will befall me when I get back here.

"About prior, you like that person, right?"

My lips separated when she got some information about that. I didn't understand that she may be there as well.

"I saw him, Gela."

She saw Kendric; however, she expressed nothing about him as of recently, directly before my face.

She at last grinned at me again when she saw my response. "Obviously, you like him."

It was anything but an inquiry any longer, however an assertion. Indeed, I like him. I truly like him.

"I- - "

Bertha prevented me from saying something when she talked once more.

"Relax, I didn't let anybody know what I saw," she even laughed, which made me become flushed in light of the fact that I know what she's talking about.

It's about the kiss!

As she recollected that second, I could feel my face gradually transforming into a ready rosy tomato. Our second inside the van prior immediately streaks back at the forefront of my thoughts, and I'm here in my room, a that bothered before a companion second as well.

Damn you, Kendric!

Bertha kept on prodding me and asked me inquiries like, "How is it?" and "Does it feel heartfelt?" It's totally heartfelt for me! Who on earth could differ that kissing the individual you like isn't perfect?

I snapped out of my reverie when Reagan entered my room. He has this look where he's a little bit worried, but I just don't know if he's trying to be calm or what.

"Your man has arrived."

I scoffed when he said that. My man? What is he? A delivery from somewhere just for me?

I've seen this coming, and I'm always right when I saw my dad, no matter what his condition is, and he's a faithful servant in this freaking house. This is going to be a disaster.

Bertha held my hand and squeezed it. Thanks to her, I've come to realize that I'm still breathing and alive and not a doll for sale.

"You're going to be okay," she said before she walked out of my room.

No, I will never be okay with arranged marriage. This will never be okay for me, and God knows how much I hate blind dates and being set up. Ugh!

"Let them wait downstairs; I'll just change my clothes." I softly pushed Reagan outside of my room, and I smiled at him to assure him that I was going to be there.

My mind was in chaos as soon as I closed the door. I'm not nervous with the fact that I got to see who's this guy they want me to be with; I'm quite worried if I've met him before or maybe even if he's a family friend to us. That's going to be a big mess, and I'm sure I'll be easily blown away by the odds that possibly might occur in this set-up.

I wore a simple white off-shoulder below-knee-length dress and black slippers. I tied my hair into a braid since I heard that he'd join me for dinner. Aunt Lucille, frankly, told me to dress up for he's a very important guest of my father that I should entertain. It's more like a dinner date, but I'm not interested.

My mind is set on another person already.

Gosh! The power of his kiss is addicting to the point that I could say anything romantic just for him.

It's already six in the evening, and before I could even rant to Deniece through text, Aunt Lucille walked in my room without any permission again.

"The table is set, and the guest is waiting," she said as she pretended to smile in front of me.

I rolled my eyes, stood up, and walked out of my room. My footsteps are very heavy, and every time I do that, Aunt Lucille will tap the side of my waist to complain about it. Who cares if I walk like this anyway? I bet Kendric wouldn't mind things like this anyway.

When I landed my feet on the last stair, I paused for a minute before I could even walk to the dining hall. I took a couple of deep breaths and then walked slowly towards the hall.

As I expected, a table for two was set with Korean cuisine and lots of steak. I frowned when I saw a bento cake with a little message above saying, "Here again, Jelly."

I covered my mouth when I realized something.

Jelly.

There's only one person besides my family who calls me by that nickname. I was about to hold up the cake when a familiar voice called my name.

"Angela"

I turned my gaze toward the doorway where I came from.

There he is. The man I should marry in the near future. My childhood friend.

"Tyler"