Chapter 1 : Unexpected Groom

Chrisanna

"Samuel said YES", I'm goggling at the message reflecting on my screen. I have read it more than a hundred times now, countless times pinched myself and it's not a dream. 

"Is he old?"

"No. He's twenty-five. Maybe, two to three months older than me"

"Is he ugly?"

"No"

"Is he a playboy?"

"No. I mean— I don't know"

"Is he an Andrew Tate fan?" 

"No", I shoot Nancy a glare as my voice comes uncontrollably like a thunderstorm.

The tiny opera club where people have been vibing idly is now converted into people who are eyeing me. 

"Then what's the problem?" She asks, sipping from her beer. "He doesn't sound to be that bad"

"I never said he is bad", I shrug, taking a look at my wristwatch. 

"Or else you're into girls", Nate suddenly jumps into the conversation as he settles his glasses carefully on the middle of his nose, looking into his phone. As usual.

"Huh?" I choke on my drink. 

"Gosh!" Nancy enlarges her eyes. "Girl, I hope you never intended to kiss me on the sleepovers"

"What the heck, Nate!" I snap. "What are you doing?"

"I was searching for the reasons why women aren't happy when their marriage is fixed", he excitedly says. "There are so many options but none of them exactly fits you"

"Freak! Is this why you never dated for like twenty-five fucking years of your life, Chrisp?" Nancy exclaims. 

"I'm not homosexual. If I was, I would be outed till now", I finish my beer, shrugging.

"Let me see more" before Nate could dive into another G****e search, I snatch his phone.

"We must reach the office before the lunch break ends", I remind them.

"I don't think my curious brain can handle this curiosity. I mean my best friend is finally going to get hitched. And instead of planning for the bachelorette party and proposing to me to be your bridesmaid, you have been sulking around", Nancy shrugs. 

My friends suck sometimes. A bachelorette party may be the last thing I would be thinking about at this point when I'm not sure how things are going to shape up. 

Grabbing my tote bag and my camera, I hop down from the stool. "Who's paying?"

"Who's the heiress of the biggest multinational company in Texas?" Nancy frowns. 

"Heiress. Not an owner yet. So, for now—" I take out my share and slam the bucks on the table. "This wedding photographer and a part-time intern can only contribute this much. Who wants a ride?"

They raise their hands right away, panicking. The lunch break has already come to an end. 

* 

Chrisanna Auburn Scott, 25 years old, professional wedding photographer for seven years. I have been introducing myself this way ever since. However, I'm mostly known as the daughter of the most influential businessman Christian Scott and the most successful botanist Ivanna Scott, the heiress of my paa's vast empire. 

Born and abandoned, I was adopted by the childless yet most loving human beings on this earth when I was only one. I was diagnosed with cancer when I was seven. My paa, despite having property worth millions was almost bankrupt because he paid all his attention to me and my treatment. He would be available for me and my mama all the time. And so was my mama. Thus, life hadn't been too easy for me in my early life. It took me years to recover and live my best life.

I was ten when I got to know I was adopted. Nothing changed. In twenty-five years of my life, I lived a happy and healthy life, being my parents' princess. 

I made my career, focusing on my passion for years, having no extra luxury from my parents. I moved out at eighteen, lived in a small apartment, working under several professional photographers until I became one. Last summer, I moved back to our lavishing villa, with my parents again— this time to fulfil my responsibility as a daughter. 

I have zero knowledge about business but I want to continue my paa's legacy. It's been six months since I'm doing an internship under Nicole, my paa's assistant who's been working for him for more than three decades. Crazy!

My parents have been the world to me. My friends used to think I'm too obedient to be real. To be honest, that's a strange relationship we share. Whatever paa decides for me, coincidentally ends up being the same thing I want. Mama says it's telepathy. Our vibes, thoughts, and even choices are so similar. And sometimes I feel like paa reads my heart without even saying. 

This time, it appears to be weird. For the first time, I'm not sure that this is what I want. Well, I'm not even sure that this isn't what I want. 

I have been single all my life, not because of any pressure. It just never happened. No one was like my paa. 

Yes! My standards have always been so fucking high because of my paa. His love for my mama is the purest and most incredible thing I have ever seen. They loved each other since their childhood and never dated or been with anyone else. 

Paa thinks I should get married, definitely not forcing me. 

He wanted to know if I wanted time. I said I don't know. 

He asked me if I wanna stay unmarried for life which is fine. I said I don't know. 

I still remember the look on his face when he realized how confused his daughter was. 

I just said that I know three things.

One. I want kids.

Two. I don't wanna get too old when my kids will be teenagers.

Three. I don't wanna have kids out of wedlock.

Yes, I'm obsessed with kids! 

Thus, paa suggested I should get married if I don't wanna be an old mom. We laughed together. He asked me to meet people.

I threw it on him. Find a groom for me.

Because I know he will choose the best for me. I trust him with everything. 

"That's crazy to do an arranged marriage in this era", Nancy husked when I told her about the groom-hunting. "Especially when it's not unwanted. You're weird"

People like me exist. Not much. I just know that I want love to find me. Arranged dates, forced proximity, contract marriage, forced marriage— my mama's reading lists when she was a teenager, aren't definitely my thing. 

That was the first part of my confusing wishes. 

The second part was enough to make me regret having such a nature. 

The groom paa selected. 

Samuel Vance Gabriel. 

My groom!

Son of my mama's best friend and my paa's best friend, Kane & Emily Gabriel.

They met through my parents, fell in love, and became more like my parents. Kane and my Emily Gabriel.

Sounds like a perfect picture. No?

Perfect parents. Perfect people who are going to be my in-laws. 

But nothing is too perfect. 

In my case, everything is perfect except the fact that I'll be marrying Samuel whom I haven't seen in ages. Strangely, I have known him all my life. That grumpy kid who had grown up to be more grumpy when he was seventeen. And that was the last time I saw him before he disappeared without a word. 

The security guards open the gate but I don't drive inside as the anxiety builds inside my chest. Last night, paa busted this bomb and called off the night. No one has seen my poker face ever since. They just need a look at me to realize something is wrong. 

People of my age cry since they don't have people to care about them. 

And here, my biggest problem is I have been pampered by everyone all my life. I have a father and three father figures protecting me. A mother and three mother figures in addition. A best friend since childhood, Eric, and the whole bundle of employees who are like a family. Nonetheless, they made sure I'm not spoiled.

It's hard to be loved sometimes. 

Before walking inside, I play retro classical music and put only one earbud on. Whenever I'm listening to it, I don't look miserable for sure. 

* 

"Chrisanna!" Seventeen years old, Kylee jumps to hug me tightly. "Oh, my God! Dad gave us the news this morning and I can't believe you'll be my sister-in-law. You're marrying Samuel. Yey!"

I can't help smiling at her excitement. I have seen Kylee since she was born. She's just my little sister. 

"She's gone crazy", Emmy smiles, leaving the couch and coming to me. She hugs me tightly. "I'm so happy that Samuel is going to have you as his life partner. He can't be any luckier"

"Maybe, she's lucky too", Mama says, smiling from the couch. "After all, Samuel has been the most patient and hard-working child ever since. He has endured a lot"

I hardly pay attention to anything about Samuel, especially when they always talk about his hardships, I don't really question them further. I have been running away from his matters for eight years. Whenever his name is mentioned, I walk away. I still don't know why I do this, why his thoughts make me go confused and anxious every time.

"They both have", Emmy says. "Maybe, that's why Christian came up with this proposal because he feels that they would understand each other better than any of us"

My heartbeat slowly begins to leap as I feel the thudding sound of my heart. It's happening and it's so real. 

"Okay. We're forgetting about the surprise", Kylee crosses her arms. "That's why Chrisanna had to call off her shift"

Clueless, I look at mama and the others. "What surprise?"

"Up on the terrace", Kylee giggles.

"What's on the terrace?" I ask.

They all look at one another, smiling. 

"My brother didn't come home for like eight years. Not even on my birthdays", Kylee shrugs, shrinking her nose. "I pleaded. Mom requested. Dad sent appointment letters. But nothing could bring my brother's ass back to Texas. And guess what, the wedding proposal happened last night and he landed here this morning", she excitedly yells, leaving me dumbfounded. 

He's here?

"Samuel is here?" I hesitantly ask.

"Already on the terrace", Kylee giggles.

My body gets colder. Anxiety grips my chest as I find it hard to believe that Samuel is here after eight damn years. It took him a night to decide he was coming!

"Don't make her more nervous!" Emmy snarls at Kylee and looks at me with a grin. "She's right, by the way. Nothing could bring him back. Go. He's waiting to meet you"

I can't process it all so fast, nor can I look so damn nervous in front of them. Until now I wasn't feeling the goosebumps. They cheer me up to go and look at the stairs. Something pulls in that direction, maybe the urge to meet him after ages. We didn't share a bitter bond. We didn't bully each other when we were teenagers. We were just something I could never figure out. 

I slowly walk towards the stairs. My phone beeps. I take it out right away.

SunshineProtector111 sent you a message. 

I right away open it, halting wherever I am. I told them about my marriage and confusion last night. I don't know if they are a male or female. But the chat box with them is like a personal journal to me. 

"Good afternoon. Sorry, I slept last night. Still nervous?"

"Yeah!" I type right away. "He's here. I'm going to meet him"

"Do it"

"I'm nervous"

"Why? Because he didn't agree or something?"

"No. He agreed"

"It shocked you?"

"Yes. Like hell. I don't know what he thinks about me"

"That doesn't matter. You shouldn't be concerned"

"Yeah!" I type back, holding my urge to say something more. 

"All the best"

"Thanks"

I put the phone back into my pocket and climb the stairs without halting anymore until I reach the terrace. 

Some memories hit me. The noise of the three of us arguing over a maths problem. I feel optimistic as I recollect the face of that eight-year-old boy. Those childhood years we were together for like two years. He moved away when he was ten. That was the first time. Then he came back five years later, only to disappear again, this time being more isolated.

Heck! That's Samuel. I have known him.

I shouldn't be nervous. 

With a big smile lingering on my face, I come inside and find him looking at the point of nowhere, his back facing me. 

He has always been this tall but I didn't think he would be seven inches taller than me now. Boys and their unpredictable heights. I find it funny and notice his semi-curls are still the same. 

He's wearing all-black denim and a jacket.

I was unprepared when he slowly turn to me, our eyes meeting right away. His grey eyes dart on me like an arrow, giving a jolt down my spine. 

His reaction is blank— just as it has always been. He's not a smiler.

That classic Samuel.

I smile from my heart. "Hey, it's been so—"

"Break the alliance", his first words to me after years come cold and harsh, leaving me completely impassive on the spot.