Chapter 3. Running Away From Her Groom

Nancy finished drying her long, wet, golden hair in her bedroom, combing it so that it cascaded behind her back. She walked out of her room and went downstairs to the living room to have dinner with her parents.

She could feel her stomach growling loudly in hunger, so she gripped the iron railing for support as she went downstairs. She didn't want to miss her steps or risk falling as she descended the stairs.

Upon reaching the ground floor, Nancy noticed that some guests had arrived at her parents' home, which caused her to frown. She hated the architectural design of her father's mansion; the living room was connected to the dining room, making it easy for guests to pry into her family's affairs. She cherished her privacy and detested being under scrutiny.

Among the guests was a tall, handsome man who exuded authority. He was watching her as she descended the stairs. The intensity of his gaze was unsettling, and his black eyes seemed to strip her bare with their longing.

Forcing herself to look away from the man, Nancy turned to her parents and noticed them standing nervously in the living room. 

She approached her mother and asked, "Mom, is dinner not ready yet?"

Mrs. Olivia Marlon nervously replied, "Nancy dear, come meet your groom."

"My what?" Nancy gasped in shock, quickly turning to face the man, Charles. His gaze remained on her, unwavering, his eyes never leaving her face.

Nancy managed to snap out of her shock and asked her mother, "Mom, when did I get married to him?"

"You're not yet married to him, Nancy. This is Charles Alejandro, the only son and child of President Nolan Alejandro, and your wedding is in two days."

"Two days!" Nancy gasped, feeling faint. 

"Calm down, Nancy," Charles said, his deep masculine voice making her shiver.

Nancy couldn't believe that she was getting married to him in two days. Gathering her courage, she said, trembling, "I cannot marry you, sir."

"Nancy!" Her father shouted, trying to silence her. Charles Alejandro was the most feared young man in the city.

Senator Logan warned her, "Nancy! You have no right to object to this marriage. Charles Alejandro has seen photos of many pretty young women, but he chose you. You should be grateful to become the country's future first lady."

"No, Father! I cannot accept this marriage. I cannot marry him!" Nancy immediately moved backward, quickly running to the stairs and dashing upstairs to her bedroom. She slammed the door closed behind her.

"Nancy! Come back here!" Her father called, but she didn't answer. She didn't want to marry Charles. She locked her room door and cried on her bed.

"Hmm, let me go upstairs and call her back," Mrs. Olivia Marlon offered, but her husband quickly stopped her, "That won't be necessary."

Senator Logan turned to Charles and apologized, "We're truly sorry, Your Excellency. We didn't inform Nancy about the arranged marriage."

"Hmm," Charles stood speechless in the living room, staring upstairs to the second floor. He was hoping that Nancy would peek out and look at him. He was drawn to the way her hips had moved seductively as she ran upstairs. Charles doubted he would be able to control himself if he was left alone with her.

Mrs. Olivia Marlon, who bore a resemblance to Nancy, smiled nervously at Charles, "Not to worry, Your Excellency. I will talk to my daughter. The wedding will still happen."

"Hmm, that's alright. I came here to welcome my bride and look forward to the wedding. Please, give these flowers to Nancy and let her know that I truly love her and want to marry her," Charles said, as he handed over a bouquet of rose petals to Mrs. Olivia Marlon.

She accepted the flowers, stepping aside as her husband apologized again, "We're sincerely sorry for our daughter's rudeness, Your Excellency."

"That's alright. I understand her fears. Please, send my greetings to her and let her know that I want her. I must be on my way now. Goodbye, Senator Logan."

"Goodbye, Your Excellency," Senator Logan replied as he escorted Charles out of the living room.

Once Charles had climbed into his Jeep, the stationed security men shut the car door. The three cars then drove out of Senator Logan Marlon's residence.

Nancy was upstairs, watching from her window as Charles left her family home. She couldn't believe that her parents wanted her to marry Charles Alejandro, the president's son, by force. She had never met Charles before, but she'd heard of him. Netizens often ridiculed and abused his family online for refusing to relinquish power.

She had also heard about his affairs with many pretty young women in their state. He was rumored to be promiscuous, not the kind of man she wanted to marry.

The sound of her room door opening jolted her back to reality. Her parents walked into her room angrily.

"Nancy! What was the meaning of the scene you caused in front of Charles Alejandro? Don't you know that many young women would've happily accepted his proposal?" Her father questioned her angrily, while her mother stood in silence, holding the bouquet of roses that Charles had given her.

"Dad, he's not the kind of man I want. I don't love him, and that's the truth," Nancy said, tears streaming down her face.

"Love? What do you know about love, Nancy? You will learn to love Charles with time, after you're married. Your mother and I got married the same way and we're still together. What if you wait for the man you love and he doesn't love you back, leaving you to love him alone?

I can't reject the Alejandro family's proposal. They're ruling the country and would feel insulted if you rejected their only son's proposal. He chose you, Nancy, among all the other pretty young women he saw. You will marry Charles whether you like it or not."

"No, Father! I can't marry him!" Nancy screamed, bursting into tears.

Her father turned to leave her room and paused at the door, "Talk to your daughter, Olivia. Get her prepared for what she'll need to become Charles's wife. This Saturday, whether she likes it or not, she will be going to the presidential villa to live with Charles."