Chapter 1: What I hated the most

Brianna's POV

In my entire life, my only dream is to marry a man who will love me for who I am and not because I am filthy rich. I don't care about the status, all I want is true love. Okay, enough of that drama. By the way, I am Brianna Cruilein, twenty-four years old and I'm an only child. I graduated in college with a bachelor's degree in Accountancy. I'm a top board passer and currently working now as an accountant in our own wine company called WineAq. My parents owned the biggest wine corporation, well-known airlines and a hundred branches of restaurant across the country. That's not all because we have fifty haciendas in the country that made us the main exporter of well-known fruits and vegetables across twenty foreign countries. I'm not bragging that we're filthy rich but just introducing my family's wealth. I can say that I am extremely lucky being the heiress to inherit those wealth not until I am also a victim of an arranged marriage. All my suitors came from a noble and well-known families. They are all extremely rich like us, but the fact that I am going to marry the man I didn't love feels like I'm not an heiress. It was like I am born to be one of a thing that is useful for maintaining someone's wealth. What's the benefit of being the heiress of the filthy rich family if you're not able to choose the one you loved?

"Bri, your boyfriend is waiting outside!" I immediately look at the glass wall upon hearing my friend Chari about my boyfriend who's waiting for me. It's not that I am badly wanted to see him, I just feel like I am going to feel awkward again. Aldrich is my boyfriend for almost a month and he's the one I'm going to marry. It's not that I love him and I don't feel romantic excitement with him either. He's the one my parents agreed with to be my husband because of his identity of course, he is the only child of the President of the country we lived in. Also, he is a lawyer working under his father's name. I can say that he's a good catch, he's the man of every girl's dream, but not me. "I'm so envy at you, sweet heart," Chari said pouting her lips like a child.

"Envy my foot!" I glared at her knowing that she knows that I am not in love with my boyfriend. When I finished posting the monthly report, I stand with annoyance. I sighed when I saw Aldrich leaning on the wall in front of the accounting office. He was holding a bouquet of red roses. Obviously, that was for me. He always gave roses whenever he came here to fetch me. I think it's the consequences of my granted wish by my dad to not have a body guard beside me. And that he ordered this guy to fetch me every time I leave my work. That's okay with me, but to think that he always give me a bouquet of roses makes me annoyed. Imagine we are in a relationship for almost a month and my room was already filled of roses.

"Roses for you my dear," Aldrich said softly. He kissed me on my cheeks and hugged me afterwards. I don't think if he really loves me or it's just part of the condition my parents told him to do so. I will endure this for a moment and when the time comes that I can stand on my own, I will make my own decision even if it cost my life.

While walking, I think of like confronting him. Saying words that would turn him off about me so that our marriage will be off.

"Aldrich," I said not looking at him.

"Yes," he replied.

"Are you not tired of doing this things?" I asked him. "I can go home alone, I know how to drive a car and I know where our house was."

"I'm not," he said in a serious tone. "You are my future wife and I don't want anything bad will happen to you."

"Really?" I stopped then I look at him while frowning. He also stop walking and face me with his eyes wondering. "Are you really concern with me and do you really love me?" I asked him not minding if others will hear both of us talking. "Or you're just afraid of your father if you disobey him?" I said directly. I badly wanted him to dislike me so that he will be the one to cancel our marriage.

"Do you really want to know the truth?" Suddenly I feel like I don't want to hear his response. His eyes are full of resentment, the looks that sends a chill all over my body.

"O-of course!" I said complacently.

"Let's get in the car first, I don't like others, maybe paparazzi will hear us!" Aldrich said with authority. Then he held my hand and brought me in front of his car. He open the car door in front and help me get inside. Afterwards, he also get in his car. He start the engine and run it.

On our way home, all I did is to sighed. I was so annoyed because from the moment Aldrich drove his car, he didn't say anything to me about my question a while ago. We were about to get home but I had not yet heard a word from him. I just folded my arms together across my chest to let him know that I was disgusted. That's all I did until we got to the front gate of our mansion. I was wondering because he wasn't stop his car which he always does when he brought me home. He does not go inside but just in front of the gate, but now his mood seems to change. The gate automatically opened and Aldrich entered his car there. A few minutes, he stop his car when we reach the front door of our mansion. He immediately went outside his car and opened the car door where I was. I went out without looking at him feeling disgusted. I was about to enter inside when I noticed him that he was following me. I stopped and look at him.

"Aren't you come home yet?" I said wondering what is he up to now.

"No! You said you wanted to know the truth right?" I frowned upon hearing those words. He could have said that while he was driving earlier or maybe outside the house a while ago. Why does he even want to tell me that inside? Well, I don't want to argue with him for that matter so I let him get inside our house.

"Yes! Can you tell me now what is the truth?" I said waiting for his response. He was about to speak when my mom and dad was now walking towards our direction. They seem surprised seeing Aldrich inside but a surprised they were obviously happy.

"Hijo, what brought you here?" my dad said. Aldrich bow his head and greeted my parents. He was a polite man when he's in front of my parents, also in the public. But I don't have any idea if that's only for publicity because he's the President's son.

"I want to tell you something important uncle and auntie." My eyes immediately looked at Aldrich. What is that something important he want to tell my parents? My curiosity hits me because he would have said that only to me but he drag my parents about it.

"Sure, hijo," my mom said. "You should join us in our dinner and will let you discuss that important matters with us."

And that's what happened, we are now sitting in the dining hall where the long table was filled of foods that can feed a large number of people even if we're only four people who's going to eat. Being in a wealthy family, we live not only in luxurious things but also foods with lots of varieties to choose from.

In the middle of our dinner my dad started to talk.

"What is the important matter you're going to tell us hijo?" my dad asked. I just continue chewing my foods while listening to them.

"I wish Brianna and I will engage sooner, or should I say earlier rather." I was about to choke when I heard those words. The ending was, I just cough hard because I swallowed the foods inside my mouth unexpectedly. I immediately took the glass beside me and drink all the water inside it.

"What made you decide on that hijo?" my dad asked while smiling. It's a hundred percent sure my dad will like that idea of Aldrich. Both parties decided that Aldrich and I will be having our engagement party after two months but what is Aldrich doing now. He's making things easier and I don't like he's idea either.

"Actually, it's for Brianna's sake uncle, I want to prove that my love for her is genuine, because I feel like she's doubting about my feelings towards her." I noticed that my parents looked towards my direction but I just play dumb. Asking Aldrich was not a good idea at all. It makes the situation even worst.

"How sweet and thoughtful of you hijo?" my mom said smiling. I just calm myself not to overreact to what Aldrich had said. That's not the answer I wanted to hear from him.

"If you will allow me, I would like that to happen in just two weeks. Also, I will tell that to my parents to allow me and Brianna to have our engagement earlier." I just closed my eyes. I feel like I'm going to die young. I wanted to cry like a baby right now but I can't.

"Of course we will allow you hijo. You are both matured now, a perfect time to build your own family." I looked at Aldrich. Even if it's not obvious I know he's grinning towards me. I don't feel he's sincere about what he said.

"What can you say, Brianna?" my mom asked me. I have my real thoughts about that, but who cares about it. Even if I told them that I don't want to marry this guy, would they consider what I want? That's impossible and unclear as an eye cataracts.

"That would be great but I thought it would be perfect if we just follow the settled date." Hell no that I would agree with Aldrich. Two months is too earlier for me already, but I can make a plan to cancel that. But two weeks, I don't think I can think of a plan to stop it.

"Brianna, you should consider your boyfriend's proposal. It's for your own sake, you're getting older, too." I wanted to glare at my father but I can't of course. They keep telling me that it was for my own sake. But did they consider my feelings at the first place? Did they asked me if I wanted to marry him willingly? Yes, they treated me like a princess but that title only exist when I was a child and a teenager maybe.

"Sweet heart, Aldrich was just being thoughtful to you, you should consider him." What more can I say? My parents just telling me what to do and all I can do was to follow what they want. I don't want to argue with them of course.

"Okay, I'll consider him." I fake a smile. I don't want them to see that I was just forced saying those words. I looked at Aldrich, he was smiling towards me. A kind of smile, I'm not sure if it's true.

The dinner ended and Aldrich went back to the palace. He lived there with his parents. How lucky he is, right? While me, well I'm lucky too, but not in all aspects.

After having my dinner, I went straight to my room. I'm not exhausted but that's what I felt when I agreed with them. I lay down on my bed and let my body be on that position. My eyes are wide-open staring at the chandelier. Is marrying someone will make my life better? I can't think of a plan either how to stop that engagement in a short span of time. I just closed my eyes, hoping tomorrow will be a brighter day for me.