A few months ago…
Kenneth McBride sulked in his room because he didn’t want to face the woman he was going to marry. Kenneth sat in front of his window looking out at the sea breaking against the rocks and the seagulls that circled catching the winds. Kenneth’s room was filled with growing darkness, the shades drawn to keep the light out. His dark hair unkempt, tousled over his eyes. His chin stubble scraped his hand as he ran it over his face.
In the other room, he could hear his mother arguing with Gabriel McBride regarding his arranged marriage to Claire Beckham. Kenneth just learned about arranged marriage, and just like usual, it was to further their connection in the business world. His older brother, Daniel, had already accepted his fate to marry a woman he didn’t meet yet.
Kenneth heard that Claire had just arrived in Azura. The woman studied Business Management in another country, just like him. He just returned to the country to assume the vacant position after his brother took an indefinite leave to focus on his wedding.
It was their first meeting, but he felt intimidated. Only then did he realize that his grandfather’s manipulation of his life was no longer right. He wanted to break free but didn’t have the courage to leave the old man.
“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?”
Kenneth immediately stood up as Gabriel McBride entered his room. His tongue was dry like a desert. His mouth had gone dry trying to build up the courage to stand up against his grandfather.
“Kenneth, I asked you a question! What do you think you are doing right now? Have you gone mad?”
Kenneth tasted bile as he listened to his grandfather speak. His words were like fists thrown into his gut. He could tell that Gabriel McBride was furious at him.
“I don’t want to marry Claire Beckham or whoever it is, Grandfather,” he informed the old man.
“Maybe you’ve forgotten that I’m the one in charge of this house!” Gabriel shouted.
“I don’t even know her! How can you ask me to marry a complete stranger?”
“Did I tell you to marry today or tomorrow? I just asked to meet the woman and his father, who are waiting outside. How dare you try to hide in your bedroom!”
“Still, I don’t want to get married,” he continued to refuse.
“What else do you want to do? If you marry Claire, our influence will grow, and we’ll become even wealthier!” Gabriel clutched his chest. “Why do you have to be so stubborn, Kenneth McBride? Do you want to be stripped of your privilege as my grandson?”
“I just don’t want to get married!” Kenneth stubbornly stood his ground against the tyranny of Gabriel McBride, but then a strong punch landed on his jaw. He couldn’t dodge it, and his balance wavered silently. He touched the part of his face where his grandfather’s fist had hit and winced in pain. Actually, he felt like he had lost a tooth!
“I’m sorry. My emotions carried me away. Ken, listen to me. I’m old and sick. Can’t you give in to my request?” Gabriel used his condition to blackmail Kenneth.
Kenneth knew that his grandfather had a heart condition. His father had died from a heart attack before. Could his conscience bear it if he became the reason for his grandfather’s heart attack again? Yes, Gabriel McBride had a cruel side, but he wasn’t that heartless. However, he couldn’t imagine marrying someone he barely knew!
“I’m sorry, Grandfather, but I really don’t want to marry Claire Beckham.” Kenneth continued to stand his ground.
“You’re a useless bastard! I didn’t raise you to treat me like this! You ungrateful brat! Do you want me to drag you out?” Gabriel couldn’t restrain himself and repeatedly struck his grandson. He only stopped when blood started flowing from Kenneth’s lips. “What? Do you want me to drag you out?”
Out of extreme fear, Kenneth quietly wiped his bleeding lip. He entered the bathroom and washed his face. He fixed his hair and then walked out of his room. He was absentminded as he made his way to the family room where Claire’s family was waiting. He didn’t notice the woman he bumped into.
“I’m sorry -”
He didn’t notice the woman he bumped into at first, his mind occupied with thoughts of work and family. But as he turned to apologize, their eyes met and something shifted within him.
It was as if the world had paused and focused solely on the two of them. Her gaze held him captive, and at that moment, he felt a flutter deep within his chest. His heartbeat suddenly quickened, each thump sounding like the echoing of a drum in his ears.
He knew then that this was no simple bump-in, for it felt as though heart-shaped figures were emerging from his eyes towards the woman in front of him. Could this be love? If so, his grandfather’s words echoed true – it wouldn’t be challenging to love Claire because he was already in love with her.
Suddenly, Kenneth realized that it wouldn’t be bad after all. The woman who was chosen to become his wife was beautiful and sexy. Aside from that there was something in her that was so mesmerizing! Suddenly, he saw a bright future with her, but then his hopes were immediately shattered when he learned her name.
“You must be Daniel’s brother! It’s nice to meet you, Kenneth. I am Isabelle,” she introduced herself, and smiled sweetly.
For a moment, Kenneth was frozen and couldn’t move. The woman was Isabelle Ortega. What about Claire Beckham? Then, he looked closely at her and groaned. If only he paid attention to the photo that Daniel showed to him, he wouldn’t be so stupid to think that Isabelle was his fiancee.
“Nice to meet you, too, Isabelle,” Kenneth said as he accepted Isabelle’s hand for a handshake.