Chapter 3 Unwanted Arranged Marriage

• Audrey's eyes blinked a few times when she felt the sunlight hitting her face. Audrey gently massaged her temples as the pain in her head hit. After getting a little better, the woman opened her eyes while looking around—but suddenly Audrey's face changed when she saw herself in a room with shades of gray combined with black. The room feels familiar. Plus the smell of the perfume that she memorized burst into her sense of smell.
• “Why am I in Xander's apartment?” Audrey immediately realized that she was in Xander's private apartment. Of course Audrey would never forget this room. The masculine setting, the bed, the scent of perfume, all of which Audrey knew very well.
• For a moment, Audrey was silent trying to remember why she was in Xander's apartment. She remembers last night she went to the nightclub because she was so frustrated with Xander's attitude that always ignored her.
• Audrey remembers drinking heavily and must be drunk. But why is she now in Xander's apartment? Could Xander have picked her up at the nightclub? No. That's absolutely impossible! There was no way Xander would pick her up. Audrey knew her fiancé very well.
• “Good morning, Miss Audrey.” A maid walked over to Audrey while carrying a tray filled with warm chocolate milk. “Please have a drink, Miss. I made hot chocolate milk for you.”
• “Thank you.” Audrey accepted the chocolate milk, and drank it slowly. When finished, Audrey returned the glass to the maid while asking, “Where's Xander? Why didn't I see him?”
• “Mr. Xander is in his study, Miss. Maybe Mr Xander will be here soon,” replied the maid politely.
• Audrey nodded her head. “You can go now. Thanks for making me warm milk.”
• “With pleasure, Miss Audrey.” The maid lowered her head, then excused herself from before Audrey.
• Click!
• The door opened. A faint smile appeared on Audrey's face when she saw Xander stepped into the room. The pain in her heart seemed to disappear. Audrey had never been angry with Xander for long. Repeatedly ignored and rejected still will not make Audrey's love less.
• “Xander, last night you picked me up?” Audrey stepped closer to Xander. The woman looked at Xander with a gentle and affectionate gaze.
• “Can you just not make my life difficult for once, Audrey? Why do you go to nightclubs alone? If anything happens to you then I will be the one to blame!” Xander exclaimed raising his voice. The man's gaze stared at Audrey so sharply.
• Audrey lowered her head slightly. Audrey had to admit that she was the one at fault for going to a nightclub alone. It was the despair and heartbreak that drove her to do so.
• Actually, Audrey often went to nightclubs, but usually Audrey would be with her cousin and of course guarded by two bodyguards. However, last night Audrey decided to run away because her parents wanted to do work in her private apartment.
• “I go to nightclubs because I'm lonely, Xander. After my birthday party, you never replied to my messages,” Audrey said quietly and the expression on her face was so gloomy.
• “I am busy,” Xander replied coldly and so nonchalantly.
• “You can reply to messages from your assistant or your employees in the office. But why can't you just one time reply to my message, Xander?” Audrey exclaimed with a flushed face holding back annoyance.
• “I don't want to fight, Audrey! Stop being childish!” Xander gave Audrey a sharp and warning look.
• Audrey's eyes were red from holding back her tears from spilling out. Every time she argues with him, he will always said she is childish. “I'm your fiancé, Xander. I'm not being childish, but I just want you to keep in touch with me! Is it difficult for you to do that? I always keep in touch with you every day. But why can't you do what I did to you?”
• Xander closed his eyes briefly. Try not to get angry. “Don't ask me to do what you often do. You obviously know, I've never wanted that. Stop expecting the impossible!”
• Audrey desperately held back her tears from falling. Audrey had always believed that Xander's cold and rude nature was a form of expressing his feelings for her. However, after Audrey grew up, Audrey felt an emptiness. Even Audrey sensed Xander never really cared about her.
• “Mr. Xander?” A maid stepped closer to Xander. On reflex, Xander turned his gaze to the source of the voice.
• “What is it?” Xander asked coldly with an expressionless face.
• “Sorry to interrupt, Sir. But I'm here to let you know that Mr Marco is coming. He is waiting for you out front,” replied the maid which immediately made Xander's face turn into annoyance.
• ‘Shit!’ Xander cursed inwardly. Since the incident at Audrey's birthday party, Xander had never appeared in front of his family. Not only that, but Xander always avoids his parents. Because every time he met his family, Xander would always be provoked by anger.
• Xander tried to control himself. Every time he met his father, it would be impossible not to argue. Xander wanted to dodge, but Xander knew he couldn't dodge now. Moreover, Audrey is also here.
• “Ask my Dad to wait. I'll see him soon,” Xander said coldly and looked so forced.
• “Yes sir.” The maid lowered her head, backing away from Xander and Audrey.
• Xander averted his gaze, looking at Audrey who had been silent for a while but had a gloomy expression on her face. “Take a shower. I'm going to see my father.”
• Audrey nodded at Xander's words.
• ***
• Xander stepped into the room where his father was. Xander's face was cold and resolute, implied to be holding back annoyance. When Xander arrived in the living room, he looked at Marco who greeted him with a sharp look and a look of warning in his eyes.
• “Where have you been, Xander? Why are you avoiding me and your Mom?” Marco cried out in anger.
• “You can still meet me here which means I'm not avoiding you. Do not exaggerate. I'm not a kid,” Xander said coldly.
• Marco clenched his fists tightly. “You and Audrey's marriage is already arranged. In two weeks you will be married. I want you to focus on your marriage. Take time off at the company,” he said firmly.
• “You know I don't want to get married right now. Why do you keep pushing me, Dad?” growled Xander trying to control himself.
• “How long are you going to keep saying you don't want to get married, Xander? You are 30 years old. It's time for you to get married. You and Audrey have been engaged for seven years. You shouldn't just hanging your relationship with Audrey for too long!” Marco called out with emphasis.
• Xander smiled sarcastically. “This matchmaking is at your compulsion. I asked many times to cancel, but you never let me cancel this engagement. Why, Dad? If you like Audrey, then go ahead and marry her.”
• “Watch your words, Xander! I already treat Audrey like my own daughter!” Marco snapped.
• “Whatever you say! I don't want to get married yet. Don't force me to get married!” Xander said warningly.
• “No rejection. You and Audrey have to get married in two weeks. If you still argue with me, you better leave the company. Remember that not only will you have to leave the company, but you won't be able to see your Mom or sister anymore. All choices are yours, Xander. Are you willing to let our family face public embarrassment?” Marco reversed Xander's words, with a hint of threat.
• Yes, Marco's words managed to silence Xander. Xander was not afraid of losing his wealth, but Xander didn't want to see his mother and younger sister suffer the embarrassment of an annulment of the marriage that was in sight.
• The public will definitely make the news hot. Considering that Audrey was the daughter of a well-known businessman in Rome, it seemed unlikely that this news would not go viral. All this time all Xander cared about was his mother and younger sister, who was still in college.
• Xander eased the emotions that had been building up inside of him. Xander's mind was so messed up. On the other hand, Xander could not marry Audrey. Xander's heart and mind was and will always be on one woman.
• However, under these circumstances it seemed that Xander had no other choice. Xander seemed to be on the brink and behind him was an enemy who wanted to kill. One step then Xander will plunge into the abyss. But even if he backs down, the possibility of death will pick him up. In every aspect, Audrey has it all. It's just that Xander's heart was never attached to Audrey.
• “Fine, you can arrange my wedding preparations however you want,” answered Xander who finally chose to agree to his father's request. Although it was undeniable that his heart felt very heavy, but Xander had no other choice.