Chapter 2 – The Runaway Bride

• Pak!
• A loud, slapping sound was heard in the living room of the Williams Villa in Dale.
• “What do you think you’re doing?!” Lawrence shouted, glaring at his daughter with his bloodshot eyes.
• Vernice trembled in pain as she held her cheek, starting to feel the burning sensation from the slap. Vernice gave her father a steely look before dropping her bag to the floor, "Do you want me to get stuck into that marriage? I don't even know that man! I haven't even seen him except the pictures you sent me! Are you out of your mind?" she lashed out.
• Her father grabbed her by the wrist. “The De Clarions already gave you money, a ring, a villa, what more do you want? Do you have to know the guy?” Lawrence asked, tightening his grip on his daughter. "You don't need to see him, do you? Tristan had already told you, it was also clear to him that this was all a setup. You won't be obliged to play the role of his wife. Why did you still run away? You could have gotten more from this! You could have saved our company completely!" her father snarled.
• Lawrence was furious at his daughter’s ignorance. They could have taken advantage of having a De Clarion for an in-law, but this daughter of his was so stupid that she decided impetuously and ran away from the wedding.
• “Honey, calm down,” Esme pulled her husband away from their daughter. “There’s no use getting mad over this. After what happened, I doubt Tristan would still want our daughter to be his wife. Let’s just make use of what was given to her,” she proposed.
• Lawrence glanced at her before turning his attention to Vernice. “How can I have someone so stupid for a daughter?!” he snapped before pulling his arm away from his wife and sitting on the couch.
• “I’ll give you half the money Tristan gave me,” Vernice told her father. “I’ll also give you the documents for the villa. I can’t live there anyway, since it’s in Bree. You can sell it if you want, but I’m keeping the ring!”
• She ran up the stairs and to her bedroom after telling her father everything she wanted to say to him. Lawrence shook his head in frustration, while Esme could only let out a sigh.
• They really couldn’t tell Vernice what to do. She never listened to them. She already disagreed with the idea after they told her about it. But Lawrence insisted and now she ran away after getting that much from Tristan.
• “If only Yssabelle was alive, I wouldn’t have to settle with her!” he sneered. Esme’s reaction turned sour after hearing that name.
• ‘Why can’t he forget her?’ she thought to herself.
• Esme was a mistress. Yssabelle and Vernice were only a year apart when they were born. Lawrence broke up with Esme even before he found out she was pregnant.
• Rose, his first wife, knew of Esme and her daughter, but she never stopped Lawrence from taking responsibility for them. It was Lawrence who decided to cut their ties.
• When Williams Corporation was still a big shot at Bree, Yssabelle, her eldest daughter, was kidnapped. She was only 7 then. The kidnappers were asking for 100 million dollars for ransom.
• Lawrence met with the kidnappers at Bree Port. But just as he was about to get a hold of Yssabelle, the police arrived.
• The kidnappers fired shots and so did the police. Yssabelle was in the middle of the crossfire. Before Lawrence got her, she was shot and fell into the sea. Unfortunately, they were unable to find her, and Yssabelle was declared dead after two weeks of searching.
• Up to this day, Lawrence still doesn’t know who called the police or how they found out about the kidnapping, and why they suddenly showed up at the meeting place. If it weren’t for them, Yssabelle, Rose, and even her father would still be alive. He wouldn't have lost his beloved wife and daughter.
• When Philip Williams learned of his granddaughter’s demise, he suffered from a heart attack and died on the spot. Two years after Yssabelle and Philip’s death, Rose followed.
• Rose stopped eating and had a hard time sleeping when they lost their daughter until she succumbed to depression and ended her own life. At her funeral, Esme showed up with their daughter, Vernice.
• Whenever Lawrence recalls the past, he can’t help but shed a tear. Esme noticed this and started sobbing. “You still can’t forget about them…” she muttered before following her daughter upstairs.
• Esme opened the door of her daughter's room and saw her sitting on her bed, crying. "You did the right thing!" Esme told Vernice as she approached her.
• “That Tristan doesn’t love you and you don’t have feelings for him. Even if he’s the richest man in Bree, his money won’t save you from sadness!” she told her.
• Vernice looked up, slowly reached out for her mother’s hand, and squeezed it lightly. She knows everything, how she and her mother were unwanted.
• She knows how her father still can't forget the other two people who had already passed away. She knows of her mother’s sadness and despair. And she was thankful that her mother would not let her suffer the same predicament.
• “I’m leaving for Lys with Hans, Mom,” Vernice told her, sniffing. Hans is her long-time boyfriend. They have been together for seven years.
• She first met the man when she was in college. She was studying Fashion Design at that time and Hans was a Finance student. It was love at first sight.
• “Go!” Esme urged her. “You don’t even have to let your father know!”
• Vernice’s eyes widened for a moment, she was surprised after hearing what her mother said. She never expected that she would be supportive of her.
• She wanted to ask Esme why she was letting her go. But she was also scared that her mother might change her mind, so she did not bother.
• Esme helped her daughter as she started packing. She doesn't have that many clothes at home, since she has been living with Hans for two years now. But there is still other important stuff that she needs to take with her.
• “Here,” handing Esme a thick envelope. "The bank card with 20 million is there, as well as the documents for the villa," she told her.
• “It’s up to you whether you give it to Dad or keep it to yourself.”
• She finished packing her stuff and peeks outside her room. As soon as she was certain her father wouldn’t see her, she made a run for it. Vernice did not even bother kissing her Mom goodbye.
• She started her car as soon as she was inside and drove to Hans’ office. “Why are you here?” he asked, surprised.
• "Pack up, we're leaving," she tells him, smiling widely. Hans creases his forehead at her. "We're going to Lys, you can start your own financial company there, I have the money," she informs her boyfriend, and the man's face cracks into a broad smile.
• “Are you sure about this?” Hans asked, glancing at Vernice in the passenger seat. They are now on their way to Hans' apartment to pack up his clothes and gather all the necessary stuff.
• Vernice reaches out for his hand and leans on his shoulder. "Yes, it's only you that I want to spend my life with. Let's start now,” she giggles.
• Hans tightened his grip on Vernice’s hand, kissing the back of it. He’s happy about it too. Although he does not love her that much anymore, he is still happy that she is willing to do anything for her. Vernice, however, is unaware of his feelings for her.
• ---
• “You can leave now,” Tristan pulled his arm from under the woman’s head. It was only two in the morning. He slowly got up from the bed and grabbed a cigarette from his back pocket before picking up the towel and wrapping it around his waist.
• He went straight to Hotel Zeus after his last meeting, for dinner and a sweet night. Tristan is with Agnes, a popular actress and model in Bree.
• The woman is known for climbing the beds of high-ranking people to get what she wants, and her most recent target is Tristan. “Can’t I leave in the morning?” she said, almost in a whisper, while stretching her arms out.
• Tristan glances at her and his expression turns sour. Whenever he recalls that she’s been with different men, he feels disgusted. However, he can’t resist the temptation.
• When he first saw her, he knew he must have her. The young De Clarion had her checked anyway and she is free from any communicable disease, she is safe.
• Tristan De Clarion had been deprived of any sexual activity in the past two weeks and his stress had piled up ever since that chaotic wedding. He came across Agnes at Eden Bar and she happened to walk into his trap. He invited her to dinner and she readily agreed.
• Tristan can’t recall how many times they have done it in the past 4 hours, but now he is tired and he wants to rest. He can’t do that if this woman is lying in bed with him, so he needs to get rid of her, as soon as possible.
• Although he can just transfer to another VIP suite, he can't do that right now because Joyce is staying there, and she is more important than Agnes, so, between the two, it was Agnes that had to go.
• Joyce is Tristan’s childhood friend and savior. She saved him from drowning in their garden pond, months after he was released from the hospital. If it wasn’t for Joyce, De Clarion Empire wouldn’t have an heir right now.
• He’s been in an on-and-off relationship with her since he was 20, it’s been 9 years and he still can’t let go of her. There is just something about her that she doesn’t want to lose, especially not to anyone else.
• "If you don't go now, I won't see you again," he told her off.
• Agnes rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth. ‘Typical asshole womanizer’, she thought to herself. But she still forces her body to stand up, regardless of the pain between her legs. He was a savage in bed.
• “I’m leaving now,” Agnes announced after taking a shower and dressing up.
• Tristan turns around and nods toward the side table. “Take that card and buy yourself a new set of underwear,” he orders. “The ones you’re wearing are too skimpy, find something cute,” and then he enters the bathroom, leaving the woman dumbfounded.