Chapter 2

• THE ONE WITH THE FINAL DECISION
• Leo’s hazel eyes lose the gleam that formerly lit up his face, which goes somber. He must be experiencing ego-related distress. His egotism was always high. But I care less now. He can even die for all I care.
• It was my pride that he touched. I will never be able to forget that. Never. And he better never cross my path again.
• After grabbing his tee and shirt from the floor, he storms out of my house and my life, leaving me wondering how on earth I will get him out of my heart. And how I am gonna face tomorrow now that the only hope that I had is all gone.
• Life is such a screw!
• My tears begin to flow again as I crouch on the floor, trying to stay as far away from this awful bed as I can. However, they do not last long as my phone soon begins to ring from the spot where it had earlier fallen to the floor.
• I drag myself and crawl towards it. My father's name on the screen adds more to my despair and dread. "Papa," I greet, striving to contain my sobs.
• "Dear, hello! My memory almost failed me. Please come over. We need to talk about a few things ahead of the party tomorrow."
• I knew this damned call couldn’t have been about anything else. "Alright, Papa! I am... I will head over there right away," I say.
• I drop the call, and close my eyes, reminiscing on how my life is taking a sharp turn. Do I still need to fight this cursed fate? What for? The idiot that I was fighting for has discarded me like I meant absolutely nothing to him.
• All in all, whether I have something to fight for or not, whether I am doomed to be tied to the fate that my parents chose for me tomorrow or not, I need to meet my father. There is no time to cry. I grab my car keys and get out.
• Minutes later.
• My eyes have been wandering on the beauty of this compound for minutes since I arrived. I had a recap of both the sweet and bad memories that I had here. "You seem to be pondering something?”
• I withdraw my attention from the space I have been staring at for ages and look in my father’s direction. “My princess, what is the matter?" My father lifts my face and places his finger under my chin.
• I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice his arrival. My eyes fall on his face, the lantern lights giving me the pleasure of studying his features.
• He has aged a great deal. Even his black beards are being dominated by the white ones. His face is starting to crease, and his chiseled jaws now appear more angular than they previously did. His eyes have a thin film over them that I have never noticed. When did my dad get so old? Considering that we see each other frequently at work, I wonder if we are this distant that I missed all of these changes. He is still strong for a sixty-five-year-old man, but he has aged so much.
• "Wait, you are not okay,” he remarks again, his eyes cruising around my face. “What happened? You were just fine when you earlier left the office?" He queries.
• Everyone would be able to tell that I have sobbed uncontrollably even under the not-so-bright moonlight. Thanks to my crimson nose and eyes and the velvety eyeballs. "It is nothing, papa. Let's talk?"
• I stomp past him and lead the way inside, the serene aura welcoming me right away as the memories I have in this mansion come flooding in. Both good and bad. I was about to start savoring in the beautiful aura and let the memories flow over before my eyes fell on this piece of trash sitting down at the dining table next to her mother and acting as if she didn't just come from fucking my boyfriend. Now this rotten shithead just ruined the aura!
• I should have brought the surprise I had planned for her, but I decided it would be more rewarding to see her reaction in the light of day rather than at night. I can already picture her face turning pallid and her big eyes popping out of their sockets. I'll so deal with this bitch! She can not screw me like that and go scot-free. Never!
• I walk and sit in my permanent spot next to my father, opting to mind my own business and also act cool if I can. I don’t want this whore to see how much she has broken me.
• "Will you not even greet us, Ellie?" Gracia, Nelly’s mother, speaks while shifting in her chair, acting as if she owns the entire castle. Or as if she merits such a title as the one she bears. Beh!
• "I can tell you two are doing okay. But if it brings you any joy, then, hello, Gracia!" I say it sarcastically.
• "We are doing fine," she responds in the same tone and manner as mine.
• Well, that is us. That is how we have been from the beginning and how we will always be until the end.
• I give them a sarcastic smirk after brushing my eyes on their faces. "Exactly why I didn't bother asking. Why on hell wouldn't you two be okay anyway?" I shrug my shoulders.
• She shrugs back. "We were worried you wouldn't come." She shoots, and her miniature ostrich gives her a fleeting glance.
• Oh, they were so worried? Poor creatures! I mean, fuck them! Are they trying to start a fight with me? Well, they know who the fuck wins, and that is me, Miss Riccaford! The one and only legit child of the great Richard Riccaford!
• "And what on hell made you perceive that, Gracia? Or do you mean to say, You two wish I wouldn't show up?" I snap.
• "And why would we wish that?" The wrinkles on her face suit her so well! They should become permanent. Maybe then my father will lose interest in her and kick their annoying asses out of our lives. Then I can live in peace.
• I bank my eyes on the restless bitch. This shameless whore has the balls to return to this house after sleeping with my boyfriend. "Enlighten me, Gracia. Or better yet, Nelly can," I fire back.
• "Huh...m...e! Oh, Please! Leave me the hell out of this!" The way she appears uneasy, huh? She seems to have taken a shower, but sadly, she could not scour off that disgusting scent of sex. She still stinks with the same rich sex aura!
• Given her discomforts, she may not have had the courage to confess her sins. Much better! It will make my small surprise more enjoyable. "I don't understand why you would think I would let my father down, Gracia, unless any of you had a specific reason to want otherwise. Furthermore, this is my home. Regrettably, you both can’t say the same,” I say, and this always hurts them to the chore.
• I zip their mouths with that. I nailed them.
• She serves herself a full bowl of some freaking garbage-stinking noodles while shrugging her shoulders.
• Father clears his voice, speaking, "If you are done picking at each other, can we get down to the issue at hand?" His wife passes him a bowl of noodles and chicken curry while his rich, domineering voice echoes through the area.
• The food appears to be more or less delish, however, I lost my appetite for anything since an hour ago. "I'll just have a glass of juice," I say as I pour myself some. "I'm here now, Papa. Tell me what I need to know,” I inquire while I savor my bland drink. Is this still my favorite Del Monte pineapple? Crap!
• He nods in agreement. "Yes. It's time for me to honor my end of the bargain. Tomorrow you will meet your betrothed, and the wedding preparations will commence.
• Clear as the day! Plain and simple! No riddles nor parables! As if it were as simple as what just came out of his mouth.
• "But Papa,” I begin in defense and disapproval, “you already know how I feel about this. I have often, always stated that I object to this arranged marriage. Can't you do something?" I beg.
• He shakes his head. "Ellie, there is nothing that we can do. I can't go back on my words.”
• "And you are so pleased with this, Papa?” I snap, feeling hopeless and helpless, “You are okay trading me off? Your only child, papa? You are not even going to think about how I feel or what happens to my life after that ridiculous marriage."
• "Oh, please! Quit acting so dramatic! It's just marriage, not a death sentence! What a crying baby!" Nelly fires.
• Who invited her into this discussion? No, who actually lied to her that she has the right to pop her nose in this matter? As what?
• I should put her in her place, but I have something more urgent to handle first. And I don’t want my emotions to betray me. I should not give her another reason to smile today. Her spade is in the fire.
• I turn to my father. “We better talk in your study, Papa. After all, this is an exclusively family matter between father and daughter," I mutter as I stand on my feet, my father doing the same.
• I don’t give even just a glance as father and I walk upstairs to his study. The pain of what Nelly did to me and the fear of what my tomorrow holds guides my steps to my father’s study.
• We get in, and we both sit across from each other. "Back to what I was saying, my dear. so…"
• "My decision is final, Papa,” I cut him off boldly, “I am not marrying him."
• I furiously stand up while he crosses his hands across his chest and leans back to his swivel chair. He says, “Neither you nor I have a choice. You must do what needs to be done.”
• I glare at him. "You don't feel sorry for me, Papa? Not even sympathy for your daughter can make you change this."
• "I have told you from the start, Ellie, and you have always known that this was bound to happen. We cannot do anything. You have to do this."
• "Well, I do not want to. I am not going to.” I stand my ground, unbended and unthreatened, unwilling to bow to this absurdity.
• "Ellie, please,” His voice detonates, his gaze fierce on me, “don't rile me up. I beg you, don't make this any more difficult for me; everything is on the line."
• "I know. But tell me, Pa. What is more important to you? Your daughter's life or your reputation and company?" I challenge. I know he has a choice here. There is always a choice in everything. He can do something if he wants to.
• "You know that if I had to choose, Ellie, you would be the one I would choose. However, that is not the case here. This is about me keeping my word and fulfilling my pledge to a specific person." He stands up and walks to me. "Damian Riccaforte is a good man, and I can bet my life and my fortune on that. At some point, you will come to adore him."
• Ooh, wow! Do we really train our hearts to love, or do we love what our hearts choose? What shit of love is this one?
• "How could you possibly have such faith in someone you know nothing about, Father? What if he turns out to be a psycho, a crazy maniac, a drug addict, or a pusher? What then?" I argue.
• "I know the Riccarfortes way from childhood, my dear. What you are thinking of them is an insult,” he says.
• As usual, there is no chance of me winning this battle against my father. There is no point in begging or arguing. It will all be just but a waste of time and energy in the end.
• I nod bitterly. "I suppose there is no other way to go about this, Papa?" I ask. The irony is that only I have the final say on this one. Only I have the answer to this question.
• He shakes his head. "I’m afraid not. My hands are tied."
• However, mine are not, Papa. My hands are not tied, nor am I caged, nor will I let myself be forced into this cage. I will do whatever I possibly can to save my ass. There is no way I am risking my life merely because of a ridiculous agreement. If you can't end this absurdity, then I will, Papa. I just hope that someday, you will find it in your heart to forgive me.
• My heart is racing as I collapse into his arms for a hug. "I'll leave to get ready, Dad!" I say as we pull away.
• He smiles, hugging my shoulders. "Alright. Be careful on the road, my dear. See you. I love you," he says, rubbing my shoulders gently.\
• "I love you too, Pa," I say from the bottom of my heart.
• I love him so much. I still respect him so much. But sometimes, we ought to put ourselves and our interests before anyone else. Selfishness is sometimes not a crime. And this time, I am choosing myself and my happiness.
• I turn my back to him, tap my feet on the floor, and walk out.