1 Prologue

"Isabella, can I come in?" I slowly looked up from my table to the door when my mom knocked.

"Yes mom."

My mom went in and sat on my bed in her favorite position, which is sitting with her knees crossed. So sophisticated of her.

"What are you doing darling?"

"I'm finishing my projects mom. Just some finishing touches." I replied, still busy with putting the strips of paper together to form a not great but at least a good cover. Lately, I've been so stressed with school, projects there and assignments here. Ugh! When will this end?

"Will you really not change your mind Isa? Is teaching really that important to you?"

Her words made me stop with what I'm doing. I turned and face her. I smiled.

"Mom, we talked about this already. you knew being a doctor is not my passion right? You already know that teaching is my passion right?" I sighed. "Izaia's there, she's studying to become a doctor and when she becomes one, I know she can handle our Hospital."

My mother sighed.

"Well, you're right. Your younger sister is doing excellent in studying. And don't worry, we support you."

I smiled. Thank God! My mom understands me.

"Thank you mom."

My mom flashed her happy yet worried smile. What's wrong? I frowned and look at her.

"Is something bothering you mom?"

She reluctantly looked at me.

"Uhmm..." she sighed. "It's complicated and you're too young to know. Maybe 2 years after you graduate, I'll tell you"

My eyebrows furrowed. My mother never hesitates on telling me her secrets. Especially after Dad left us for her mistress.

"Mom, you can always tell me anything. Is there something I need to know? Promise, I'll understand it even if it's complicated"

She sighed.

"Okay. Listen to me carefully okay."

I nodded.

"So this is about your Lola Dometilla and her best friend Teresita. Back in the days, your grandmother likes agreements and the likes. She even needs a contract every time she comes in to a negotiation. She met Teresita and she became her bff. They were really close. Your Lola met your Lolo, same as Teresita, she met someone and both of them got married to the love of their lives. And to make the story short, they agreed to marry their first grandchildren of their first child."

"So that means I'm going to marry Lola Teresita's grandchild?"

Is this a joke?

"Sort of. And coincidence as it is. Lola Teresita's first grandchild is a boy."

I laughed at what she said, I mean that's absurd. I don't need men.

"Mom, this is not the medieval period. Lola Dometilla might actually forget their contract."

"Actually, your Lola wants me to tell you about this so that you'll be ready."

Sh*t this is not happening to me. Contracts can lead to a bad ending. What if that guy's abusive? A serial killer? Sh*t! I'm so dead.

"Maybe we could do something about it? I mean this is so absurd. Where's lola? Can I talk to her?"

My mom looked down and I can see sadness on her face.

"They have legalized the papers Isabella. And if one of them will not do the deal, they would pay a huge amount of money."

"How much? Maybe we can pay that. Our Hospital is doing great."

"2 million dollars." My mom said, still looking down.

"T-wo million dollars? Sh*t"

"Language" my mom hissed.

I looked at my mom with a hopeless expression on my face. Why is this happening to me? What mistake did I do to end up like this?

"Mom?" I put both of my hands on my face. I'm frustrated damn it! "Please tell me there is another way to get out of this mess?"

She sighed.

"I don't know Isabella. I'm sorry."

Why? Of all people, why me?

I opened my mouth to blurt out my frustrations when the knocking on the door interrupted me from saying the next word.

"It's open"

The door opened and our housemaid came in.

"Mam, dinner's ready."

"Okay Meling, we'll be there in a sec."

Ate Meling nodded and went down. I looked at my mom again.

"We'll talk about this with your Lola okay? Let's have dinner first."

My mom went out of my room first. I sighed. What a luck! Psh

I cleaned the mess I made before I went down to eat dinner. During dinner, I was silent and still bothered with what my Mom said. I'm in shock. Who would want an instant husband? Not me, that's for sure.

After dinner, I went inside my room and sent a message to my friends.

From: Isabella

'Garden Cafe tom.'

Sending...

Sent

Minutes later my phone rang. I checked it and its their replies.

Lovely: Sure, what time?

Meralona: Sure bebs

Aeron: What time?

Isabella: 8 AM. Fresnie's treat

After sending my reply. I carelessly throw my phone on the bed and flopped my body beside it. I'm tired! My braincells are tired.

MORNING came and I hurriedly went to the bathroom and took the quickest shower I could take and dressed up in a white halter top dress and paired it with my favorite chanel flats.

I went down the stairs, grab a loaf of bread and went out to find a taxi I could ride.

Garden Café is a very comfy café. The walls are pink and there's a big glass window in front. The counter is made of wood, the upper part is filled with dangling fairy lights while the lower part is full of flowers in different kinds. Their tables are also made of woods while their chairs are pink cushions. They also have a separate wall filled with hanging plants.

"Hey guys." I greeted while waving my hands to catch their attention.

"Hey!" They greeted back.

"I ordered for you." Then Lovely placed a plate of donut and milkshake in front of me.

"So what's with the sudden meet up?" Fresnie asked.

"Yeah, any problem Isa?" Mera

"Is it required to treat your friends if they have any problem? If that's the case then I won't tell you guys if I have any problem." Jaica

The boys laughed while I sighed.

"I have a problem." I said while playing with the straw of my milkshake.

They all look at me with a worried expression on their faces.

"You can open up to us you know." Aeron said and patted my head. This is what I love about my friends, they're always there for me.

I looked at them and told them what happened.

"That's bad." Darel commented.

"Yeah, I know."

"Don't worry bebs, whatever happens we're always here. You can always run to us." Lovely said while tapping my back to comfort me.

"Lovely's right, we're here."

I looked at them and smiled. I wanna stay like this forever. Hay!

Marriage for convenience. I sighed. This is gonna be a rough ride.