1 Prologue

"No, mom! I do not agree with this." I will never marry a man I don't love. Why should I? Just for the sake of money and prestige, I will sacrifice my happiness for the rest of my life?

I may be idealistic especially when it comes to love, as my sister would say, but people have their own beliefs to follow, and being one is my choice. I believe in love, how it is able to defy the odds, meet heaven and earth, and conquer the impossible.

"Enough of your fantasies, Amy. You're too old for this." Mom roared. "No matter how you protest in this marriage, it is final. You have been arranged with the Smiths' heir from the very beginning."

"Think about it, Amy. This is good for our company… for our family. I've met Uncle Dave's son once, he's a fine man and raised in a family that's similar to us. Maybe in the end, you two can work it out just like how your brother-in-law and I worked it out." My sister, Ella, trying to entice me. But they're to no avail. Ella has been married to a business tycoon for two years already, also by the arrangement made by our parents. They have a one-year-old son now. Things worked out for them and are happy together, our parents and her in-laws were delighted with this.

"But we're different." I stormed out of the study and locked myself in my room. No matter how much they try to convince me, I would never concede for this. It's not because I being a rebel or a rich spoiled brat, but because there's someone I wanted to spend my whole life with.

My phone vibrated from the bedside table caught my attention. Troy.

[Hey!] I stared at the message for a while and with just a simple message, it seems that the rage I felt from the argument that I had with my family calmed down.

Troy and I both studied Business and Finance at Berkeley. He came from the other side of the world where these hot boybands and girl groups with their music that's full of life came from. While me, well I grew up in a boring and classical upbringing. Etiquette must be properly observed, piano and violin recitals, Beethoven echoed throughout the living room. Indeed, we are worlds apart but we managed to meet in between – and that in-between is love.

I smiled as the thought came to my mind. [Troy, we're indeed worlds apart but we managed to meet in between]

[Here you go again with your poetic lines. Amy, are you breaking up with me?]

[Haha, no! Why would you think that way? It's just, comes to think about it. We're raised in an entirely different culture and upbringing.]

[Come out. I need to see my girl!] I excitedly looked out my window and saw him leaning his back on his car, waving his hand as he saw me watching him through my window. I changed my clothes into plain black tees and jeans, stealthily walked out the main door ignoring the maids and the security roaming around the mansion. As I entered the passenger's seat of his car, I felt someone pulling me towards him tugging my neck with his hands and grabbed my lips with his. We kissed passionately inside the car until we both ran out of breath.

"I missed you!" I could sense his longing after several weeks we haven't seen each other after graduation. He had to go back to Seoul to settle some of their company's matters. Troy and his family are well known in South Korea because of their online games which are big hits all over Asia.

"Me too." I smiled back at him. When I am facing this man, I cannot help myself but be thankful for him being here by my side. Although I don't have a company to run, I cannot escape the pressures my family is giving me with this entire arranged marriage thing. Gloom started to cloud my eyes and his gaze studied mine.

He started the engine and drove to the spot where we usually have our dates – the beach near our campus.

"Now Amy, spit it out." Looking at him confused, "Amy, I know you. Something did happen, didn't it?"

"Tr… Troy." I wanted to be honest. I wanted to pour out my thoughts like I always to towards him. He knows me, I can't hide anything from him. It's not that I want to hide this arrange marriage thing to him… it's just that I'm afraid he might misunderstand.

I gathered up my courage and said, "Troy, my parents wanted me to get married."

"Cool, then let's get married." He held my hand, grinning.

"No Troy, it's an arranged married." His bubbly self was changed into a bitter expression.

"What's with the face?" I chuckled as I was amused by the face this man in front of me is making. "Stop that sour face. You're getting ugly. Did I say I will marry that I-don't-know-who bachelor?"

Seeing his face changing brightly, I gently pulled him closer towards me and enveloped my hands on his waist.

"I will not marry him no matter what." I looked up to him and give him a peck on his lips, "It is you whom I love."

"But Amy, what will your parents say?"

"Now you're worried about my parents? Isn't it you who taught me to follow my own heart?"

"Huh?" he chuckled, "when did I?"

"Troy, if they insist on this marriage, will you take me with you?"

He looked deeply into my eyes, trying to decipher what's inside my head.

"Are you sure about this, Amy?"

There's no more turning back.

"Troy, let's live a new life together."

I am certain of this. I hugged him tightly as if telling him that I will never let go. This is my promise to you, Troy. I want to be with you – forever.