Excerpt: Arranged Marriage.

"Just 60 seconds, Lissa." Donald's masculine voice whispered upon the delicate ridge of my back neck.

I flinched. Felt his soft hands gently flattening my waist. It coiled snakingly around my abdomen. I closed my eyes as I experienced the force. It paused me at the height of my grief.

I had forgotten that part of my dress was open.  I became muddled when he touched me suddenly. Aside from that, his warm body closely leaned on me, embracing me tightly from behind and his chin rested upon my right shoulder tenderly.

My entire body shook. I was so surprised that I was dumbfounded.

"Left with 30 seconds, please." his tenor voice hushedly spoke to me.

Blinking was the only thing I could think to do.

I was too carried away that I forgot I was vexing seconds ago. His hands on my flesh sent a shiver of warmth and chill down my spine. 

As I sucked in some saliva, my throat moved downward.

"What… are… you... doing exactly?" I seldom spoke.

He let out, "Time up," but he was still tightly gripping me.

The sweetly spoken of my name, "Lissa...," made my pulse beat faster and he added, "Time up." He repeated it with a hoarse voice.

"Err—…" My voice broke down as I tried to speak. I was unable to think of anything to say but when I did, I was stammering, "You ought… to let go of... me…"

Quicker than I expected, he interrupted me and whispered, "Let go of my hands."

Immediately, I looked down. I was mortified to see my hands pressing flatly upon his. The warmth crawling underneath my skin was too intoxicating. And wouldn't mind standing here by myself for all of eternity with him.

"Err—"

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Chapter 1: Arranged Marriage.

Melissa's POV

When my father told me I should come back to the City to complete my High School which I was in my last semester. I felt it was odd… Transferring school at such a delicate stage. I hope he could give me the chance to complete school where I was.

Once I arrived in his City, he set up an arranged marriage with me.

I was completely awestruck when he slammed the file he had been glaring at on the table. Although he has been talking through his nostrils all the time he was scanning through the file. All along, I was so attentive yet wondering whom he was referring to until his last statement hushed out.

"Our family will eat dinner with Alessandro's family next weekend. And a set date will be determined for your engagement to his Heir." 

My heart fell to the lowest depths as his ominous, black eyes pierced through to my orbs. Dad was talking about me? My proposed marriage to a man I hardly know?

Underneath my breath, I muttered the name 'Alessandro?' in distaste, and asked myself whether I had heard him well. I found it incomprehensible that my father would consider marrying me off at such a young age.

That family name doesn't sound familiar to me. Perhaps, that was a member of his crew because the money wouldn't be a reason for him to do that to me. We were doing so fine. He was well-known across the country and the Mafia Lord of the Whale Wing in the western region. 

He was a competent single father and of course wealthy. His company was one of the top companies in the country. Inclusive, he was into politics recently. 

His achievement was top-notch and such a man wouldn't need any money, connection, or influence from others… to talk of marrying his sole child off for that sake.

"Dad, do you really want to marry me off to a lowly family? Do you want to make a trade with me because I won't be able to take over your Mafia position? For goodness' sake, I'm just 18 and in my last year of college. Did you bring me back from abroad only to arrange my marriage?

I blabbed while still experiencing the shock that was creeping under my skin with tears already threatening to spill from my eyes. I've been fighting it back, but I was no longer able to.

The more I thought about the entire log of stories he had narrated since the more my soul kept flicking and my feeble heart was squeezing in my chest. 

I just arrived from Germany yesterday since I left my hometown 8 years ago. It was really sad that he brought up my scheduled marriage in our first interaction.

Age 18! When I was supposed to be free from parental control, get to plan for myself, design my future and have the very good damn chillness of this life! 

Gosh! This is unbelievable!

"Dad, this is just a prank to welcome me, right? You can't really mean it." I got up as quickly as I could. The whole lot of signs that surrounded him did not show he was pranking me. But I just have to hope it was.

As fast as I could, I paced to my room. I did not want to appear feeble to him. I wanted to prove to him that I had matured, and was now capable of making my own decisions and choosing what was best for me. 

Well, since my mum passed away ten years ago, I've been doing well. When I was eight years old, she passed away from cancer, and when I reached ten, I was taken to live with my aunt overseas until I finally returned home.

I was still unable to comprehend that he had welcomed me with such a ridiculous issue.

'Once I get to my room, I will call aunty to book my new flight. I must leave this city as soon as possible!'

"Lissa, this is my choice, you can't choose a life without me, your father in it! I've discussed it with your Aunty and she agreed to this engagement, in fact, she will arrive before the date."

I paused on the track of my step. I wanted to turn to him and confirm that he mean it truly. I was sadder because I felt the seriousness in his voice as he continued to lash out at me

"My election is in four months and that family has been quite supportive up to this point. Engaging you in such a family is nothing compared to their loyalty to me. You won't regret this decision I made for you, I promise."

It was so annoying to hear his thick voice. Blazingly, I fixated on those lips and the anguish I felt almost made me puke. It has been lingering in the tract of my throat the entire time. 

What made him devious and greedy? The father I left was the kind of parent everyone could want—caring, thoughtful, and passionate. In actuality, he was my late mother's very indulgent husband.

Those memories of my childhood with him started replaying in my head. Outside of his home, he led a wild life, yet to his family, he was the ideal father and man. My heart was unable to withstand the agony I was experiencing as I thought back on those experiences.

My legs quaked. I couldn't believe happy memories could haunt me so badly when triggered by a tragic circumstance.

I once loved him with my life but not anymore! After I left this city… He changed drastically

I used to love him with all of my heart, but not anymore. He underwent a significant transformation after I left this place. He wouldn't contact me unless I did, and even when we did, he never spoke to me for longer than five minutes. Such a man could only consider trading me for his interest, right?

As of then, he was a Mafia Lord but now he has started contesting. I suppose he was putting me in touch with his member! He intended to use me as a political pawn... How could he treat his only daughter and child in such a way?

Condensed tears start to fall to my lips. It had a bitter taste—very bitter. His normally stern face relaxed at me till he grinned contentedly. His faint chuckle intensified as his tongue snaked out and licked his lips in satisfaction.