PROLOGUE

[The Turmoil Within]

In the quiet solitude of her hotel room, the day's shocking events played repeatedly in Alise's mind, igniting a turbulent blend of anger and hurt within her.

"How could they betray me like this?" she muttered, her emotions simmering just beneath the surface, strengthening her resolve to confront them head-on.

Earlier that day, she couldn't simply turn away from the devastating scene that had shattered her world. No, she yearned for answers and closure, and the only path forward was a confrontation.

Her footsteps felt heavy as she pushed open the door to her boyfriend's room, a surge of anger coursing through her veins.

The sight before her was almost unbearable. Her boyfriend and best friend, wrapped in each other's arms, stared up in shock as she burst in. Rage and betrayal raged within her, and she let it spill out. In a fit of fury, she attacked her best friend, her emotions overwhelming reason.

"You traitor!" she shouted as her fists clenched, her blows wild and uncaring of where they landed. The room transformed into a tempestuous battlefield of emotions and physical conflict. She couldn't fathom the depths of their betrayal, and her best friend's indifference only fueled her fury.

Her boyfriend, now her ex, tried to intervene, but her determination pushed him back. At that moment, her pain had turned into an unyielding thirst for retribution. Explanations were irrelevant; she needed them to feel the hurt they'd inflicted on her.

The confrontation was a violent, chaotic storm, a release of pent-up emotions. It was as if all the pain and humiliation of the day had converged into this intense, physical showdown. Catharsis, though destructive, surged through her.

As she eventually stormed out of the room, battered and bruised, she knew her actions might not have been wise, but they were a forceful declaration of her betrayal and a step toward reclaiming her self-worth.

Now, lying on the hotel room floor, she stared blankly at the mess, much like her life at that moment. The confrontation had left her battered and bruised, but strangely, it had also left her with a sense of satisfaction.

In that chaotic moment, she had regained some semblance of control over her life. The pain was still there, but it no longer felt like an overwhelming force. She had shown them that she wouldn't be a doormat and that she wouldn't let their betrayal define her.

However, as she lay there, she realized she needed to pick up the pieces of her shattered world. Suddenly, the looming contract marriage her family had arranged seemed like a lifeline, an opportunity to escape the toxicity of her current situation and start anew. But it also brought intrigue and fear as she contemplated the cold and enigmatic man she would soon meet.

Truthfully, she had never made an effort to get to know him. Everything she knew about him was from the internet, and who knows how accurate that information was. She had never met him in person either, but it seemed like now she might have to change that.

It would become a daily necessity if she decided to go through with this arranged marriage. She found herself in a state of confusion, not knowing which way to turn.

She couldn't even fathom why she was hesitating, but she also needed some time to gather herself because this was a marriage they were talking about, even if it was arranged. It's still legal by law, and she didn't even know what type of person he was.

She couldn't help but find it irritating as she dwelled on that thought. What she could say for certain was that this arrangement wasn't even her father's idea; it had originated with her grandfather.

She was deeply frustrated because, to the best of her understanding, her family's idea of an arranged marriage had its roots in the close friendship between their grandfathers. They had set something in motion for their parents in the past. However, that plan never came to fruition because both of them had sons during that time.

She rolled her eyes as she contemplated the inevitable. She had already made up her mind about what she was going to do; she just couldn't believe it had come to this point. Her options were limited, and she found herself in a difficult situation. If circumstances were different, she wouldn't have made this choice.

Resigned to her decision, she reached for the phone and dialed home, ready to inform her father of her intentions. In a stern voice, he responded, "I will arrange a car for you. Send me the address, and be ready in the morning."

She replied with a simple "Okay." He hung up, leaving her with nothing more to say. It had always been like this between her father and her; she could understand why. He and she were so alike in many aspects.

She pursued her desires, unshackled by expectations or others' ambitions. Their shared determination made them alike, but he was a hypocrite, believing he alone could tread this path and that everyone else should follow his lead and heed his words. But she refused to conform; which caused a disconnection in their relationship.

She had dreams and ambitions that he couldn't quite grasp. She is the youngest of four, and her relationship with her siblings was decent enough to make the difficult choice of leaving home.

She had found her passion in modeling and was determined to pursue it without their support. Yet, here she was, turning back to the same people she had walked away from. It hadn't always been this way, and the irony of the situation weighed heavily on her.

Still, in a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, she made a crucial decision – to confront whatever lay ahead. There was no use worrying about things that hadn't happened; she needed to focus on the present. But her anxiety still lingered .