Chapter 4
Alice's POV
I finally arrived at my apartment, feeling the exhaustion settle deep into my bones. All I craved now was a long, hot bath and maybe a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. My feet ached from being cramped in heels all day, and I could feel the tension in my shoulders begging to be released. Dropping my bags in the living room, I headed straight for the bathroom, not even bothering to unpack.
As soon as I slid into the bathtub, warm water enveloping me like a comforting embrace, I let out a deep sigh. The weight of the day seemed to melt away. I closed my eyes, sinking further, and felt a sense of peace finally creeping in.
But, of course, peace was short-lived. Somewhere in the apartment, my phone began to ring. I'd left it in my purse, which was somewhere in the living room. I briefly considered ignoring it, but then again, I knew my dad would want to hear from me sooner rather than later. But whoever it was would just have to wait a few more minutes.
After a good ten minutes of soaking, I finally rinsed off and stepped out, wrapping myself in a soft towel. My phone had stopped ringing by now, but just as I dried off, it buzzed again. This time, I reached for it, seeing "Dad" flash on the screen. I answered, barely able to stifle a small smile.
"Dad! Hi," I answered, warmth seeping into my voice.
"Alice, darling! I was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten about me," he teased. "You didn't even stop by after landing."
I rolled my eyes playfully, "Maybe if you didn't send me on all these company errands Nick should be handling, I'd have time for little things like…rest and visiting you."
"Ah, Nick can barely keep himself together," he chuckled, brushing aside my jab at him. Then, after a pause, he slipped in, "But don't worry, soon you won't have to run these errands anymore…once you're married."
My smile froze. "Dad…what did you mean by 'once I'm married'?"
There was a short silence on the other end before he cleared his throat. "Oh, nothing, honey. Just…come over. We should talk about it in person."
The suspicion in my chest hardened, but I couldn't deny him. "Fine. I'll be there soon."
As soon as I hung up, I quickly got dressed, selecting a comfortable yet semi-professional outfit, my curiosity getting the best of me. Slipping into my shoes, I headed to my car and drove over, weaving through traffic as fast as I could.
When I arrived at my dad's villa, the familiar warmth of the place made me momentarily feel at ease. As soon as I stepped inside, he greeted me with open arms, but as I stepped closer, I couldn't hold back.
"Dad, what did you mean by 'once I'm married?'" I asked, crossing my arms and eyeing him suspiciously.
He sighed, clearly hesitant but knowing he couldn't keep this from me any longer. "Alice, your marriage has been…well, arranged."
His words hit me like a cold slap. "Arranged?" My voice was small, almost a whisper. "How could you do this to me?"
"Honey, listen," he said gently, reaching for my hands. "This isn't about control. I just want you to have someone to rely on, someone to share your life with. I thought—"
I pulled back, feeling tears prickle the corners of my eyes. "You thought? Dad, I thought we were past this. If Mom was here, she would never push me into something like this."
At the mention of my mother, his face softened, and he pulled me into his arms. I let the tears flow, unable to hold them back any longer. He held me in a tight embrace, his hands rubbing my back as he whispered soothing words.
"I just want you to be happy, Alice," he murmured softly. "This isn't supposed to hurt you. Let's discuss it, calmly, okay?"
I took a deep breath, nodding as I stepped back. "Alright, Dad. Let's talk about this...professionally."
******
Alice felt her father's gentle touch as he held her shoulders, his eyes softening in that fatherly way she hadn't seen in a while. She knew he loved her, but this arrangement still felt like a betrayal. Yet, as he spoke about the benefits of the engagement with a quiet confidence, she couldn't ignore the opportunity it would bring.
"Alice," he began softly, "I wouldn't push you into this if I didn't believe it would protect our family's future. The Kings Group...they are powerful. Partnering with them means securing stability and growth for generations to come. You'd be part of something that could elevate both our companies, help us expand into new territories, open doors we never thought possible."
Alice took a shaky breath, her mind torn. She felt the weight of her responsibilities pressing down on her, realizing just how much her father trusted her to carry the legacy he'd built from the ground up.
"Alright," she finally whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'll go through with this... but only as a business arrangement. Nothing more. I'll be his wife on paper, but that's where it ends. My life, my freedom—those aren't up for negotiation."
Her father's lips curved in a sad smile, understanding the wall she was building around her heart. "I wouldn't ask anything more of you. But Alice, life has a way of surprising us. Don't close yourself off completely... just give it a chance."
She shook her head lightly, more in disbelief than anything else. "Let's stick to what we know, Dad. I'm not here for fairy tales."
They exchanged a few more words, softening the moment with laughter and familiar memories. Finally, Alice stood to leave, gathering her things with a newfound determination. This was her path, as controlled and calculated as she wanted it to be.
As she walked out of her father's villa and back to her car, her gaze shifted up to the darkening sky, stars just beginning to sprinkle through the dusk. She took a steadying breath. "It's just business," she reminded herself, hoping to convince her heart as much as her mind.