Dangerously Mine (English Version)

Crown 1 ♛ HEIR & HEIRESS

LOURAINE skimmed the room with a surveying glance as she emerged from the hall wearing a silky dress that shimmered with bright shades of red and orange that fell to the floor like a swirl of fire. A phoenix, she thought idly as she canned the glittering crowd who were taking envious glances at her. She didn't know any of these people. Never even met half of them, personally. But none of it mattered tonight.

“You look beautiful, dear. Don't spoil it by looking so frozen," Georgina whispered as soon as she stood beside her.

She cleared her throat and smiled. But it felt stiff and fake. "I just feel nervous, that’s all," she lied. She felt stressed rather than anxious. She didn’t even feel excited for what was about to happen tonight. Why would she when this night was all about trouble?

As if sensing her frowning again, Georgina turned to her and tapped her cheeks, reminding her to smile. Unlike Louraine, her aunt was more used to this scene and social events. She’s the epitome of class. Even after a day of work, her aunt could still smile like a queen.

Clad in her lavender dress that fell grandly beneath her feet and her erect posture that adds to her air of elegance, Georgina looked royal and majestic. At the age of 40, she still looked young and healthy. In fact, she still had her curves in the right places. Even as a widower, Georgina had it all—but for one. The fact that she couldn't bear a child.

Perhaps, that was why she quickly warmed into her. Because she knew Georgina was just as lonely as she was. Without a child of her own, she had lived alone ever since her husband died.

When Georgina found her ten years ago, she was withdrawn, closed up and so lost she didn't know how to pick things up after she lost everything. She was beyond devastated and numbed with her parents’ death. She thought she was irreparable.

But Georgina didn’t give up on her. She helped her get through that rough phase of her life and opened a new door for her when she needed it most. She helped her rise up again. She didn’t only help her finish college, but she and even gave her a new family. And a new hope to go on.

She went to Milan and studied Jewelry designing to help her aunt’s business. James Cuertas, the late husband of Georgina, was the owner of Allegra Jewels. He named it after his wife to show how he adored and loved her. But after his unexpected death 15 years ago, Georgina ran the business alone.

But as generation goes, her aunt was growing worried about the future of the legacy her husband left her. And because she getting older, she no longer has the same strength to protect the company from those who wanted to steal it from her. In Georgina’s better judgement, she decided she needed someone to fulfill that―to protect the jewelry business. But apparently, she needed an heir to protect it and not an heiress.

Since Louraine owes Georgina her second chance to live, she wanted to pay her back in any way she can. Even if she had to sacrifice herself.

That was why she’s standing her now. To help her aunt save the future of Allegra Jewels through a fixed marriage. And that’s the highlight of this evening; her formal engagement to a man she’d never set an eye on.

But this was not exactly a sacrifice for Louraine. She wasn’t the same person as she was ten years ago. She’s not that naïve anymore and knew fairytale from reality. She’s now the new Louraine Samantha Allegra, the sole heiress of Allegra Jewels.

Besides, she has nothing to lose if she marries a stranger. In this business agreement, she’s not after falling in love or finding love. She doesn't need promises. She had had enough of them. She’s no longer that stupid to believe that there is really a love that lasts forever.

And to the man she’d spend her life with, it would be such a shame that she’d never give her heart to him. Because no one could ever mend the broken pieces of her heart. Even if the man who crushed it came back, the scars he left inside her will stay.

"Excuse me," a man in flashing Emerald green suit stood in front of her and her aunt and flaunted his billion watts smile. "Good evening, Madame Allegra and to the beautiful heiress." 

Louraine’s brow slightly shot up when he reached for her hand and kissed it.

"This is Marco Polo Agnus. Son of Mayor Paulo Agnus," Georgina said, introducing the man to her.

"Good evening,” unsmilingly, Louraine said and took away her hand. She knew the guy. Who doesn’t? He’s always the front page of every news magazine with every scandal he causes. She also knew that she’s facing one of the stinky playboys in town.

“I heard you just got back after 5 years. What do you think about going out sometimes? I can take you to some cool new places.”

Louraine could tell that from the way he’s looking at her, he's thinking she’d actually fall for his charm and eventually to his bed. Her lips curled from disgust. "I’ll check if I have a free schedule. But I don’t think I have.” Her lips twisted in a sneer. “Excuse me. I need the loo." She turned away, dragging her dress behind her. It’s been years since she had been announced as Georgina’s heiress and yet she still can’t get use to guys like him who only wanted to use her for their gain.

Pathetic asshole.

She could still bitterly remember the first month after Georgina introduced her to her society, not one but a dozen of boys tried to chase her attention. They would send her flowers with notes, all kind of chocolates, and even asked her out on a date, but her aunt had already warned her about them. True enough, they quickly disappeared after a week of ignoring them.

Yet, there are still more of them and one even blatantly tried to flirt with her on her engagement night. How shameless.

She was inside one of the cubicles when she heard a group of girls walking in.

"Such a brat! So, what if she’s the sole heiress? She's not even the real daughter!"

Louraine’s ears ticked but still tried to stay still. Talking about her inside the comfort room must console them very much. But she’s not going to participate in a cheap cat fight, especially not on her engagement night. Ruining this night was what they want and she wouldn’t give them that luxury.

"How dare her act like she’s one of us. She’s just some poor orphan that Georgina picked up. Someone should put her into her place."

"But, don't you think she's too lucky? Have you seen her fiancé?"

"I would bet my fortune that he won’t marry that fake."

"Why? Have you met her fiancé?" 

"He's so hot! But I heard he's not someone you would cross. I think he’s the eldest son of―"

Louraine couldn’t stand listening anymore to this stupidity and stepped out of the cubicle. The shock registered on their face was too ridiculous Louraine had to hold back her laugh.

Was that guilt she could see? Good.

She walked over them and they parted like a scared mouse as she stood in the middle and fished for her lip gloss inside her clutch. She wasn’t the type who cares for her makeup or smudged lipstick. But right now, she likes watching them on pins and needles and barely breathing as she applied gloss on her lips.

“Angeline Dizon. Fiona Gomez. Janelle Herrera." Their eyes simultaneously grew large as she mentioned their names one by one.

She smirked and closed her gloss. Of course, she knew these airhead models. Though she couldn’t understand why would Georgina invite them.

"I'll make sure to remember your names and pay your father a visit one day." She smiled even wider when they shifted nervously. "Have a good night, ladies." And left with her head held high. If they thought she would let this slide so easily, well, they better start praying.

Poor orphan? Put me into my place?

Perhaps, that’s one of the prices Louraine had to pay for accepting this kind of life—giving up her privacy and letting strangers judge her life and her past. She knew that the moment Georgina took her in, her life would change and she could never go back to how her life was. She also knew that being an heiress, she was expected to do great, to be worthy and exemplary while wearing her crown. That’s why she has to train herself be to be unaffected from every judgement and criticism thrown at her, especially if it’s about her past.

Louraine immediately looked for her aunt in the crowded room and saw her talking with someone. She was obviously frowning and looked worried. Are they talking about the company?

"Is there a problem?" Louraine asked worriedly when she approached her aunt’s side. She was taught to keep her guard at all time, but she couldn’t hide her emotion well in front of her aunt.

Georgina sighed softly. "Your fiancé said he wanted to rest tonight. He just arrived from Europe and he’s still jet lagged. He said he’ll meet you tomorrow instead, at breakfast. Is that alright?" Her aunt looked at her with worried eyes.

Louraine let out a soft sigh out of relief that they weren’t talking about the business and reassured her with a smile and this time, her smile felt quite real. "It's okay. I also would like to take a rest." This evening was taxing, not to mention those harassing women.

“Are you sure? Well, if that's the case, we'll have to wrap this party up."

"There’s no need. Besides, the night is too young. Let them enjoy the rest of the party.” As for her, sleep sounded like a much better idea. She felt tired from standing too long and smiling all day. Who knew engagement parties felt like eons?

Louraine had gone to bed early that night to prepare for her meeting with her fiancé in the morning. She just wished they wouldn’t get on the wrong foot before this engagement starts.

But she woke up later than she intended to, and Georgina wasn’t pleased. “We can’t miss today. You have to properly meet him and talk to him before he leaves the country!” Georgina dramatically cried over the phone and she only rolled her eyes, dragging her feet off the bed.

She’s now curious what kind of personality her fiancé has. He could be an overly demanding businessman or a time freak traveler, for all she knew. And neither sounds good to her. But what does it matter? The more time he spends far from her, the better. It’s actually a good thing that they won’t be spending their lives living together. They would be marrying only in papers, after all.  

"I would bet my fortune that he won’t marry that fake."

Louraine suddenly wondered, would her fiancé agree with their set-up? It might be different for him. Unlike her, he might have his own personal relationship. A girlfriend, or a boyfriend maybe? Or someone he liked?

She walked through the diner hall and noticed the room was almost empty. People must’ve been sleeping at this hour because of the late-night party. Though, how late did everyone sleep last night?

Louraine sighed wistfully. She, too, should’ve been having a good rest right now. Such a shame…

She kept walking in when she suddenly remembered something important and stopped. How on earth would she recognize her supposedly fiancé? She didn’t even get a glimpse of his face. Not once. Not even his name.

How come she didn’t even ask his name?

That’s very smart, Louraine.

She immediately took her phone and called Georgina, but her call won’t get through.

“You can’t leave, sir. Mrs. Cuertas is expecting you.”

Louraine was on her second attempt to call when she heard her aunt’s name. Who else would that Mrs. Cuertas be? They rented the whole place for the event and Georgina was the only Cuertas who was booked in the hotel.

She peered over the flowers that was obscuring her view and looked at the source of that voice. She saw two men talking at a nearby table. She couldn’t see their faces because of the flowers covering her from them but she could hear them very clearly.

“It's your father's order, sir," the man facing her way appealed to the man who had his back on her.

“The hell I care!”

Louraine jerked back in surprise when the other man suddenly slammed his palm violently on the table. He sounded so livid and Louraine somehow felt threatened.

Does Georgina personally know him? What if he’s a hostile man?

"You have no choice, sir. They’re already informed you're here," the man calmly said despite the anger of the man he was talking to.

Louraine tried to peek closer, but she couldn’t see them properly from where she was standing. Were they one of their guests? 

"You'll be meeting your fiancée in a minute,” the calmer man spoke again. “She’s the sole niece and heiress of Mrs. Cuertas. Your father said to treat her accordingly.”

Her eyes widened from shock. She felt frozen to where she stood from what she heard. That mad man was her fiancé?!

"I thought I already made myself clear, Mr. Sandoval,” the man spoke in a threateningly low voice that made her tremble. “I don't want to marry her or anyone else! I have no time for such trivial things. If my father wanted to help his dead man, then tell him to do it himself!"

Her brows rose at what she heard. So, she was right. Her fiancé did not want to marry her at all. And he's strongly against it.

She thought she’d be happy to know that she wouldn’t have to go through the wedding. Instead, rage sprang inside her and it was an irrational as well as a foreign emotion for her. It hurt her pride that he practically didn’t care. More importantly, refusing to marry her would put the company in imminent danger. If only Georgina would let her run the company, her aunt wouldn’t need an heir to be her exchange.

She doesn’t need a man to secure the company. She can do it herself. But she also understands that Georgina would not feel reassured if she had no one else to lean on. Thus, this marriage.

But it seemed that his selfish and egoistic fiancé wasn’t up to it.

Fiancé. Why does she call him that when they weren’t even officially engaged?

No, this wouldn't do. She has to convince the man to marry her. She has to, even only on paper. She doesn’t care if he takes a mistress and have an affair or if they live separately as long as he is capable of securing her aunt’s business.

"This agreement is settled," the calmer man insisted.

"I'm telling you again, I won't―"

She could not stand it anymore and decided to approach them. The calmer man immediately stood up as soon as he saw her. Now that the flowers covering them from her sight, she could see his face clearly and realized that she knew him. Very much. 

It’s Philip, the man who sent Duke’s letter on her graduation day.

She stood frozen when her gaze landed on the other man who still had his back on her and her heart started to pound. No, this can’t be…

As if he could feel the weight of her gaze on him, his head started to turn, revealing those dark unfathomable eyes that were narrowing in recognition.

Duke…

Her plan of convincing him flew out of the window the moment she realized who he was. Déjà vu slapped her so fast and hard that she nearly staggered from it, thawing a deep part of her that had been frozen for ten years.

No… This can’t be…

He’s supposed to appear only in her nightmares, where he’d forever stay along with the ghost of her parents.

She tried to control the turmoil that she’s experiencing and forced herself to be as frozen as she’d been for ten years, shutting them all down deep inside her. “Good morning,” she bit icily at the two.

Duke jerked up. For a moment, she thought emotions played on his face. But they’re quickly gone before his face turned into stone again as if they weren’t there moments ago. He looked hard and impassive, because that’s what he was—hard and cruel. 

"Louraine," he said her name with impassiveness that chilled her while putting out a hand. "It's good to see you again."

The deep baritone of his voice was a painful reminder for Louraine, telling her that this was the man who broke her heart at sixteen, forcing her to remember everything; the pain, the tears, the shuttered memories, and the loss. Reminding her the reason why she had to put a barrier around herself, why she had to cage her emotions inside a box made of ice. Making her realize that those ten years of pain didn't get any better, but only froze her up.

And now, that protection was instantly ripped away.

"And you're my fiancé," she stated blandly as she looked at his hand with a blank stare and a livid heart. 

How dare he stand there and talk to her as if nothing happened? As if civility could hide the past, of what he did?

Her throat worked, swallowing the anger and something much darker emotions bubbling up inside her. She had never anticipated the possibility of this day to come. At least, not like this. Not this soon. But she wouldn’t crumble now. Never again. And not in front of him.

Now that she knew who she’ll be married to… even if hell freezes, she would never marry him.