Chapter 3 - Ran Away
1107 Words
Nancy finished drying her wet, long golden hair in her bedroom and combed it to cascade down her back. She left her room and went downstairs to the living room to join her parents for dinner.
Her stomach growled loudly with hunger, so she held onto the iron railing for support as she descended the stairs, ensuring she didn't miss a step.
Nancy noticed some guests had arrived at her parents' home, which made her frown. She disliked the mansion's design, with the living room connected to the dining room, allowing guests to easily observe family affairs. She valued her privacy and hated being monitored.
Nancy saw a tall, handsome black man exuding authority, standing in the living room and watching her as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
She felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze. His black eyes stared at her as if undressing her, filled with desire.
Nancy looked away from the man and turned to her parents, who stood nervously in the living room.
She approached her mother and asked, "Mom, is dinner not ready yet?"
Mrs. Marlon was nervous, not expecting Charles to visit personally. She replied, "Nancy, dear, come meet your groom."
"My what?" Nancy gasped in shock and quickly turned to face Charles. She met his handsome gaze, which hadn't left her for a moment.
Snapping out of her shock, Nancy asked her mother, "Mom, when did I get married to him?"
"You're not married to him yet, Nancy. This is Charles Alejandro, President Nolan Alejandro's only son. The wedding is in two days," her father announced.
"Two days!" Nancy gasped, nearly fainting.
"Calm down, Nancy," Charles said, his deep, masculine voice making her shiver.
Nancy couldn't believe she was being forced to marry Charles, with the wedding in just two days. Gathering her courage, she said to him, her lips trembling, "I cannot marry you, sir."
"Nancy!" her father scolded, hushing her. Charles Alejandro was the most feared young man in the city.
Senator Logan warned, "Nancy, you have no right to object. Charles has seen photos of many pretty young women and chose you. You should be grateful to become the country's future first lady."
"No, Father! I cannot accept this marriage. I won't marry him!" Nancy stepped back quickly and bolted up the stairs to her bedroom, her hips swaying as she ran. She reached the top floor, entered her room, and shut the door.
"Nancy! Come back here!" her father called, but she didn't respond. She locked the door and went to her bed, crying.
"Hmm, let me go upstairs and call her back," Mrs. Marlon offered, but her husband stopped her. "That won't be necessary."
Senator Logan stared at Charles and apologized, "We're truly sorry, Your Excellency. We haven't informed Nancy about the arranged marriage with you, sir."
"Hmm," Charles stood speechless in the living room, staring upstairs to the second floor. He hoped his chosen bride would peek out and look at him. The way her hips had swayed seductively had aroused him, making him want to claim her.
Charles doubted he could control himself if left alone with Nancy. She was even more beautiful than her photo. Finally, he turned back to her parents and met her mother's gaze, who resembled Nancy.
Mrs. Marlon smiled nervously and said to Charles, "Don't worry, Your Excellency. I'll go upstairs and speak to my daughter. The wedding will still proceed."
"Hmm, that's alright. I came to welcome my bride on her return. But it's clear she doesn't want to see me. Please, give these flowers to Nancy and let her know that I truly love her and want to marry her." Charles handed the bouquet of roses to Olivia.
Olivia smiled and took it, stepping aside, while her husband apologized again, "We are sincerely sorry, Your Excellency. Please forgive our daughter's rude behavior."
"That's alright. I understand her fears. I came to welcome her. Do send my greetings and let Nancy know I want her. I have to be on my way now. Goodbye, Senator Logan."
"Yes, goodbye, Your Excellency." Senator Logan escorted Charles out of the living room to his car.
The security men opened and shut the car door as soon as Charles got in, and the three cars drove out of Senator Logan Marlon's residence.
***
Nancy stood at her room window upstairs, staring down at the garage. She saw Charles leave the house and get into his car before the three cars drove away.
Nancy couldn't believe her parents wanted her to marry Charles Alejandro, the president's son, by force. She had never met him but had heard about his reputation.
Online, people ridiculed his family for refusing to relinquish power. Nancy had also heard about Charles affairs with many women, rumors labeling him a playboy, which made him the opposite of the man she wanted to marry.
The sound of her door being pushed open jolted her back to reality. Nancy turned from the window to see her parents angrily entering her room.
"Nancy! What was the meaning of that silly drama you displayed when meeting Charles Alejandro today? Don't you know that plenty of young women would jump at the opportunity and accept him immediately?" her father questioned angrily, standing by the door and glaring at her. Her mother stood in silence, holding the bouquet of roses.
Her father yelled, "Answer me, Nancy!"
"Dad, that's not the kind of man I want. I don't love him, and that's the truth," Nancy said, bursting into sobs. She wanted a good man who would love only her, not a cheater like Charles who wouldn't value her as his wife.
Nancy searched for the right words to make her parents understand that she couldn't marry a man like him.
"Love? What do you know about love, Nancy? You'll grow to love Charles over time, just like your mother and I did. What if you wait for a man you love first, and he doesn't love you back? I cannot reject the Alejandro family's proposal. They rule the country, and rejecting their son would insult them. He chose you among many, so you will marry Charles whether you like it or not," her father declared.
"No, Father! I cannot marry Charles!" Nancy screamed, breaking into tears, unable to believe her father was forcing her.
Her father turned to leave the room, paused at the door, and said to her mother, "Talk to your daughter and get her prepared for everything she'll need as Charles's wife. This Saturday, she will go to the presidential villa to live with him, whether she likes it or not."
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