The Start Of Us

The Start Of Us Chapter 0001 Mariel, the second daughter to the Tucker family, dressed ever classy in a sleeveless knee length sky colored gown, hair neatly done to match the style of her outfit as she hurriedly walked back into pastry shop she seemed to have recently exited. “Sorry!” She mouthed at the stranger she bumped into while on the rush to reach the counter and place her order. “Excuse me.” She waved at an employee, a personal friend of hers. Once he saw her, he was happy to leave whatever he was doing to come attend to her. “Mariel, did you forget something? What are you doing back?” He spoke in obvious observation to Mariel’s restless demeanor. “Well I-“ “Chitchat with each other later, I need a cake suitable here to give my fiancé.” A mannish voice interrupted whatever was about to come out of Mariel’s mouth, followed by his body in view as he came to stand right beside her. Mariel looked up at the man at her side, “Excuse you, you met me here didn’t you?” She criticized, a stern look on her face. “And I would’ve gotten here before you, if you hadn’t bumped into me and took off. I was late cause I had to clean myself and cuss you out,” the man responded to her, nonchalance in his tone. “Oh. But I apologized, so don’t be a brat and get over it.” Mariel hissed at him before she turned her attention back to her cashier friend. “Please, I forgot to buy myself my favorite. Please pack it up for me and let me be on my way, I’m seriously late already!” She said to her friend behind the counter with a look of plea. “And I want a cake for my fiancé. Today is our engagement. She’s waiting for me, you better attend to me first before you get to her!” The strange man to her left spoke up against her, quite adamant and sounds ready to make a fuss. Mariel rolled her eyes with a sigh, then took a glance down at her wristwatch. “f**k I’m late. Bright luck on you brat, else today might be the day you have it in a way you’ve never had it,” Mariel gave one last response before she turned around and dashed out of the store. She waved down the first cab that came into sight as she hurriedly got in. Today was her sister’s engagement party. Who has been arranged for a billionaire’s heir in the city, and today the families are coming together for an introduction as well as the engagement. Her sister was excited about the arrangement, she saw it as a path to a new life, a different beginning like she has always wanted. She has always dreamt of a Prince Charming, her future husband, so when the news came from a matchmaker that she was getting married to a heir in the city. Imagine her joy, it was boundless, the best news she’d ever received. Unlike Mariel whose dreams were never of a man, it was to ace her upcoming exam and further her study to become a medical doctor. Her dream was to become a reputable medical professional, known for her proficiency and all around the world. However, she doesn’t let the contrast in her wish deter her support for her sister. It was because of her she even had to deal with that brat back at the store. She had gone to collect some textbooks from her boyfriend to read for her exams, then she decided to branch the pastries store to get her sister’s favorite dessert to share with her one last night. Cause after today, tomorrow will be her wedding day and she’ll be off with her new family afterwards. Mariel finally arrived home few minutes later, she settled her driver and proceed to run inside the mansion. The mansion wasn’t extravagant or a spitting match of opulence, but it remained grandeur in its simplest furnishing and designs. “Mari! Where have you been?” Mari’s mother called to her daughter as soon as she noticed her walk into the kitchen. “Your future in-laws are arriving soon and so far we’ve got nothing done. There’s still a lot to prepare, a lot to make, and we don’t have that much time,” the mother lamented, busy with a recipe in work. “I’m sorry mom, had to get Drisella a personal gift. Where is she?” Mariel asked after looking around to see it was only her mother present alone inside the large kitchen space. “With a designer, trying out wedding dresses.” “Mom if you won’t mind, I’d like to check on her. I’ll be right back to help you out I promise, just give me a few minutes,” Mari’s mother looked up from what she was doing at her daughter with a tired look on her face. “Seriously?” She raised a brow. “Fine, but don’t take too long.” Mariel with a smile on her face skipped out of the kitchen and rushed up to the room where she’s sure her sister would be with the designer. She got there and pushed the door open, the happiness in her face instantly faded into a solemn look the moment she sighted her father in the room with her sister and the designer. “Is this one not fine enough or what else are you looking for?” The harsh tone of the father condemned at Mari’s sister. “I-“ “She’ll take this. That’s enough tryouts, we don’t have all day.” He cut into his daughter’s voice before she could make a reasonable statement. Drisella could neither agree nor disagree, all she could do was nod her head in agreement with her father that she liked what has been selected for her. Sir Tucker glanced over at the entrance to see Mariel stood near the exist, his gaze on her immediately turned sour. “You. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be helping your mother with preparation and stuffs?” He raised a brow at her, irritation perfectly masked under that frown face of his. Mariel wouldn’t dare to keep her eyes in contact with her father’s, her head was bowed and gaze glued to her feet. “She was the one who told me to come check up on my sister,” she responded after a brief silence. Mr Tucker glared at her before he huffed, “Is your sister a baby that needs-“ his sentence got interrupted when his phone buzzed aloud and his pitchy ringtone rang out. “Oh look. It’s the groom’s family, it looks like they’re here,” he announced, his mood suddenly switched as he strutted past Mariel and out of the room. As soon as he was absent, Mariel released a deep breath before she rushed over to her sister. “What do you think he’s going to look like?” Mariel started as she helped her sister down the small placement she stood on to test out dresses. “Did a little research on him, he’s from one of the richest family in the city. His wealth is an ocean compare to ours, and sister if you see his appearance!” Drisella spoke with a vibrant enthusiasm, it’s obvious she was happy with this marriage. And she loved who her husband to be is. “Quick, the party is starting soon, you have to dress up for the occasion. But before that.” Mariel walked away from her sister to retrieve an hidden gift. “I brought you something.” She brought the gift out in display for her sister to collect, “It’s a parting gift. You’re gonna go off to become a wife, and I’m gonna take my exams, pass and go become a doctor. I want you to have this,” she said as she presented the item to her. Drisella took it with her eyes filled with liquid, then unwrapped the box to reveal a stunning golden bracelet. She gasped at the beauty then rubbed a palm over it to feel it quality. “Sister!” She called emotionally, the tears she held back off restraints as it broke free on her face. “SSH!” Mariel quickly closed the distance between them to bring her in for a hug. “If you cry now, you’ll get me really sad and I’ll feel super reluctant to give you the last gift I bought for you. The one I got on my way back at our favorite pastry shop.” Drisella’s emotional face quickly scoured a comedic expression at the heard of her sister’s words, “You don’t mean it?” Her face inclined towards a sketchy angle. “It’s with mom inside the kitchen, what do you say about one last pastry feast before some man come in here and steal you away from me?” “Oh yes you’ve got it!” Mariel and her sister took hold of each other’s hand as they marched out of the room, they got right outside the door when a maid crossed their path and wouldn’t let them walk further. “Ma’am, your father has asked me to call the both of you guys down to the living room so he could introduce you to his guests,” the maid relayed in a calm and polite tone. “Looks like they’re truly here.” Mariel nudged at her sister then gestured for the maid to lead the way. Soon they arrived at the living room, and Mr Tucker who has been on the lookout for her daughters immediately rose to his feet the moment he saw them marched in. “Ah ah!” He had strolled over to where Mariel stood with her sister, then squeezed into their middle and threw his arms around their shoulder. “This is my youngest, Mariel Tucker. And my eldest, Drisella,” he introduced. Mariel and Drisella wouldn’t lift their heads to acknowledge who they were meeting, instead they kept their bowed as they’ve been taught to always do in front of strangers. “She’s your daughter?” A familiar voice suddenly crept into Mariel’s ear as she forced her head to tilt upward, high enough to search around for whose voice she heard. She didn’t need to search long when she found the index pointed at her, and the smirk on his handsome devilish face as he inquired about her. It was no other than the prudish brat she met at the pastry store. “Yes, my youngest growing star. She-“ “Is she the one I’m marrying? Because it is her I want,” he cut in swiftly as he calmly dropped his index. The room went silent and cold as his words settled into the air. Mariel wanted to believe she heard wrong until she raised her head fully and saw the looks on everyone’s faces.