Arranged Alliance

Peace

Nora Duke

"Darling, what are you doing here?" A voice spoke from the door. I couldn't see who it was because Nicholas was blocking my way.

"Huh?" Nicholas said, confused by who was at the door.

"I just want to check up on you." I stood up and walked to the door. I was wearing heels but he was still tall. He was still on my tip toe and looking over Nicholas' shoulder. Adrian. He looks towards me and waves, "Oh... Hi sister-in-law." Nicholas looks behind his shoulder at me then at Adrian. He backed away a little to give me space, but his shoulders bumped into me and I got imbalanced, but strong arms wrapped around me, to steady me. He pulled me up and turned towards him, raising his brow.

I smoothed a hand on my dress and then looked at two pairs of eyes that were staring at me. I looked at Adrian, "Hi", I said, waving my hand. Both of them first looked at each other rather than at me and then burst into laughter. Looking at them laughing, a smile broke on my lips.

Adrian pinched my cheek, "You are cute, sister-in-law" he said, laughing.

"Nora. You can call me Nora." I said to him. He smiled towards me and then patted me on his arm. He went away in the hallway.

"Why do he and I look so similar?" I turned towards Nicholas and pushed the word 'so'. He was a little taken back, then he narrowed his eyes. He patted my head and grabbed my hand.

"I don't know about that. But you know that there are seven people who have the same faces. Maybe you met one." He said, amused by it.

"It's just a myth." I rolled my eyes. He just shrugged.

"Then it would be a coincidence," he said, and fast at his pace.

"Oh, sorry uncle, I am sorry I am not going do it again. I promise" I heard some voices down in the living room. Now my pace was fast, I went to the living room and saw James just grabbing of the ear and he was shouting like he was trying to tear it away. I gave Nicholas a look and he gave me the same look.

"What did he do when James was acting like that? James doesn't do things like that." I whispered to him while giving weird glances at James, who had Adrian's ear in his hand. Nicholas laughed, now that caught my attention.

"He was out of country when dad called him and when he came back, he forgot." He said and shrugged, "Dad is a little upset, I guess. Are you alright?" he asked me after a little pause. I nodded, smiling, and turned towards them, again.

"Can I stop them?" I whispered, still looking at them.

"Why?" His face snapped towards me, "I am enjoying myself." I clicked my tongue on him.

"This is so bad, Nicholas. Only for our enjoyment do you not stop it." I said, shaking my head. Nicholas made an innocent face and pointed towards him.

"He also does that." He spoke.

"What are you? A kid." I spoke.

"Dad, can you stop it now? I have to talk to him about an important matter." Nicholas said, and dragged Adrian onto the sofa. I bit my lip to hide the smile and followed him. "Happy?" He spoke. He was kind and annoying. Adrian was rubbing his ear.

"Nora, your dad's driver. You came to pick you up, you have to go and come back fast, we have to pack." James said. I am so confused. What is James talking about? Where am I going?

"Where am I going" I asked him confusedly.

"Your father is home, your mother said she wanted to spend some time with you," Nicholas said, looking at me. There was a horn in front of the house. All the family members looked outside. Nicholas stood up, grabbed my hand and started to walk outside. He put his hand on my shoulder and said, "I will pick you up at 4:00 sharp, so you have to be ready. okay?" I nodded firmly, he opened the back door for me, "I also drop you off on my own, but I have to discuss some things with Adrian, but I promise I'll pick you up." He smiled at me and kissed my forehead. Nicholas put a hand on my head, so I wouldn't get hit by a car roof. I sat down in the car. He closed the door and waved to me; I waved him back. The car moved but he didn't move. I watched until he didn't go away. I looked at my wristwatch and it was only 1: 28.

"A lot of time to meet you back" I said and looked outside of the car. Touching where he kissed me, I smiled.

_________________________________

I got out of the car, glanced at my watch. 1: 55. I shook my head and went into the mansion,

"Oh, look who is here? The bride is here without her groom." Lucy said, laughing. I ignored her. But she grabbed my wrist and stopped me. "Where is Nicholas? Why is he not with you?" She raised her eyebrows at me. Almost concern.

"None of your business," I said coldly, and jerked her hand away and took a step back. I walked to father. He stood up and looked at me smiling; I smiled back. He raised his hand to put it on my head but stopped.

"Your things are in your room. Go," he said, and turned away from me. Sana smirked beside him. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Come on, I'll take you." Sana said, putting a hand on my back. I walk fast so she can't make it and smirks silently. I looked in my room and all the stuff was packed. They did that that fast. "So," Her voice came into my room. I didn't turn, "I saw you were happy there." She came close to her chest, hitting my back and her breath hit my neck. I sucked a breadth. "You thought I would give up on you." She whispered, putting her finger on my collarbone and pushing the hair to the side. I forgot how to take breadth. "I can never give up on my revenge, Nora Duke." She hissed and backed away. Letting me breadth.

Why am I like this when she is close to me? I wiped my eyes and turned around. Pulling my best smirk made her worse.

"I don't care now, Sana." I said and put the photo in my bag. "Just remember that I am also never going to give up on my revenge too." I grabbed my suitcase and walked to the door, but a hand stopped me.

"You won't care if I or someone, do something to your husband," she said amusedly. I froze. I couldn't look at her. No, I won't look at her. "Why? What happened? Why are you crying?" Crying. I touched my cheek and there was a tear. "Are you afraid? I will do something for him. Well, you have to because I will." She said harshly, "You can never have peace, Nora. Not here, not there. Not anywhere." She said, playing with my hair, "Because I will be everywhere." She hissed and bumped my shoulder and she went out to my room.

I was standing there frozen. Tears streamed down my face. I touched my cheek, and it was all wet.

Why am I crying?

Then I heard a voice. His voice. His footsteps. His apology. His laugh. Everything. And I realized at that moment,

"I am crying because of him," I said aloud and it echoed in my empty room.

_______________________________

Nicholas Bretons

I went inside, sending Nora to her home. I talked to Adrian about his hotel, career, concert and about joining the office. Then he said that it was late, so he had to go. I also had to pick Nora up, so I offered him a ride. And here we are on the road, me and him in the car.

Nora is the kind of girl that any kind of guy would attract her and make her curious. I think that is pretty that I am attracted to her. She is really beautiful, her brown eyes, perfectly shaped lips, her long black hair, her perfect body. Everything about her is perfect and beautiful, but then she made me curious about her. If she was beautiful, then she also is full of secrets. Mysterious. And sometimes it gave me thrills and sometimes it annoyed me. I can't tell what's happening to me?

"So, how's your marriage life?" Adrian asked, breaking the silence and my thoughts of Nora. I looked at him, flinched at his suddenly open mouth and then sighed.

"I don't know Adrian. At this time, I want to bang my head at the nearest thing I can. Before you started talking, I was already thinking about her." I told him honestly. I didn't look at him for his reaction, my eyes were on the road. And about the marriage part, it's hard dude. I got that on the first day," I said, and ran my hand through my hair. He was silent. For a moment I wanted to, glance that he didn't get to sleep, but then he spoke.

"Well Nico," he said after a long pause, "if you don't mind, I think she has two problems." He said, getting serious. He leaned behind the window and looked at me.

"Problems? What kind of problems?" I didn't look towards him.

"Look at my experience." He stared.

"Experience." I scoffed.

"She can't be ready for this relationship." I hummed in response. "Second one, its only my prediction it can be true or cannot be true."

"Uh-huh." I hummed again, not understanding what he was saying.

"I think, look, I only think she... she is into someone." The moment the words slipped from his mouth I would do something reckless if my foot didn't break. I stopped the car immediately and looked at him, glaring at him.

"I have never heard something this absurd from you in my whole life?" I shot daggers at him.

"I- look, it's only my prediction. Anyway, let's go, we are late." he said, straightening his posture. I started the car and drove again, still glaring at him, "Look at the road." He spoke. I forcedly turned my eyes towards the road. Let's cancel the second option." He mumbled.

"Adrian, you know that sometimes I want to beat you up really badly," I said casually.

"I already know Nico," he said with amusement in his voice. We were quiet after, but then he started to laugh and I joined him slowly.

"I really want to ask it from like months ago." I hummed, "So did you find an aunt killer?" He asked, making the atmosphere awkward.

"No, not even a clue, and dad is very angry." I explained to him what happened between dad and me. His face turned into a really serious expression that I thought he wasn't listening to me but he was.

"Nicholas". He called my full name. He never calls it when he is super serious.

"Hmm", I hummed, nervous about what he was going to say.

"Why do you think that aunt Lucy was killed? I mean it could be an accident, just like Uncle James said." I glanced at him, then back at the road. He never asked this kind of question. I was silent as I remembered that day. He wants to know what happened that day.

"Dad asked you to do that?" I asked and I know he did it. Adrian gulped and shifted on his seat.

"No." He said, wiping something from his forehead.

"You know I won't tell you," I said coldly.

"But I am your best friend." A pause, "Look, I know it is related to that day," he said, getting serious. Why is he so stubborn? I thought about rolling my neck.

"Okay, I will tell you." I said a few minutes later, he said happily 'yeah'. I chuckled at his childishness. A second ago, he was serious. We are really different from each other.

"When I come back from vacation," I added. His face dropped. "Your home is here." He almost got out of the car but I called him.

"You have to do me a favor."

"What kind of?" He crossed his arms in front of his chest, pouting.

"Can you find my mother's killer?" His eyes shot up to mine.

"Are you serious? Uncle said th-"

"I know what he said, that's why I am asking for a favor; I will owe you." I said to him. He stared like I was crazy. "Look, I didn't tell you. That doesn't mean that I am safe. You asked how I am sure that my mother was killed, Adrian. I am being attacked and this is proof that i am on the right path," I told him.

"You are being attacked?" He almost shouted. "Why didn't you tell me? Why don't you ever tell me anything? Am I not your friend? Don't you trust me? O my god. Someone is attacking, someone trying to kill you? Nicholas, you are out of your mind. Why do you think that you didn't tell me?"

"That's why I didn't tell you, i***t", I cut him off. He shut up. I took a deep breath, "Seriously Adrian, you make me crazy," I said. He gave me an apologetic look, "You just told me one thing, are you going to do me a favor?" I asked. He nodded vigorously. "Good, I promise I owe you."

"You don't owe me anything, you are my friend and she was my aunt." He said to me in a friendly tone and gave me a smile. I smiled back. A few seconds, we looked at each other, then he broke the silence, "I think I have to go or we might end up kissing." My mouth hung open at his remark. Just how he makes such a tense into a loose moment. Only Adrian can do that. No one else. I laughed at him, shook my head and drove to the Duke's house.

____________________________________

"It must have a lot of profit." I nodded at Nora's father; it's been a while since I came here. I met David there and we started to talk about business stuff.

"Umm Mr. Duke, can you call Nora, we have to go." I said to him politely.

"Oh yeah yeah. Lucy goes call Nora down." He said to Lucy. A girl came towards me and handed me a cup of tea. I didn't grab it fully and she dropped it. On me. I looked at her and she smiled at me.

"Oh, I am really sorry I didn't know it when it slipped." Lucy spoke and she was not sorry at all.

"It's okay, just show me the washroom". I asked, giving her a polite smile.

"How could that be? Your hand is burning, son. Lucy goes an-"

"No, It's going to be alright when he meets with Nora." Lucy spoke before I could. She turned towards them and there was a weird anger I saw in them. "She is up there." She pointed towards her bedroom. I nodded without looking, because I knew where her damn room was. I went upstairs without looking back. What a weird family? I thought and suddenly stumbled on someone.

"What the hell can-" I hid my hand which was burning because she was looking pissed, but her duality changed when she saw me, she smiled. "Oh, I am sorry."

I smiled at her. "It's okay, is Nora inside?" I asked her, she smiled back and nodded, then walked away. I gave a weird look at Sana, then looked up and Nora was already there. I raised an eyebrow, "Shall we leave." She nodded and came back with a bag. "Wow that was-" I was shocked she had already packed. But she corrected me by getting more bags. They were already packed. "-Fast." I

cleared my throat.

"I called someone to get them in the car." I nodded at her and accidentally got my right hand out which was injured. I was going to hide it but she caught my hand. I bit my lip when she gasped. Nora wrapped her cold hand around mine. "Who did this?" She asked. I looked everywhere but not her. She tightened her hold, "Tell me", I gulped and said the name.

"Lucy" The moment I said her name, a tear rolled down her cheek. Why is she crying? I wiped the tear from her cheek and absently rubbed her cheek. "Why are you crying? It's not that bad, I will put ointment on. It's going to be fine." She looked me in the eye. Her eyes were wet and red. Did she cry? "Did you-" I was asking but got cut off.

"Ma'am..., Oh I am sorry."We heard someone and jumped away. We were too close.

"Uhh, no wait" She stopped in her tracks after Nora called her. "Can you put these suitcases in the car?" She said to her. She nodded and hurriedly took the suitcase and ran away. She looked everywhere but not me and I only stared at her. Who made her cry here? Did she say she was leaving here? Does she not want to go? We were both forced to marry each other. My subconscious slapped me in the face.

"We better go." She said, stopping my train of thoughts. I nodded at her. Walking away, I followed her. "Umm, dad we are leaving." She said, I was behind her. Lucy looked up from her phone and glared at me. What did I do? I narrowed my eyes at her; she rolled her eyes and again turned her attention to her phone.

"Yeah, okay... um... enjoy your trip." Her dad said and in seconds the whole living room was empty. I looked at her but she didn't look at me and went outside.

"Ma'am Sir, I put it in your car trunk." She said and walked away. WOW, she didn't even say good-bye to anyone. Maybe she already did. I was in my thoughts when she started to walk to the door. I ran after her and opened the passenger door for her to climb in, close the door and sit on my own seat.

The car cycle was silent. I glanced at her, she was sleeping; I stopped the car in front of the mansion and turned towards her to wake her up. A tear was rolling down her cheek. I lean my head on the seat and watch that tear making its way from cheek to jaw to chin to neck. I wiped it from her neck all the way to her eyes. She cried a lot. A servant knocks. I tore my eyes away from her, the servant waved and I opened the trunk for him. I got out of the car, "Did you pack our suitcases?" He nodded. "Put them in and the rest of them in the closet." He nodded and started to do his work. I went to the passenger seat to wake her up but I didn't want to wake her up. I tucked some strands behind her ear and carried Nora in bridal style and went to our room. I put her on bed and put a blanket on her and sat beside her.

Something is odd. Her family is very weird. My family is also weird, but hers. I sighed. And the most important thing, I wiped another tear from her face.

"She cries a lot. In silence and that's a really bad thing about her." I said loudly as another tear rolled down from her eyes. I also wiped it off.