Unfortunate to be his wife

III. The Engagement

I was still in shock from everything, so I froze to my seat and focused my gaze on the soup in front of me. Why had mom kept everything concealed from me? She could have addressed it with me, and I would have been fine with it, but why keep it hidden? I'm so puzzled right now; I wanted to be thrilled that Storm is the one I'm going to marry, so why do I feel so strange? This just doesn't feel right to me.

When my brother took my hand and said, "Amy, (my nickname), don't worry, your brothers are here," I jerked back to reality.

The celebration continued after the meal, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I was entertaining a large number of guests, and since I was with Storm, they all congratulated us, but I was the only one who spoke to them. I don't have the courage to engage Storm in conversation since I can sense the coldness in his presence and it appears that he doesn't like what's going on.

I needed to be alone for a moment, so I took advantage of the opportunity to escape and stayed outside the garden, I hid inside the mini house with a slide so no one could see, I took a deep breath and cried, maybe it was too much to bear that my tears just gave up and burst; I know I'm not crying because of the engagement, I'm crying because Storm is so cold to me, his actions appear to be all fake and it feels phony. We had a fantastic friendship back in Ihwa, so I'm not sure why he's so cold to me now.

I didn't intend for this to happen, did I? I had no clue I was going to be engaged to him! It's even not my fault. The night began to grow cold as it turned out to be the first snowfall of the year, and I had forgotten to pack a jacket. I still don't want to go back inside because I don't want to see Storm or anybody else; I'd rather freeze outdoors than bear the pressure inside. I leaned against the play slide's wall and let my tears fall.

"You never grow up, you're still a cry baby."

When I looked up to see who was speaking, I noticed Storm, who offered me a handkerchief and his coat.

"Well, it appears that you have changed." When I answered, his face remained blank and icy, but at least he began talking to me, which put my mind at rest.

"I was the one who told them not to inform you, not until this event," he added as he tried to take a seat next to me; the play slide tiny house was too small for us two, which is why I was so near to him that I felt his shoulder on mine.

"Why did you decide to keep it hidden? I have a right to know "I snorted.

For a little period, he was deafeningly silent and I simply gazed at him.

"Let's just try to be polite and think of this as a business relationship," he remarked coldly as he walked away.

I began to cry once more, wondering how he could change and become such a coldhearted man! I assumed that him talking to me would improve our connection, but how can he speak so coldly!? We had a fantastic friendship a long time ago; he could have at least respected it and been courteous to me, but instead he decided to be arrogant and be a cold jerk!

In the first place, I don't want this wedding! I hurriedly stood up and returned inside to find my mother, whom I found easily because she was laughing with Storm's family.

"Could I have a private discussion with you, Mom?" I questioned her, but she gave me a disgusted expression.

She excused herself and drew me from the ballroom.

"What the hell happened to your face!?! Were you sobbing?! Don't you realize there's a lot of media in here, and you showed here looking like a disaster!? You, selfish brat, do not destroy this moment!" She screamed fiercely at me, and I clinched my fist in rage.

"Me? What do you mean, selfish? When did I ever have the chance to be in charge of my own life and achieve what I wanted?!? You never gave me that chance! I've always been a nice daughter, obeying your commands even when I didn't want to! I'm not even interested in this engagement—" Before I could finish, I felt my mother's hand on my face, and I can feel the pain in my left cheeks, but I continue to gaze at her furiously.

"You don't want to say that," she exhaled deeply and calmed herself.

"You don't want to get married to Storm? Don't do it! Let's just call a cease to this wedding and let Storm to marry Francheska."

What? I hesitated.

"Can you explain what you mean?" I inquired.

"Well, you're naive, Francheska never supported your love for Storm, and she never sent Storm your letters!" My mother pulled out a package and handed it to me.

When I opened it, I was astounded to see that it included all of my letters and gifts to Storm, some of which had been torn apart and others had been purposefully destroyed.

"How did you get these?" I cried.

"Franceska is never your friend; she snatched Storm from you, and you're blind, y ou put your faith in her, but she deceived you."

Tears welled up in my eyes once again; so I'd never had a friend? Storm is cold, and Cheska is a traitor? Why is all of this happening to me?

"How did you find out all of this?"

"I was always there for you, my daughter, and I will always make sure you are at the top. I did this so you wouldn't wind up like me, deceived by my step sister whom I had loved and trusted but who then betrayed me. I was betrayed, so you still don't want to marry Storm and give Cheska what she desires? Remember, sweetheart, that a bad tree bears terrible fruit, and Francheska is much like her mother."

Is all of this true? My mother, on the other hand, retains all of my letters and presents that I personally delivered to Cheska.

Mom brushed my tears away and directed my assistant to follow me upstairs for a retouch; I was stunned and consented. What motivated Cheska to act in this manner?

After retouching, I returned to the ballroom and greeted everyone. My glance caught Storm's, and he tightened his jaw and focused his eyes on me. I hastily shifted my attention and proceeded to stroll into the room, but everyone abruptly halted and murmurs filled the area when an unwelcome person entered the ballroom.

"How did they get here?"

"A thick face runs in the family."

"If I were one of them, I'd never have a face to display at an event like this."

All those whispers are ringing in my ears; I glance at my mother, but she is simply calm and smiles at them; I turn to face Storm, but his gaze is fixed on one person, and it is on her...Cheska.