wrong proposal

chapter two

Chapter two

Alexa.

Walking home felt even worse. Despite ordering a ride, I forgot because I got lost with every trail back home.

Playing back the event in my head made the twist in my belly feel worse.

How was I so stupid...?

I felt naked and used.

The rain poured heavily, but I was too numb to feel anything.

The instant replay kept coming… and it made me hate myself even more…

Kai was the only man I ever loved.. our friendship meant so much to me.. so much that I fell so hard.

I turned down engagement, turned down dates hoping it would be him..

Call me entitled, but I fell so hard I expected him to feel the same way

He should have read the signs during the late-night calls.

But no…

I let my feelings play me. And now it's like my heart is about to bulge out from my chest.

I finally arrived at the front of my father's mansion without even realising it.

I had walked with so much pain that I passed multiple streets without even noticing.

It's a miracle I didn't get hit by a truck.

Actually…

I wish I got hit by a truck. It probably would have put me out of this misery.

I take a step to open the gate.

“s**t, I've got to face Dad.” That's when it dawned on me.

I can't face him like this.

He already thinks I'm a failure.

I clean my eyes with the back of my palm and clear my throat as the soft wind blows thoroughly through my hair… I compose myself… trying to hide the pain…

I push through the gate, entering the compound. Everywhere seems quiet… maybe he's asleep, or maybe he went out for another appointment.

Any option – I just have to get past him to avoid his condemnation tonight.

I walk steadily through the door, my head still spinning from every emotion. I try to tiptoe to my room, passing through the dark corners …

I walk like five minutes into the dark sphere when his voice breaks through.

“Welcome home, honey.”

The hairs on my body stand almost immediately, goosebumps of surprise wash over me.

“f**k,” I say silently as I turn to see him sitting in a chair by the corner, like he was waiting for me to return.

“Dad… umm, shouldn't you be sleeping?” my voice cracks.

I try so hard to spill out a normal tone… a normal tone that didn't spend hours crying walking home, but I fear he could see the trail of dried tears beneath my eyes.

“I thought you said you wouldn’t be back till 10.”

He asks, his voice calm and controlled.

“Well, it…”

“This is 8:49, Alexis,” he cuts in. His voice is already demanding answers.

And then… I just snapped.

“FINE... I didn't stay till 10; is that bad? I'm 24; you can't keep treating me like a child, giving me deadlines to return home. ”.

The words spill out faster than I could think... He doesn't react… just his dark stare piercing through me… I could feel intensity building up in him.

“Did Kai propose to another lady?” he asked.

My ears tingle… how did he know...?

“Pardon?” I say, trying To comprehend

“You heard me, Alexa.”

“Dad, are...are you spying on me?”

“You haven't answered me.”

“No, you answer me, Father,” my voice loud and bold. “Why do you keep sending your henchmen to spy on me?”

He smiles… but it doesn't reach his eyes. He stands up from his plushy chair, steadily pouring a glass of beer. Before he lashes out at me

“You’re my only child.”

he says,

this time calmly

“My only girl, the one who is supposed to take over from me… from me? You, Alexa. That is why you can't be a weakling; that's why I am always hard on you. I am tired of your timid persona.” His voice rises and falls in some sort of rage.

Each word pierces me, like I'm not already used to him belittling me… but he continued.

“Before your mother died, birthing you… I prayed you came out as a male, so I could train you and prepare you to take on what I have built.”

He smiled as he continued to lecture me.

“But I guess God trying to punish me for all the bloodshed gave me a girl, a weak girl.”

I didn't realise when my eyes began to tear up. Oh s**t, tears.

“Well, I'm sorry I'm not good enough for you. Is that why you married after Mom's death? Is that why you replaced her?”

“I married because you were a disappointment," he spat at me.

“Then give Troy the heir… He is your stepson. Maybe he is not a disappointment like me.”

“He is certainly not, but I don't trust him, and that is why I gave you a shot.” He began to walk towards me.

“I gave you a shot, Alexa... a shot at love... I told you to find a man that will run my empire with you since you were too weak to do it alone… You told me not to pick a partner for you because you wanted Kai.”

His voice rose with rage.

“I waited four years, and now Kai proposed to another woman, AND WE ARE BACK TO SQUARE ONE.”

“Enough, please,” my voice clasped out with a rage I didn't know I had.

He looked at me with disgust; I could feel his gaze burning through me.

“I'm tired of your excuses. I don't have much longer to live, and I certainly can't leave my empire with you without any husband who will uphold my legacy by your side.”

I pause. “Dad…”

“No,” he cuts me off. “This time I'm picking a partner for you…you've done enough.”

He turns to walk out. But I swiftly get up; my rage ceases instantly as I look in confusion.

“Who have you chosen? I deserve to know who the person is, Father.”

He pauses. The wave of emotion was already at its peak… but it was about to explode as he said his name.

“Diego Pascal”

My eyes widened; I feel even worse now.

I take two steps, almost falling over due to shock.

“You want me to marry your enemy, Dad. He hates you… if I marry him, you would literally be selling our empire to him. This makes no sense.”

He slowly turns back to me, void of panic, his voice calm.

“I have no choice; he's the only one who is a reasonable enemy, and if I don't do this when I'm alive… he'll take it forcefully from you when I die… He's just too powerful, and I'm too old to fight back.”

I see pure bitterness from his eyes.

And I feel like a true failure.

A failure because I couldn't help him fight for his empire. I'm just a liability.

I hate myself even more.

an empire I watch my parents build… it comes to me, and I can't do anything except sacrifice myself at the mercy of his enemy just to see his legacy live on.

“How sure are you, Dad?… How sure are you he will accept his biggest enemy’s daughter as his mistress?”

He smiles, a disturbing smile.

“Who can resist my beautiful daughter?” The compliment makes me feel worse… then he walks towards me.

His hands on my hair, playing with the curly strands. He looks at me; I can see the dark lines beneath his eyes, the sign of life leaving him.

“You've never been of use to me; this is your chance to help this family and make your late mother proud.”

He turns, leaving me with more pain than I came with.