Chapter 1

“This is your future wife, sweetie!” Evelyn Marlio De’Luz said excitedly.

So excitedly, it was obvious she was faking it, and her son, Blake De’Luz, could easily see it. “Here, get to now her a bit. Introduce yourselves.” She continued on, making both children in front of her uncomfortable. Of course, who would blame them? The girl, Lana Tilac, was six. Blake, was eight. Both from the most powerful families in the country, and both willing to sacrifice their children for more power. Evelyn quickly hustled along, leaving the two strangers in the big living room by themselves. Lana, a sweet smile that could melt anyone’s heart, held her hand out.

“Hi, my name’s Lana.”

Blake, not understanding their situation, only sat down on a nearby, leather couch. Leaving Lana’s hand in the air. Lana, seeing Blake wouldn’t take her hand, slowly put it down. She tried to smile again, but froze when she saw the look on Blake’s face. Blake didn’t like her.

Not because the girl in front of him was his future wife, he didn’t understand that concept yet. And also not because he thought she was ugly, no, she was the prettiest girl he’d seen yet. But only because she was a stranger, and Blake didn’t like strangers. He also didn’t put up an effort to hide it.

Piercing Lana through, Blake only stared at her, his eyes slightly narrowed, lips downward. His eyes were a beautiful, honey gold, a color that should’ve looked warm. And it did, but only when he was smiling. With his blank face on, Lana couldn’t help put shiver, and want to escape from his gaze. Her parents had told her to make friends though. With the boy in front of her. Or they wouldn’t let her back home. She tried again, this time her voice quivering.

“H-hi. Uh-um, would y-you like t-to be fr-friends?”

She felt like she was losing air, struggling to keep her sweet smile on her face. Struggling to not cry. Blake didn’t understand why she was here. He didn’t understand that all she needed was for him to smile back. So he said what was on his mind.

“Stop stuttering. Are you dumb?”

That was it. The finally factor in crushing the resistance Lana had built from crying. The cold stare, the disgusted look, the mean words, the obvious dislike towards her. She was only six. And she’d been protected since her birth. People usually only complimented her. She was yet to occur this. Until Blake.

So she did what a six year old, pained little girl would do. She cried. And it earned both children a beating.

At the sound of her screams, Blake’s parents arrived first. The scene before them was Blake sitting on the couch, and Lana standing there with tears streaming down her face. Martin De’Luz, Blake’s father, if anyone could even call him that, took three big strides, and slapped Blake across his face. The slap echoed in the empty room, but were over covered by Lana’s sniffles.

Martin knew nothing families needed this marriage between their children, and he would not let Blake be the one who ruined it.

Lana’s parents, William Tilac and Cassandra Monet Tilac, arrived a bit later, also taking the situation in front of them. But through a different perspective. They apologized towards Blake’s, saying it couldn’t have been his fault. The meeting between the two families stopped there for now.

As soon as Lana’s family left the De’Luz mansion, two things happened. But the effects were the same.

Blake was beaten by his father Martin. For making Lana cry. He learned that day that even if he hated Lana Tilac, he had to act like he didn’t.

Lana, was slapped and hit by her father, William. Until she stopped crying out of fear. He told her if she ever cried in front of Blake again, she’d be kicked out. That’s right. The only reason Lana was marrying Blake was because she was the eldest. She still had three younger sisters William wouldn’t mind marrying to Blake. William didn’t care who it was. Just that the marriage would happen.

Lana learned that day that she could never cry again. Not in front of people. And no matter how much Blake De’Luz made her want to, she had to keep a smile on her face.

And such marked the end of their first meeting. But a beginning to so much more.

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