Chapter 1: The Party

"Pain Levenisse!" Brent hissed angrily when I not-so-accidentally stepped on his foot. I smiled in an apologetic way and mouthed sorry whilst he just rolled his eyes as we keep dancing. Sorry not sorry my dear, fiancé. I intentionally stepped on your foot. I chuckled mischievously at that thought.

Guess what? Today's our engagement party!

And honestly? I hate it.

It's not like we're going to marry out of love. It's our parents' idea for us to marry each other so that they can benefit from each side's company. We're bound only by our kinfolk's wealth and that's it. In short, we're marrying for the sake of our fortune. No love, no feelings whatsoever. Why don't they just marry Brent instead then? It's their idea anyway.

For the umpteenth time, I rolled my eyes.

"Can you please smile? Even just a little? You're making everything obvious, you brat." He whispered, forcing himself to muster a smile that looked more like a grimace.

Hah! He can't even smile as well, yet he's commanding me to smile. What a clown. And not just a clown. With how he's been acting, I might as well call him "circus".

I stuck my tongue out at him and frowned even more, spiting him just for the sake of it- and as expected, another exasperated groan anchored itself on the back of his throat.

I roamed my eyes on this extravagant and luxurious venue. Taking in how the waxed marble floor shone and how the portrait hung meticulously by the pallid walls lined with gold. From above, there's a chandelier made out of what seemed to be diamonds, glinting as the light hit it. All in all, everything here on the venue is breathtaking- it doesn't even look like a mere venue anymore. It looks like a palace, although a bit smaller than the regular ones you see in overrated princess movies.

When I was young I always dreamt of having a fairytale like wedding. I dreamt of marrying someone who'll look into my eyes lovingly and full of sincerity. In our engagement party, we'll dance like there's no tomorrow in the midst of hundreds of guests, while looking at each with genuine care and love and oh-, I know that those are nothing but pipe dream now. All because my parents insisted on me marrying this- this jerk!

I'm getting married soon and now celebrating this effin' engagement party with the most annoying person in the entire world. Isn't that so sweet? Of course it isn't, all of this is nothing but the contrary of what I thought of way back then.

"I guess fairytale doesn't really exist." I muttered, letting the syllables be carried away by the wind. It seems like Brent haven't heard any of it, and that works just fine for me.

I noticed our guests are eyeing us dreamily and it suddenly makes me want to puke.

"Did you already find a way to dismiss our supposed to be marriage?" I suddenly asked.

"Obviously? Not." he answered with disinterest all while I raise a perfectly arched brow at him in form of silent recalcitrance.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I gritted my teeth in annoyance. "You love the idea of me being engaged to you so that you can proceed to do whatever schemes you have in mind, or am I wrong?"

He threw me a grin so devilish, and with nothing to do other than to mutely fume, I threw him a glare.

He reminds me of Satan, in terms of schemes and how he acts. It's so infuriating! And I swear, adding horns in his head will complete the look.

"So-so." He winked at me as we parted ways.

"What's with that long face of yours?" Shanea, my cousin asked.

"You're really asking me why?" I deadpanned. She did nothing but chuckled airily at my annoyance laced answer.

"Everything's gonna be fine, dear cousin. But for now, just go on with the flow!" She beamed excitedly.

"Do you perhaps, want to marry that jerk in my stead?" I quipped, watching how her eyes bulged accompanied by a high pitched squeak.

"Really?! I would love to!" She laughed heartily. She really does know how to mess with me. She's indeed my cousin.

"Whatever, Shanea." Sipping on my wine glass, I fluttered my eyelash at her whilst hiding a frown.

Suddenly, a young woman who appeared to be in her late twenties stepped in front of us, and in no time, I placed her under my scrutiny. I let my gaze scan her from her head down to her toes, taking note of how she carried herself with much grace with each traipse she took. I would've said something, maybe about how her hair looks wonderfully done or how her necklace looks good on her but—

"Look who's here? The infamous heiress of the Montemayor Corporation." She greeted me as elegantly as how she flicked her wrist, her own gaze scanning me as well. Starting from the strands of my hair and down the tips of my toes, an eye roll after and acted like she's disgusted from what she just seen.

"Look who's here," Shanea butted in and proceeded to imitate how Blaire acted when she saw me, rolling her eyes dramatically as well.

"The bitch in disguise." She spat, making Blaire's nose flare furiously over her insult.

What seemed to be a lightning formed between them and I imagined sparks flying everywhere comically like what you'd see in movies and animes.

I'm thrilled in silence as I waited for them to start a ruckus. I can't wait to see how hard Shanea will be able to smack her right in the face. My lips quirked up into a devilish grin but it faded as soon as it formed when Brent came rushing in.

"Can I borrow my beloved fiancé for a moment?" He butted in, gently placing his hand around my waist, pretending to be a possessive and loving fiancé. The excitement I felt a while ago suddenly vanished and was replaced with pure disgust.

"Sure. I'll just deal with this bitch." My cousin winked and pushed the both of us, ushering us to go where Brent intended for us to go.

I removed his hand on my waist but he just pulled me closer, tutting underneath his breathe. We accidentally exchanged glances and I immediately looked away when he eagerly held whatever silent staring contest we're currently having.

"Levenisse?" Rage squinted his eyes and automatically smiled in recognition.

Brent tighten his hold on my waist. Rage forced a smile.

Rage and Brent aren't in good terms since we were in college. Rage is a good friend of mine, meanwhile I had this ill-fated relationship with Brent way back then.

"Congratulations on your engagement..." Rage shook Brent's hands firmly. I slightly panicked when they dangerously eyed each other so with baited breath, I scurried to push them both away from each other to prevent another brawl from taking place.

"Rage? Please go that way. And uh, Brent? You go that way— I'll go this way!" I excused myself and walked away from them harmoniously as if nothing happened.