Decision

SLOAN'S POINT OF VIEW

"Y-You?" I whispered while looking at him in disbelief. I don't know what to say. I can't believe that the person I just met a week ago is my fiancé!

"You know each other?" daddy asked confusedly while looking at Dominic and me.

I didn't answer. I couldn't tear my gaze away from him. His piercing blue eyes were emotionless.

"We met a week ago, Mr. De Falco," he replied, but his eyes were on me. "So, she's your daughter?" He turned to my father.

He used to be all smiles and friendly, but now he's all serious and cold when talking to my dad. He seems like a different person when speaking to my father.

Daddy smiled nervously. "Yes, Mr. Velasco, and she's willing to marry you, right, dear?" My father turned to me. I didn't miss the warning in his eyes.

My heartbeat quickened with fear. This is how I always feel when I'm near to my dad.

I wanted to say no. I am no longer interested in getting married because I am afraid of what might happen, but like always, I just found myself nodding. Once again, fear took the lead.

"Y-Yes, Dad," I said.

Dominic and I locked eyes. He was simply observing my every move. The way he looked at me, it was like he didn't know me.

"See? Don't worry, Mr. Velasco, she's obedient. I assure you, she's not a headache. Arellano, Golveo, and Moreau proved that," Daddy proudly informed.

I couldn't look Dominic in the eyes anymore because of what my father said. I feel embarrassed. I'm embarrassed for myself because I'm letting my own father manipulate me!

When will I learn to fight back? When will I learn to speak for myself? When will I stop being ruled by fear? When will that be? I'm so tired of being a coward.

If I were Dominic, I wouldn't let myself be tied to someone like me. I am a curse! If he marries me, he could also end up dead like my previous husband!

"Are you sure that you want to marry me, Ms. De Falco?" Dominic asked seriously.

I couldn't answer immediately. I glanced at dad and when I saw his jaw clenching, I quickly looked away.

"Y-Yes," I muttered.

"Again, are you sure?" he asked once more.

I nodded. "Yes, Mr. Velasco."

"Good to hear."

We sat on the sofa and continued the conversation there. While dad and Dominic talked, Nanny Basya came over to the living room. She brought a pitcher of juice and poured it into our glasses.

Nanny Basya and I locked eyes. Worry and protest were evident in her eyes. I couldn't bear to see her like that, so I looked away. It's just too much for me. Nanny Basya is like a mother to me, so it hurts when I see her hurting because of the way my life is going.

When Nanny left, I turned back to dad and Dominic. Our eyes met again—Dominic's and mine—as if he had been watching me all along. I looked away. I don't know, but I can't look into his eyes.

"When is the wedding, Mr. Velasco?" Daddy asked.

I forgot about my dream a long time ago, so I don't care anymore about when or where I get married. I'm just going to go with the flow and see what happens.

Dominic chuckled. "Why are you asking me that, Mr. De Falco? Your daughter should be the one you're asking about that. I'm not the only one getting married here."

I turned to him in surprise. I didn't expect him to say that. My previous husbands were always the ones to set the date and place of the wedding.

"Sure, Mr. Velasco. If it were up to my daughter, she would want to get married next week, right—"

"No offense meant, Mr. De Falco, but I don't want to hear that from you. I want my fiancé to decide about this wedding. After all, she's the one I'm going to marry, not you." Dominic looked at me seriously. "Do you have any suggestions about the date?"

I don't know what to say. I didn't expect Dominic to say that to my dad. I could feel the tension rising in our living room and I honestly don't know what to do!

Even though I wasn't looking at Daddy, I could feel his terrifying presence threatening that if I said something wrong, something bad would happen.

I swallowed hard. "I-I want it next week, Mr. Velasco…" I said.

Daddy smiled widely. "I told you! So, it's settled, then? The wedding is next week." He even clapped his hands.

Dominic remained looking at me. His jaw was clenching like he was pissed. "Next week, then," he said authoritatively.

They continued talking.

"E-Excuse me. I just need to go to the restroom," I excused myself softly and stood up.

I didn't wait for their response. I quickly walked toward the direction of the bathroom. It was located near the kitchen. I feel suffocated by Dominic's stare. It feels like whenever he looks at me, he knows everything I'm feeling even if he doesn't say anything. He knows everything inside me just by looking into my eyes.

I stared at myself in the large mirror inside the bathroom. Even with makeup on, the tiredness in my eyes was evident. I'm exhausted… I'm really tired of everything. When can I finally escape this kind of life?

I don't want this. I just want to live a normal life like everyone else. Is that too much to ask? Why do I have to experience a life without freedom? It's unfair... so unfair.

If I marry Dominic, will I finally be free? Or will he be just like my previous husbands who didn't even want me to see the sunlight? At first, they seemed like genuinely nice people. Polite, friendly, and always willing to lend a hand, but once we started living under the same roof, their true colors were revealed.

Will Dominic be like that too?

But what if he's really kind? What if he's different from my previous husbands? What if he's the one who will finally take me away from all this suffering?

I'm afraid to take a risk. My future and my life are on the line. I'm afraid of what might happen, but I'm even more afraid of what I might regret if I don't take the chance.

What should I do?