CHAPTER 17

Keira frowned and murmured irritably, "How come those Lius decided to choose our family!"

They were having coffee and dessert at May's favorite cafe where she told her friends the thing about the arranged marriage between her and Jeru Liu.

"You mentioned before that you met Jeru once, right? Maybe he is the one who decided on that. You know he liked you the moment he set his eyes on you, like what you felt to Zach too. Wow, this is so interesting. A love triangle. Hmm, I want to witness how everything will end." May blurted out as if she was anticipating a good drama to watch soon.

"So are you going or not?" Lana asked she was curious about what would Keira do about the matter.

"Of course, I have to… The real problem is that Old Madam Liu who is the female version of Hitler and she's really scary they say." Keira answered simply then let out a long, deep sigh.

The Liu Group was a big empire worldwide incomparable with their Family's wealth. Like the Chans, they were also well respected in society. So she must be careful in every aspect concerning the matter.

"Ohhh… I see, so Keira Chan is afraid… scared? That will be the most bullshit thing I ever heard if you say 'Yes'." Drey commented.

Keira laughed crazily at Drey's words. "You know me, guys! She should be the one to get scared. I will attend to scare her, nah? Hmmm, how about wearing a scary outfit and give her a heart attack?"

"Urgh? Are you serious? I don't think she'll get scared. She'll think you are crazy instead." Lana commented and Keira laughed out harder.

"Oh, I think it's better she thinks I'm crazy, no? Imagine adding a crazy girl like me to their family? That's the worst thing she could do." Keira added with an exaggerated jest.

"At least, your parents are supportive, Keira, and I'm sure your dad will just let you decide on things in the end," May said as she ate the last piece of her cheesecake.

Keira smiled. May was right, and she felt proud and contented to have such great parents as hers.

Then she became serious and said, "Nah! Old Madam Liu for sure is quick-witted and will know I'm just acting up, so she will be a great challenge for me to be honest. Besides, I don't want to stain my dad's reputation. You know, everything I do will be a reflection to my parents, so I'm thinking of something else."

"I'm sure you will have your usual strike on that and nail things as you normally do. We will be here in case you need your minions to realize your plan." Drey said chuckling and the rest giggled too.

"Yeah, we minions will always support our villainess friend," May accepted, copying the small voice of the minions in the real movie that made the group fall in laughter again.

_____

Keira was looking at the photos of a woman on her mobile phone sent to her by John.

She shook her head and said, "Tsk, tsk. I won't let you bug my man. You left him and how dare you come back!"

The woman was the same age as Zach and she looked pretty on the pictures. Keira sighed, she knew she had more advantages, compared to that woman, anyway, she couldn't help but become envious of the time Zach and that woman had spent together.

They were childhood sweethearts. And Keira was a big fan of that kind of love stories since childhood.

Suddenly, her face became sour.

"I hate childhood sweetheart stories now!" She exclaimed irritably.

She would deal with Zach's EX later because she knew that the woman wouldn't dare to meet Zach for now.

Keira then looked at the report about Old Madam Liu.

"Hmm… very impressive." She murmured, seeing all the achievements of Old Madam Liu.

"Ohh, what's this?" She gasped at the sudden thought that crossed her mind while she was reading Old Madam Liu's profile.

She felt that she would really have a hard time dealing with old Madam, but of course, it's not impossible.

She had to find the weakness of the Lius.

"Oh please, I don't want a nightmare tonight…" she said and tried to erase the images of Glaring Madam Liu from her mind. Never had she seen the old lady smile even once on all photos.

She looked at Zach's photo on her mobile phone and giggled.

"I bet you always dream of me," she mumbled before she closed her eyes.

....

Zach occupied himself with evening work-outs since he couldn't sleep at all.

He sighed as sweat ran down all over his lean body.

Then he simpered. This was the first time he got so distracted because of a woman.

"Maybe, there's no need to worry? I'm sure she did not mean that, did she? She's drunk at that time, so it's probably the alcohol..." he murmured then he unconsciously touched his lips.

That was absolutely not his first kiss, so how come he was feeling like this. He cleaned up and changed to sleep. He took the pills Torin had given and hopefully, he would be able to sleep normally soon.

But he got startled by his doorbell. It was his sister Lyra so he quickly opened the door.

"Big Bro!" Lyra excitedly hugged Zach.

"Wait, why didn't you call me, Lyra, so I could have picked you up at the dorm," he asked and helped Lyra with her baggage.

"I wanted to surprise you. After the exam, I don't want to go home yet. So let me stay here for a while, okay?" Lyra said smiling and sat on the sofa.

Zach smiled and said, "As well you can live here so stop asking permission."

"But you shouldn't live alone and bring a woman to your home soon…" Lyra teased and her eyes widened when her brother blushed all of a sudden.

"What the heck? You have a girlfriend already, Big Bro?" She asked in shock.

Then, she smiled happily and added, "Oh my, Big Bro, I will be the happiest single person alive once you have a woman and get over that bitch!"

"Lyra, watch your language!" Zach scolded.

Lyra pouted her lips and replied, "What? It's true that woman is a bitch! She doesn't deserve even the slightest, tiniest, precious time of yours. I will even pull her hair until she gets bald once I see her!"

Lyra was burning in anger upon remembering how her brother suffered because of that bitch!

She sighed and immediately changed the topic.

"So, tell me who's your new woman?" Lyra asked once more and stared at Zach.

Zach knew his sister very well and that she would not stop until she heard something from him, so he let out a long sigh and said, "There's no one, Lyra. It's just a girl who recently told me that she likes me. That's all."

"Who is she?" Lyra asked with sparkling eyes, indicating that she was too excited to hear the whole story.

Zach cursed inwardly. He couldn't hide anything from Lyra at all. She was too good at reading people and he was not an exception.

So, he told her what happened.

"Oh my God, Big Bro! You're in big trouble! Field Marshal Chan's daughter is a spoiled brat. She always gets what she wants by all means… Oh, I'm not sure If I should congratulate you or say good luck, Big Bro. So let me do both. Congratulations and Goodluck." Lyra warned and laughed out hard as she stood up.

"Wait, how did you know about her? And when did you start to believe in hearsays?" Zach asked with an arched brow.

"I'm already sleepy, Big Bro. Let me tell it to you tomorrow because it's just not a hearsay. I literally witnessed how she was making precise plans to get what she wanted… and she's really good. Honestly, I like her because she's not pretentious at all, unlike others, especially that bitch Thea!" Lyra explained and walked directly to one of Zach's spare rooms where she often slept.

Zach was left in terror…

"Am I really in big trouble?" He murmured, as his eyes became heavy because the sleeping pill already was taking effect.

* * * * * * * * * * *

*The next day*

Keira sighed several times inside the car.

"Smile, dear. You look like someone in a death row." Field Marshal Chan commented laughing.

"Well, this dinner will probably be the death row, Dad!" Keira stated lazily.

The Lius' Ancestral Mansion was so big that Keira was amazed as their car entered the pathway. It's probably 20 acres of trees and gardens.

"What the heck is this? That Old Madam lives in this big house all by herself?" Keira gasped as she saw the mansion from afar. She couldn't imagine how lonely it should be to have a big ancestral mansion like that and live without her family around.

"I guess so, but I'm sure she has a lot of people around and helpers. Senior Liu and Jeru are staying in the City while her daughter is abroad. Senior Liu said that it's Old Madam's choice to stay in this Mansion." Field Marshal Chan explained.

She made a quick search on her mobile phone about the Lius' Ancestral Mansion. A 29,000-square-foot main house that reportedly had 14 bedrooms all with bathrooms, two guest houses and a pool and more… It's quite impressive.

"House of Secrets?" Keira's eyebrows arched when an article gave the house that title because of the commotion on a 40,000-square-feet basement, a space that is reported as "equal to an underground village."

"The heck… This mansion is so weird, Dad." Keira commented as she continued to read the article.

"Dear, stop that, we are already at the main door," her mom reminded her as their car stopped.

Around twenty maids paraded at the entrance door in uniforms with the two butlers to greet them.

Keira smiled wryly for such a warm welcome.

"Are we walking at a wedding ceremony?" Keira murmured scornfully because at the end of rows of helpers Jeru was smiling widely at them as if he was a groom waiting for his bride.

Keira wanted to smash her head as she looked at Jeru. 'Darn, is that how I look whenever I stare at Zach?" She mused helplessly as she remembered her friends always telling her how she looked head over heels.

"We've met again," Jeru greeted her warmly and Keira gave him an impassive smile.

"Welcome, Troy and Ester!" An Old Woman greeted lively as she walked towards Keira's parents, hugged and gave them a cheek to cheek kiss. A man was beside her who she recognized from the photos that she had got as Senior Liu- Jeru's dad.

He had very soft features, then she shifted her gaze at Jeru. None of Jeru's facial features resembled Old Madam Liu or his father.

'Maybe, he got his looks from his mom,' she mused because she did not bother to check the profile of his deceased mother.

"Oh, your daughter is indeed a rare beauty to behold." Old Madam Liu praised with a wide smile, looking directly at Keira.

'Hmm… So she does know how to smile...' Keira mused

She had expected it. Old Madam Liu was a sweet and smooth talker on the outside.

Keira smiled sweetly and replied, "I'm well aware that I'm a rare beauty, so many actually are trying to own me because of this outer beauty of mine and I really hate that in the end all of them ended up beholding..."

Field Marshal Chan almost choked on the bold boasting of his daughter.

Old Madam Liu's eyebrows arched but quickly a smile plastered her face.

Senior Liu suddenly interrupted and said, "Let's all head to the dining room because I'm sure you are hungry because of the long ride."

Jeru was a pure gentleman along the way as he seated beside Keira. His attention was obviously pointed only towards her.

He even assisted her with her food.

"Thank you... But can I please get it by myself? I hate the feeling when someone is assisting me. Actually, it feels like I'm disabled though I'm not. I'm so sorry, but it's just that I'm twisted most of the time." She said apologetically to Jeru and she meant every word of it.

She felt pity for the guy. But then what could she do? She did not want to give Jeru the slightest hint to misinterpret her that she was on an agreement with the absurd marriage.

Keira noticed that Old Madam Liu was observing her and scrutinizing her every move with that sharp eyes of hers.

Everything was purely silent during dinner and she was sure it wouldn't end just like that.

They all were invited to the living room to have tea and talk about the arranged marriage.

Keira felt that this meeting was the most sluggish thing she ever had attended in her whole life.

"I will get straight to the point of why we have invited your family for dinner…" Old Madam began and looked intently at Keira as she continued explaining the Liu Family's intention to ask the Chan Family for Keira's hand.

Keira creased her forehead and spoke as soon as Old Madam Liu finished her piece. She felt like it would take forever because Old Madam Liu stated every advantage the Lius had to offer.

"Before you all start talking, being the main person involved in this meeting, I want to say something…"

Old Madam Liu's face crumpled. 'How impetuous!' she wanted to tell in a loud voice but controlled herself.

With a forced smile, she said, "Alright, let's hear out Keira and what she's about to say first since the matter involves her and Jeru."

Field Marshal Chan looked at his wife with a questioning expression as if asking whether she knew anything about Keira's plan but the latter just answered him by shrugging her shoulders.

Then, he looked at Keira and waited for what his daughter wanted to say. All he remembered was that Keira mumbled that she won't let all of them hijack the conversations.