Chapter 2 The Beauty of Elizabeth

Elizabeth was leaning on Ralph, feeling dizzy and not recognizing the man in front of her.

"Sorry, I think I don't know you..."

At that moment, she didn't have much control; it was clear Ralph was practically carrying her.

"Elizabeth, are you drunk again?"

"Dave?" She asked, confused.

"Let's go! I'll take you home... And you, you bastard, will pay for touching her!" Jhonatan said and pulled Elizabeth towards him.

He left with her leaning against his body and took her to the parking lot. He leaned her against the car in anger.

"Your father always tried to warn me about who you were, but I didn't listen. Now I see he's right, you're an immoral woman!"

Upon hearing these words, Elizabeth tried to slap Jhonatan, but he held her hand.

"How dare you do that after what I saw?"

"Let go of me! I don't know you, I'll scream until my brother shows up!"

"You fool! I'm Jhonatan Larson, your idiotic fiancé."

"What?" She asked, confused.

"Your agreement is with me... and you get caught with someone else? You deserve to be punished for that."

Elizabeth felt even dizzier and ended up hugging Jhonatan to keep from falling.

"How much have you been drinking today?"

"I didn't even finish half a glass, but I've never drunk before..."

Jhonatan laughed, thinking Elizabeth was a terrible liar. He looked at her up close and thought that if she were a decent woman, she would be the perfect wife because of her beauty. He leaned her against the car again and kissed her passionately.

"At least there's one good thing about you. You're damn beautiful! You must work wonders with that sexy mouth."

Elizabeth pushed him, and he stepped back, not that she had the strength, but he found her reaction interesting.

"Don't talk indecently to me! I'm not even old enough for that!"

Jhonatan was about to reply, but Elizabeth blacked out, and she only didn't fall because he held her. Jhonatan put her in the passenger seat and got into the car, watching her sleep for a minute before driving away.

He arrived at Natan's house with unconscious Elizabeth in his arms.

"Jhonatan, what happened to my daughter?" Natan asked, and Jhonatan entered with her.

"Where's her room?"

Natan swallowed hard; Elizabeth's room was falling apart, and he couldn't show that to Jhonatan.

"Put her on the couch. I'll take care of her..."

Jhonatan placed her on the couch, and she continued sleeping.

"Will you explain to me in what state you found my daughter this time?" Both Natan and Dave used ambiguous words; it seemed that this scene was common, making anyone think Elizabeth was used to coming home in that condition.

"She says she didn't drink, but she can't even stand. Although... never mind!" Jhonatan looked at Elizabeth sleeping for a moment, noticing she didn't smell of alcohol, and her kiss didn't taste like it either, as it should for someone who had been drinking heavily. He knew the tricks of the night; the man she was with could have easily drugged her to then take her away and abuse her without resistance. He wouldn't be the first to do that in a nightclub.

"Keep her at home if necessary. If she's going to marry me, I don't want my name dragged through the mud by an immoral woman!"

Jhonatan left in anger, arriving home and trying to remember if he had seen Elizabeth before at a party. He remembered the kiss and smiled to himself. He took a shower, thinking about how he had seen Elizabeth only once, and she had ignited desire in him. His future wife was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but he would resist her charms; he wouldn't marry just anyone. The next day, Jhonatan went to his uncle's house; James was still having breakfast when he arrived.

At the table were James Larson and his grandfather Marvin Larson. The old man was retired; he had passed on the business to James, but any matter that reached him was quickly resolved, and his word was law. Not even his children would challenge him.

"Good morning, my grandson, good to see you!" Marvin said.

"Good morning, Grandpa. It's good to see you too."

"Jhonatan, what brings you here so early?" James asked.

"The arrangement you set up for me. I only asked two things of you and my father: a beautiful and decent girl. Elizabeth is immoral!"

James slammed his fist on the table; he didn't like Jhonatan insulting Elizabeth at all.

"Never that! Elizabeth is not immoral. I've been watching her grow up; I know she's a woman full of virtues."

"Uncle, nobody told me, I saw it... I saw her with another man. I should kill her!"

"What was she doing?" The grandfather asked calmly, adding more sugar to his coffee without even looking at Jhonatan.

"She was at a bar with another man, seemed like she had been drinking more than she could handle. She didn't even know who I was; I just got her out of there and told Dave, her brother, to take care of the jerk."

"So she wasn't clinging to him or even acting intimately with this man?"

Jhonatan replayed the scenes; Elizabeth's behavior did seem strange. She didn't seem to have any connection with the guy.

"No, Grandpa, she wasn't. I just didn't like what I saw."

"Then don't accuse the girl of something you didn't see. When was she informed about the arrangement?"

"I don't know; she didn't even have a clue who I was."

"Then formalize it. If after an engagement she acts frivolously, you'll have reason."

James had stayed silent during the conversation, sipping his coffee. Since his father was defending Elizabeth, he wouldn't interfere.

"Fine! Let's have an engagement dinner. That way, she'll be sure she's a committed woman."

Jhonatan spoke to his father to organize everything; they set the date for a week from then, on Elizabeth's 18th birthday.

She was at home cleaning the fridge in the kitchen when Natan informed her.

"Saturday will be an important day!"

"Dad, you remembered!" Elizabeth never received anything for her birthday; her father remembering made her feel hopeful, like he was thinking about something for her.

"Oh, right! Your birthday is on Saturday too..."

Her smile faded. "What's happening on Saturday?"

"Your engagement, we're having dinner at your fiancé's house and making the arrangement official."

"Dad, I only have two days to find something to wear... Can we go out today and buy a dress?"

Natan laughed at Elizabeth's innocence. "Figure it out with what you have. I'm not spending a cent on this engagement. I could have denied the arrangement, but who says no to a Larson?"

"Isn't Jhonatan a good man?"

"If you survive the wedding night, I'll be surprised."

Elizabeth finished the kitchen and moved to her room, locked the door, and took out the childhood jewelry box. Inside was the last gift her uncle James had given her. She grabbed her phone and sent a message.

Elizabeth - "Hello uncle, I didn't want to have to ask, but I need a dress for the engagement, and my father won't give me one..."

James - "I'll pick you up in 30 minutes!"