Chapter 1 1. Hatred At First Sight

This young lady has a lot to say to her mother. She isn't willing to join them for the introductory dinner tonight. She can't be in an arranged marriage. She just can't digest the fact that her parents are the ones instigating this whole scheme.

The door opens and Mrs Valerie Summers steps into the room with a tray. On it sits a glass water vase and a cup. Her smile fades on seeing Adrien seated at her dresser, not at all ready for dinner. Valerie is about to say something when Adrien cuts in.

"Mum! Please don't let this happen. I barely know this man. I can't believe you and Dad are making me marry for business gains. Most marriages that begin this way end up badly. I ran into his sister at the mall the other day and she wasn't nice at all. How will I keep up with a family of snobs!"

"Adrien!"

Mrs. Summers flings the glass vase onto the wall. The young girl uses her hands to cover her ears as the glass vase shatters loudly. She looks up at her mother who towers over her with a glare and accusing fingers pointing at her.

"Now, shut your mouth and listen to me, girl. Our family's business is crumbling. Your father has tried all he can but with his current state of health, he can't keep up as well as before. We're at the brink of poverty and I'm sure you wouldn't want to see what poverty is like. You won't be able to handle it. The Alphonso family is good and they have the resources to help our family business from crumbling. Their first son, Theophilus, is a nice man, marry him and all our problems are solved. Since you both are heirs to both families' businesses, we can merge them and grow together. The future of this family is in your hands. We have done enough for you for the past twenty-two years. You have lived a luxurious life. All we're asking is that you get married to Theophilus Alphonso. I'm sure we aren't demanding much, so stop being selfish!"

Valerie sucks in a beep breath to relax herself before continuing.

"I give you five minutes. Finish up and meet us outside. And make sure you wear those heels I got you the other day. They make you a bit more sexy and you want to make a good first impression on your groom."

Valerie Summers's tone held no emotion but she meant every word she said. With that, she leaves the room and slams the door loudly behind her. A teardrop rolls down Adrien's face and she breaks down in sobs. How did they get to this level? Her family has never been so low. They have been rich right from time and now they want to sell her off to a family that just came into the limelight only ten years ago. No one cared about the Alphonsos before now. They might have just been another impoverished family before garnering wealth and societal appraisal. She cleans the tears off her face and stares into the mirror. Her make-up is a bit ruined, but who cares?

She gets dressed and is about to leave the room when she remembers the broken pieces of glass on the floor. She wants to pick them up but she rushes out of the room instead, not wanting to waste any more of her mother's time.

She meets her father downstairs and her mother is in the living room. They both smile at her as she walks down the stairs.

"My beautiful baby girl. I can see you're really happy to meet your to-be husband," says Mr Summers.

Adrien smiles and walks into his embrace. He doesn't know about the pain she's hiding deep down in her heart. Her mother wants it that way. Besides, marrying Theophilus Alphonso is the only way she can help the family. If her father knows about her disapproval it would only cause him more pain. He isn't fit for such problems and that's why Adrien has decided to keep shut and go along with the plan.

"We should start going so we won't be late. You know we want to make a good first impression," Valerie says from the living room.

Adrien moves away from her father. He still has a smile on as he takes her hand in his and leads her out of the house into the car.

Adrien tightens her grip on her purse as they drive through the gates of the highly luxurious and fancy house the Alphonsos live in. Her father places his hand on hers reassuringly.

"It's going to be fine," he says.

Adrien nods and glances at her mother who only glares at her.

They drive into the car park and come out of the car. No one is in the compound except the security man who directs them to the car park.

"They won't even come out to welcome us," Adrian says to his wife and daughter.

The security man leads them into the house. He hands them over to the housemaid and leaves immediately.

"Good evening sir, good evening ma'am, and a good evening to you, miss. The Alphonsos are aware of your arrival and will be with you shortly. In the meantime, you can entertain yourself with the beautiful artwork in the guest lounge. Please come with me, it's this way."

They quietly follow the middle-aged woman to the guest lounge and she leaves them.

After staying for more than five minutes without anyone attending to them, Adrian starts to complain.

"How long do they expect us to wait? I can't be treated like this just because I want my daughter to marry into their family."

"Darling, be patient, they will soon be here," Valerie tries to calm her already annoyed husband.

"Keeping us like this shows they have no regard for us. That's unacceptable."

Adrien gives her mother an 'I told you so', look.

"If they don't change this attitude we might just call off this wedding."

Valerie sits up in her chair immediately. "No, no, don't be too quick to judge. Maybe they have something really important to do."

"And we don't?" Adrian snaps at his wife."This isn't the first time they're doing this."

Valerie sighs and relaxes back in her chair.

Adrien continues to walk from one painting on the wall to the other, trying desperately to distract herself from her worries. It is her first time visiting the Alphonsos and if what her father says about them is true, she has a lot on her plate. She can deal with a snobbish sister-in-law, but if the parents are truly snobbish, then she's in for a lot.

"Do you care for some biscuits?"

Adrien turns around sharply and moves towards the maid who has a huge smile on her face. She takes the plate of biscuits and cookies from the maid and thanks her politely. Finally! She has something more distracting than the paintings on the wall.

She tries not to eat in a hurry so her father won't sense her uneasiness. He always detects when she binge eats out of worry.

Everything is going fine until she spots the Alphonsos coming in their direction and she begins to stuff her face with the cookies. Her mother scolds her for her gluttony and she accidentally drops the plate on the floor in fright. Her act earns her a glare from her parents. She bends down to pick up the broken pieces of the plate. Her heels make her unstable and she falls, bumping her head on the table.

"Argh!" She groans and places a hand on her forehead. She stands up to meet five pairs of eyes on her.

Her father has a look of concern while her mother has a look of disappointment as expected. Mr. and Mrs. Alphonso have a look of disapproval but their expressions aren't the ones which bother Adrien.

She looks up at Theophilus Alphonso, her future husband and he looks back at her in amusement. His look has the most effect on her and at that moment, she confirms her hatred for him. How rude of him to find her pain and embarrassment amusing. She has always wondered how she would feel about meeting with the man her parents believe is a good match for her. Now she knows, it's hatred at first sight.