Chapter 3 A CLOSE CALL

As the car was about to make contact with me, it came to a screeching stop, the tires skidding on the pavement with a loud, ear-piercing squeal. My heart was still racing from the close call, and I stood still in my position, my breath hitched in my throat as I struggled to process what had just happened. That's when I saw him, the driver, get out of the car with a fluid motion, his long legs unfolding from the vehicle like a cat uncoiling from a nap.

And oh, he was breathtakingly handsome, a Greek god come to life in the most unexpected way. He stood at least 6'4" tall, with piercing deep emerald green eyes that seemed to bore into my soul like a laser beam. His hair was styled in a sleek, slicked-back gel hairstyle that accentuated his chiseled features, highlighting the sharp planes of his face and the determined set of his jaw.

For a moment, I was frozen in place, my gaze locked on his, my mind unable to process the sudden turn of events. I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me by the sheer force of his presence. But then, he started screaming at me, his face red with anger, his voice like a slap in the face.

"Can't you see where you're going? Are you blind or what?" he yelled, his words hanging in the air like a challenge. I was taken aback by his outburst, my fear quickly turning to fury as I realized he was blaming me for the close call.

I was furious, my anger rising like a tidal wave as I realized he was at fault, not me. He was the one who had been speeding, who had almost run me over. And yet, he had the nerve to scream at me like I was some kind of idiot.

"Excuse me?" I said, my voice shaking with rage as I took a step forward, my eyes flashing with anger. "You're the one who almost ran me over, and you're yelling at me? Maybe you should be more careful where you're going, instead of assuming everyone else is blind."

"Do you know who you're talking to?" he said, his voice dripping with condescension and entitlement. He took a step closer to me, his eyes flashing with anger, as if I should be intimidated by him.

I laughed, a harsh, mocking sound that seemed to echo through the air. "And do I look like I care?" I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm and disdain. I didn't even bother to hide my contempt for him, this arrogant, self-absorbed stranger who thought he could yell at me and I would cower.

Without hesitation, I threw my tea at him, the scalding liquid splashing across his chest and face. He yelped in surprise, stumbling backward as he tried to wipe the tea from his eyes.

I didn't stick around to see the full effect of my actions. Instead, I turned and jogged off, leaving him standing there, spluttering and cursing. I could hear his angry shouts behind me, but I didn't look back. I just kept running, my feet pounding the pavement in a rhythmic cadence that matched the beating of my heart.

As I ran, I felt a sense of exhilaration and freedom that I hadn't felt in a long time. I had stood up to that arrogant stranger, and I had walked away with my head held high. I didn't know who he was, and I didn't care. All I knew was that I had refused to back down, and that felt amazing.

Just as I was going back home, I made my decision to marry him. I'm definitely not going to back down if that's what my father wants. I had been thinking about it nonstop since our confrontation, and I had come to the realization that I was going to go through with it. I would marry this stranger, whoever he was, and I would make the best of it.

I saw my house from a distance and I sighed loudly before jogging towards it. I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and all I wanted to do was take a long, hot shower and crawl into bed.

As I got in, I saw my father coming downstairs, a look of expectation on his face. "Where are you coming from?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in my disheveled appearance.

I sighed and removed my air pods, letting them dangle around my neck. "So a girl can't go for a run now?" I said, trying to sound nonchalant despite the turmoil that was brewing inside me.

"I was looking for you," he said, his expression serious. "We're going out."

I raised an eyebrow, curious despite myself. "Where to?" I asked, following him as he turned and went back upstairs.

He didn't answer, just kept walking until we reached the top of the stairs. Then he suddenly stopped, making me stop abruptly too. I almost collided with him, and I had to take a step back to avoid it.

"Won't you like to meet your fiance?" he asked, his voice dripping with mockery and sarcasm. He turned to face me, a smug look on his face, and I felt my heart sink.

So this was it. This was the moment I had been dreading. I was going to meet the man I was going to marry, and I had no idea what to expect.