Chapter 2 002: Forced fate

The next morning, I woke up to my alarm blaring in my ear. Oh no, it's already 9:30 am! I was supposed to meet sophia by 10:00 am. I quickly checked my phone and saw 12 missed calls from her. She's going to kill me! I woke up late because I was watching that drama until late last night.

I texted her, "So sorry, sophy! My shorthand name for her. I'll be there, just give me a few minutes to freshen up. Love you." I sent the text and quickly got ready. I freshened up, put on a good outfit - black rugged trousers, a white top, and a blue sweater. I added my accessories and sprayed some perfume on my body.

Just as I was about to leave, I heard a knock on my door. I opened it to find sophy standing there, looking gorgeous as always. "Heyyy, Amelia! You're looking so hot!" she exclaimed. "You too, sophy, like you always do," I replied with a smile.

"I saw your parents downstairs, watching TV. I greeted them when I passed by, but your mom looked at me with a scowl. I didn't care, though," sophy said, rolling her eyes. "Come on, let's get going!"

We left together and reached downstairs. I greeted my parents, "Mom, Dad, good morning! I'm going out with sophy, and we'll be back late." My mom couldn't ask me to stay back since my dad was with her. "Okay, sweetie, don't come back too late," my dad said.

We entered my car and zoomed off. We went to so many places - the cafe, for a drive... We had a blast! At one point, while walking, I mistakenly bumped into a guy. I looked up to meet his eyes, and oh my god, I was flabbergasted! He was incredibly handsome! I immediately apologized, and he smiled, saying, "It's okay."

sophy, who was walking beside me, whispered, "Oh my god, Amelia that guy is hot! You should have collected his number!" I laughed and replied, "Are you sick in the head? We just met, and you want me to collect his number?" sophy just chuckled and said, "You have a big problem, come on, let's go!"

We continued our day, laughing and joking around. As we were walking, sophy started telling me about her crush on a guy . I listened patiently, offering advice and support. After a while, we decided to grab some lunch at a nearby restaurant. We sat down at a cozy table by the window and ordered our food.

As we waited for our food to arrive, sophy started teasing me about the guy I bumped into earlier. "Amelia, you should have gotten his number! He was so cute!" I playfully rolled my eyes and said, "Sophia, focus! Let's talk about your crush instead."

Our food arrived, and we dug in, savoring the delicious flavors. We spent the rest of the day together, enjoying each other's company and making memories that would last a lifetime .

As the day went on, we took so many pictures together - selfies, group photos, and even some silly poses. I couldn't wait to get home and upload them on Instagram. I knew my followers would love them!

Finally, it was time to say goodbye. We hugged each other tightly, promising to meet up again soon. I drove home, feeling happy and content after a wonderful day with my best friend.

When I got home, I immediately started uploading our photos on Instagram. I captioned them "Best day ever with my favorite person! #besties #friendshipgoals #fun" and waited for the likes and comments to roll in.

I sat back waiting for the comments to roll in, I couldn't help but think about the guy I bumped into. I found myself wondering about his name, if I would ever see him again. Shaking my head, I dismissed the thought, reminding myself it was just a brief encounter. I was bored, and it was already late, so I decided to go out for a walk.

As I strolled through the quiet streets, two boys started harassing me. "Hey, beautiful, what's your name?" one of them asked, blocking my path. I ignored them and kept walking, but they kept pestering me.

"Come on, just talk to us," the other boy said, grabbing my arm. I tried to shake him off, but he held tight.

I was starting to feel uncomfortable when a familiar voice intervened. "Hey, leave her alone." It was the guy I had bumped into earlier!

The boys backed off, and the guy turned to me. "Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes filled with concern. I nodded, still shaken.

"Thanks for helping me," I said, grateful.

"No problem," he replied, smiling. "I'm Max, by the way."

"I'm Amelia" I said, smiling back.

Max collected my number, and we parted ways. I went home, my heart still racing from the encounter.

The next morning, I got ready for work, I'm a fashion designer, which means I design and sell clothes. As I arrived at my shop, a customer came in.

"Hi, I'm looking for a custom-made dress," she said, browsing through the racks. "I want something elegant and sophisticated, with a touch of modern flair."

I listened attentively, taking notes. "What's the occasion?" I asked.

"It's for my sister's wedding," she replied. "I want to make a statement."

I showed her some designs, and we discussed fabrics, colors, and styles. She wanted a floor-length gown with a high neckline and a flowing train.

"I love it!" she exclaimed, as I sketched out the design. "Can you make it in time for the wedding next week?"

"I'll try my best," I promised, smiling .

I was working at my shop when a bunch of people, maybe bodyguards, came in and told me that my shop had been sold off and I was no longer the owner. I was shocked and surprised. I didn't know what to do.

I got into my car and called my dad, initiating a conversation about what had just happened. My dad told me to go home, that he had something to tell me.

When I got home, I was pacing up and down, not even sparing my mom a glance as she looked at me . My dad walked through the door, sat down, and initiated a conversation.

"You have to marry Mr Chen's son ."

"What? Why?!"

"To help my business. It's collapsing, and he's the only one who can help us build it up again."

" But Dad, I don't even know him! And I'm not going to marry someone just to save your business!"

"You don't have a choice. This is the only way to secure the future of our company."

" But what about my happiness? My future? My dreams?!"

" Your happiness will come from seeing the business thrive. Now, let's discuss the wedding arrangements..."

" No, Dad! I refuse! I won't do it!"

" You will do what's best for this family, even if it means sacrificing your own desires. You will marry Mr Chen's son , and that's final."

"What? I'm not going to do such a thing! Why would I marry someone I don't know? I haven't even seen him before!"

My stepmom interfered, saying, "Don't be so ruthless, Amelia. Help your dad. His business is falling. As an understanding daughter, you should marry him and help your dad's business grow." She hugged me, crying, but I knew she was pretending.

I pushed her away from me, and she pretended to fall, grabbing her waist and screaming in pain. My dad slapped me, saying, "How could you? She was just trying to comfort you. Whether you like it or not, you're going to marry him. You're now showing your true colors!"

He took his wife inside, and I went to my room, crying. How did this become my life? I didn't want to marry someone I didn't know or love.

As I lay in bed, feeling helpless and trapped.