Chapter 2 (Dangerous Solace)

KYLINE AND ESTHER EMBRACED EACH OTHER TIGHTLY AS SOON AS THEY MET. Esther patted her best friend's back because she couldn't breathe with Kyline's tight hug. "Ky, have mercy on me. I can't breathe."

Kyline immediately let go of Esther. "Sorry, I just missed you."

Esther smiled. "I couldn't believe that the first thing you would do was hug me to death," she joked.

Kyline pouted. "I just missed you."

Esther lets out a small sigh and shakes her head. "I missed you too. Now, let's go and fill our stomachs. It's my treat."

Kyline's smile widened, hearing that it was Esther's treat. She hugged Esther's arm. "Let's go."

They went to a restaurant, ordered their food, and chatted. While eating, Kyline remembered something. "By the way, you and Nate, what's the score? Are you two getting married? Isn't that what he told you five months ago?"

Esther drank some water and then shook her head. "I don't know. When I went looking for him the other day, he was with my sister. And they're cuddling sweetly."

Kyline gaped. "Wait? Your sister? Edelyn?"

"Do I have another sister except her?" Esther asked.

"Nate was really a shameless bastard." Kyline slapped the table. Then she frowned. Kyline noticed that Esther didn't seem jealous, or she was hiding her real emotions again.

Esther frowned. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"You didn't know this because you're not here. I saw your fiancé and your sister last week. I thought they were just business partners, but then they suddenly kissed." Kyline's expression was funny because her eyes widened while telling Esther what she saw. "Good thing that you saw it. It's the best thing if you witness their betrayal rather than hear it from me," Kyline said, nodding her head at Esther, and she even thumbed up.

Esther continued eating. "I wanted to give him a chance. After all, he is my fiancé that my father had arranged for me."

Kyline gaped. She was pissed. "Shut it, Esther. This is your marriage. Not anyone. If I were you, just break up with him? If you two really get married, you will just suffer in the end."

Esther sighed. "Ky, even if I wanted to. It won't be as easy as killing an ant. You know my father. He was an influential man. He has many connections. You see, that's why he wanted me to marry Nate, because Nate would make him well-known. All he wanted was to make money for Edelyn."

"So, will he use you to get money for his young daughter?" Kyline raised her eyebrow. Esther was her close friend, and she knew the kind of environment Esther had with her family. Complicated. "That's ridiculous, Esther."

Sighing, Esther just shrugged.

"Argh! I wanted to pull my own hair because of you, Esther," Kyline said in frustration. "Or much better if I slapped you to wake you up. Trust me, you will only suffer. This is your marriage. It is you who will suffer, not me, not your parents, not anyone."

Esther smiled. She was lucky to have Kyline as her friend. Kyline was the only person who truly cared for her. Honestly, she wanted to cancel her engagement with Nate but was hesitant to tell her father because she was afraid. Her father couldn't tolerate it if someone disobeyed him. So, she could only swallow her pride.

After Esther and Kyline ate, Kyline went back to the company where she worked.

Meanwhile, Esther sends her "thank you" letter to her sponsor. She was hoping she could meet her sponsor and she could thank her personally.

Later, Esther received a text from her father. 'Go to Nate and serve him well. I'll talk to his father about the wedding.'

This marriage was just a loveless marriage in the future. After all, she was only fulfilling her parents' wish to marry the man they had chosen for her. Ever since she didn't have the freedom to do something of her own will, it was opposite to Edelyn because she could do everything she wanted. She envied her younger sister. But even so, she couldn't do anything but obey her parents.

Her parents don't love her, she's aware of that. Since she was in high school, to pay her tuition and earn a living, she has worked part-time. Fortunately, she got a scholarship, and the problem of her tuition was solved. Her parents didn't give her money, so she needed to find money on her own and her only option was to work. She entered college, and she was lucky to be selected as a scholar. But her sponsor remained mysterious until she graduated. They only communicated through chats and hand letters.

Esther went to Nate's company. She arrived at the top floor where Nate's office was. She was about to enter Nate's office when she heard that he was talking with someone.

"Nate, why don't you cancel your engagement with my stupid sister? I don't want to share you with her."

'Edelyn.' Esther thought.

"I can't cancel my engagement with her right now, Edelyn. My parents wouldn't give me company if I didn't marry her. You know that my parents like Edelyn so much. Let me marry her, then kick her out later. Then we can continue our relationship. Hmm," Nate said in his sweetest voice just to seduce Edelyn.

Esther peeked inside the office and saw Nate and her sister, kissing. She looked away when she saw Nate undressing Edelyn. She stepped back and walked towards Nate's secretary.

Nate said he loved her but that love was just a sham. It's not real. He only wanted to marry her because he wanted to get his family's company.

"Ma'am Esther?" The secretary seemed to be surprised to see Esther.

Esther smiled. "Gina, don't let anyone disturb Nate, okay? And don't tell him that I came here."

Gina nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."

Esther smiled again and left. Though she doesn't love Nate anymore, she still feels betrayed. In her opinion, though they are arranged, Nate should stay loyal given their relationship. Kyline was right. She would only suffer if she and Nate got married.

Esther remembered the days when Nate was suppressing her about things she wanted to do. She wanted to drink soda, but Nate didn't let her. He said that she could only gain weight. She must maintain her figure so as not to embarrass him to his friends. So, she's been very careful and avoids the foods she wants just for the sake of maintaining her figure.

'Don't eat sweets, you will gain weight.'

'Don't do this. It's ugly.'

'Don't provoke me. You didn't want to see me get mad.'

'Stay away from men in case you will flirt with them.'

At first, Esther isn't used to it, but when she gets used to it, she treats it as a normal kind that happens in a relationship. This treatment made her love for Nate to fade. Nate even slapped her before when she left abroad to study. But it was her dream so, even though Nate disagreed, she went abroad. She has the courage because she has a sponsor who has paid for her education.

She thought Nate would cancel their engagement, but Nate came to her and asked for forgiveness. Her father also told her to forgive Nate or else her father would abandon her. She forgives Nate like her father wants. So, their marriage wasn't canceled. When she was abroad, she felt her freedom, but now she's back in her own home, she felt her neck being strangled again. She felt that someone was controlling her again.

She had the feeling that Nate didn't know she was coming back. But it's okay, she doesn't want to see him anyway. She felt disgusted by him. The only thing she needed to do right now was to think of a way to cancel her engagement with Nate. But how? Her father was an influential man. She's certain her father wouldn't agree. How will she get away from him?

While thinking, Esther's phone suddenly beeped. She took out her phone from the bag and looked at the screen. A new message popped out, and it came from her sponsor. 'For my sister, of course, we can meet. Like what I have promised you before. Since you have graduated and even participated in a big event. Let's meet.'

Esther smiled widely. 'Thank you. Can we meet tomorrow?'

'Sure. I'm free, anyway.'

Esther immediately sends the address of the place where they can meet up. 'See you, sister.'

Meanwhile, Esther's sponsor was smiling like an idiot while reading Esther's thank-you letter and her text. "She really thought that I was a woman. What would be her reaction if she learned that I'm actually a man, and I'm not old?"

He was looking forward to it.

"Mr. Velasquez," his assistant knocked on his office. He gestured for his assistant to come in.

"Sir, these documents need your signature." The assistant opened the folder and handed the folder to his boss.

The boss immediately signed the documents and then gave them back to the assistant.

"Wait."

"Yes, Mr. Velasquez?"

"Tell my secretary to cancel all my appointments tomorrow. I have an important matter to handle."

Lester immediately remembered that Mr. Velasquez has a ten million contract signing tomorrow. "You have a contract signing tomorrow, Sir."

"How much?"

"Ten million."

The boss snorted. "Forget it. My personal matter tomorrow is more important than the ten million contract signing. But if they wanted to really invest in my company, then rescheduled the contract signing."

"Yes, Sir. I'll tell Kate."

After his assistant left his office, Russell leaned on his swivel chair. Tomorrow, he will finally meet Esther Rosales, hoping that he will stir her heart. He took a deep breath and smiled as soon as he received the address of the place sent by Esther.

"See you, Esther."