Chapter 1 An Unbelievable Fate

Aurelia Schaffner had never been the kind of girl who believed in fate. She believed in logic, in cause and effect, in the simple fact that actions led to consequences. But as she stood in front of the grand mahogany door, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached for the handle, she couldn't help but feel that fate was laughing in her face.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. She had faced tough situations before-failed exams, strict professors, even an entire semester of waking up at dawn for a class she despised. But this? This was on an entirely different level. Because behind that door was the one person she had never expected to see again, at least not like this.

Rafael Mahendra.

The name alone sent a shiver down her spine, a mix of irritation and lingering anxiety. The last time she had encountered him, he had been the all-powerful student body president, a figure of authority with an unshakable presence, sharp eyes, and an even sharper tongue. He had been the kind of senior who made freshmen tremble-stern, merciless, and, in her personal opinion, annoyingly perfect.

And now, she was supposed to marry him.

It was absurd. Impossible. A cruel joke.

Yet here she was, dressed in an elegant but suffocating traditional outfit, standing in front of his family's home, waiting to be introduced as his future wife.

She clenched her fists, recalling the most humiliating day of her freshman year-the day Rafael Mahendra had made her life a living hell.

It had been the first day of university orientation, and she had been running late. Not by much-just ten minutes. But those ten minutes had sealed her fate.

She had rushed into the auditorium, her backpack barely slung over her shoulder, only to find herself standing in front of hundreds of students, all seated in perfect silence. The student council, dressed in crisp formal attire, had been lined up at the front. And at the center, standing with arms crossed and an unimpressed expression, was Rafael Mahendra.

"Miss Schaffner," he had said in that cool, authoritative voice. "You're late."

Aurelia had swallowed hard, feeling the weight of hundreds of eyes on her. "I-I'm sorry. There was traffic-"

"Excuses." His voice had been cold, final. "Rules exist for a reason. If you can't follow them, you'll have to deal with the consequences."

And deal with the consequences she did. He had assigned her an endless list of tasks-running across campus to deliver paperwork, memorizing the names of every faculty member, even leading a morning roll call for the next three days. By the end of the week, she had been exhausted, humiliated, and absolutely certain of one thing:

She hated Rafael Mahendra.

And now, thanks to her family's insistence, she was about to become his wife.

The door finally creaked open, pulling her back to the present. Her heart pounded as she lifted her gaze, and there he was-standing tall, dressed in a sharp, tailored shirt, his dark eyes scanning her with unreadable intensity.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick, tense, charged with something unspoken.

Then, Rafael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Of all people," he muttered, almost to himself.

Aurelia let out a sharp breath, crossing her arms. "Trust me, this is the last thing I wanted too."

His lips twitched, almost as if he was amused. But that expression vanished in an instant, replaced by the same cold indifference she remembered all too well.

"Then let's get this over with," he said, stepping aside.

Aurelia squared her shoulders before walking inside, her head held high.

She wasn't that timid freshman anymore.

And if she was going to be stuck in this marriage, she would make sure Rafael Mahendra regretted ever underestimating her.