My love Bound

Keira's eyes watered, her mouth quivering as she stared intently at her father who was equally staring back at her, his eyes filled with so much anger.

" You have no right to go against me, Keira! You're getting married to Tristan Monaghan and that's final!" Mr Houston snapped, his index finger pointed at her.

Keira choked on her tears, this has always been how she was been treated all over the years. Her parents are always good at ordering her around and getting her to go again her own decisions.

Sometimes, she wondered if they were truly her biological parents. Her kid sister Leila, was been treated differently from the way her parents treated herself. Anything Leila wants, she gets!

Her father, Mr Houston recently got a new car for Leila as her 21st birthday party gift; which was celebrated just few weeks ago.

What has Keira ever gotten for her birthday?

Absolutely nothing! They've never for once celebrated her birthday not to talk of throwing a party nor a birthday present!

She was the odd one in the family and that's why she's really bothered if truly they're are birth parents.

And now, she had never expected they'd go to such length of choosing a husband for her!

Why would her parents subject her to a loveless marriage at a young age of 24? Isn't this so crazy and annoying?

" Dad, could you please reconsider your words? I mean, this is a life time commitment. I possibly can't get married to a man who I don't love and he doesn't love me either! How do you think I would survive such a marriage?" Keira asked, after calming herself to pour out her heart to her father.

Hoping he would reconsider and cancel her supposed engagement.

" You've got nothing to worry about, keira. Love comes naturally. Once you both began living together, you would definitely fall deeply in love with yourselves. Don't beat yourself up over such a little thing, Keira." Mrs Houston's voice was heard as she was climbing down the stairs.

Keira couldn't stop the urge to scoff at the ridiculous words her mother had just utterd. How could a mother be saying these words to her daughter?

" What are you saying Mom? Was this how you got married to dad?" Keira asked, feeling so pained.

" That doesn't matter, right now, Keira. There's absolutely nothing you could do go change the situation on ground. It's better you brace yourself up and go get ready. Our guests would be arriving soon for dinner and then, your engagement and wedding date would be fixed!" Mrs Houston said, with no atom of care in her eyes. It was more like she was speaking to a stranger or something more.

Keira stared into her eyes as Mrs Houston was now standing in front of Keira.

Keira let out a pained chuckle after a while of silence. She still find it absurd that her engagement and wedding date would be fixed on behalf of the bride. Isn't that great? Such a great family!

Seeing there was nothing more she could do go stop her upcoming marriage arrangements, Keira felt it's best she doesn't waste any more of her tears over people who doesn't care one bit about her feelings.

With her back kept straight, determined looks, Keira uttered in a Stern voice " Okay! I'm accepting the marriage proposal or whatever it is." Keira said, glaring into her mother's eyes.

Mrs Houston could see the hostile looks in her eyes thus, she felt a shiver run down her spine. She swallowed down nothing to calm herself from shivering under the intense glare of your daughter.

" That's a brilliant answer, Keira! I've been expecting to just spill this out after all, it wasn't that hard or was it?" Mr Houston sneered In his seat on the cushion.

He had quietly been watching his wife persuade her. Though, if Keira didn't accept out of her own will, that doesn't mean the marriage preparations would be stopped!

Keira only rolled her eyes at her father's words but, didn't bother giving him a reply.

"Hurry up to your room and get some rest. The make-up artist would be arriving soon to get you ready for your husband and in-law's visit later tonight." Mrs Houston uttered.

Without another word from Keira, Keira turned around and took the stairs to her bedroom.

The moment she got into the comfort of her bedroom, she sat on the bed and allowed her tears flow freely down her cheeks.

She was still lost in deep thought when the ringing of her phone jolted her out of her trance.

She picked up the phone from her head board, saw the name flashing on her screen and she shivered the more.

What was she to say? Everything was ruined few minutes ago and her heart shattered into pieces!

She watched her phone ringed to a stop for the uptenth time before the caller automatically stopped calling.

Keira sighed and tries placing the phone back down when, it suddenly rang out once more. But this time, it was a different caller.

Without much excitation, Keira clicked on the answer icon.

"Keira, what the hell Is wrong with you?" Her best friend's anxious voice rang out from the other end of the call.

Keira knitted her brows, wondering what her best friend was talking about.

"I really don't get what you mean, Bella " Keira uttered, making Bella roll her eyes at the other end of the call. She has expected such reaction from Keira.

She knew Keira was definitely going to play the dumb game with her and she wasn't ready to have any of that Sturt right now.

" You had better stop feigning ignorance, Keira! Why aren't you picking up Lewis calls? Did he perhaps offended you in anyway? If he actually did, why not pick up his calls and get this over with? You do know how much that guy loves and worship you, Keira! You shouldn't think of hurting him. Give him a call right now and settle whatever dispute you have with him, now!" Bella ordered, as though she was ordering a child.

If Keira wasn't on a bad mood, she would had definitely roll her eyes at all if Bella's words.

" Before hallucinating things, you should ask what's going on. And if you must know, Lewis never offended me in anyway. That guy was the best thing that happened to, Bella. I never for once regretted accepting him into my life as my boyfriend." Keira uttered with a loud sigh.

" Then what's going on, Keira? You know I'm always here to support you. Let it all out " Bella anxiously urged her.

"I'm getting married, Bella" Keira spilled out.

"What!"

What!" Bella exclaimed out in outmost surprised and confusion. She was confused because Keira isn't someone to keep things away from her or someone thst double dates in a relationship.

She had ever knew lewis to be Keira first and only boyfriend. Her saying she's getting married made her extremely gobsmacked and confused.

" I seriously don't get you, Keira! What do you mean by you're getting married? To,Who Keira,? Have you been keeping things away from me? Have you been cheating on Lewis?" Bella couldn't help pouring out all of the lingering questions in one breath.

Keira rolled her eyes at Bella's annoying thought. She felt Bella needed a brain reset to help her stop thinking about impossible things.

How could she hide things from her best friend or ever think of cheating on Lewis who has been nothing but, good to her?

" You're exaggerating things, Bella! I didn't hid anything from you neither, did I cheat on Lewis! All of the marriage stuffs are been Arranged by my parents. They are both forcing me into getting married to a total stranger I don't even love!" Keira explained, her eyes suddenly glinting with tears.

" Oh my God, this is absolutely crazy, Keira. How could your parents do such a thing? What are you going to do now? What is going to happen to your relationship with, Lewis?" Bella asked in a teary voice. She felt so much pain for her best friend.

She wasn't in her shoes but, she could feel how much it hurts.

" I really don't know, Bella and that's the reason I refusef taking his calls. How could I possibly tell him I'm getting married to a different guy that wasn't him?" Keira sighed loudly, as she could already feel her head hurting so much.

"I'm as confused as you right now, Keira. Is there no way out of such annoying marriage?" Bella asked,with a frown circulating her face. She just couldn't eatch her friend get married to some other guy aside lewis.

Lewis was an extremely great guy. He is the CEO of a fashion company at New York city. The guy's fashion level was at it's peak and Keira had always given him all of her support.

Bella could still remember how he coaxed Keira whenever her family hurt her. He spoils her with gifts and love that her family never for once showed to Keira.

Bella knew how much Lewis loves Keira and this made her wondered how he was going to feel if he gets to know about Keira's arranged marriage to a different guy.

" There's no way, Bella. All of my pleads to my parents fell on deaf ears. I just have to abide by their decision as always." Keira uttered while fiddling with her dress.

"Damn it, Keira. I feel so hurt right now. I'll suggest you stop ignoring Lewis calls and get to tell him about everything that's going on before he hears about it from a different source. That would cause him even more bigger hurt than you telling him yourself." Bella advised.

She didn't want Lewis to have a wrong thought about Keira's marriage to a different man and gets to hate her dear friend.

" I understand, Bella. I'll do just that" Keira accepted even though she knew how hard it was for her to inform Lewis about such thing.

It's been 2 hours gone after her call with Bella ended. Keira was fully dressed in a floral knee length blue gown, her hair neatly combed and flowed down her shoulders. She stared at her reflection at the mirror. She wasn't a make-up freak and she looks so beautiful without it.

She heaved a loud sigh as she knew there was no turning back now. She had called Lewis and asked they meet up at their usual restaurant.

Her supposed in-laws would be coming over that night and it's best she cut off whatever relationship she had with Lewis now than later.

Once she felt she was fully ready, she picked up her black hand bag before exiting her room.

As she made her way down the stairs, she hoped her parents nor her sister shouldn't be around to question were she's headed else, her plans would be ruined.

She got to the living room and saw the maids buzzing around. They were probably getting everything ready to welcome their expected visitors tonight.

Keira frowned and made her way out. She flung down a cab to her destination.

Once she paid off the cab, she made her way inside the restaurant. Lewis was already seated, waiting for her arrival.

Keira wasn't a bit surprised as this had been his normal routine. He was good at keeping up with time and she ends up arriving late.

She made her way to his table and without waiting for him to pull out a seat for her like he usually does, Keira hurriedly did that herself to avoid him doing it.

Lewis couldn't hid his gobsmacked expression. He knew at that moment that something wasn't right. Ther were the little things he knew Keira loves her man doing for her. Never for once has she done that since they began dating for the past 2 years.

Once Keira was comfortably seated, Lewis decided to ask.

" Babe, is everything okay with you? You've been acting weird since today. First, was refusing to pick up my calls and now, you just drew out a seat for yourself. What's going on?" Lewis asked, in an extremely worried voice.

Keira couldn't stop fiddling with her fingers. Lewis also took note of how she was acting so distant from him. Keira doesn't act that way around him.

She didn't give him a hug, nor gave him a kiss. Rather, she had just walked in, took a seat and was avoiding eyes contact with him.

" Lewis, I think there's no use biting around the bush, right?" Keira asked, finally sparing him a brief glance.

Lewis scoffed, noticing another thing again. She had just called him by his first name. It had always been, honey, dear or rather pumpkin. But right now, she had just shocked him by calling his first name. He becamed even more anxious to know what the hell is going on with his woman.

" What are you talking about, Keira? What do you mean by not biting around the bush? Should I order your favorite meal?" Lewis asked, trying to lite up the atmosphere.

" I'm getting married, Lewis

I'm getting married Lewis" Keira blurted out, not bothering to answer to his earlier question.

She just needed to get it off her chest once and for all. She's been fighting back her tears seeing how caring he was towards her even though, she was acting all weird since her arrival.

Yet, he just needed to know what's wrong with her.

What more should a lady wants in her man?

Lewis scoffed and shifted awkwardly on his seat. "What the hell are you spilling out of your mouth, Keira? How could you possibly be getting married when we haven't even began the preparations because, you had suggested we hold on until you were ready for marriage?

So, what are you saying?" Lewis asked, perplexed. He hoped it wasn't what he was thinking else, he wasn't sure he would be able to take it all in.

Keira hesitated for a while before deciding to speak up " The man isn't you, Lewis. I'm getting married to someone else." Keira spilled out the exact words he was afraid of. The exact same word he had wished it shouldn't be.

Lewis eyes bulged out in shock, surprise and confusion. And if there were any other words to describe how he was feeling at that moment, then they were all suitable!

He could feel all of his body vibrating on its own accord. Keira had been the very first lady he had loved with all of his heart. Even when she decided that nothing was going to happen between them until marriage, he had gladly accepted and never for once had he subjected himself to cheating on her with other ladies even though they were literally flocking themselves around him.

He wondered what prompted Keira to break his heart in such a manner. Hasn't he been a great boyfriend to her? He bought her gifts, cared for her and was even planning on gifting her a car on valentine's day.

The preparations were all set and it's barely a few days left until D day and Keira is already shredding his heart into a million pieces.

"Did I hurt you in any way, Keira? Was there something I did wrong that warrants such a decision from you?" Lewis asked calmly, trying to coax her into telling him what was actually wrong.

Keira sighed and decided to tell him everything about the arranged marriage. All through her explanations, Lewis' heart was thumping loudly in his chest. It felt it being ripped apart at each word slipping out of her mouth.

" How could you think of accepting such a decision, Keira? Did you ever for once loved me as you've always claimed, Keira? " Lewis asked, his voice quivering.

Keira shot her eyes up almost immediately due to his words.

" How could you say such words? You knew how much I loved you and still do! You are the best thing that happened to me and I'm not disputing that fact!" Keira blurted out, her voice shaking, the same way her heart was hurting knowing she had hurt Lewis when he never did anything to hurt her.

Lewis scoffed. " You claimed you loved me and still do. Yet, you're getting married to a different man just because your family wants you to! Isn't that absurd? '' Lewis asked, alongside a cold chuckle.

He felt she wished to get married to that guy else, she wouldn't have turned down his two marriage proposals.

He felt all this were merely forged stories and he won't be having her lies.

" I never knew you were a sneaky bitch, Keira!" Lewis uttered, opened the bottle of red wine he had ordered before her arrival. He turned some of its content into his wine glass to its brim and gulped it all down his throat before slamming the glass on the table.

Keira flinched, with a surprise look plastered on her face.

" What are you saying, Lewis?" Keira cried out, trying hard to fight back her tears.

People were around and she wouldn't want to draw attention to themselves. Who knows if someone around might know her supposed betrothed?

" Stop acting all innocent around me! I've just seen your true self; that's who you are, Keira! I can't believe I blindly fell in love with you.

I fell for all of your lies!" He yelled, not Minding they were in a public space. By now, people were already throwing glances to their table.

Keira on the other hand, couldn't stop her tears from running down her cheeks. Lewis' words were literally piercing inside her soul and it hurt like hell.

How could he question her love for him? She had loved him wholeheartedly and now, this was all he could say to her?

"Lewis, do you know you're hurting me with your words? You do know I wouldn't do anything that would hurt you! Me accepting to get married to a total stranger still looks like a dream to me! I still find it absurd even though I can't possibly go against my parents decision.

Do you really think I'm happy you aren't the man I'd be spending the rest of my life with? I had dreamt so much of becoming your wife, Lewis!" Keira was still about to go on when he abruptly cut her off.

" Oh really?" He asked with a chuckle as he gulped down another glass of wine down his throat.

Keira's body was literally trembling in pain and fear. It's been a long time since she had seen Lewis drink so much and this made her regret her decision of obeying her family and ruining her perfect relationship.

" Do you still remember you're same person who had turned down my marriage proposal two fucking times!?" Lewis snapped, staring intently at her face and quivering lips.

He could see her trying to form out the right words. Maybe, just maybe she was trying to tell him more lies for him to blindly and foolishly believe her like he always does.

But no! He had seen the type of cunning linguist person she was and no doubt,she could be a con artist. The thought of this made his blood boil more in rage.

"Lewis, please try to understand the pressing situation I am in; I never wished to get married this soon. I had my plans of gathering up, building up my architect company, and being a CEO before settling down for marriage.

You knew all of this and also stood by me. So, what the hell are you saying? Why are you trying to make me look like the bad one here?" Keira yelled back, tired of him trying to put the blames on her. Trying to make her look like the devil itself!

Lewis was about countering her words when an unusually cold voice interrupted him.

"Ma'am Keira, I'm here to pick you up."