novelxo Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important,” Victor said. He smiled confidently as he adjusted his tie and walked further into the room.
“We were talking about Alberta’s future,” Alex replied.
“Please, continue,” Victor said and sat in a leather club chair.
“What were you about to tell me, dearest?” Alex asked.
How could I tell Alex about the playboy side of Victor and his selfishness while Victor stood just feet away and smiled at me? Yet, I had to try.
“I… I’ve suh… seen him before. I nah… nah know things you
you duh … don’t nuh.. know.” I couldn’t continue. It was too embarrassing to sit there stammering while Victor grinned at me. I told Alex we would talk another time.
Alex nodded. He looked tired and excused himself to go to his room and lie down
“But remember what I told you, Alberta,” Alex said as he made his way out of the living room. “You have a duty to this family and our kind to marry well and marry the man. best suited to be our leader.”
He made it to the door to the hall and turned to Victor. “Treat my daughter well.” And he went out the door.
Victor closed the door to the hall and sat on the sofa. “Can we speak privately,” Victor asked after the sound of Alex’s footsteps faded.
Not trusting myself to speak, I nodded.
Victor came directly to the point. “Did you mean it when you said you won’t marry me?”
“Yuh… yes,” I stammered.
“Is it that you aren’t ready to marry or you don’t want to marry me?” Victor demanded. His eyes were cold.
My temper was rising. Only a few hours ago, I discovered I was someone else, I was going to live in a strange place, and there were people I barely knew trying to control my life. I was tired of it, and I was tired of my stupid stutter that made people not take me seriously.
“Well?” Victor said and crossed his arms across his broad chest. I gave myself a mental slap when I realized I was staring at Victor and thinking about his handsome.
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Chapter 8
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“I want to marry s…. someday,” I replied. “And… and when I marry, I want to marry my true love.” Why was it so difficult for Alex and Victor to understand?
Victor’s l*ps curled into a contemptuous smile. He looked down his nose at me and shook his head. “How do you know our relationship won’t turn into true love?”
“I could never love someb*dy like you,” I said clearly and firmly.
Victor smiled.
“What?” I said with a frown.
“You just stopped your stutter.”
Oh…Right. I was stunned.
I guess it was the first time my anger stopped me from stuttering. Was it about the way Victor talked to me?
Anyways, it was wonderful to be able to say what was on my mind, especially at this particular moment.
“You don’t know me,” he added. “How can you judge someone you just met?” He didn’t remember me or what had happened in Amy’s father’s restaurant.
“I know you’re a playboy. I’ve seen beautiful women throw themselves at you,” I said. “And I know you would take money from a poor waitress who was trying to save her money for college. And I know you would ruin a restaurant over that waitress’s mistake.”
Victor was now staring at me, recognition beginning to dawn in his eyes.
“I was sick, but I still had to do my job,” I told him. “How could you not recognize me? A Waitress is so far beneath you that you don’t bother to look at her.”
He stared silently as I shook my head sadly. “There will never be true love between us. If I wasn’t Alex Wilson’s daughter, you never would have noticed me. All you want is to be the leader of the United Association of Alphas. I mean nothing to you, and I never will.”
“That was you,” Victor said. His complexion was reddening with embarrassment. I was surprised someone like him could feel embarrassed.
“Yes, I’m the waitress who got sick on your precious suit,” I snapped. “Don’t worry. My father will pay you the three thousand dollars I owe you. I’ll ask him to give you a check. when he wakes up. Just leave me and the restaurant alone.”
Chapter 8
THU, 2. FED
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“I’m glad you told me. I understand now, Alberta.” Victor stood and paced in front of the sofa. “I behaved like a cad. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t like to be called Alberta. My name is Daisy,” I said firmly.
“You’re young and naive. But I understand your feelings, Daisy, he said. “But you haven’t given me one good reason why we shouldn’t marry. It’s an important alliance for our families and the werewolf population.”
“Alex just explained to me about doing my duty. I don’t need you to keep reminding me,” I said, noticing my stutter had evaporated entirely. How wonderful it was to speak freely.
“We both have a duty to marry each other,” he replied. “I take that duty seriously. Victor was highly agitated as he continued to pace. Our marriage was vital to him, but for none of the reasons that were important to me.
“What if I sweeten the deal? I can offer you more profits, including the company’s profit concession and the mining rights on several fertile lands.”
“Sweeten the deal!” I was insulted. “What about love and affection?” I asked. “Being loved is more important than mining rights or profits. Money means little to me.”
“We could have an open marriage,” he suggested. “That way, you could do your duty and still find love. But any children must be mine.”
“The whole idea sounds absurd,” I said. I couldn’t believe he suggested such a thing.
Victor ran his hands through his hair and began to pace again. “You’re going to reject me and keep me from my position as leader of our people… for love.”
“Yes,” I said. I wished he would give up on the entire conversation. He was being ridiculously stubborn.
“Daisy, what is love?” Victor asked.
“It’s… it’s a feeling.” My mind whirled, trying to think of a good definition of love. “I’ve read romance books, and I’ve watched love stories and romantic movies on TV. But I’ve never experienced romantic love. Everything I’ve read tells me I’ll know what love is when it happens.”
“That’s not real. You’re talking about a fantasy,” Victor said. “Marriage is simply a contract between two people.”
“No, love is real,” I insisted. It had to be. My birth parents loved each other. My father loved my mother so much he refused to be with anyone else after she died. He loved -her.
Chapter 8
Victor turned and clasped his hands together. “Are the vows exchanged during a wedding ceremony romantic?”
“Well…I guess marriage vows are an important symbol of true love.” I said.
“Then I will promise you everything that will be in our wedding vows right now.”
Victor took my hands. Before I could react, he said,
“I swear to the moon goddess to marry you. From now to forever, whether in good times or bad, in health or in sickness, in happiness or in sorrow. I promise to protect you and take good care of you, forever and ever.”
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