CHAPTER 4: IMANOL.

I spent almost the entire night unable to sleep, thinking about Harry's phrase: "Wherever I am, you belong there." What the heck does that mean?

"You're such a fool!" he shouted, yanking me back onto the bed. "Of course, he was going to say that. You're going to be his wife and you'll have to accompany him to all those boring and pathetic events." I close my eyes, fall back onto the bed, and start kicking. I put a pillow over my face and screamed.

"I'm doomed to be a society lady," I say between sobs and kicks.

After Harry uttered that pathetic phrase, we said goodbye to everyone at the table and left the restaurant.

Harry remained silent throughout the entire ride. I did the same, staring out the car window. This time, I didn't look at him. When we arrived home, I hurriedly got out of the car without even saying goodbye, and he didn't even step out of his car.

And although Harry's phrase kept me up partly, he can't take all the credit because I was also thinking about Imanol, the handsome idiot who hit on me.

I don't even know why I'm thinking about that guy, but he had a beautiful smile and those lovely eyes, his messy hair, and his casual, relaxed style, the complete opposite of Harry with his impeccable suits and his serious and cold demeanor.

I shake my head vigorously to stop thinking about that pair and try to settle back down to sleep.

I feel a hand on my shoulder shaking it from side to side, and I slowly open my eyes. When I fully open them, I realize it's my sister, and all I do is cover my face with the sheets.

"Ali, Ali, do you know what time it is?" I don't know how long it's been since I managed to fall asleep, so I just shake my head. "It's ten in the morning, Ali. Mom and Dad have already left. They asked me to let you know that we're having lunch with the McBrides this afternoon."

I yank the sheets off in one motion and look at her with wide eyes.

"Will Harry be there?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Obviously, silly. His brother will be there too," Miranda replies, and she gets off the bed.

"Harry has a brother?" I look at her confused, and she makes the same gesture of confusion.

"Don't you know anything about the man you're going to marry?" I shake my head, and she rolls her eyes. "Okay, it's time for a crash course on the McBrides."

"Miranda..." I look at her and scratch my head. "Not to offend, but I'd prefer to sleep a little longer. I appreciate your initiative, but I'm exhausted." She tilts her head and nods.

"Okay, I'll go to my prenatal yoga class." I look at her confused, and she leaves the room.

I settle back into bed to try to sleep again, but just as I close my eyes, my phone starts ringing.

"Argh, shut up, phone!" I scream as I grab it.

I see who's calling me and realize it's Harry's number (which, by the way, I still haven't saved in my contacts).

"Hello," I say with the phone to my ear.

"Allison, were you sleeping?" Harry says from the other end of the phone with a serious tone.

"No, not at all," I get nervous and try to sound more normal. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm calling to let your parents know that there's been a change of plans regarding today's lunch," he says, and I furrow my brow, thinking that the meal got canceled.

"Aren't we going to have lunch today?" I question, hoping his answer is a no.

"Lunch is still happening, but it'll be at two, at my place. I have a flight at four."

"Your flight?" I ask confused.

"Yes, I have a business trip..."

"You're going on a trip? Why doesn't anyone tell me anything?" I interrupt him, annoyed, and he just remains silent. "I'm sorry, it's just that no one tells me anything about you and I..."

"You don't ask either," now Harry interrupts me.

"You're right, I didn't want to be intrusive, but now that I think about it, I'm your future wife, right? I have the right to know." I hear a sigh from the other end of the phone, and I realize I'm acting a bit strange, so I decided to calm down. "When will you be back?"

"A week before the wedding," he replies apathetically.

"Will I be alone in the wedding preparations?" I open my eyes wide, and I feel my heart racing.

"Our mothers will take care of that; you just have to pretend with your friends and choose your dress. Well, I think that's it. See you this afternoon. Remember, two o'clock at my place."

I tightly close my eyes, about to respond, and suddenly I hear the sound indicating that the jerk has hung up on me. I grab one of the pillows and scream again.

I pick up my phone and dial my mother's number to tell her what Harry said, and apparently, she's also surprised by Harry's unexpected business trip, which conveniently lasts for over a month.

After talking to Harry and my mother, the sleep I had disappeared, so I might as well take a shower since I need to freshen up for a while.

Upon leaving the bathroom, I realize it's eleven-thirty, and time is ticking away for the infamous meal at my... it's difficult to call them in-laws, I'll just refer to them as the McBrides.

I head down to the kitchen and only have a little bit of Tere's delicious coffee. I find myself staring into space until the sound of my cell phone brings me back to reality.

Ana: Guess who I'm seeing right now?

Me: Who? And please, don't play games. I'm not in the mood.

Ana: Remember the gorgeous idiot who dumped you?

I jump up and open my eyes wide.

Me: Imanol? What? Where?

Ana: Yep, that's correct. He's at the club, with many other handsome and wealthy guys. I didn't know a non-millionaire, non-rich employee could afford a club membership and have powerful friends.

Me: Ana, are you sure it's him?

Ana: Not really, but it matches the description you gave me. Look, I'll send you a photo.

I look at the photo Ana sent me and realize it's not Imanol, and I get angry at her for doing this to me, but I get even angrier at myself for believing Ana, knowing she hasn't even seen him.

Me: Ana, that's not Imanol. Please don't do this again. You only make me nervous. I have lunch with the McBrides in a couple of hours, and what happened with Harry yesterday makes me feel uncomfortable around him. Can I come to your place after that meal?

Ana: Sorry, I assumed it was him, my bad. Yes, you know you can come. Love you. See you later.

I read her last message and decide not to reply. It's getting late, and I need to get ready.

I've been searching for decent attire for lunch for fifteen minutes. I feel nervous and can't seem to find something that pleases my mom or the McBrides.

I look at myself in one of the mirrors in my closet and see my petite body, my brown hair cascading down my shoulders, my fair skin, and my rosy cheeks. I don't feel beautiful; I never have.

My taste in clothes is informal and relaxed, which doesn't fit my social class. My passion is being a photographer, which also doesn't fit my life. What am I basing this on? Well, it's what my mother has always told me.

My mother is a lawyer and a very glamorous woman. She wants me to be just like her. She has always envisioned me as the perfect daughter, her little Ali, a lawyer, glamorous, and married to a millionaire businessman, with perfect children and perfect life. But I'm not like that, and I don't want to be.

I snap out of my thoughts and decide to be myself this time. I immediately search for one of my favorite dresses. It's a simple dress, blue with pink flowers, sleeveless, fitted to the knee. I put on white sneakers and a black choker with a mini blue heart pendant. I tie my hair back in a ponytail, put on some mascara, and apply lip balm.

I rush down the stairs, and Luck is already waiting at the door. We leave the house, get in the car, and drive away.

Upon arriving at the McBride mansion, I feel nervous again. I'm about to get out when I see my parents getting out of their car. I wait for them to enter before getting out myself.

I'm about to walk in when I see a car arriving. I stand at the door and see Harry stepping out of it. This time, he's wearing black denim pants and a white t-shirt.

"I see we came somewhat casual this time," he looks at me as he walks towards me. "My excuse is that I need comfortable clothes for traveling. What's yours? Did you oversleep?" He asks this sarcastically, with his face close to mine.

I feel like slapping him, but I control myself. I'm about to respond when I see a man arriving on a motorcycle. Harry turns around due to the noise caused by it and starts laughing as soon as the motorcycle rider takes off his helmet.

I widen my eyes as much as I can and can't believe what I'm seeing. That man walks towards us, and my mouth is about to drop to the ground.

"Rich girl?" she asks while squinting at me.

"Imanol?" I look at him and swallow hard.

"Do you know each other?" Harry asks, and I shift my gaze from one to the other.

I don't understand what's happening, but I think I'm going crazy. What the hell is Imanol doing here? Could it be... could he be Harry's brother?