6

Alfred’s POV.

After my father left, I called him to make sure everything was okay. My heart was still racing, and I needed to hear his voice to calm myself down.

“Father! Are you okay?” I asked, gripping the phone tightly. My mind was restless. Sure, I wanted to be with Sebastian, but I didn’t know him well yet. How could I trust that he was a man of his word? Everything felt so sudden, and I couldn’t shake the lingering doubts in my mind.

“Yes, son, I’m fine. And I have the money too!” my father assured me. His voice was calm, which gave me some relief. I let out a long sigh and put my hand over my chest, feeling the tension ease slightly. But before I could say anything else, he added, “Your mother wants to talk to you.” My stomach dropped. I knew my mom would be emotional, and her words would probably cut deep. She might even call me shameless or scold me for agreeing to this marriage. I couldn’t lie to her either—she’d see right through me. I couldn’t pretend I was a victim or tell her I was forced into this.

“Son, what have you done? You’re not gay! Don’t do this to yourself! Please ask him to cancel the wedding. Don’t sacrifice your happiness for our sake. Money isn’t everything!” my mom cried into the phone, her voice heavy with worry and despair. I cleared my throat, trying to calm myself before responding. It was clear I had to tell her the truth. I didn’t want her to hate Sebastian or think he was forcing me into this.

“Mom, listen to me. I want to marry him. I know I’m not gay, but for him, I would do anything,” I said confidently, my voice steady. I glanced at Sebastian as I spoke. He was standing nearby, and when he heard what I said, his jaw dropped in surprise.

“What? You don’t even know him! He’s dangerous, Alfred. Everyone wants him dead! Do you even know who you’re dealing with?” my mom gasped, her voice rising in panic.

“Mom, I don’t care about any of that,” I replied firmly. “Please, just try to relax and be happy for me. Don’t make me feel guilty about this. I’m glad Father won, but honestly, I’m even more grateful that I met the man of my dreams. Please make sure you’re here tomorrow—I really need your help with some...girly stuff,” I added quietly, lowering my voice to a whisper.

“Girly stuff? What do you mean, girly stuff?” my mom shrieked so loudly that I had to hold the phone away from my ear. God, I regretted saying that out loud.

“Yes, Mom. You know, waxing and...other things. I can’t talk about it now. Just get some rest, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight,” I said quickly, trying to end the call before the conversation got any worse.

After hanging up, I turned and realized Sebastian was standing right next to me. I felt my cheeks heat up with embarrassment, knowing he had probably overheard the part about “girly stuff.” It was mortifying, but what could I do? It was the truth. I wanted to look perfect for him—better than any woman could. I wanted his eyes to be on me and only me, and I wanted his body to be mine alone. Was that so wrong?

“So,” I said, trying to change the subject. “Where’s my room?” I chuckled nervously while glancing at Sebastian.

“Choose any room you like,” he replied, gesturing to the entire house with a wave of his hand. “Or...do you want to sleep in my room with me instead?” he added with a teasing smirk.

I glanced around at the massive castle, feeling overwhelmed. How many rooms did this place have? It would probably take me a year just to explore all of them. “Oh no, not tonight,” I said quickly, rolling my eyes shyly. “Maybe tomorrow.”

“Sure, I was just teasing you,” he said with a laugh. “But if you have a nightmare, feel free to come sleep next to me. I wouldn’t mind.” He winked at me playfully, and I blinked, trying not to roll my eyes again.

“A nightmare? I don’t think I’ll sleep at all tonight,” I whispered to myself, my lips curving into a small smile.

“Alright then, goodnight, my future husband,” he said, stepping closer to me. He reached out and ruffled my hair, leaving it messy. His laughter made my heart flutter—God, his smile was so addictive. No wonder he kept such a stern expression most of the time; if he smiled like that all the time, people would fall for him instantly.

“Wait,” I said suddenly, grabbing his hand as he started to walk away. “Are you sure about this? I mean, I said I’d give you my virginity, but you insisted on marrying me instead. Why?” I asked, my voice tinged with nervousness.

“Do you believe in love at first sight?” he asked, his voice soft. He didn’t turn to face me, keeping his gaze fixed elsewhere.

“Sort of,” I replied, nodding slowly. “Why?”

“I think I’m going to kill you soon,” he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. His tone was serious, and his words sent a chill down my spine.

“What?!” I stammered, my eyes widening in shock.

“Yes,” he continued, spinning around to face me. His eyes locked onto mine, and his expression was unreadable. “Love at first sight can turn into a crazy, obsessive kind of love. And if I go crazy for you, I might end up killing you.”

“God, why do you keep saying things like that? You’re scaring me!” I exclaimed, my body frozen in place. Was it too late to run away now?

“Good,” he said, leaning in closer. His intense eyes bore into mine. “Do you want to change your mind now?”

“No,” I replied firmly, shaking my head. “I’d rather die in your arms, even if it’s by your hands.”

“You’re killing me, you know that?” he said with a sigh. “Just promise me one thing—after we’re married, don’t make me look like a fool in front of my guards. I don’t want them to see my weak spot.”

“By the way, what’s your job?” I asked, trying to change the subject. I realized I didn’t know anything about him—not his work, his lifestyle, or even how he managed to have so much power. “I don’t know anything about you,” I added, raising my eyebrows. It felt strange to be standing here, preparing to marry someone who was still such a mystery to me. My curiosity was eating me alive, and I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of life this man led.

“And that’s what I like about you,” he said with a grin, his expression softening for a moment. “Keep it that way.” His tone was light, but there was an air of mystery that made me even more curious. He seemed to enjoy the fact that I didn’t have all the answers. To him, it was probably amusing to keep me guessing, but I couldn’t let it go. I needed to know more.

“You don’t know anything about me either,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. My voice carried a hint of teasing, but I was genuinely wondering if he was as clueless about me as I was about him. It felt unfair that I was the one left in the dark.

“Who said that?” he replied, smirking in a way that made my heart skip a beat. “Didn’t I mention I’ve been stalking you for years?” His grin widened, and I froze, my jaw dropping in shock. His words hit me like a lightning bolt, and I stared at him, completely at a loss for words.

“What?! How? When?” I stammered, my voice rising slightly as I tried to process what he had just said. My hands instinctively went to my ears, as if to make sure I’d heard him correctly. Surely, he was joking—or at least I hoped he was. The idea of him stalking me for years was both terrifying and strangely intriguing.

“You’re not the only one who’s been dreaming here,” he said calmly, his tone almost casual as if he were talking about the weather. “We’ve met before. But...” He trailed off, leaving his sentence unfinished. His hesitation made my stomach twist in anticipation. I needed him to finish the thought, to give me answers.

“But what?” I pushed, my voice quieter now. I bit my lip nervously, unsure if I even wanted to hear what he was about to say. My heart was pounding, and my mind was racing with all the possibilities.

“I thought I should keep my distance,” he finally said, his voice softer. He let out a deep sigh and started pacing slowly around me, as if he were lost in thought. “I convinced myself that if you were meant for me, fate would bring you to me.” There was a wistfulness in his tone that caught me off guard, and I felt a strange mix of emotions—confusion, curiosity, and something I couldn’t quite name.

“You can’t be serious,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. I pointed to myself as if to confirm that he was actually talking about me. My mind struggled to grasp the idea that someone like him had been waiting for me, watching me from a distance.

“I am serious,” he said with a small chuckle. “After the wedding, I’ll show you my secret file on you,” he added, emphasizing the word “file” in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. The thought of him having a file about me—my life, my habits, my secrets—was both unsettling and fascinating.

“So, you mean...” I stuttered, my words trailing off as I tried to make sense of everything. My voice trembled slightly, and I could barely meet his gaze.

“Yes, I’m in love with you,” he said bluntly, his words hitting me like a ton of bricks. “By the way,” he continued, his tone shifting to something more matter-of-fact, “I’m a powerful businessman. My father was the president of parliament, and I’m nominated to be the next mayor. Is that enough information for now?” His words were so casual, yet they carried so much weight.

“What?!” I gasped, my hand flying to the back of my neck as I tried to process everything he had just said. “But you look so young!” I blurted out, desperate to change the subject. My mind was spinning, and I needed a moment to catch my breath.

“I’m 33, and you’re 20,” he said calmly, as if the age difference was nothing. “And I know everything about you. Tomorrow is our wedding day because the day after that is your birthday. I don’t know if you forgot, but I didn’t. At least now, I won’t have to send you anonymous birthday texts or gifts anymore,” he added with a small smile.

I froze, my body stiffening as his words sank in. Those gifts—the diamond watch, the ring, the anonymous love messages. I remembered them vividly. I had always wondered who they were from, but I never imagined they were from him.

“You were the one?!” I exclaimed, my eyes widening. My expression was a mix of shock and disbelief as I stared at him.

“Did you like the gifts?” he asked, his voice softening. He reached out and brushed his fingers gently against my cheek, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes for a moment at his touch. It was so tender, so unexpected.

“I thought they were from a girl,” I admitted, clearing my throat awkwardly as I opened my eyes again. It felt strange to know the truth after all this time.

“You’ve dated so many girls,” he said, his voice quiet but firm. “But are you sure you’ll be happy with me? You know you’ll be the girl in this relationship, right?” His tongue flicked over his lower lip as he gazed at me, his eyes searching mine for an answer.

“I don’t care,” I replied with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. “I just want to be with you. But you won’t cheat on me, right?” I added, snapping my fingers playfully. My heart was still racing, but I felt a strange sense of calm in his presence.

“I don’t know,” he said with a sly grin, his voice teasing but his eyes serious. “But for now, let me kiss your forehead and wish you sweet dreams.” He stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. His touch was warm, and I felt my cheeks flush.

“I hope you’ll love me more and more,” I whispered, my voice barely audible as I looked up at him. My heart swelled with emotion, and I couldn’t help but gaze at him with all the love I felt bubbling inside me.