His kiss grew more deep and wild, and she was already short of breath. She tapped his shoulder lightly, and thankfully, he pulled away. She gasped for air, he also did. Ryan bumbed his forehead on hers, his lips curved in small smile. Arianna lifted her head and look at him. He rubbed her hair, while his other hand caressed her cheek, her voice suddenly disappeared. She can't believe she's someone's girlfriend now. She grew more red than she had already been.
"I'll get to work, okay?" he said and she could only nod. He stood up and walked to his desk, while she stared at the space he left.
*....*....*.....*.....*.....*
Rosalie walked into the living room. "I'm home" she said.
"Oh, Sally. How was your day?" Her mother, Yoo Na, asked.
"Great, mum" she replied. Do-hyun was seated on the couch, fuming with rage. Rosalie noticed her father's silence, but she said nothing about it.
"I'll be in my room" she said and made attempts to leave. When....
"Rosalie!" Do-hyun uttered her name with so much anger. She stopped in her tracks and turned to him, shocked at the way he called her. Her father has never called her by her full name before.
"Yes, dad?" she answered.
"Come and stand in front of me" he said. Sally looked at her mother, and both of them wondered what was wrong. Doing as she was told, she stood in front of him.
"What's wrong?" Yoo Na asked, but didn't get an answer.
"What did you say to Arianna?" he demanded, and she was quick to answer with the word "Nothing"
"Do not lie, or you wouldn't like me"
"Really, I didn't say anything to her. She was the one who poured food on me when I saw her yesterday" she said.
"Even when you said nothing to her?" He knew Arianna wasn't the type to start a fight. His daughter definitely did it. And Sally didn't respond after that, she only lowered her eyes.
"Honey, what's going on?" Yoo Na asked again.
"Mr Han called" he said "He told me you insulted Arianna in front of her bodyguard, your friends and the public. Is that true"
"No" she lied, with lowered eyes.
"Is that so? Would Mr Han lie for no reason?"
"Arianna must have lied to him." Yoo Na butted in "Sally just said she didn't say anything to her"
"Would her bodyguard lie to his superior also?" he demanded and they both stayed quiet. "Answer me! Exactly what did you say to her?"
Sally pulled a sad face "I only told her the truth. I did nothing wrong"
Do-hyun chuckled lightly in anger, he stood and crossed his hands behind his back. "If you end up being the reason why my company, my hard work, gets crumbled to nothing, I'd forget you're my daughter" he said through clenched teeth, and then walked away.
"Dad?" Rosalie was utterly shocked. Her father has never been this angry at her. She looked at her mother as if trying to see if she was on her side. "Mum, I did nothing wrong. Why is he angry at me?"
"This time it's wrong" Yoo Na said, which wasn't what was expected "if you wanted to insult her, you shouldn't have done it publicly. That way it wouldn't have been so embarrassing to Mr Han. Next time, do it more privately" she said, and then walked away. Leaving Sally fuming with rage directed towards Arianna. Her fists were clenched tight, and so was her jaws. She hated that she was queried today because of that b*tch.
*....*.....*....*....*
"My lord, general Mathias from the empire's capital is here to see you" a guard spoke from outside Choi Su Jin's chamber. His jaws tightened and he exhaled.
"Let him in" he said. After a few seconds, Mathias walked in. He went down on his knees, with lowered head, he greeted.
"Greetings, my lord"
"Prince Mathias. What took you so long to come see me?" Choi Su Jin asked without sparing him a glance.
"I've been busy with work, my lord" he replied.
"Too busy to come see your father?"
"I am sorry" was all he could say.
Choi Su Jin stayed quiet for a while. He didn't even ask him to rise. "How is it going with the princess?" was all he cared about.
"She's not giving in" Mathias replied, all this while his eyes were lowered.
"Why is so hard for you to make her love you?" His voice raised.
"Because, I do not want this. I don't want to marry her father, please try to understand" he spoke sincerely. More like he was begging.
"Why is that?"
"I do not love her"
"You'll fall in love once you get married."
"Please.... I don't want this"
"You don't have a choice, son" he said and Mathias exhaled painfully, clenching his hands which rested on his knees.
"You never let me make my choice"
"Because the ones you'll end up making wouldn't be of any good to me. I'm doing this for you. Once you get married to her, you'll rule this great empire and have everyone at your feet"
"What about prince Zayden, then?"
"Don't worry about the Prince. I'll get him out of the way"
That moment, Mathias lifted his eyes look at him "What are you going to do?"
"That shouldn't be your business" he said with a feigned smile "All that you're asked to do is get the princess to love you and marry her. ASAP"
"Well news flash, princess Layana has refused to get married until the half breed returns."
"That is if he would ever return." he said with a smirk visible on his face. Mathias was not worried about the half breed, but himself.
"I... I can't do what you're asking me. I don't love her." he spoke firmly.
"Do you perhaps have a woman in your life... aside the princess?" Mathias was quiet. He didn't have one, but he wasn't able to reply. "If you do, erase her completely from your life because you cannot be with anyone else. You may leave now"
Mathias took in deep breaths, standing up, he did a ninety-degree bow and walked out the door. His eyes red and misty.