She woke up in the morning when the threads of light crept into her eyes. She was upset by Louis's silly attitude yesterday, so he shouldn't have acted like this, but she ignored her as usual, and a small smile smiled on her lips when she remembered that she still loves him anyway.

She got up from her bed and put on comfortable clothes and walked out of her room downstairs to see her mother scolding Jeremy.

In any case, it was shameful for you to leave the guests early yesterday.

Jeremy tries to please her.

Mom, your presence is enough for them… it is enough that they see Nicole Gilbert in front of them.

Jeremy's words satisfied her vanity, but she objected.

Stop calling me Gilbert. Gilbert's time is over.

Jeremy looked suspicious and got up from the house to go to his school while Nicole followed him to work. Selena remained standing in her place like an idiot; they didn't see her. She grabbed her phone to call Louis, but her father's voice stopped her at the door.

I smiled and hugged him.

How are you, baby?

Fine

Lying on the sofa

So…how are you with Louie? Is he ok with you?

Don't worry, Dad, it's okay.

She did not want to tell him about that dispute, believing that it was private.

I have to worry; I'll get my daughter married at the end of next month. This is going to be sad.

Her cheeks flushed when she imagined herself as a bride; it's nice, especially if it had something to do with Louis.

John noticed his daughter's shyness and laughed lightly, but he was thinking… what he did was a right and wrong choice at the same time, although he knows Louis but does not want it to end as Nicole and John

Remember that deal that was made between them, when Louie agreed to marry Selena to strengthen his father's company relations with John's company? Yes, it was for his own good, but he fears that his little girl will be a victim of him.

John got up and smiled.

I have to go before Nicole comes back… you might plant dynamite in my guts if she sees me.

Selena laughed as she imagined her mother's explosive appearance.

You don't have to... bye, take care of yourself.

......

In another corner, Louis was flipping through the pages of the newspaper in his hands.

"Malik's Companies Dominate the Market"

He threw the newspaper and sarcastically looked at Zayn.

Don't let your companies prey on mine; they make more profits than expected.

Zayn laughed lightly as he sipped from the cup of coffee in front of him.

So the deal between you and John is still done.

Louie nodded.

Yes, I still feel hesitant about it.

What makes you hesitate?

Louie caught his breath.

A foolish marriage, I have no feelings for it.

You feel remorse, don't you?

Whisper

Probably

How did John convince you?

smile sarcastically

You don't know John; he's a big dodger who always seeks his interests. He didn't want to fall, so he forced me to.

Zayn was really shocked.

I force you!

Yes, my father's company is about to collapse, and my mother can no longer control it, and what I would have done wasn't enough to get the company up and running again. John knew and immediately stepped in to help me, and we succeeded, but the payoff was that stupid marriage.

Zayn did not say a word but kept staring at Louis in shock, sure that Louis is a cold, arrogant person who does not give in to his feelings at all, and he is, but what he saw in Selena's eyes last night was enough to predict that she would live in hell with him.

.............

Selena was driving her car towards Lowe's company; she would like to meet him and apologize for yesterday. She knows that she does not have to apologize, but she prefers to be the initiating party.

I arrived to meet Julia, his office manager.

Miss Selena, you are welcome.

Thank you. Is Louie free?

Mr. Lowe, accompanied by Mr. Malik

So there is no problem with my entry.

She didn't wait for Julia to answer and knocked on the door and then came out.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I shook hands with Zain and went to Louis to hug him, but he extended his hand and preferred to shake hands only. It was an embarrassing situation, but she ignored it and sat in the chair opposite Zain.

Lowe asked her

What brings you at this time?

I was bored and alone at home.

Zayn felt that he was a third wheel, so he decided to withdraw.

I'm leaving now… Don't forget our date in the evening; bring Selena with you.

He winked at him and walked out, leaving Louis and Selina alone. He remained silent to complete his work, while Selina was bored and realized she shouldn't have come.

Louie, about last night, I know...

No, let's go out to lunch.

................

They had lunch together, and then Selena came back to prepare herself for a night out with Zayn and Louis. She wore a short black dress and let her hair fall comfortably over her shoulders and put some black on her eyelids and pink lipstick. She looked elegant as usual.

She went out to find Louis waiting for her in the car. She put on her coat and went to him and got into the car.

Welcome.

Hello.

He answered her coldly, as usual, and drove towards one of the famous pubs in the city. Selina was unaware of their destination, but when she saw the place from outside, she deduced what it was.

Why didn't you tell me we'd be at a bar?

Don't worry, just stay with me.

She turned tight; everyone knows how much she hates these places; the smell of drinking makes her nauseous.

They entered the bar; it was full of people dancing and drinking, and some sitting quietly exchanging conversations with others. She saw Zain pointing to them to advance to the table he had reserved on the balcony.

Welcome.

Hello.

Louie and Zayn started chatting about work and other conversations; Selena was so bored.

I will go to the bathrooms.

Don't be late, waiter; get the vodka.

Selina heard Louie and turned towards the bathrooms, but it was difficult to find her in the middle of the crowd. I finally found her and entered; the view was kind of disgusting—two girls kissing each other and another smoking and again changing her clothes to other scandalous clothes. I regretted entering the place and went out immediately looking for Louis and Zayn.

You are late.

Zain asked her.

I was lost.

She returned to sit down to find Louis and glasses of wine in front of him, and Zayn asked worriedly,

Is he drunk?

Approximately

Zayn sips some drink.

Do you want a little?

I do not drink.

Louis raised his head and stared at Selena and started talking under his drowsiness.

Selena, my fiancée

Selena looked at him worriedly; he seemed very drunk.

He started laughing as he spoke.

John, he told me to marry my daughter, and she will live in heaven. Haha, how funny.

I looked at Zayn disapprovingly, and Zayn seemed to listen to him well.

Do you think it was me who wanted you?

whispered with fear

Louie What are you talking about?

Zayn approached to stop Louis, but Selena begged him.

Please stop; let him continue.

Louie, do you want me?

Zayn came back, and Selena sat next to Louis and asked him

Her heart was pounding, her hands cold from tension, anxiously awaiting his answer.

Why do I want you? I don't love you, but John, that jerk who wants me with you, we'll take off to space.

The world turned black in her eyes and filled with tears. She stood silently looking at him, still stunned...shocked...this is impossible.

Zayn tried to calm her down.

Selena is drunk and doesn't know what to say.

She didn't answer him; she looked at him with her weeping eyes and then turned her eyes back to Louis. Her crying increased and turned into loud gasps, and she turned around with a broken leg.

Selena, please wait.

She did not listen to Zain's constant call and came out of the bar. She was walking in the streets alone, tears running down her cheeks, her heart broken, her father and Louie. She sat on the sidewalk and started crying loudly, her gasps getting louder. Nothing in this world can translate what is in her now. "She feels as if storms are raging in her quarry and breaking her heart every minute," she whispered.

I hate you, Louie...I hate you...

Maria, bring me a bottle of wine at once.

Yes, Ma'am.

.....

As for John, he went out angry towards his house and tried to call Louis, but he didn't answer until he answered, but it wasn't Louis.

Mister John! Is Selena okay?

John shouted on the phone.

What did your friend do, for God's sake? Where is he?

Mr. Gilbert Lowe is drunk now.

When he wakes up from his damned drunk, tell him if he doesn't fix it, I'll destroy him.

He immediately turned off his phone and went out of the house to his office.

........

The night passed hard for everyone who was in Gilbert's mansion and for Louie and Zane, who were involved in something like this.

The morning shone, announcing a new day. She opened her eyes after the threads of light crept into her. She felt a burning sensation in her eyes that changed their whites to red and swollen from crying. She felt a severe headache and pressed her head, trying to ease it. She got up from her bed and went to take a bath; perhaps it would extinguish what was inside her. She immersed her body in very cold water, perhaps to quell her storms. She then went out and looked at herself in the mirror. She was pale with blue lips because of that cold water. She wore the closest thing to her and sat by the window. She remembered the night before and her bitter memories.

This is hard for her.

She almost suffocated; she felt that Louis was the only one who made her fly until he threw her from the farthest point to hit her feelings to the bottom. Her tears gathered in the sockets of her eyes, miserable. She felt someone enter the room, but she didn't turn; she didn't feel like talking even to herself.

He walked over to her and sat on his knees in front of her and put her palm between his.

Selena, are you okay?

Jeremy asked with concern evident in his eyes.

Everyone came out and left them alone; she looked at him in disbelief, and he gave her a cold look containing a lot of words. He approached her, but she took two steps away.

Stay away.

He stood there, looking at the ceiling of the room and thinking he did not have the courage to apologize.

Selena, I didn't know what to say.

So I told the truth.

How do you know it's really Selena?

She approached him and looked into his eyes, tears welling up in her sockets.

It's been a long time, Louie, since the last time you told me you loved me. We spent a whole year together, and I only heard it from you once. I've always loved you, and I've always told you that. I don't love you, Louis; I adore you. I have tied all my life to you, but you and my father have been cut off. The last thread and you made me a victim to deceive you.

I didn't...

Shut up, Louie, that's enough. I can't hear you again; Louie broke me.

cried

I'm devastated. My father and my lover—how could I know that?

I didn't hate you.

But I loved you! But now believe me, Louie, I am completely dead. I may accept any man behind this door but you, whoever that man may be.

Even if I

His voice broke into the room, silence prevailing on all sides.

Selena looked at him. Is he proposing to marry her?

John came in behind him.

Selena, my dear, won't you answer him?

I looked at them all. Jeremy is not here; they must have prevented him from entering. She felt like she was lost among the monsters; everyone wanted to torture her mercilessly, and it was only seconds and she fell unconscious. . .

........

Her eyes opened to John's voice.

Selena, honey, please

She was so exhausted that she looked at him and closed her eyes again.

I want water.

He raised the glass of water to her lips to water her and then brought it back to the table.

She was silent for a while when she found that she was alone in the room with John.

Looks like you used to force grooms to propose to me, didn't you! Zain seems to be the new force.

John fell silent and lowered his head to collect his words.

I didn't force him; I chose him.

I wish you had been silent.

I cried angrily at him.

John got angry.

You're talking to your father, Selina. Stop the rebellion. Are you really claiming that Zain is forced, huh! So take what you want. I was going to force him to start, but he succeeded in breaking me, my fortune, or my daughter. He gave me two things, both of which drive me crazy. He succeeded, that little successful one who, since he entered the world of commerce, has never known failure.

And what is your choice?

John was silent as he looked at her scornfully, but she received an answer from his eyes.

Your fortune! You will choose your fortune over your daughter!

He remained silent, staring softly at the floor, brushing her hair away from her eyes.

Ironically, you know! Since I was a child, I would look at my mother every morning while you two were in a quarrel. I watched you, and I convinced myself that the water would return to its course one day. You took care of your business as if we were nobody, Jeremy and I, in high school… the day of my graduation… I was looking at every student when the parents went up on the stage to honor their two sons, but on that day you weren't there; neither you nor my mother was there. Jeremy was there. When our relationship with you began to improve, my mother was always like a blocking machine; every time she saw us with you, we got a big scolding. I thought you would stay by my side to make up for all the days I was without you, and indeed you stayed by my side until Louis came, but you broke me that day. With which you agreed, you bought your happiness, but you lost your daughter, and now you choose your fortune again, you know! Tell Zain I agree.

John looked at her in shock.

Selena, my daughter...

Shut up, Selena.

I chose your fortune. Dad, if you stay here, I won't exist in your life anymore. Damn the money, I'm going to marry Zain. I'm not ready to stay with you or my mom anyway.

She got up, leaving John behind, shocked. He didn't expect that she might agree so easily. He thought that she was soft, but he forgot that she was broken and weak and that she would drown again.

.........

Back to an earlier time until John's dialogue with Louie and Zain

It depends on you.

Give what you have. What is your condition?

Market Lion, as they call you.

John was silent for a moment, then continued.