Fifteen Years Later

A man as cold as a glacier, with eyes that seem to spit out fire. His perfectly curved brows were etched in a thin line. His lips tightened in an aggravated pout.

He sat on the extravagant modern looking chair. The opulence that the house carried was that of an influential family. Of course, they were the most influential family in the country.

The Winston Churchill family which had been traced down to several centuries of linked royal blood. Due to a bloody internal power struggle, the family's blood lines were cut off prematurely leaving only the old matriarch and patriarch of the Winston including the only heir to the vast empire.

Vincenzo Winston.

Being the only surviving son of the Winston family, the old matriach was deeply aggravated by his refusal to carry on the bloodline. Vincenzo had refused to get married to anyone but his long lost childhood lover.

It's been fifteen years yet he had been unable to locate her but he wasn't giving up and he definitely wouldn't break his promise again to her. He had already broken it once.

"You brat! Do you want me to die before you give me an heir?" An old voice cut through Viincenzo's thought.

"Grandma, I have told you I can't marry anyone else!" Vincenzo said, his eyes looking straight at his old but agile grandmother." And you still look healthy"

"You insolent child! I have had enough of your whining for the past years about a girl that cannot be found!" Grandma Winston said, her eyes brimming with anger.

"Grandma…"

"Don't you dare Grandma me today! I have had enough of your antics!" Grandma Winston flared.

Vincenzo who was still sitting down, looking all frosty was becoming frustrated. He wondered why his grandma was always threatening him.

"Grandma, listen…"

"No, you listen to me. You are either giving me an heir or I will do it my way!" Grandma Winston said, glaring at her grandson.

Vincenzo looked at his grandmother and discover she was looking very serious." Grandma, you can't threaten me with starvation!"

"Threat? I give you three days to bring home a girl you want to get married to or else I will do it my way!" Grandma Winston said, scoffing.

" Grandma! Do you expect me to bring home any random girl?" Vincenzo asked, getting frustrated.

" That's also an option as long as you give me an heir or heiress!" Grandma Winston said, adamantly.

Vincenzo looked at his grandmother's stubborn face, a frustrated look on his face. Vincenzo knew that his grandparents had already made up their minds.

" Fine! Do whatever you want but I am not marrying anyone except for her!" Vincenzo said, walking out of the room in anger.

Why were these old people getting him frustrated?

He looked at his watch and discover today was the birthday of that girl. He always pays a visit to the orphanage on that day. This year, he decided to skip it.

When he got to the parking lot, he walked towards his car. When he got to his driver, he glared at him." Get out!"

The driver didn't need to be told twice. He immediately stepped out of the car, handing his boss the keys.

Vincenzo, who was still brooding over his grandmother's words, needed some fresh air and taking a drive was what he was going to do.

He drove for another thirty minutes but his phone rang as his assistant needed him for an urgent meeting at one of their mall.

When he got to the mall, he was walking quickly so he could meet up with his appointment when he suddenly bumped into a girl.

In order to avoid her falling down, he drew her close to himself. The next moment their lips touched!

Did he just kiss a stranger? And why did she taste so sweet? He looked up to see the girl's striking sea blue eyes and golden hair that made her look alluring.

With eyes spitting anger and fury, the girl whose golden hair flowed all over her face, glared at Vincenzo who just kissed her, accidentally. Although she knew it wasn't his fault, the girl was still furious that he kissed her!

"You! How dare you kiss me! You took my first kiss!" She vented at him, her blue crystal-like eyes glittering with anger.

“You should have given it to your boyfriend before bumping into a stranger. Next time watch where you are going” Vincenzo replied, raising his head to look at the fuming beauty in front of him.

Vincenzo's eyes seem to look all over her face and body. Why did she look familiar?

"Shouldn't you be apologizing, instead of acting like an asshole? Pervert!" the girl scolded, her face filled with anger.

Did she just call him a pervert? Such a disrespectful girl! He would have loved to teach her a lesson if only he wasn't in a hurry.

"Pervert? With this body of yours? I wouldn't even get it up if we were naked in an enclosed room!" Vincenzo retorted, raising his head to scoff at her..

They both stared at each other for a while and without another word, he walked out on her.

“He is so arrogant Jeez,” the girl shouted loudly to his hearing.

Her anger rose again and she ran to the man, holding his hand. Vincenzo admired the guts in the girl and he signaled to his body guards to step down.

"You had better hope I don't see you again, pervert!" She whispered in his ears. Then she turned around, leaving Vincenzo who was staring at him.

Vincenzo turned back to look at her while she was walking out of the mall, and he was sure her face looked familiar.

“Mr. Vincenzo, welcome to our mall. We have been expecting you,” A young lady in a suit said.

Vincenzo, who was still thinking about the girl earlier, turned to look at her without smiling as he followed her to the VIP area.

With eyes spitting anger and fury, Anastasia Beverly glared at the young man who just kissed her, accidentally. Although she knew it wasn't his fault, he still kissed her!

"You! How dare you kiss me! You took my first kiss!" She vented at him, her blue crystal-like eyes glittering with anger.

"You should have given it to your boyfriend before bumping into a stranger. Next time watch where you are going" the man replied, raising his head to look at the fuming Anastasia.

His eyes seem to look all over her face and body. Was he a pervert?

"Shouldn't you be apologizing, instead of acting like an asshole? Pervert" Anastasia scolded, wanting to tear that look from the man's face.

The man turned to look at her and they both stared at each other for a while and without another word, he walked out on her.

"He is so arrogant Jeez," Anastasia said to herself angrily.

She bites hard on her lips to hold her anger back. She wished she could hit the young man, however, the only reason why she controlled herself was because she was in a mall and she would not like to embarrass herself.

Anastasia was a beautiful, golden-haired nineteen-year-old girl. She was a stubborn girl that loves doing what she wants. She refused to work in her parents' company because she thought it was her own and everyone would give her too much respect.

She hated when people tried to ride on her just like the young man just did. Her anger rose again and she ran to the man, holding his hand.

"You had better hope I don't see you again, pervert!" She whispered in his ears. Then she turned around, leaving the young man staring at him.

Anastasia was about to drive away from the mall when she saw four men in suits walking closer to her, she put her hand on her forehead tiredly.

"Not now please." She said to herself and they got to where she was standing.

"Good day madam, your dad sent us to…" She raised her hand to stop them from speaking further.

"Don't worry I know what you are about to say, '' she handed her car key to one of them and followed them in their car.

While they were driving, she kept wondering why her dad suddenly wanted to see her. He had been calling and she kept giving him excuses and reasons why she cannot visit now.

"I guess he got tired of my excuses," Anastasia said to herself and looked at the man sitting beside her.

They finally got to her house and she walked inside.

"Dad, I told you I'm busy with work," Anastasia said to her dad in a loud voice.

She moved closer to her parents so she could kiss them but noticed her dad looked very sad and worried about something. She looked at her mom too and it was the same with her mom.

She sat down on the chair and was wondering what was going on.

"Mom, dad, what is it?" Anastasia asked her parents.

Her mom turned to look at her, face filled with sadness and tears that were threatening to fall. Then all of a sudden her dad's phone rang, and he picked up the call immediately.

Anastasia noticed he kept apologizing on the phone, this got her worried, what was going on?

"Mom, please tell me, what's going on?" Anastasia asked her mom and her dad dropped the phone. The look on his face says that there was something wrong.

"Please can someone talk to me, I'm going crazy," Anastasia said, anxiously.

Her dad turned to look at her. Her mother was about to talk but her father knew it would not be easy for her to say it.

"Don't worry I will tell her," Anastasia's dad said to her mom.

Anastasia was slowly going crazy trying to think of what might be the cause of their moody face.

"Sweetie, as much as I don't want to trouble you, I just have to let you know. We are going bankrupt," Her dad said, closing his eyes as he clasped his hands tightly.

Anastasia closed her mouth with her hand. She never expected such a thing to happen this time. Her parents' company was doing very well. How are they going bankrupt all of a sudden?

"How is that even possible, the last time you told me to help with the company finance it was more than enough to last us for the next ten years," Anastasia said to her dad, still shocked about the news of their bankruptcy.

"Yes it was supposed to be enough, but we lost the contract we invested almost all the money on, and now we don't even have enough to pay our staff. The board is saying if we can't settle this I'll have to step down as the CEO," Her dad explained. He had opened his eyes and was staring at his daughter.

Anastasia was particularly shocked about this because her dad told her the story of how he worked his ass off to build that company. She will never let anyone take it away from him.

"No, no one will take that company from you dad," Anastasia said to her dad.

"We called you here to tell you about it so that you can understand if you don't get anything this month as your monthly allowance." Her mom added, Anastasia stood up and sat in the middle of her mom and dad.

She held both of their hands and they looked at her. "I still have some money in my account, why don't we…"

"No, that will not be necessary dear," Her dad interrupted her immediately.

She turned to look at her dad. She knew he would never accept her idea but she still wanted to try.

"We will get through this," She said to both of them and rested her head on her dad's shoulder.

Her dad was only trying to be okay. He was not because the calls were getting too much, he wanted a solution immediately.

"Dinner is served." The maid came to interrupt them.

She used her hand to tell the maid to leave, she looked at her mom and her dad then she stood up. She knew if she was not in the house her dad and mom would not eat anything. So she was happy she was around and did not go anywhere.

"Let's go eat something then we will talk about how to settle the bankruptcy." Anastasia encouraged them.

Her dad smiled, he was happy they had a daughter like Anastasia that can help them hone their spirit when they are down.

"We will get through this, dad," Anastasia said, leading them to the dining room.

But as soon as they sat down, one of their maids rushed in, panting and panicking. Without being told anything, Anastasia's father held his chest tightly as he slumped to the ground.

"Daddy!," Anastasia screamed, rushing to her father.

She prayed fervently not to lose him.

******

"Daddy! You are not allowed to die on me!" Anastasia screamed as she performed first aid on him.

Her mother stood petrified as her daughter tried to revive her husband who just had an attack. It wasn't that she doesn't want to help or the fact that she can't scream. The issue was she was too afraid to feel anything.

"No. You can't leave me, James," was all she could whisper to herself.

Soon, there was a long drawing of breath as her father slowly opened his eyes. Anastasia, who hadn't noticed her father had opened his eyes, kept bawling her eyes out until his hand touched her golden silky hair.

"Anny, I am-fine. I just had-an attack. I will-be fine," Her father said, trying to wipe her tears away.

"Daddy, don't you dare leave me and mom! I won't forgive you!," Anastasia said, embracing her father with her tears flowing freely.

"I won't, sweetie. I am sorry for frightening you and your mother. Celine, come here," James beckoned to his wife.

Anastasia's Mother, Celine who had frozen since her husband collapsed, breathed a sigh of relief. She still looked petrified and her hands were still shaking. At her husband's command, Celine walked towards him, her eyes never leaving him.

"You… you want to leave me alone because we… we are about to go bankrupt?" She stuttered, her voice shaking and laden with sorrow. She was staring at him accusingly.

"I am sorry, Celine," James said, trying to sit up.

Just that word and Celine burst into uncontrollable tears. Anastasia held her crying mother tightly as she whispered words of comfort to her. That was her mother. She was the type that rarely reacts even in times of difficulty but when she does, it's difficult to comfort her.

Except her father.

Anastasia watched as her father consoled her mother while she accused him.

"You promised to always protect me when I marry you! If you die, who is going to protect me?" Celine accused her husband amidst sobs.

Anastasia's mind suddenly felt foggy as a Deja Vu flashed through her mind. Why does it feel like someone had also told her this before?

Was it an illusion or real? But she has no recollection of anything. She quickly snapped out of it and continued consoling her mother who had been crying a river.

As soon as Vincenzo got out of the mall, his phone started ringing. He looked at it and it seemed he was going to have a strong headache. He turned to his driver and instructed him to drive to the old Winston's Villa.

Thirty minutes later, a frustrated-looking Vincenzo was looking at his grandmother.

"Grandma please stop," Vincenzo said to his grandmother in a low tone because he cannot be too loud with her. She looked at him as he stood up from where she was sitting.

"My dear Vincenzo, can't you see I'm old already? I'll die soon." She said to him in a tone that proves that she was about to cry. He walked closer to her and held her on her shoulder,

"Grandma, you are not going to die soon, the last time I checked you are totally fine medically so don't worry you are not going to die," Vincenzo said to his grandmother. He wondered why she always threaten him with death.

Grandma Winston was disappointed in herself that her plan did not work. She wants to see her grandchild before she dies and Vincenzo knows all about her tactics.

"Vincenzo." She called his name and gave him a sad face. She knows he hates seeing her sad so she had to give him a sad face so that he can know she is serious this time.

"Sarah come on, leave the boy alone"

Vincenzo turned back when he heard his grandfather's voice. Finally, there was someone that can rescue him from his grandmother.

She turned to look at her husband with a sad face. He was walking closer to them with a paper in his hands. The paper looked like a newspaper.

"Why do you always stop me from telling him the truth?" Grandma Winston asked, glaring at her husband.

Grandpa Winston knew she was trying to emotionally blackmail Vincenzo to get married and he also knew that there was nothing anyone would say to Vincenzo that'll make him get married to anyone.

"I have not stopped you. I don't just want you to force anything on him, you know how stubborn he can be." Grandpa Winston said, smiling at his wife. Does she think Vincenzo hasn't seen through her plan?

Glaring at the two men, Grandma Winston walked to the dining room without saying anything to them again. Deep inside she was plotting what to do.

Vincenzo thanked his grandfather from where he was standing without saying anything to him. His grandfather also wants him to get married but he knows that there was no way the topic will end if he continues the topic with his grandmother.

He just looked for a way to end the topic peacefully and he was happy to have succeeded in doing so.

Vincenzo and his grandfather joined his grandmother in the dining room and they started eating. While they were eating, his grandfather kept asking him something about work to avoid his grandmother from asking him anything about marriage again.

When they were done eating Vincenzo quickly escaped to his room because of his grandmother. When he got to his room, he lay on his bed deep in thought. His room was so large but very few things were inside because he likes his things large and without too many loads. The interior of his room looked perfect.

He remembered he hadn't even changed. So he sat up straight on the bed and removed his shoe. That old woman didn't even allow him to undress before barging into him.

While he was removing his tie he suddenly remembered the girl he saw in the mall again. She looked so familiar and he could tell he had seen her somewhere before.

He remembered when he was little he had a friend but he couldn't get hold of her anymore. But he always remembers that she was the one he promised to marry and he will look for her till he finally finds her.

He smiled when he remembered the kiss. Although it was an accident, he can't deny that just a touch of her lips on his sent tingles down his body. She tasted nice.

He remembered how the girl yelled at him in the mall and he was surprised to see himself smile again. He quickly frowned his face, no girl has ever made him smile since he parted ways with his childhood love.

He checked the date and he realized tomorrow will be the thirteenth of August. The same day he left the orphanage, he always visit the orphanage on that day.

He picked up his phone and placed a call across to his secretary.

"It's tomorrow, I hope everything is ready?" Vincenzo asked his secretary.

"Yes sir." The secretary replied to him almost immediately.

He hung up immediately, then he picked a framed picture of himself and Anastasia, he got the picture from the matron when he visited recently, and he also collected the one that has the picture of all the other kids in the orphanage.

While he was looking at the picture he remembered the face of the girl that hit him in the mall, they looked so much alike.

"How are they so alike?" Vincenzo asked himself then he remembered when he hit her she had an injury on her thumb that looked so much like the burn Anastasia had in that fire incident.

"I must be going crazy," Vincenzo said to himself and closed his eye so that he can stop thinking about such nonsense.

He dropped the frame back on the shelf and walked to the bathroom to take his shower. When he was done he wore his sleeping wear and lay on the bed. When he was about to sleep he thought again for a minute if they might be in any way related.

"Stop it, Vincenzo. That girl was so feisty" He said to himself.

As he closed his eyes to sleep, there was a knock on his door. He wondered who could be knocking on his door. He prayed it shouldn't be his grandmother.

"Vincenzo." She called his name.

He shut his eyes knowing he had been caught red-handed. He took a deep breath before standing up to open the door for her. He faced his Grandma with a fake smile.

"Yes grandma" He replied as he escorted her inside his room. She stared at him for a while before she started talking.

"I know you might think I am disturbing you about getting married, I have always longed to see our family's heir before I leave this world and I am ready to do anything just to make sure I see an heir or heiress before I die. I won't let you end our lineage" Grandma Winston said, looking at him sternly.

Vincenzo was shocked to hear what his grandmother said. He saw it more as a threat. He looked at his grandmother very well and she looked really serious. She wasn't joking.

"Why does she look like she is about to hit me?" Vincenzo asked himself while staring at his mom.

Vincenzo noticed she was done talking and the way she was looking at him was so scared he could not stand there anymore but before he could say anything, she turned around and walked out of his room.

"What was that?" He asked himself. He has a bad feeling about his grandmother's threat. What was she planning to do?