“How’s your class?” Leah asked Phoebe.

Phoebe smiled at her mother that she grew up with. She closed the door and walked towards Leah’s bed. She then sat beside her. “It’s all normal, mom. How about you? How are you? How do you feel?” she asked her.

Leah smiled weakly. “I-I’m fine. Still the same,” she responded.

Phoebe treated this as a miracle. She learned that her mom was supposed to live for only two to three months after she figured out her disease. Yet here she was, still fighting for her life for already six months.

Even after learning that Leah just took the life where she belonged, Phoebe could not still afford to hate on her. After all, she took care of her well, loved her as her own, and provided everything that she asked for. That was why she decided to ignore all of it and just focus on what she had now.

And besides that, it was also great having two mothers and a father at the same time. She was getting overflowing care and love from them. That was enough for her to erase the supposed hatred in her heart.

“Don’t stress yourself so much, okay? And also, always find time to spend with Amelia and Henry,” Leah advised her.

Phoebe smiled at her, then she nodded her head. “Yes, mom,” she answered.

“Good.”

After a month of living with her real parents, her father, Henry, enrolled her to a school for proper etiquette and business class also to prepare her from running their business since she would be the one to be the company’s new CEO after she got married. And she would not deny that she was loving it. She just found a track that she was enjoying doing.

Phoebe laid down on the bed and hugged Leah’s waist and buried her face to her neck. “Mom?”

“Hmm?” Leah combed her hair using her fingers.

“Don’t get angry with me, please?” Phoebe suddenly said.

“Huh? Why would I get angry with you?” Leah’s brows furrowed. “Are you hiding something from me?”

Phoebe got silent for a moment. She did not know how to tell her mom about the marriage proposal that she agreed to with her mommy and daddy.

“Phoebe?” Leah called her with a warning voice.

Phoebe lifted her gaze to her mom and laughed awkwardly. “Promise me first that you won’t get angry with me,” she convinced her.

Leah raised an eyebrow at her. “Phoebe…” she warned her once more.

Phoebe pouted her lips. “Fine.” She bit her lips, finding the courage to admit everything. Then she heaved a deep breath before blurting out the thing. “I am getting engaged next week, mom,” she said with one of her eyes closed.

Leah’s jaw dropped after her daughter’s revelation.

***

Days had gone by fast. And her engagement party with the Evans Corporation’s heir was already approaching.

“How do you feel about this, Phoebe? Do you feel uncomfortable? Do you want to back out? You really don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” Amelia said to Phoebe while fitting her the gown that she would be wearing for tonight’s engagement party. She really meant what she said. As much as she wanted to save their company, she would not risk her daughter’s happiness in exchange for it. She knew that her husband could still find other ways to save their business without sacrificing their daughter’s happiness, especially that she just returned to them. They must take care of her to put up with the years that were taken away from them. And must not pressure her this early with these kinds of things.

Phoebe faced her mommy and held her hands. She lightly squeezed those as she smiled reassuringly at her. “Don’t worry about me, mommy. I am not only doing this for you and mom. I am also doing this for myself. Daddy’s right. I will become the CEO of the company soon. Therefore, I must train and act like one. And this involves things like this. Don’t have a heavy heart and feel bad about this event. This is my own decision. You asked me for it. You never forced me to decide like this. And I thank you for that. Thank you for showing your support, love and care towards me. I know that you’re worried that I might think bad about you, but I assure you. I don’t. I just broaden my understanding on things, especially when it comes to business,” she comforted her.

Amelia could not help but to get teary-eyed at her daughter’s speech. She pulled her into a tight hug. “We’re so lucky to have you, Phoebe. Thank you for giving us a chance,” she heartily said.

She was thankful to Leah that she raised their daughter into a fine and great young lady. She had already accepted that maybe this was the way of fate to let them realize and appreciate things. She had already let go of before. What was important right now was their daughter was now by their side.

“What a lovely scene it is!”

The mother and daughter pulled away from the hug because of that voice. Both of them looked at the doorstep and found Henry standing there with his arms crossed. He then opened his arms wide. “Won’t you give me a hug, too, sweetie?” He jokingly raised an eyebrow at Phoebe.

The two ladies laughed at the man’s actions. Then both of them walked towards him for a hug.

Henry hugged them back and gave them a kiss on the head. “I love the both of you so much,” he whispered to them.

“I love you, too, honey.”

“I love you, too, daddy.”

***

“Are you really fine here, Phoebe? Why don’t you come with me?” Amelia asked Phoebe.

“I’m fine, mommy. I’ll just wait for you here,” Phoebe answered.

“Are you sure?” Amelia asked once more.

Phoebe smiled at her. “Yes, mommy.”

The old woman then heaved a deep sigh. “Fine. Just come to me when you need anything then.”

Phoebe nodded in response.

Amelia even kissed her on the cheeks before walking away from her.

Phoebe was left there alone on the table. There were some men who tried to approach her, but she would immediately end the conversation with them. She was really bored because she was not used to this kind of party. And as the night deepened, the more she got bored. So, when her eyes caught the bar counter, she immediately stood up and walked towards it.

She ordered a drink and was on her way back to her seat when she suddenly bumped into someone, causing her drink to spill to the man she bumped into.

“Hey!” the man exclaimed.

“I’m sorry, mister!” she immediately apologized because she just spilled the wine on the man’s suit.

The man hissed in irritation.

Phoebe could not lift her gaze to the man for she was embarrassed for her carelessness. She could not blame the man for his reaction because she would probably react that way, too if she was in his position.

“Is this your way of catching my attention?” the man suddenly asked boastfully.

That made Phoebe raise her head with her eyes narrowed. “What did you just say?” She felt like her ears rang because of his accusation.

“You’re one of those girls who like me, right?” Another question from him that made the young lady’s blood boil.

She could accept if he got angry with her because of the spilling of the wine. But she could not accept this boastfulness that was coming from him. “Excuse me, mister? First of all, I have already apologized for the carelessness that I did. Secondly, I don’t know your name and who you are, mister. And most importantly, I am not like those other girls. Besides, I am getting married to the country’s most eligible and hottest bachelor. So don’t think of yourself so highly.” She looked from his toe to head. “And one more thing, you’re not my type,” she added, then she rolled her eyes at him before turning her back and walking away.

***

“We are so grateful for everyone who attended tonight. And for tonight’s celebration…”

Phoebe’s mind was flying because the man’s face would not leave her mind since she got back to her seat. She could not forget how arrogant that man was. She could not even listen to what her mommy was saying in front because of it.

“Let us all welcome on stage, the engaged couple, Phoebe Thompson and Adrian Evans! Let us all give them a round of applause!” Amelia announced.

With that, Phoebe got out of daze and stood up to go on the stage. But when she reached beside her mommy, she was stoned from where she was standing because of who she just saw.

That arrogant man that she just bumped into a while ago was Adrian Evans!

“Ehem… So you’re going to marry the country’s most eligible and hottest bachelor, huh?” Adrian teased Phoebe after he sipped on his wine.

It had been already half an hour since Amelia announced about the merging of the Thompson and Evans Corporation through Phoebe and Adrian’s marriage soon. And since then, Adrian did not stop bothering and teasing Phoebe about what she said after the bumping incident a while ago.

Phoebe blew out air as she glared at him in irritation. “Can you just shut up? I did not mean what I’ve said, okay?” She then hissed. “I never knew that you’re the man who I’m going to marry. If I'd known it earlier, then I would have immediately backed out,” she added, then she rolled her eyes at him.

Adrian chuckled for the young lady’s sassiness. It was his first time to encounter a woman who really did not have an interest in him. And it was also his first time to see a woman who was as simple yet elegant as her. He was not exaggerating though. Because living and socializing with elite people meant competing with everyone not only with business but also with their fashion sense.

He also knew that she was telling the truth. But she could not stop from teasing her. She looked so cute with that frown on her face.

He tried to offer her a toast, but the fierce lady immediately looked away. He shook his head with a smirk on his lips. He put his free hand inside his pocket, then leaned his back on the edge of the bar counter. “So, what do you think of me, Ms. Future Mrs. Evans?” he asked.

Phoebe, who wanted to leave the man’s side but was shy to embarrass her parents from the visitor’s eyes, secretly mocked him. “Can you just shut up? And don’t you ever dare mention that title again. I’m shivering,” she irritatedly said.

Adrian faked a worried face. “Oh, why are you shivering? Are you cold?” He then took off his coat, then handed it to her.

Phoebe brows furrowed at his gesture. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“C’mon, babe. Don’t be shy,” Adrian responded. He moved towards her and was going to let her wear the coat.

Phoebe was about to dodge him and move away, but Adrian carefully grabbed her wrist and whispered to her. “Don’t move away, everyone’s watching.”

Phoebe was electrified by his whisper, especially with his hot breath, causing her to widen her eyes and be stunned from her place. Her heart also started to beat rapidly.

Adrian took the opportunity to let her wear his coat. A curve appeared on his lips when he saw how she was dumbfounded with his actions. ‘So, I also have this effect on you, huh?’ he thought.

The guests, who were secretly watching the newly engaged couple, could not hide their admiration towards the two anymore.

“They looked so good together, didn't they?”

“I suddenly remembered how my husband and I were before.”

“I can see a bright future ahead of them.”

Those statements were just some of the comments of the guests towards Adrian and Phoebe.

“It looks like they are already getting along with each other,” Alfred commented happily.

“I think so, too,” Henry replied, watching her daughter together with Adrian.

“We should toast for this. A toast for the new start and fruitful merging of Thompson and Evans Corporation!” Janice Evans offered.

Amelia just smiled at them as she accepted the toast. After having a drink, her gaze returned to where their daughter was. She was really hoping that her unica hija did not feel forced into this arranged marriage. Because the last thing that she would do was to hurt her precious daughter’s feelings.

***

Finally, Phoebe already got home after her worst night ever!

That Adrian Evans really did not leave her side until the party ended. And that was what made her night the worst of all. She could not stand the boastfulness of that man. It was like he was made up of air because of his arrogance. She thought she did not have even a minute to roll her eyes for every line that he was saying.

And he was also too talkative for a man.

She could not help to stomp her feet in irritation when she reached the doorstep of Leah’s bedroom.

She only temporarily stopped thinking about Adrian when she heard loud coughs of her mom inside the room. “Mom, this is Phoebe. I’m going to enter now, okay?” she spoke from the outside.

She did not bother to wait for her to respond and immediately opened the door because of worry. She rushed to Leah and sat beside her. She had already stopped from coughing. “Mom, let me get you to the hospital,” she said.

But Leah weakly shook her head and just held Phoebe’s hand. “Mom’s fine. How about you? How did the party go? I’m sorry that I could not go and attend,” she voiced out, almost out of breath.

Phoebe’s eyes softened as she reached for Leah’s cheeks. She carefully caressed it.

Leah’s physical appearance had changed so much since she discovered her illness.

Her good physique before had now changed. She became skinny. And her hair also fell out because of chemotherapy.

She could not believe that the healthy woman, who used to design, sew, and sell clothes for them to live, was now in her weakest state.

“I love you so much, Phoebe. Always remember that,” Leah said, then coughed again.

“Mom, stop talking first please?” Phoebe stopped her. Her vision started to blur because of the tears in her eyes. Worry, sadness, and pity for her mom was mixing inside of her. If only she had a choice, she did not want to see her this weak.

Leah caressed her daughter’s cheek. “And please forgive me for taking you away from the original life that you should have had before. I am sorry for being so selfish, Phoebe,” she cried.

Phoebe’s heart was clenching in pain. Leah never forgot to ask for her forgiveness every time she visited her here. She would not deny that she was hurt for what she did because there were many what ifs that were coming into her mind that time. But whenever she remembered how Leah took care of her, all of those vanished in an instant. And she also never forgot to tell her that she had already forgiven her.

“Mom, the past is already in the past. Let’s move on and just think about what we have now and what we will have tomorrow, shall we?” she hardly said.

Leah wiped Phoebe’s tears as she smiled. “I’m sorry. I was just carried away. Thank you so much, Phoebe for all, especially for asking your parents to help with my medications.”

“That’s just a normal thing for me to do, mom. Please stop making me cry, can you?” she joked to ease the heaviness of the atmosphere.

Leah laughed, then wiped her tears, too. “Fine. Just tell me about how the party went then. I’m sure you’re the most beautiful there.”

“Of course, mom!” Phoebe confidently answered which made both of them laugh.

“So, have you already seen who’s your fiance? Is he handsome?”

Phoebe’s blood automatically raised to her head because of that question. Adrian’s annoying face immediately flashed in her mind. She hissed. “Yes, he is. But he’s too arrogant,” she complained, pouting her lips and rolling her eyes.

Leah laughed at her daughter’s reaction. “Why did you say that?”

Phoebe sighed. “Let’s just forget about him, mom. He’s nothing but a boastful man who thinks that every woman in the world has a crush on him. Like, eww! He’s not my type!” she grumbled. She was also fisting her hand. She did not know why she was so pissed off with him to the point that her eyebrow would automatically raise once she heard his name.

Leah’s stomach hurt because of laughing too much for Phoebe’s reactions. Somehow, she was already having a clue of how the relationship of the two would go in the future.

She was just hoping that her beloved daughter would not get hurt when the time came.

***

Meanwhile, inside Adrian’s bedroom, he was there, lying down on his bed, with his hands as his pillow, staring at the ceiling. If people would know, they might think that he was insane for seeing Phoebe’s face on his ceiling.

A bright smile on his lips was irremovable. He thought that he would just get engaged with a woman who had nothing else to worry but her appearance and status. But Phoebe proved him wrong. And now, he could not take her off his mind.

Her smiles and frown was all he could see. She was too cute and gorgeous at the same time whenever she had her face crumpled because of annoyance towards him.

“Hayyy…” He sighed as his smile widened more. “Phoebe Thompson…”

Now, he just wanted to know more about her.

“Sweetie, time to wake up now,” Amelia softly said as she lightly tapped Phoebe’s shoulder.

Phoebe groaned then covered her face with the blanket which made Amelia chuckle. “Five minutes more, mommy, please?” she asked.

“I apologize I can’t give you more time to sleep since we have so many appointments scheduled for today. We have to meet the wedding organizer at 8 AM for the venue and theme of the wedding. We also have a meeting with the photographer slash videographer team. Another one is we need to check on the gowns and suits of the bridesmaids and groomsmen. We also need to go shopping for your accessories for the wedding day. And the most important thing, today's fitting of your wedding gown!” Amelia exclaimed. “So get up there now and go take a bath! Don’t be late since Adrian promised me that he will accompany us today!” she added.

Her mommy’s last statement was the one that awakened Phoebe’s soul. Her eyes immediately opened widely as she turned to her mommy. “Can you repeat what you just said, mom?” she asked mindlessly.

Amelia’s forehead creased as her eyes narrowed. “Which one?” she curiously asked.

“A-About Adrian?” she hesitatingly answered.

“Oh! He called me last night and he told me that he would come with us today. Don’t you think that’s sweet?” Amelia teased her.

Phoebe almost puked for her mother’s question. “Sweet?” She laughed sarcastically. If only she knew, he just did that thing to annoy the hell out of her. She knew that he would not fulfill his promise just as he told her mommy. “What do you think of him, mommy?” she suddenly asked her.

“Hmm?” Amelia thought for a second before answering her. “I think he’s a great guy. He’s actually a jolly man. And I think it is a great personality of a man, especially a businessman like him. Because if you notice, businessmen tend to be serious all the time. No time for jokes and play around. But Adrian? I think he can manage a business without forgetting to have fun.”

The further her mommy went on with her sentiments, the more her face crumpled in cringiness.

Did her mother really think of him that way?

Or she was just charmed because of his killer looks?

"Oh...kay?"

Amelia laughed once more for her daughter's reaction. "How about you? What do you think of him?" she asked her.

"Mommy... " Phoebe called her with her tone implying that she did not want to answer her question.

"Do you regret being engaged with him?" Amelia asked once more.

Phoebe sighed in defeat. It seemed like she had no way to avoid her mother's question. Well, she was the one who started this. "Well, it's not that I am regretting being engaged to him. Maybe I just didn't like him as a man. Maybe because of our first meeting?" She groaned. "He is so arrogant. Before the announcement of the engagement, I accidentally bumped into him that night. And he thinks that I am like one of those girls who are after him, when it's not." She rolled her eyes after remembering the scene. Then she messed her hair up in frustration. "I-I don't know... But my blood automatically boils whenever I think of him."

Amelia was listening to her intently and was amused by how her daughter described a man that she was going to marry soon. "So you're thinking of him?" she unconsciously blurted out.

Phoebe's eyes widened in shock after her realization. "N-No. I didn't mean it that way, mommy!" she defended herself.

Amelia shook her head as she chuckled. Then she ran her fingers through her daughter's head. "Fine. Fine. I won't ask about him anymore."

Phoebe's cheeks blushed in embarrassment. "Thank you, mommy."

"Get up now and prepare yourself. I'll go downstairs to prepare breakfast."

"Hmm..." Phoebe nodded her head.

Amelia kissed her on the cheek before going out of Phoebe's bedroom.

Phoebe was left there pinching herself and throwing a pillow on the wall because of frustration.

***

After having their breakfast, Amelia and Phoebe bid goodbye to Leah before they went to their appointments.

They start off first by meeting with the event organizers. The day was almost near to its end but Adrian had not still appeared since the morning.

Phoebe could not help but to hiss as she rolled her eyes while staring at herself in the mirror. "I'm really right about him appearing today. He isn't really a trustworthy person," she murmured irritatedly.

Thank God she had a lot to do to forget about that arrogant jerk.

Phoebe tried on different gowns because her mommy told her that she was looking for the best gown that would perfectly fit her.

Actually, she was really tired of wearing them then taking off the gowns. But she could not afford to complain to her mommy because she could see how she enjoyed dressing her. She did not want to spoil the fun. Besides, after this, they could already go home, and she could finally lay on her comfy bed.

She smiled widely when she wore the last gown that she needed to try on. And for her, this was the best among all of the wedding gowns in this boutique. She was sure that her mommy would also love this gown.

She blew out air before pushing the curtains aside to reveal herself. "Mom, I think this is the—"

And she almost tripped when she did not see her mom outside the fitting room. Instead, she saw Adrian intently staring at her.

***

"Dad, can't you just move this meeting to another day? I promised Aunt Amelia that I will accompany them for the wedding preparations today!" Adrian exclaimed in frustration.

It was just 8 in the morning, but he was already stressed out.

He had a very nice sleep, and even woke up early in the morning just to prepare himself for this day.

He was so excited to see his fiancee again.

But his dad stopped him and told him that he needed to meet with an important potential investor today.

"Just call them and tell them that you have a more important thing to attend to," Alfred responded.

Adrian hissed and did not bother to answer his dad. He just dismissed himself and stormed outside his office.

He was briskly walking back to his office. He angrily loosened his tie so he could breathe air.

Now, he was so sure that Phoebe had been thinking of him as an unreliable person.

He was left with no choice but to meet with their client. He was there with the client, but his mind was flying to where Phoebe was. He could not even listen well to what his client was saying. Luckily, he still managed to answer his questions and successfully convinced him to sign with them.

"Finally!" he exclaimed. He checked his wrist watch and flinched when he saw that it was already 5 in the afternoon. "Are they still there?" he asked himself.

Well, he should go and check for it himself. He was already shy to call and ask Amelia since he did not appear earlier. He also forgot to text her a while ago which made it worse.

As soon as he got out of the restaurant, he immediately went to his car and maneuvered it to the boutique.

"I'm really sorry, Aunt Amelia. Dad ordered me to talk with an investor so I wasn't able to come with you earlier," he immediately apologized as soon as he saw the old lady.

Amelia smiled at him, then tapped his shoulder. "That's fine with me." She suddenly glanced at the curtained fitting room. "But I think you need to apologize to my baby. She's been expecting you to come."

Adrian could not help but to scratch his head as he nodded at her. He suddenly heard his heart thumping for her statement. "Yes, Aunt Amelia. Thank you so much."

Amelia bobbed her head, too before gesturing that she would go and roam around the boutique.

Adrian was left there, standing straight, parallel to the fitting room where his fiancee was, waiting for her to come out.

"Mom, I think this is the—"

Adrian was automatically stunned after seeing Phoebe in her wedding gown. He almost did not blink as he gaped at her. It was as if his throat went dry.

"What are you doing here?"

Phoebe's sassy voice was the reason why he came back to his senses.

He blinked his eyes a few times before shaking his head to recollect himself. "O-Oh!"

Phoebe, who was trying to hide her shock, crossed her arms, then raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"

"A-Ahm.. I'm sorry if I wasn't able to come with you earlier. I just needed to attend an important meeting–"

"Who cares?" Phoebe cut him off and went back to the fitting room to remove the gown.

She wanted to rip off the gown. She kept on mocking him inside the fitting room.

'Needed to attend an important meeting? Then he shouldn't have promised to accompany us if that's so!' she exclaimed in her mind.

"Look, Phoebe, I really don't mean it. It was an abrupt meeting. And I couldn't postpone it!" Adrian tried to explain.

'Then you could have informed me!' Phoebe answered in her mind.

But instead of saying that, she turned her back to him, then picked up her purse on the chair before she faced him with her piercing gaze. "You don't need to explain, Mr. Evans. Besides, this is just an arranged marriage, right? No need to accompany me for the wedding preparations. I already have my mommy with me," she voiced before she turned her back on him.

While walking away from him, she could not help but to ask herself.

'Why did I seem to spit that out bitterly?'