“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?'

“Oh, c’mon, Phoebe. I’ve already explained myself. And I’m really sorry about it, okay?” Adrian continued to chase Phoebe around the boutique. “Look, I’m already here. What are you still angry about? If I were you, I couldn’t get angry with my fiance if he’s this handsome!” he arrogantly explained which made Phoebe stop from briskly walking, then sharply turned to him.

They almost bumped into each other because of the lady’s sudden action.

Phoebe looked at him with raging eyes. “Can you stop being so full of yourse–”

“Phoebe, Adrian.”

Phoebe stopped from yelling at Adrian when she heard her mommy’s voice behind her.

“Aunt Amelia,” Adrian called her with a wide smile on her face.

Phoebe, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and glared at him. And when she turned to her mommy, her expression was changed from a grumpy one to a bright one. “M-Mommy…” She faked a smile to her.

“Have you already explained to my baby, Adrian?” Amelia asked. She was hanging a few pieces of dresses in her arm. She was looking at Adrian.

Adrian instantly cleared his throat as he nodded to his future mother-in-law. “Yes, Aunt Amelia. And Phoebe forgave me immediately because she told me that it is so hard not to forgive a fiance that is just as handsome as I!” he cheerfully exclaimed. Then he wrapped his arm around Phoebe’s shoulders then pulled her closer to him. “Right, my future wife?” He even asked her which made Amelia chuckle in amusement, and made Phoebe simply step on his foot. “Aww!” he groaned in pain.

‘Serves you right, jerk!’

“Oh. I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it!” Phoebe acted concerned.

Adrian simply glared at the lady. While Phoebe stuck out her tongue to him without letting Amelia see it.

In her mind, ‘May God give me lots of patience for this man.’

After a long ceremony of secretly teasing each other, finally, today’s appointments have already ended.

“Finally! I can go home and lay on my bed!” Phoebe exclaimed as she stretched out her arms after they reached in front of their car.

“Hmm… Why don’t we go eat for an early dinner first?” Adrian suddenly appeared beside her.

The heiress immediately frowned for his thick-facedness. “Go have dinner yours–”

“That would be a great idea, right, Aunt Amelia?” Adrian cut her off and asked for his fiancee’s mother’s opinion.

Amelia nodded in response. “I think that’s great. But can you take up somewhere new? I think I have already brought Phoebe to all of the restaurants in this city.”

Adrian snapped in excitement. “Yes, Aunt Amelia. I know somewhere nice.”

Phoebe looked at her mother with an unexplainable expression. “Mom…” Her voice was implying that must not have agreed with him in the first place. Bet Amelia just tapped her shoulders.

After a while, the old lady’s phone suddenly rang. “Wait for me. I just need to take this call,” she said before walking away to distance herself.

Phoebe pouted her lips.

This day was the worst day ever!

Adrian curved his lips when he saw how irritated his fiancee was again. He then walked towards her and leaned to their car. “Don’t you know how to smile?” he asked her.

Phoebe hissed. “Why do you care?”

“Of course, you’re my future wife. I don’t want a grumpy one. Don’t you know the saying, ‘If you don’t know how to smile, blessing won’t come in your way?’”

Phoebe flinched at his words. “Did you really say those words?”

“Yup. Why?”

“You don’t seem to be the person who would say such a thing,” Phoebe responded as a matter of fact.

Adrian chuckled at her response. “Why? Don’t I seem like a jolly person?”

That question made Phoebe stare at him from toe to head. And she wanted to punch herself when she stared a little longer when her eyes reached his face. And when she realized what she did, she looked away fast then cleared her throat. “Well, you look like someone who doesn't know how to be serious in life. You know, just the happy go lucky in life.” She simply pinched her hand after saying that line.

Adrian could not help but to smirk at her perception towards him.

“Uhm… Phoebe? Adrian?” Amelia walked towards them. She just finished the call.

“Mom?”

"I'm really sorry, but I cannot go with you tonight. I have an urgent matter to attend to," Amelia apologetically said. Then she glanced at Adrian. "Adrian, please take care of my daughter, okay? You'll be doomed to me if something bad happens to her," she seriously asked.

"But, mom! I'll just go with you--"

"I assure you that Phoebe's going to be fine with me, Aunt Amelia," Adrian interrupted.

"But--"

"That's okay, sweetie. You also need to go out with your future husband so you can get to know each other, " Amelia advised Phoebe.

And before the young lady could protest once more, her mother immediately kissed her goodbye and entered their car.

"Mommy!" Phoebe tried to follow Amelia inside. But the car already drove away which made her stomp her feet and groan in frustration. "Aishh! This is all your fault!" she yelled at Adrian.

"Chill, babe! I won't do anything to you. We'll just have dinner," Adrian said in defense. " If I were you, I would stop wasting my energy complaining. We'll just eat. And after that, I'll send you home."

Phoebe sighed in defeat.

Well, nothing's really wrong with the dinner. She was just really overacting, letting her emotions drive her.

"Fine. Let's go."

"As you said, milady," Adrian replied, giving her a curt nod.

***

Phoebe remained silent while they were on their way to somewhere she did not know.

"Are you sure there's still a restaurant in this part?" She could not help but ask when she noticed that they were already going away from the center of the city.

"Yup. Just wait there and relax," Adrian assured her, his eyes focused on the road.

That was why Phoebe was silent again and was patiently waiting for them to arrive.

And she was really shocked when they arrived at the place.

"We'll have dinner here?!" she exclaimed in awe.

Adrian smiled as he nodded his head. "Uh-huh!"

"Wow," Phoebe unconsciously blurted out. This would be the first time that she would have dinner on a yacht.

Adrian made a soundful smirk. "Well, this is just one of the benefits that you could get when you marry me."

'Oh, here comes the boastful jerk again,' Phoebe thought.

Instead of wasting her saliva on him again, Phoebe just faked a smile before she turned her back at him and walked first to the yacht.

"Be careful," Adrian reminded her as she walked to the ladder.

Phoebe really thought that she could successfully reach the yacht without stumbling herself. But she was wrong. Her heart almost dropped when she slid because of her heels. She thought that she would fall in the water for it.

However, Adrian was on the rescue. He caught her and wrapped his one arm around her waist, and the other one held her on the railings. “I told you to be careful,” he told her in a low voice.

Phoebe’s eyes widened not because of fear, but because of the shiver that she felt when their skin touched, plus his soothing voice with his breath that smelled like mint. It was as if her breathing stopped for a second. And she just came back to her senses when her body floated in the air. “Hey! Put me down!” she shouted at him, panicking.

But instead of listening to her, he carried her and dropped her when they finally stepped on the yacht.

The blushing lady instantly moved away from him. “I told you to put me down there,” she almost whispered after she looked away from him.

Adrian chuckled. ‘So, she knows how to be shy, huh?’ he mentally told himself. Then he put his hands inside his pocket. “I just did you a favor. I don’t have spare clothes here in case you fall in the water.”

Phoebe just frowned.

Adrian took a step forward to her. And before his fiancee could move away from him, he already leaned forward, their faces just an inch away from each other.

Phoebe gulped hard. Her eyes almost crossed because of that distance. In addition, she could feel his hot breath fanning her face. She wanted to faint right now. “W-What are you doing, A-Adrian?”

Adrian smirked at her. But inside of him was his rumbling heart. She looked more beautiful when she was this close. His eyes wandered from her eyes, to her nose… and to her lips.

‘Those lips are so luscious. Fuck!’ he exclaimed in his mind. And God knew how much he tried to stop himself from tasting those. He took a deep breath before voicing out the words that were different from what he really wanted to tell her. “Won’t you thank me for catching you?”

Phoebe blinked a few times. She wanted to poke her head for thinking that he would actually kiss her.

“Hmm? I’m waiting, future wife.”

‘Fucking hormones!’ Phoebe screamed in her mind.

“I–I… T-Thank—”

Phoebe could not finish what she was about to say because of what happened next.

The yacht just moved causing Phoebe to be out of balance. She was about to reach for the yacht's railings but Adrian held onto her first. The two were pushed at the side of the yacht, too close, face to face, and eye to eye.

And when the yacht calmed down, both of them realized that their lips were pressing onto each other.