Chapter 2: His Fiancée

Lucien Rosenhall is world-famous as the current CEO of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. After evading marriage of convenience for years, he shocked the social scenes by announcing his engagement to his older co-worker, my mother. My mother has always raised me alone as a single mother so I was very happy when she found the love of her life. I first met Lucien when he came over to our house a few months before his marriage to my mother. I was only 12 at the time but I could tell that he was a kind and trustworthy person. He married my mother when he was only 28 years old. I learnt much later when I grew up to become an adult that although their wedding was sparkly and filled with happiness, Lucien’s family was deeply dissatisfied with his choice of a partner.

Our life together as a new family was amazing and just like a fairytale dream come true. We lived in a big mansion after we moved in to live with Lucien and his family at their family estate. We spent so much time as a family going out on vacations whenever Lucien was free from work at his family’s company. Everything was perfect. Too perfect ... that it did not last.

“Your mother is at the hospital, Natalia. I’ve sent the driver to pick you up. Please come as soon as possible” Lucien, why is your voice shaking?

Less than a year into their marriage. My mother passed away suddenly due to a road accident. Just like that, my only blood relative was gone. Her small funeral was held quietly with only her close friends and Lucien’s family in attendance. As I stood in a black dress beside Lucien to greet the guests, I felt so numb from the pain that I wished that the wind would just blow me away.

“What will happen to the child? They were only married for around 10 months? Does she have other family members on her mother’s side that can take her in?.” They are whispering so loud and acting as if I’m no longer here. Mother is gone ... what will become of me now? Where will I go? How will I live? I miss my Mother ... Tears that I had been holding back streamed down my face slowly as I began to sob softly.

Then I felt a warm arm around my shoulders and in the next instant Lucien’s face was looking directly at me. Lucien has bent down to hug me tight to his chest. “We will be ok. I am here for you. Let’s continue to live together because we are a family. I love you, Natalia.” Lucien whispered and kissed my forehead softly. Those words and that kiss, saved me and my life.

--- Ten Years Later ---

I am now 22, and in my final year of university. The past ten years flew by and I have grown from a child to a young woman with a bright future ahead of me. I’ve continued living with my stepfather, Lucien, after my mother passed away. Lucien has been loving and supportive of me and the best father I could ever imagine for these past ten years. I am thankful to have him as my father and family but starting from my high school years, I started to yearn for more...

“Natalia. Please be home for dinner on time today. I have something to discuss with you”, Lucien called to tell me. He seems unusually excited. Perhaps he wants to discuss about my internship at the company’s laboratory. “Sure. I’ll be back on time. See you then!”, I replied to him in a cheerful voice. After all, I really do like to spend time with him and everything he does feels special to me. I hang up with a small smile on my lips as I look forward to having dinner with him, hearing his stories, laughing with him while watching him smile. All of those moments make my heart beat faster.