Hard of Desire

Chapter 6

"Can we go back to our parents?" I asked him a little harsher than I intended. He gave me a nod and led me back down, to our parents who are now chatting away in the living room.

My pace became quicker as I neared them. Clara noticed our arrival and stood up, bouncing towards me happily.

"Hanna" She smiled revealing her dimples, "I was about to come and search for you" She looked past me. Her eyes narrowing accusingly on Declan, "He sure kept you away for a long time. I hope he was on his best behavior" She said gently, running a hand over my back lightly.

I smiled at her politely, "You have a wonderful house, Clara" I complimented sincerely. My eyes once again danced around to greedily admire the major and minor details of the interior.

Clara exhaled a laugh, "Oh, no" She shook her head, "This is not my house. It's Declan's and he stays here alone with some maids and workers" She informed me making my smile falter a little. 

I glanced at Declan briefly, "Oh" I said, "I see" I sat down next to my mother.

As much I hate him, his taste in interior design is phenomenal. I had to admit that even I hate him.

My parents looked at me curiously a d I did my best to avoid their eyes. I would not create a scene here. Just because I promised my dad.

A maid came in and whispered something in Clara's ear and almost instantly a huge smile appeared on her face.

"The food is ready" Clara announced, clapping her hand once and rubbing it excitedly.

"Larry, can I have a word?" Declan's father gestured to follow him at my father. My father glanced at me before following Declan's father with a grim expression.

I watched them walk away until the disappeared from my line of sight. Clara and my mom literally rushed me to the dining area for dinner. Declan's followed us, remaining quiet.

What was the matter with his father? He looked very serious and my father's expression mirrored his. What's going on? A million questions formed in my mind and I bit my lip unconsciously.

"Hanna dear, please help yourself" Clara's voice broke me out from my reverie and I looked up at her, blinking.

We were already at the dining table and everyone took their seats except for me. Three pair of eyes watched my every move, curiously.

My eyes swept over the table and my stomach grumbled in hunger making my cheeks heat up. Everything that was on the table was definitely my favorites. My eyes flickered to Declan and recognized a knowing expression crossing his face.

I averted my eyes to his mother again, "Thank you, Clara" I gave her a polite smile, "But I really need to use the restroom now" I scratched the back of my neck.

"Sure" She grinned, "I'll show you" She started to straighten up from her seat but I waved her to sit back.

"That's okay. Just tell me the direction and I'll be able to find it" I reassured her.

Following her directions was easier than I anticipated. She gave it clearly and finding the restroom wasn't hard at all. After finishing my business, I walked out and passed a few rooms.

Curiosity got the best of me when I passed a door and I heard my father muffled voice. I halted my steps and took an unsure step towards the door. I raised my hand to knock but decided against it and pressed my ear against the door.

"She doesn't know yet-" I heard my father say, "She'll be safer this wa-" I assumed that was Declan's father because the man had a deep voice.

"Eavesdropping is not an attractive habit, Hanna"

My heart jumped into my throat and I whirled around, clutching my hand on my chest to watch Declan smirking at me. My cheeks flamed in embarrassment. Without a word, I turned around and started towards the dining hall.

A set of strong arms wrapped around my body and stopped me from taking another step, "You said you bring me bad luck but again, I managed to seal another deal" He said in my ear, 

"It seems like when you're by my side, luck finds me like I am a magnet" His nose skimmed the back of my neck sending tingling shivers down my spine.

"Let me rephrase that" I hissed under my breath, "I do not bring you bad luck but I sure as hell will bring you misery" I pushed myself away from roughly.

"You should really learn to keep your hands to yourself" I sneered, "Stay away from me" I warned him.

"Marry me" He proposed suddenly.

"No" I refused.

"Marry me"

"Never"

"Marry me"

"Even if you're the last man to walk on earth, I'll never marry you" I scoffed at him, walking away.

"Why?" He asked and I paused my steps to look back at him. He tilted his head, studying my face with such intensity.

"Because I love someone else" I lied without hesitating.

"You're a bad liar, Hanna" He tsked, "You couldn't even lie to save a life" He smirked down at me.

"I am not lying" I stood on my ground, now facing him completely as I struggled to keep a straight face.

His eyes flickered to mine and a hint of uncertainty crossed his features for a split second, "Then you better hide this person because when I find him, trust me it won't be pretty" He said with an arrogant smile.

"Is that a threat?" I narrowed my eyes at him, flexing my jaw. I advanced towards him, clenching my fists in anger.

"What are you going to do if it is a threat?" He smirked and I watched his eyes stray away from my face to my clenched fists, "Punch me?" He snorted, provoking me.

"Gladly" I smirked.

And before he could blink, my fist was already connected on his pretty face with a painful thud. I gritted my teeth as held in the shooting pain of my fingers and retracted my hand, ignoring the pain, and punched him again, on the same spot.

"I do not like it when people underestimate me, Declan," I said in a clear tone, grinning at his stunned face as he put his hand over the spot that I just punched.

"Hanna, what the hell you just did?" My father's voice boomed from behind me and I paled instantly. I slowly turned around in horror and there stood my father with his murderous glare and next to him, Declan's father watched me in amusement, a smile playing on his lips.

"He asked me to punch him," I said innocently, avoiding my father's accusing eyes.

"Declan, I am sorry for my daughter's stupid behavior," My father said after a moment of silence. I rolled my eyes and bit back from scoffing at him.

"That's okay, Larry" Declan gave my father a tight smile, "In fact, what she said is true. I am the one who asked her to punch me" Declan said, rubbing his jaw in a circular motion.

My father looked at me in disappointment, "Still, I am so very sorry" He said as if he is ashamed of my behavior.

Declan smiled reassuringly at my father and said something that I never wanted to hear in my entire life. Something that made me feel like someone just threw a bucket of ice-cold water over my head.

"I'll marry her next Saturday"

"No, you won't" I retorted, once again clenching my fists in anger.

"We'll make the preparations," My father said, ignoring me completely.

"DAD!" I protested, turning to stare at my dad incredulously.

"Should I slip on the engagement ring on her finger now?" Declan asked my father, patting his jeans pockets.

"Yeah, sure" My father agreed.

"I'll kill you if you come near me" I shrieked at the same time, taking a step back. My vision started to blur a little as tears filled up my eyes.

"Hanna," My father said in warning, "If you don't accept the ring and get married to Declan, I am cutting all of my ties with you. You will no longer be my daughter" He said in the coldest voice that I ever heard.

I flinched as if my father just stabbed me with a knife. It's true, isn't it? Sometimes words cut deeper than a sword, "Dad?" My voice broke and I tried so hard to fight back the tears that threaten to roll down my cheeks, "Larry..." Declan's father said disapprovingly.

My father just looked away from me. His face was cold and grim. I walked towards him and attempted to touch his arm but he moved away from as if I am a speck of dirt or something. My heart clenched in pain.

I felt hurt. I felt humiliated. I felt played.

I quickly wiped off the fallen tears and smiled sweetly, "Fine" I sauntered to Declan and held my hand out, "Let's get this over with" I said without any emotion.

I watched him pull out a red velvet ring box. I looked away, not really wanting to witness my forced engagement. I felt him gently hold my hand and slid the ring band on my finger. Then, he lifted my hand and gave me a kiss on the ring.

I pulled back my hand and looked at the pretty ring on my finger and then I glanced at Declan briefly before looking down at the ring again, "You know, now I wish that I was in Harry's place. I wish that I was the one who is dead instead of him" I said, lifting my face to look at my father.

My father looked at me with wide eyes, stunned momentarily at what I had said, and started towards me but I shook my head stopping him in his tracks. A pained expression marred my father's face. My shoulders slumped in defeat and turned around to walk away. But before I walk away, I glanced at Declan who was watching me warily. His eyes held an emotion that I couldn't read.

"I hate you" I spat, walking away in haste leaving the trio of man.

After I dramatically made a scene, dad took us home. My mother kept glancing worriedly at me all the way back as if she expected me to broke into tears. I held myself pretty well until I came home, to my room.

They will not see me break down. They will not witness me falling apart. They will not ever try to force me into something that I do not like. Because I do not belong with them anymore.

My parents tried to talk to me but I was not ready for any kind of conversation with them. I shut the door close behind me with unnecessary force with resulted in a loud bang and the door trembled a little in protest.

Soon after, I called Aishah and she is the best friend that I could ever ask for, showed up at my house in less than fifteen minutes via our secret entrance.

The window. With a ladder of course.

"Alright, enough with the sad face already" Aishah grunted taking a seat next to me on my bed, "We're going out for a party tonight" She winked at me mischievously trying to change my mood.

I made a face and let out a tired moan, "I am not exactly in the mood for a party, Aishah" I let myself fall on my back on the bed.

Aishah laughed sarcastically at me, "It's cute that you think you can say no to me" She said flicking my nose, "We're going out and we're going to dance with strangers all night long" She made some amateur dance movements with her hands.

"Not sure if that's a good idea," I said, frowning. I already got into too much trouble for a day.

Aishah glowered at me, "Hanna, you're getting married in six days and god knows if you're ever allowed to a party after that" She looked at me pointedly. "Besides, the night is still young," She said, a little over-excited, "Live a little would you?" She messed my hair a little.

"You're right" I sighed in defeat, "It's just I can't shake off what my father said just now " I mumbled sadly, my lips quivering.

Aishah rubbed my back up and down, "Honey, I am sure he didn't mean to hurt your feelings. But still, what he said is unforgivable" She said as a tear slipped from my eye.

"Declan is a jerk" I fumed in anger, "If he refused to marry me, none of these would've happened" I accused him, wiping my tear. Aishah just nodded in agreement, embracing me into a comforting hug.

"You know, if I were you, I'd marry that hunk," Aishah said suddenly, winking at me mischievously, "He looks delicious" She added, rubbing her hands together as she grinned like Cheshire cat.

I snorted, "Indeed, one's trash is another one's treasure," I said, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at her. It landed square on her face.

"I could impersonate you and marry him," She said, not giving up. She actually looked a little smug about the ridiculous idea that she just suggested.

"And how do you plan to do that?" I asked her, looking at her pointedly. Aishah had no answer for that one. She thought hard, her forefinger on her chin. Seconds later, she sighed. Probably giving up.

"Alright, let's go out and have some fun, shall we?" Aishah said, successfully changing the subject.

And that's how we got ready to hit a nightclub two towns away to wash away my misery. I wore a black spaghetti strap sequin short dress and straightened my hair roughly. I opted for the smokey eye effect and topped off the makeover with bright red lipstick.

Aishah on the other hand curled her hair and wore a red mini dress. We grabbed our fake ids and purses and called an uber. We threw our shoes first out from my window before getting down using the ladder.

This is going to be one troubled night for sure.