The Billionaire's Chosen Bride

Chapter 5

"Mom," Charles approached his mother and hugged her. She smiled at him and said,

"Charles, you haven't answered my question yet. I was waiting for you to return home so we could have dinner together as a family."

"Good evening, Mom," Charles greeted her, hugging her shoulder as they walked toward the dining room.

He replied, "She's the one, Mom, and she's very pretty too."

"Hmm," First Lady Kira smiled, watching as Charles pulled out a chair for her to sit down. She sat elegantly in the first chair and continued to watch her handsome son. Charles sat in the chair beside her on the right.

He said, "Mom, she's the one, and she's very cute. Where did you find her photo? I really like her."

"Mm," First Lady Kira smiled as the maids came out of the kitchen to serve dinner to her and Charles.

They served the delicious meals, as President Nolan Alejandro was away at a presidential meeting.

First Lady Kira replied, "Your father mentioned to some of his cabinet members that he was looking for a bride for you, to see if any of them had pretty daughters you might like."

"Hmm, thanks, Mom. I really do like Nancy, but..." Charles's words trailed off as he remembered how Nancy had run away from him.

His mother asked, "But what, Charles?"

First Lady Kira frowned, watching her only son act nervously. She waited for the maids to finish serving and leave, before asking again, "Charles, do you want us to cancel the wedding? It's in two days, and you can't embarrass your father and me in front of our prominent guests."

"I know, Mom, but the truth is Nancy ran away from me when I went to welcome her home," Charles said, shaking his head in embarrassment. However remembering how Nancy had run away, but also how her hips had swayed seductively.

Charles smiled, unaware that his mother was still staring at him angrily, not finding his revelation amusing.

"Charles, how dare Nancy run away from you? We need to cancel the wedding right now. Didn't her parents inform her she was going to marry you?" she exclaimed.

"No, Mother. You can't call off the wedding," Charles insisted, and his mother's jaw dropped as she looked at her son, who had fallen for a reluctant bride.

"Don't tell me you still want to marry a woman who doesn't love you, Charles. I can't allow that," First Lady Kira added.

"I know, Mother, but you and Father have always wanted me to marry, and now I can't change my choice. I understand Nancy's fears. She's marrying the president's son, so she has to be scared," Charles said, smiling sadly.

His mother shook her head. "No, Charles. She's supposed to be happy with you, and glad you've chosen her. Any other woman would be thrilled to become your wife, showering you with love. How dare Nancy run away from you, and you took it lightly with her family? Where's my phone? I need to have her arrested," she said.

"No, Mother!" Charles exclaimed, startling her. "You can't do that. If I don't marry Nancy, then I won't marry anyone else."

"What?" Mrs. Kira Alejandro was speechless, staring at her son in shock.

"No, Charles. This isn't happening. I'll find another bride for you. There are many other pretty ladies out there," she said.

"No, Mother. I want Nancy. I really do want to feel her love, her warmth, and I believe that with time she'll love me too," Charles responded. "Just give Nancy some time, Mom. I'm truly in love now," he smiled, surprising his mother even more. "Let's have our dinner before it gets cold," he said.

"Okay, son," First Lady Kira subtly blamed herself for choosing Nancy's photo first. She had seen many pretty young women, as every family wanted their daughter to marry her son. Despite the ridicule and online gossip about her family, it didn't deter them from sending photos to her assistant.

She had selected Nancy's photo first, knowing Charles wouldn't have time to go through all the photos. Now she blamed herself, wishing she hadn't picked Nancy's photo. How dare the young lady reject her son, the most handsome and successful young man in the city? "If it weren't for Charles's reputation, what would give Nancy the right to reject him?" she thought.

"Mom, is everything alright?" Charles asked.

"Yes, Charles," First Lady Kira replied, planning to have her assistant monitor Nancy. She wouldn't let Nancy run away from Charles under her watch.

"I need to do a background check on Nancy to see if she has a secret lover," she thought. But Charles didn't ask her what was wrong as they continued eating in silence.

After dinner, Charles stood up first and prepared to go upstairs to his bedroom. "Good night, Mom," he said.

"Good night, Charles," First Lady Kira replied. Charles leaned in to kiss her cheek before heading to the stairs.

Charles decided to use the stairs to clear his mind, thinking about Nancy, and why she had run away.

He entered his sitting room and walked to his bedroom. Once inside, he picked up Nancy's photo from the headboard.

He kissed her photo on the lips he admired most. "So pink and lovely. I can't wait to have you as my wife and kiss you every day," he said.

Charles smiled, kissing Nancy's photo again, his whole body yearning for her.

"But why did she run away from me? Am I ugly?" Charles frowned, examining his face in the mirror. He had short black hair on his head, and neatly shaped beards, as a tall, handsome black man.

"Maybe she doesn't like guys with beards. But she's so beautiful, I can't reject her. Maybe she has a boyfriend?" he wondered.

Charles frowned, thinking about Nancy having a boyfriend, the reason she ran away. "Nonsense! Is her boyfriend better looking than me? I can't reject her, and Mother shouldn't hurt her," he said.

Charles picked up his phone and called Stevo Brights, his trusted head of security.

"Hello, Stevo," Charles said coldly.

"Hello, boss. Good evening," Stevo replied from the security house in the villa.

"I want you to hire trained personnel to monitor my chosen bride. I'll send her details shortly. Find out what she does, who she calls, and speaks with daily. Is that understood?"

"Yes, boss."

"Anything else?" Stevo asked.

"No, that's all," Charles replied, ending the call.

Charles sighed, looking at Nancy's photo in his hand. "I can't wait to have you as my bride. In two days, you'll be in my bed," he said. "I just hope she doesn't leave before then."