Chapter 1
1867 Words
Charlotte Pov :
-- 2 Weeks ago –
"Are you sure is it okay for me to come to your mother's party? I mean... Isn't it a family party, private?" Landon asked me for the hundredth time about coming to my house and meeting my family.
As I shook my head as I smiled, it was funny when I saw his worried face.
I met him when I was in Paris last year in my second year of college; he was on a business trip when we met in some coffee shop. It was my last year in my design interior class and I came back to Italy because today is my mother's birthday and Vincent, my brother told me about the party that my father held for her.
Sometime I like when I saw my parents love toward each other, we could see it clearly just only from their eyes and I want that kind of love for myself.
I want someone to do everything like what my father done for my mother.
I saw the big gates and knew that my parents' mansion is nearby.
I miss them; Being away from them for school in Paris for almost 2 and half years leaves a big impact, but it makes me more independent since I start living on my own and my family couldn't interrupt my life there.
"Your house is huge, this is mansion" Landon frown when the gates open automatically, I look out to the window with a smile to the guards before continue to drive inside.
I look up to the house in front of me when we're getting closer "My father give my mother everything, he even built this special mansion just for her" I told Landon about the house and how I wish someone would do that for me in the future.
I heard no reply but only a hard breath.
We stop our car and I notice there already so many cars which mean everyone here then.
I walk out to see Benji, my father's right hand, walking in our direction with smile on his face and then raised his eyebrows when he saw Landon walk out from my car before standing beside me.
"Uncle Benji...." I yelled his name and he quickly picked me up then hugged me like he always does.
He laugh before kissed both of my cheek "It's good to see you, Princess" He said and call me with my nickname that everyone give me because I am my father's princess, the baby girl who needed protection and I can't help myself but sigh loudly.
He put me down then put his arm around my shoulder "It's nice to be home" I smile and then stop when I realized his gaze land to Landon who stood nervously beside me.
He raised his eyebrows in questioning before meet my gaze to seek answers.
"Uncle" I grab Landon's hand to pull him closer "Meet Landon Black, my boyfriend. Landon, this old man is uncle Benjamin" I introduce them with a smile hoping that he didn't mad or said anything bad toward Landon.
I saw Landon smiled then gave him his hand but uncle Benji just stood there without shakes Landon awaiting hand.
"Boyfriend?" He asked instead.
I smiled and nodded "Yep..." I replied proudly.
He shook his head "Your father will be mad, Princess" He warned.
I groaned "Not you too"
Uncle Benji chuckle and shook his head a little when he saw my reaction, we all know how protective my father and Vincent about me, even his guards and men all the same.
I know bringing Landon here will make a bomb explode, but I am almost 20 years old now, it is time for me to act like a woman without my family's protection and make my own decisions.
Right?
"Just come in then, I hope that with Eowyn's birthday today it could make your father forget about the boyfriend thing" He said and lead the way without giving a second glance at Landon.
I turn my head and give Landon an apologetic smile "Sorry about him, he just... err, overprotective like the others'" I told Landon who just nod and smiled before we followed uncle Benji inside the house.
One down, more to go.
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"What were you thinking by bringing him here?" Vincent dragged me roughly away from Landon the moment I meet him inside the mansion without greet my boyfriend who stood beside me "You know that father will mad, right?" He hissed in anger.
I pulled my hand away from his grasp "What's wrong with him? He is my boyfriend, Vin" I said in irritation, mad by his actions for being rude to Landon.
He scoffed and crossed his arms "You're still young to have a boyfriend, you know nothing about him!" He said firmly and I had enough.
"And you do?"I snap with a roll eyes in annoy "Oh yeah, with those different models on your bed, I bet you know, right?" I replied sarcastically and getting angrier by the minute I spend more for talk with him. I know that my family will be mad to me bringing man, but I'm still hope that they'll understand when they see how deep in love I am with him and how happy I am, but I were wrong "Please Vincent, I am 20 not 8" I remind him in hope for him to finally get it through his thick head and quickly turning around, leaving my stupid brother before he has another word that will make me want to hit his head.
The party is going smooth without any more drama and I can't say how relieved I am because, like Benji said, my father seem doesn't realize that Landon is here with me.
Thank God...
My mother smiled and then winked when she noticed Landon standing beside me, I know she'll approve of everything I do.
I love my mother...
No drama anymore that night until we decide to go back home.
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When I arrived in the parking lane, I know Landon is mad at me for not telling my father about him.
So I turn my gaze from the window to see his expression "Landon?" I called before jump in surprise when he slammed the car door after walk out of the car in anger.
Quickly I follow him by jump out of the car then run to stop him from walking further. I grab his hand to see he's more than angry but also disappointed.
"I am sorry" I whisper and put my head on his chest then hugged him so he can't go anymore.
I know I didn't come toward my parents to introduced him, because when I saw my fathers eyes glare in anger toward the man beside me when he saw me coming with him, I quickly spun around to leave instead of face him and tell him about our relationship like we planned before, instead of faced him, I ran.
"I am disappoint to you" He shouted loudly that made me gasp in shock when I hear him raise his voice with angry expression.
Is it Landon?
He never raise his tone toward me, who is this man? I thought but quickly shook my head and told myself that he's just disappoint in me and sure angry but it will be fine.
"No, Landon..." I try to explain and touch his cheek but he slapped my hand harshly that shocked me and I'm stunned in surprise for the second time today.
Who is this man?
My hand hurts from his hit and my heart is beating really fast for the fear I felt toward the man I called boyfriend. This is the first time someone done something like that to me, hitting me, because my scary father even though he's rough man, he never raise his tone when he speak to me or even hit me.
"I thought you were going to take the chance to tell them about us" He start speaking and I was just looking at his angry face silently in fear "but no... You're afraid and running away like the coward you are" I gasped loudly because it was the first time he spoke like that to me, and the fact that he never raised his voice with me shock me.
Tears fall on my cheek when I started sob to cry.
"I am sorry, I know I'm a coward" I whisper softly.
I heard Landon sigh before wrapped his arms around me "No, I am sorry" he said softly and kiss my hair "I'm just sad because you're acting like I am no one, like you don't love me"
I raise my head and shook it quickly.
"No, you know I love you, Landon" I assured him.
He smiled and peck my nose "I need proof baby" He told me and I frowned.
Proof?
"Don't worry, I'll speak to my father about us tomorrow" I said and he finally give me his breathtaking smile.
I just hope that my father won't kill me tomorrow.
****************
"You're what?!" I flinched when I saw my father anger point at me.
After a long courageous and a very deep breath, finally I had the guts to speak with him. But like I thought, he wasn't pleased with what he heard.
We were sitting on the gazebo in the back in front of the garden where my mother plants her flowers.
"Father, I love him. Please understand" I plead and put my puppy eyes that I know will affect him. I saw Vincent scoffed, he knows what I am doing.
I saw my mother coming with tea in her hands and I am glad to see her here.
She put the tea in the table before take a seat beside my father and I saw the old man quickly take her hand and kiss it, but his eyes still locked on me with anger.
"Honey" I turn my head to my mother when she start speaking "We just afraid and worried about you, because you only known Mr. Black for a year" I sighed, please not her too.
"But mother" I try to argue her "you knew father for how long... a day? Week? When you knew that you're in love with him?" I said stubbornly and trying to show them points from my side.
"You're still young" Vin hissed and I glared at him.
"I'm almost 20" I yelled at them and get up from my seat and turned around to leave.
But when I start walking, not two steps later "Charlotte" I stopped when I heard my father call my name. Without turned my body around, I stood and waited for his word.
"Remember this, Princess" He speak and I didn't realize that I was holding my breath, waiting for his next word "We won't approved him" I released a long, hard breathe before closed my eyes and leave without another word for them.
I know I am lost.
I need to do something if I want to achieve my own happiness.
But I know there's only one way.
Eloping...
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- Writer
