Eva's long hair fluttered slowly behind her as she walked through the boutique, her tall, well-curved figure turning heads. But her expression remained neutral.
Her fiancé, Michael, chatted amiably with her mom, who seemed to be enjoying the attention.
Her eyes were fixed on the array of gowns before her. She spared a forced smile for Michael, but her eyes lacked the sparkle that usually accompanied a genuine one.
"Eva, darling, you have to try on this one!" her mom exclaimed, holding up a lavish yet elegant gown. "It'll look stunning on you!"
Eva nodded, taking the gown from her mom. "Okay, let me try it on."
After a few minutes, she emerged from the dressing room. Michael's eyes widened in admiration.
"Wow, you look like a million bucks in that dress, baby." He walked closer to her.
"You know, I've seen you in a lot of dresses, but this one... this one makes me want to rip it off you. Slowly... very slowly," he whispered in her ear, his gaze roving over her curves.
Eva forced another smile, but couldn't help feeling a spark of annoyance at his flirting. She took a deep breath. He made her twirl to get the complete view of her in the gown.
Her mom clapped her hands together. "I knew it! You two are going to make a gorgeous couple!"
Michael's face flushed as he thanked her mother and winked at Eva. Eva turned her head away, not wanting to show her disgusted expression. Her mother began looking for another gown, giving them a little moment alone. As Eva returned to the dressing room to change, Michael followed closely behind her.
"Hey, can I help you with the zipper?" he asked, his voice low and flirtatious.
Her heart sank, her expression shocked, but she nodded politely. "Thanks."
As Michael stepped into the small dressing room with her, the air seemed to thicken with tension. His six-foot-tall frame stood close. His hands brushed against hers as he reached for the zipper, sending shivers down her spine.
"Thanks," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Michael's eyes locked onto hers, burning with intensity. He leaned in, his lips grazing her cheek in a gentle kiss. "You look stunning, Eva," he whispered, his breath sending tingles down her neck.
Eva's face grew hotter, but she felt a growing sense of discomfort. Michael's hands began to wander, his fingers tracing the curves of her body. She felt a surge of anxiety, her heart racing with apprehension.
"Michael, stop," she said politely but firmly. "Everything after marriage, okay?"
Michael's eyes sparkled with amusement, but he nodded, his hands reluctantly dropping away from her body. "Okay, okay. I can wait."
As he left the dressing room, Eva let out a sigh, her face twisted in disgust. She felt a wave of relief wash over her, grateful to be free from Michael's overly flirtatious behavior.
Her mom's voice called from outside the dressing room. "Eva, darling, how's the dress? Do you need any help?"
Eva took a deep breath, composing herself before responding. "I'm fine. Just need a minute."
As she stood there, her heart still racing from the encounter, Eva couldn't help but wonder what she had gotten herself into.
---
After packing and settling the bill, they walked out of the boutique, Michael chatting with Eva's mother about their next stop. Eva walked along with them like a toy, lost in her own deep thoughts.
Someone passed close beside her. She closed her eyes, inhaling the smell of lavender. Her eyes widened in wonder as she looked around, only to meet the gaze of a guy on a motorcycle. He wore a black jacket, his face covered with a mask. Their eyes locked for just a second before he started the bike and looked away.
---
In the heart of the city, at a luxurious resort, Eva sat confined in a lavish room, her thoughts consumed by the impending engagement. The sounds of clinking glasses, laughter, and soft music drifted from the grand ballroom, where her parents' company success party was in full swing. The engagement celebration, a carefully crafted facade, masked Eva's true emotions.
Her parents, a successful business couple, had orchestrated the union with one of their shareholders—a man Eva despised. The arrangement was a calculated move to strengthen business ties and secure the company's future. But Eva's dreams lay elsewhere. The thought of pursuing her master's in MBA in the United States, as her mother dictated, suffocated her.
As she gathered her thoughts, the door swung open and Michael entered, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. "You look stunning, Eva," he said, his voice laced with flirtation. "I must say, I'm eager to make this union official." He reached out to touch her, his hands slowly traveling from her hands to her shoulders, looking into her eyes with desire. But Eva recoiled, her voice firm. "Please, leave. I need a moment."
His ego bruised—this was the second time she'd stopped him—he departed, leaving Eva to collect her thoughts. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil within. The sounds of the party, now a distant hum, seemed to mock her. The lavish decorations, designer attire, and exquisite jewelry only highlighted the event's superficiality.
Eva's thoughts drifted to her family—her stepfather, mother, and stepsister—all of whom seemed to support this arranged marriage. Her mother's words echoed in her mind: "This is for your own good, Eva. This will secure your future." But at what cost?
As she sat, lost in thought, the festivities outside continued, oblivious to her distress. The weight of her parents' expectations threatened to suffocate her. She found it hard to summon the courage to defy her mother and forge her own path. The pressures of her privileged life threatened to silence her dreams forever.
The luxurious resort offered breathtaking views of the lake, but Eva's gaze remained inward, her heart torn between duty and desire. The evening wore on, with guests mingling, champagne flowing, and music filling the air. Eva's world, however, had narrowed to a single question: would she ever find the freedom to write her own story?
The door swung open, revealing a middle-aged woman with a smile plastered on her face.
(To Be Continued...)