Cherish Love

ANNE ALEXANDRIA CHLOE's POV

We're already home but before that, we dropped by Ethan to his younger brother's school a while ago because he said that he still have some business to do there. Now that I think about it… It's been days since I have met him and since then, my brother has been telling me stories about him but I never heard stories about his parents…

"Brother..." I called my brother who's sitting beside sister Lily as we all ate our dinner together. Yes, the three of us are having a dinner and if you're wondering where are our parents right now… Well, they are always busy with their businesses so it's pretty normal for us to have a dinner without them.

"What is it, Chloe?" I heard my brother asked.

"Where are Ethan's parents?" I asked because I'm starting to get curious about him. First is because he knows how to handle my brother's attitude and lastly… He talks like a super m.a.t.u.r.e man when in fact, he's just months older than me.

"Why did you suddenly asked that?" My brother suddenly asked that made me shrugged my shoulders as I sliced the steak in my plate.

"I was just curious about him because he seems so m.a.t.u.r.e at his age..." I said before I ate my steak. To be honest, the first time I met him… I thought that he was a perverted and annoying guy but I was wrong because he acts so m.a.t.u.r.e. I actually thought that he is more m.a.t.u.r.e than my brother...

"Dylan's parents already died 3 years ago..." I heard my brother said seriously while he's slicing his steak. What?

"Really? So that's the reason why he acts so m.a.t.u.r.e…" I said. Now I understand why he acts so m.a.t.u.r.e at his age… It's because he is the eldest son and has younger siblings to take care of.

"Why? Do you want to marry him now?" My brother said that brought me back in my senses. W-what?

"Of course not!" I said that made him smiled while sister Lily chuckled. Geez... What kind of conclusion was that? Of course, I will never marry anyone else other than my Christian! We're now eating quietly once again before my brother started to speak again.

"Chloe..." My brother called that made me returned my attention to him.

"What?" I asked and saw him seriously looking at me. Why is he looking at me like that?

"Tomorrow is the day… Are you ready?" My brother asked and you can definitely hear his concern in his voice. I put down my knife and fork on the table as I took a deep breath before looking back at my brother.

"What are you talking about? Of course, I am just fine, brother…" I said before I drink my water. Ready… Am I really ready to meet him? To be honest, my answer is no… No, I'm still not ready to meet that person… I don't know why but I have a feeling that I don't really want to meet him.

"Chloe…" I heard sister Lily called me that brought back in my senses once again. Hmmm…?

"I'm sorry because we couldn't find anything against the Martinez' Heir..." Sister Lily said as she bows her head. No...

"No, you don't have to apologize to me. It's alright, sister Lily…" I said as I saw her raised her head up. Goodness… She's honestly too good to become my brother's wife.

"But what if… He's really a good person?" Sister Lily suddenly said that made me nervous.

"Whether he is a good person or not, the fact that Chloe doesn't love him will always be my only reason why I can't allow this marriage to happen." My brother sternly said that made me stopped. Brother...

"I know but what should we do, Charles? If that person is really suitable for Chloe then---" Sister Lily said but she was interrupted when brother suddenly glared at her that made her startled.

"No one is suitable for Chloe unless it's a guy that she loves the most." My brother said sternly that made my heart skip a beat.

"Brother…" I said that made him looked at me and smiled.

"We still have 5 more months to think of a way…" My brother said as he gently looks at me.

"It may be hard but you have to endure it, Chloe." My brother said that made me confused.

"What do you mean, brother?" I asked while still looking at him.

"If our parents totally approves of him then you have to cooperate with me while I'll do my very best to find a way for you to get away from this marriage…" My brother said gently but also in an authoritative voice.

"But brother---" I was about to speak once again when my brother speaks.

"Just trust me, Chloe…" My brother said while still looking at me straight in my eyes. I just nod at him before I smiled.

"I will, brother… I trust you…" I said and saw my brother smiled genuinely at me before we started to eat again. I don't know what's on my brother's mind right now but just like what brother and Ethan said… I just need to trust and rely on other people as well…

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"Is everything ready, Chloe?" I heard my mom asked. I just nod at mom as I finally wear my contact lenses. I just took a deep breath before I look at my mother's reflection in the mirror.

"Yes, mom." I said politely. We're here in my room right now and today is the day when I'm going to meet that person. I just sighed once again. For some reason, I want to run away right now but of course, I can't do that...

"Chloe… Are you mad at me?" I was back in my senses when I suddenly heard my mom's worried voice. I turned around and looked at my mom who's looking at me with so much worry right now. I just smiled at her.

"I am not, mom. Why would I?" I asked. I'm not really mad at my mom and dad… It's just that, I can't accept the fact that I really have to marry someone that I don't even love just because of a crazy family tradition...

"Because you have to marry someone you didn't love just because of my family's tradition…" My mom said as if she just read my mind. I just shook my head as I walk closer to mom and hugged her.

"It's alright, mom." I said as I hugged her. Even though, this happens… I still love my parents and I can't just hate or get mad at them because of this. This wasn't even their own choice in the first place...

"Chloe…" I heard my mom called me that made me looked at her again as she distance herself to me.

"I know that this is hard for you… After all, you still haven't experienced falling in love with someone…" My mom said. Actually, mom… I already have someone in my heart and that's also the main reason why I don't want to get married with that Martinez Heir...

"But your father is somehow right… After you two get married, you'll learn to love him sooner or later… Just like your brother and Lily." My mom said as she smiled at me as she gently tap my head.

"Mom…" I called that made my mom looked at me.

"Yes, Chloe?" Mom asked.

"Do you love dad even before you got married to him?" I asked. I honestly don't know why I suddenly asked that but mom gave me a reaction that I didn't even expect.

"W-what?" Mom asked as she startled. Why, mom? I was about to ask mom once again when someone suddenly speaks.

"Of course…" Our attention was diverted when we suddenly heard dad's voice and he was just standing there at the door of my room.

"Dad…" I said as I saw him approached us.

"Your mother loves me even before we got married… Am I right, Christine?" My dad asked mom as he wrapped his arms around my mom's waist that made mom turned to look at dad.

"Yes… Your father is right, Chloe…" Mom said as she turns to look at me that made me just nod. That's right. Why did I even asked that?

"Anyways, they're here already so let's go now…" Dad said that made mom just nod while my heart started to pound. This is it… I just took a deep breath before I followed him along the staircase and while we're walking downstairs… My dad suddenly speaks to me.

"Chloe, don't do something that can bring shame to our family." Dad said sternly that made me just nod.

"Yes, dad. I will…" I said politely as we continue to walk down the stairs until we reached the living room and saw a man and a woman who is just around my parents age and a girl who is younger than me.

"Welcome to our home, Mr. and Mrs. Martinez..." My dad greeted them as my brother and sister Lily stood up. Oh, so brother and sister Lily is the one entertaining them while my dad called us.

"Thank you for inviting us, Alexis." Mr. Martinez said to my dad that made my dad laugh.

"What are you talking about, Paolo? We're going to be in-laws soon." My dad said that made me shivered. No way… I'm sorry, dad but I won't let that happen...

"Oh, that's right. Hahaha!" Mr. Paolo Martinez said. No… I'm sorry but I don't want to marry your son.

"By the way, our son is just talking to someone on his phone but he'll definitely be right here any moment." Mrs. Martinez said. Talking to someone? Isn't this dinner is important?

"Is that so? Is it about work?" My mom asked that made Mrs. Martinez sighed.

"Yes, Christine. I'm sorry for my son's attitude just now." Mrs. Martinez said that made my mom shook her head.

"No, it's alright. You don't have to apologize, Faith." My mom said that made me took a deep breath before dad told us to sit down.

"By the way, this is our only daughter and your soon to be daughter-in-law, Paolo and Faith." My mom said gracefully to them that made me smile as I stood up and introduce myself.

"Hi. Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Martinez. I am Alexandria Ramirez. It's a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you." I said as I bow my head before I raised it up and looked at them.

"Oh my! You look even more beautiful than the picture! Isn't that right, dear?" Mrs. Faith Martinez said while still looking at me with so much admiration. Yes, I know that I'm beautiful because my parents are both beautiful and handsome but I still can't marry your son because I already have someone in my heart.

"Yes, you're definitely right, my wife." Mr. Paolo Martinez said that made me smiled before I sat down again.

"Oh, and here's my daughter… Paulina..." Mrs. Martinez said before the young girl stood up while still smiling at us.

"Hello. I am Paulina Martinez. It's nice to meet you all." This girl said that made my mom smiled.

"Oh, what a beautiful and elegant young lady…" My mom said. That's right. Paulina is beautiful and knowing mom… She might ask her one day to become one of her models for her dresses. Well, if I hadn't mentioned it before… My mom has a boutique which is also famous not only here in our country but also in other parts of the world.

"Thank you, Mrs. Ramirez." Paulina said before she sat down. They're still talking about something when I suddenly felt my phone vibrated in my skirts pocket that's why I get it and secretly take a look at it.

"Mom… Dad…" I heard someone said but I couldn't even take a look at him when I saw that Christian sent me a picture of him while his personal assistant do his make up. Oh no… My heart started to beat so fast once again.

"Oh, finally! What took you so long, son?" I heard but I still ignores it when Christian sent a message again.

Fr.: Christian

I missed you, wifey.

As simple as that made my heart jump with so much happiness.

"There's this one person who keeps on bothering me that's why I take too long. I'm sorry for taking too long, Mr. and Mrs. Ramirez." I heard that person said as I replied on Christian's message.

To: Christian

I missed you more, hubby. Good luck on your work! Don't ever dare to fall in love with one of your fans, alright? I love you.

I said before I sent it and scrolled up again to see the picture he just sent. This picture made me miss you even more, Christian…

"Oh no, it's fine." I heard my dad said. How I wished you were just here by my side...

"Oh wow… I never thought that your son looks so handsome, Faith." My mom said before my brother kicked me that made me returned my attention to him and saw him looking at me seriously. Oh no. I forgot that they're still here!

"Ah really? I'm happy to hear that…" I heard Mrs. Martinez said before I returned my attention to them and saw a guy standing in front of me while smiling and looking at me. W-who is he?

"By the way… Ramirez Family, this is my son and your daughter's soon to be husband…" Mr. Martinez said before he stood up and introduce his...son!?

"Good evening, everyone. First of all, I am so honored to have met all of you tonight and I'm so happy to finally see my fiance…" This person said while still smiling at us. Wait… I didn't expect that he is also handsome...

"I didn't know that she's more beautiful in person…" He said that made me divert my attention. I don't know why but for some reason… It makes me feel uncomfortable… Why?

"By the way, I am Shinichirou Hiroshima Martinez…" This guy said that made me stopped and returned my attention to him and this time… He is now smirking at me while still looking at me. W-what did he just say?

"It's so nice to finally meet you, Ms. Chloe Ramirez…" This person said as he extended his hand to me while I'm still looking at him. No way… Did he just say, Shinichirou Hiroshima Martinez? Is it just a coincidence or could it be that my fiance is also the person that Isaiah had told me yesterday? No way… Is he really my fiance!?