B E T R O T H A L

Mild breeze hit her face as she walked ahead with her confident steps. 

Eyeing around she found students cheering and laughing in absolute joy. They were enjoying their last day in the high school but she had something different going on with her mind. 

Her lips formed a straight line having the crystal clear idea that it was also her last day here. 

But rather than enjoying like others she was walking away from them. 

Still in her school uniform, skirt reaching her mid thigh and white buttoned up shirt tugging inside formally... she clenched her bag pack hanging loosely on her left shoulder before stopping her steps in front of the headmaster's cabin. 

Raising her right hand up, she lightly knocked on the door making the headmaster aware about her presence. 

"Oh Genelia?" It sounded more like a question. The lady on her early 50s raised her head up to look at her with a frown. 

While everyone in the campus were celebrating their last day in the high school, there was she who visited her alone. It was unexpected. 

Genelia entered inside the cabin, witnessing the confused look on the principal's face she inhaled. 

Reaching for her bag pack the next second, she took the application form out which she was given by the high school. 

"I wanted to talk about my scholarship Mrs.Claire!"

She spoke as Mrs.Claire nodded her head in understanding, with a small appreciating smile on her face she took the application form from her. 

"You didn't have to bother yourself by coming here dear. I would've collected your form later-..." 

She spoke as Genelia decided to cut her words off instead. 

"I am not accepting the scholarship!" She spoke gaining Mrs.Claire's eyes with no efforts.

The application form which Genelia handled her was blank. She didn't fill the form? 

Another deep frown of confusion formed on Mrs.Claire's face as she looked at her for a better view. 

Genelia was the top student of their high school. The scholarship was one of her best achievements, it was offered to her by the school itself. 

They wanted to sponsor her university studies because of her recent impressing grades. 

Mrs.Claire always praised her for her polite qualities and having the idea of her love for studies, this was something unexpected coming from her. 

"Why?" Mrs.Claire asked her as she stood their still hanging her bag on her back. 

With a small smile on her face she seemed hard to read. "I am quitting my studies!" 

Genelia replied shortly. 

Mrs.Claire looked at her dumbfounded. Coming from a bright student like her, it was something weird to hear her out. 

Genelia had a very promising future and obviously she herself has always been so loyal to her studies. So why all of a sudden she would want to quit everything? 

Mrs.Claire knew she was going a little over board to ask her about her reasons but still she decided to inspect about this matter more. 

"Is something of the matter? Are you being forced?" From that Mrs.Claire clearly was indicating her family. 

That was the only possibility otherwise knowing a student like her, she wasn't the kind to give up on her studies. 

"No!" Genelia replied short again as her expressions seemed genuine to the headmaster but that was something obviously very strange to digest the fact. 

"Then why?" Mrs.Claire had serious expressions written on her face while asking her the reason directly. 

Genelia for a mere second looked at the earth before inhaling to maintain herself.

"I am getting married!" Genelia uttered with a short sigh passing her lips then. 

Mrs.Claire's eyes lost emotions after hearing her reason. It was indeed surprising to know about that fact cause the world we live in now is modern and formalities like that have now became outdated. 

Now marriages are the second priority after career and it was hard to digest that fact. 

But she was also aware about what background Genelia belonged too. 

She wasn't any normal student like others. 

"Are you sure? We are talking about your future now and this very decision of yours will never change!" Mrs.Claire had a hint of warning in her voice with obvious concern. 

'This very decision of yours', decision comes with choices and how ironic, she got no choices in this. 

Genelia's eyes wore blankness again. She was aware about what was going to happen from now but she was also aware about the fact that this was something she cannot run from. 

Obviously not when she knew from where she belonged.

Throwing a small smile again, she seemed more fine then. "I've made my mind Mrs.Claire!"

She exclaimed before turning back to the same door she entered, she very soon walked out of it making the headmaster sigh. 

World is indeed cruel towards the real talents. 

Genelia was always the kind to speak and express less, that's what her family morals taught her to be. 

'Never let your emotions control you!' 

That was one of the reason for her to be a less social person, she walked with people serving her since childhood. She had everything before even asking once. 

A life like that maybe a luxury for others but for her it was choking her limits. 

Though she knew she was trapped but she never complained. She belonged to a world where she cannot escape and hence trying will be useless. So she simply accepted it. 

She was a straightforward and righteous person but winning over her fate was something very difficult to do. 

Sighing soon she walked out of the high school only to look at the man in all black standing with his both hands shoved inside his pockets.

Looking down he was tapping his foot on the ground with no chill, it seemed as if he was waiting. 

Wearing silence, Genelia walked towards him with her head straight. "Let's go!" 

She spoke without any expressions as his head rose up to her with wide opened eyes. Nodding his head he took care of her bag back, hanging it on his own shoulder. 

Biting his lips, he wore pin drop silence. His eyes were awkward and he took glances of her face in every short seconds to take notes of her expressions. 

He walked first towards the black Mercedes parking not too away from them and opened the backseat for her, still remaining silent.

Quietly sitting on seat she looked blank and reading her silence, it made him more concerned about his young miss. 

Soon starting the car he started driving, the air around him was indeed weird. It was not like any other usual day for either of them. 

He knew her more than anything or anyone could ever know her. Though he was aware about Genelia's state of mind even if she spoke nothing, he was also aware about the fact that he was nothing but only her body guard. 

He had no right to meddle in her business but still for the sake of the bond they both share between the two encouraged him to be a little bold.

"You did great!" 

He spoke tearing the silence. 

"That is something you always say!" Genelia replied with no expressions. True, Alvaro always had one phrase prepared for her, which he always used to boost her up. 

"I cannot help it, you are always so cool!" Alvaro said while chuckling at his own words and still driving. 

The mood lightened a bit as Genelia's lips curved into a small smile. "Am I?" 

Alvaro nodded while eyeing her from the front mirror. Soon smiling kindly. "Want me to take you somewhere to have some peace of mind?"

He proposed knowing well how messed up her mind was. Though she was never to type to show her emotions, he always had the capability to understand her with no efforts all these years. 

"You will only have 30 minutes of mine!" Genelia spoke looking out of the window making Alvaro laugh at her choice of bold words. 

"That will be enough!" 

Meanwhile 

"The fuck you mean by marriage? Mateo can you be serious, how can you call a silly child betrothal holding no meaning, a fucking marriage?" Leonardo perked up.

His right eyebrow twitched slightly in anger as he stood up at his ground.

Mateo sighed being so done with all this. "It's not me who announced it okay? Why am I to be questioned everywhere?"

Holding the glass up against his lips he sipped his whiskey with his frustrated mood.

His eyes for a mere second noted another man's expression, who was silent from the start... Alejandro! 

With his rich aura he rather looked unbothered unlike the other two men in the same space.

Leonardo sighed in irritation. 

"The one who is getting married isn't even saying anything then who are we to care?" Mateo spoke rubbing his temples.

"He isn't saying anything because he cannot digest this news okay." Leonardo exclaimed rolling his eyes, while looking at the mute Alejandro sipping his drink feeling unbothered, he sighed.

"How can my brother marry a woman, he have never even seen. Just making up excuses about his child engagement and coming at him just when he took over the business. What was grandfather even thinking?" He spoke with clear anger in his tone. 

Marriages are joke to people now a days.

"How do I know? I am just a fucking lawyer bro!" Mateo quarrelled back raising his voice taking Leonardo by surprise for a mere second.

Sighing in defeat he kicked the air after a while. True, though it was hard to admit but they all were powerless in front of their grandfather. 

Not matter how dangerous they all were, they were bound to pay respect to the head of the mafia. 

"I literally peed my pants by the amount of glares grandfather was sending me." Mateo confessed looking at Alejandro with his helpless expression, while he still remained carefree by the two men talking about such a big thing related to him.

It was as if the topic of marriage meant nothing for him. 

Leonardo dropped his body on the couch again before sighing heavily. "Thank god I refused to be the part of this crazy mafia shit. Otherwise that old man would've played me too!" 

Mateo nodded quietly. 

Leonardo was the eldest son of the mafia, he was said to be the first heir but at the very time of taking over the throne he backed off wisely.

All the politics going on in their business was something he wanted to avoid and that's what he did. 

Hence all the business fell in the hands of the second heir, the underboss of their mafia. 'Alejandro Garcia!' 

As for Mateo, he was the adopted son by their grandfather hence sharing no blood relation with them, he rather chose to handle the legal authorities of the mafia than ruling. 

"I don't think grandfather was playing around. He never takes back his said words." Leonardo exclaimed. 

Mateo sighed again. "He gave his words to Fernandez's. It was even before their child was born. Both Alejandro and their daughter were betrothed when she was still in the womb." 

Leonardo nodded in understanding. "That is what so crazy about it. After all these years of hide and seek Fernandez's finally wants to reveal their daughter to us and grandfather is declaring the marriage out of nowhere. Isn't it insane?" 

Alejandro still gulped his alcohol quietly without any care but his ears were actively taking in all the chattings. 

His mind was such a manifestation. 

Unlike Leonardo, who declined to rule. Alejandro was someone who wanted the throne and was willing become the mafia leader.

He held every potential qualities to rule and he proved it too but yet marriage was something which was like an agreement to secure his position. 

It was something important to do sooner or later, he knew he had to do such thing for the sake of his position in the mafia.

Mainly to appease his grandfather. 

First he chased after him for the position, now he wants him to get married, then again tomorrow he will bother him for a heir... 

the demands of this throne are never ending.

But here they weren't talking about any normal marriage, it was a marriage to uphold the promise which was made decades ago. 

Who would have fucking thought that a 7 year old kid caressing a big swollen womb of a pregnant woman actually betrothed with it. 

This was insane. 

He was going to marry a girl whom he have never seen, whose existence was such a big mystery to him. 

"What is her name?"