You're Mine

Chapter 4: Aftermath

"What's the meaning of this?" I asked, upon entering a room that I was lead on inside the hotel. One lady told me to follow her upstairs where my Dad is but when I got there, I was surprised to see him with someone that I just saw the other day.

Why is Philip here?

My mom is also here and she was entertaining other guests.

Yep, it is not an ordinary meeting. It's a party. A reception to be exact.

And I am not even prepared.

Mom walked towards me and hugged me. "HI, honey."

"Mom, what's going on?" I question, without bothering to hug her back as she slowly pulls away. My eyes are still focused on the crowd. Thanks for making me look like a rat again, you could have completed the text with a wear something nice

Three words and won't be hard to write down.

Mom leads me to Dad who is currently talking to Philip. They both seems to be too keen in a conversation.

"What's going on here, Dad?" I asked, not bothered that I interrupted their conversation. "Don't tell me you are also involved in this, Philip."

Dad gave me an amused look and smiled. "Is that how you greet your childhood best friend?"

"Yeah, it's been so long since you last seen each other." Mom chuckled. "Hello, Philip. How are you? Since when did you came back?"

Huh, isn't Philip the one who told them where to find me?

Philip smiled back at them and chuckled. "I just came back to finish some matter here but I will leave in a few weeks."

"Such a nice child, supporting his parents. This is what you should be looking for, Natalia. This is what I want you to be with for the rest of you life without fear."

I rolled my eyes. Here we go again, Dad. I crossed my arms and leaned on the post beside me. This place has no business for me so why stay here? It is better if I leave now or this thing with my parents get even worse.

The party is packed with people, business and friends together. Most of them, I don't remember at all but I'm sure they have something to do with this celebration which worries me.

"Mom, I have no business here. I want to go home."

"We are your home, Natalia. You come home with us." Dad butted in.

"Dad, you are talking nonsense. I am going home. Alone." I deepen my words and was aboht to turn when Philip grabs my hand.

"Stay for a little longer, Natalia. I want to catch up things with you." Philip says, his eyes seems to be pleading me.

But none of those will work on me. Whatever this means, or whatever this meeting stands for, it won't be good. They are just gonna keep on saying how much a failure I am to them for leaving and choosing the man that they hate over them. I groaned quietly and pushed his hand away. "Don't touch me." I muttered and crossed my arm, as if I am hugging myself away from them. "Tell me the real reason why I am here."

Dad and Mom looked at each other and sigh. It was my Dad who spoke first. "Now that we found you, Natalai, we are giving you the chance to come back to us. Your family. Let's go back and start over. You can resume your studies in Paris and we will let you continue the course you always wanted. Leave this town and come back to us."

"Then what?" my eyebrow arched.

"Then you have to marry Philip."

My eyes widen and I just jolted. "What...?!"