Chapter 1

Leon Keith I looked at the ring and sighed. I just broke up with my girlfriend of 8 years last month because she cheated on me with one of my friends from highschool. Apparently they both already have an affair for 3 years and I never even once got suspicious that she cheated on me. I was going to propose to her on her birthday which is in 2 weeks but she told me everything and ended the relationship. I thought she was the one, I thought she's going to be my wife and the mother of my kids. I stood up straight and threw the ring to the ocean. My phone rang and I took it out of my pocket. I pressed the green button right away since it's my dad. "Hello." I answered as I made my way back to my car. "Where are you? Jack told me that you didn't come to the restaurant today." He asked in a worried tone. "I'm going there now, why?" "I just want to talk to you but I'm already on my way back home." "I'll go there then, I'll see you in 20 minutes." I said as I opened my car door and got inside. "Okay." He ended the call and I drove toward my parents house. I tried not to think about my ex anymore because I don't think it's worth it to think about her. I mean I'm still sad but I need to get over it fast. When I arrived in front of my parents house, their butlers greeted me and I gave them a polite nod before entering the house. I saw my dad sitting on the living room reading something on his iPad. "Hello son, come and sit here." He said as he put his iPad away and took off his glasses. "Is everything okay?" "Leon.. do you want a glass of smoothie?" I heard my mom asking me from the kitchen. "No, thanks." I answered as I sat down in front of my dad. "What's going on?" I asked him as I leaned my body fully to the sofa. "Are you free tomorrow?" He asked in a careful tone and that made me a little suspicious. "Why?" "Because I want you to join us for brunch tomorrow." "Brunch? Where?" "Lisa's restaurant." He said as he turned to see my mom brought 3 glasses of purple smoothies. "Why? Cody's back?" I asked because Cody, my cousin, lives in London to study and Lisa is his older sister. "No, I wanted to introduce you to my close friend, Pierce." "Uhmm okay.." I said and I turned to see my mom putting a big glass of smoothie in front of me. "Mom, you can drink it. I'll pa-" "I know that you've been drinking a lot lately, Leon." She said as she sat down beside me. She looked at me sadly and I sighed. "You lost a lot of weight too." She's not wrong. "I'm fine, mom." I said and I turned to my dad again. "What time?" "Around 10.30 tomorrow." He said and I nodded. "Okay." I said as I got up from the sofa. I'm planning to go back to my restaurant first to check some things and then I will go back to my condo. "He has a daughter and I want you to.. get to know her." My whole body froze when my dad said that. I turned to him and then turned to my mom. She gave me a light nod and I looked at them both disbelief. "I'm 26 years old and I don't need you two to arranged marriage me with someone. I just got out from a crazy relationship of 8 years and I can't just.. I can't jus-" I sighed as I sat back down on the sofa. "Leon, you should meet her first and besides we won't force you if you and her don't get along well." My dad said and I ran my hands through my hair completely confuse. "Here.. her name is Ivory Evans." My dad said as he gave me his iPad with her picture. Just by seeing the picture, I can tell that she's quite arrogant. Shiny blonde hair, red lips, long silk dress that shows a lot of skin and gold jewelries sitting beautifully on her neck. She's beautiful but not exactly my type. A woman like her will be handful, you need extra care and I don't like it. It's pretty obvious that she's the opposite of my ex-girlfriend. I like simple and independent women. I don't like when I have to worry too much towards my girlfriend because I have my own sets of problems that I need to take care of. I need someone who can stand on her own feet instead of leaning 100% to me and giving me a headache most of the time. "I don't think I will like her." I said as I give my dad's iPad back. "We won't force you but please join our brunch tomorrow." My mom said and I turned to her. "Mom.. but.." "Please.." She begged me as she held my hand. "Fine." I said and she squealed happily. She turned to my dad and he nodded. I got up from the sofa. "I'm going back to the restaurant." "Very well. Please dress nicely tomorrow, Leon." She said and I nodded. I left my parents house and got into my car. I can't believe that I'm agreeing to this. I started the car and drove out from my parent's house.