Chapter 9 Rebel

Alicia Davenport I stormed out of the private dining room, barely able to contain the rage bubbling inside me. My heels clicked sharply against the marble floor of the restaurant as I made my way toward the exit. The dim lighting and the soft hum of conversations around me blurred into the background. My mind was already made up. I would not marry Nicholas Andrieux. The very idea of it made my skin crawl. My parents could push, they could threaten, they could manipulate all they wanted—but I refused to be a pawn in their twisted game of business and power. Just as I stepped outside into the cool night air, a strong grip wrapped around my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. My breath hitched as I spun around, eyes flashing with irritation. Nicholas. Of course. I glared at him, my body tensing as I tried to yank my wrist away, but his grip tightened. Not enough to hurt, but enough to make a point. “What do you want?” I demanded, my voice cold as ice. Nicholas cocked his head slightly, a slow smirk forming on his lips. “You really have some guts saying all that back there.” I scoffed, yanking my arm again, but he didn’t let go. “And? What, are you offended?” He let out a sharp breath, his smirk fading. “No. I just think you’re brave. But also stupid.” My eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?” “Stupid,” he repeated, his voice calm but firm. “For thinking you can just walk away from this without consequences. You’re reckless, Alicia.” I clenched my jaw, fury rushing through me. “I’m reckless? No, Nicholas. The Andrieux family is reckless for thinking they can control me.” Nicholas’s expression hardened, his grip loosening slightly, but he didn’t let go. I exhaled sharply. “Why did you stop me?” “Because you’re making a mistake,” he said simply. I rolled my eyes. “Oh, please. This engagement is a joke. I don’t care about whatever 'benefits' it brings to the Davenport name.” Nicholas scoffed, his lips curling into a smirk. “Ah, right. Because you still think about your boyfriend—what was his name again? Damian?” My nostrils flared. “Daniel.” “Whatever.” Nicholas waved it off like it didn’t matter. “You need to start thinking smart, Alicia. Be wise about this marriage.” I laughed humorlessly. “And why do you care so much about this marriage? It’s not like you even like me.” That made him laugh. A full, loud, unbothered laugh. He shook his head, amused. “You? My type? Please.” I crossed my arms. “Exactly. I’m loud, stubborn, and annoying, right? So why are you so desperate to marry me?” His laughter faded, and his face returned to that unreadable expression I had come to despise. He studied me for a moment before exhaling. “It’s business.” I arched a brow. “Business?” “Yes,” he said matter-of-factly. “The Davenport name is powerful. It’s one of the top architectural firms in the world. My family wants a merger, and marriage ensures a long-term alliance between our businesses.” I stared at him blankly. “That’s it? You need a marriage for that? You do realize there are other ways to work together without legally tying yourself to me, right?” Nicholas shook his head, his gaze unwavering. “No. It has to be marriage.” We locked eyes. His expression was unreadable, but mine was filled with pure hatred. I hated that he thought he could dictate my life, that he thought I would fold just because it was convenient for his business. I took a deep breath before sharply yanking my wrist away. This time, he let me go. I took a step back, my voice firm. “It will never agree to this stupid marriage,” I spat. Nicholas didn’t react. He simply stood there, watching me, his face as expressionless as ever. Without waiting for his response, I stepped onto the curb and hailed the first cab that passed by. As soon as I slid into the seat, I could still feel Nicholas’s piercing gaze on me. But I didn’t look back. I was done playing by their rules. And I will not do what he says. ~~~ I stood in front of Daniel’s apartment door, my heart pounding against my ribs. The night air was cold, but I barely felt it. My mind was too clouded with anger, frustration, and heartbreak to focus on anything else. I didn’t want to go home. I couldn’t go home. Not after what my parents had done. Not after the way they had decided my future for me, ignoring my feelings as if they didn’t matter. As if I didn’t matter. Taking a shaky breath, I raised my hand and knocked. A moment passed before I heard footsteps approaching. The door creaked open, revealing Daniel. His eyes widened the moment he saw me, taking in my appearance. “Alicia?” His voice was laced with surprise. “What are you doing here? And why are you all dressed up?” I bit my lip, shifting on my feet. My dress—a fitted, elegant evening gown chosen by my mother—suddenly felt suffocating. It was a reminder of the world I was born into, the one I no longer wanted to be part of. “Can I stay here tonight?” I asked, my voice small. Daniel’s brows furrowed, but he didn’t hesitate. He stepped aside, holding the door open for me. “Come in.” I walked inside, the warmth of his apartment washing over me. It was nothing like the grand estate I had grown up in—no chandeliers, no expensive paintings, no polished marble floors. Just a small, cozy space that felt like home. Daniel closed the door behind me, then turned to face me. His expression softened when he saw my face. “Alicia, what’s wrong?” I didn’t answer. Instead, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his chest. The moment I felt his warmth, the tears I had been holding back came rushing out. Daniel hesitated for a second before he wrapped his arms around me, his hand gently patting my back. “Hey… It’s okay. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.” I shook my head against his shirt, my grip tightening. “No. Nothing will be fine, Daniel.” He pulled back slightly, looking down at me with concern. “Talk to me, Alicia.” I met his gaze, my vision blurred with tears. “Let’s run away.” Daniel stiffened. “What?” “Let’s go now,” I pleaded. “I don’t care where—anywhere but here. As long as I’m with you, I’ll be fine.” His hands moved to my shoulders, steady yet gentle. “Alicia, you’re not thinking clearly. Running away won’t fix anything.” I shook my head violently. “I can’t stay there, Daniel! My parents… They—they want me to marry Nicholas!" The words left a bitter taste in my mouth. "I hate him. I don’t want to be in the same room as him, let alone be his wife.” Daniel’s jaw tightened. He exhaled sharply, his grip on my shoulders firm. “Maybe… maybe you can talk to them. Make them understand.” I let out a humorless laugh, stepping away. “It’s no use. They’ve already made the call. The arrangements are in motion.” He watched me carefully, his lips pressed together in thought. I could tell he wanted to say something, but in the end, he sighed and simply nodded. I inhaled deeply. “Please, Daniel. Let me stay here tonight. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” Daniel hesitated, then nodded again. “Okay.” He reached out, gently caressing my hair, his touch comforting in ways I couldn’t put into words.