CHAPTER 167. THE MYSTERY OF THE GHOST FIANCE

"It is just crazy. Your mother got infatuated by your betrothed's beauty when he was and took it upon herself to make sure that you would marry him at whatever . All the years, she kept a close watch on that small boy, and she was even the one established that betrothal in one of our gatherings. You both were not there to the formation of the agreement and how we were both happy with her crazy . And all along, she would still tell me that that man was the best suitor for you. In last words, she said:”

‘There can never be a gentle, noble, caring, and loving gentleman who would look my daughter and love her the way she deserves more than him. He is the right for my daughter, and you, my husband, will see to it that they get married. This my last wish: that he becomes my daughter's happiness and that he will be the one look after our daughter once we are no longer there. For in his arms, she will be ’.

“And so, I have a wish for a precious person to fulfill, which I promised I would do."

Disbelief is breaking me. My mother had so much faith in a guy to entrust the life of precious daughter to him. I mean, how? How could my mother have fallen in love my behalf? Just who is this ghost man who my mother held in so much esteem and to the point of making such a wish? Is he like my Damian? Well, forgive me for , but I doubt any man in the whole world would make me feel what Damian me feel.

"Where has this man been all my life, Papa?” I ask, realizing that it is high time I everything there was to know about this ghost and this agreement. We need to this. “I mean, I never got to meet him even once, despite all the countless I bumped into the Riccafortes." I query.

Is he from the underworld? Another planet? No, right? He is a Riccaforte—our partners and friends. So why has he always been missing? Why have we been introduced? Well, it is not like I really wanted to meet him. But, not even coincidence, did we meet? Not even once?

"You never wanted anything to do with him from the start, and I understand why. You to meet on your twentieth birthday, which never happened. Well, he is just as as you, and weirdly, you both share the same grounds on this. He never this, and he never wanted to be part of their family business, which is why he attended any of the business meetings. He wanted something of his own, and he achieved it. He is doing super well on his own. He may not know, but his speak so highly of him despite their initial take on his decision.”

Okay, okay, okay! This is all so mind-clogging. He seems like someone who knows he really wants. Someone who would do anything to fight for what he believes and what he wants. And if he never liked this, and if we share the same grounds on , I suppose we can do something about it, right?

“But now you understand why I am still pushing you to this even now, right?” Father again, drawing my attention to him once again: “This is no longer about me or company. It isn't about bolstering the bond between the Riccafords and the

Riccafortes anymore. We both can separately stand on our feet even without each ’s support. I want to fulfill your mother's wish, and only then can I be at peace. I to do this, my child," the father pleads.

"I perfectly understand, Papa, and I want to help you do that. I am sorry if I resisted all my life. I just didn’t know how deep it was. What do I need to do? Will the

Riccafoertes even want to see me after everything I did? I bet my name suffocates ," I state, and he chuckles it off with a faint grin.

"We can find that out. Let us see who dares to reject my daughter."

Huh? What? "Are you sure, Dad? I wouldn’t want anybody disrespecting you either.

Not even them,” I say.

“Don’t worry about it. They won't. Not even that son of theirs will refuse this time ,” he says with so much certainty.

Ookay. I guess there is nothing left at this point. It is time. “So, when can I meet him, ... brother?" I ask, trailing off.

I never knew a day like this would ever come. A moment when I will be the one to to meet that man—the one I loathed the most all my life until now. What my saw in him is urging me to meet him, and so here I am, almost down on my , asking for a chance to meet him. I am even thrilled to meet him, weirdly.

"Should I go ask for forgiveness from them first?" I implore, but my father chuckles, his head to disagree.

"Come on! I didn’t make you beg me, so why would I let anyone else humiliate you bowing to them, huh? It is my precious, priceless jewel they want after all, so they to come to us."

Wow! If there was any time I felt my father's pride in me, it was now. And if there any given moment I was on the moon for being the daughter of my father, for a Riccaford, it was this particular moment. I am priceless, and he says it with so pride.

"Okay. So, how do we do this? And when?" I query.

"Tomorrow. Over dinner. I will have everything taken care of."

Wait...wait! What? Tomorrow? As in, tomorrow! I thought he would propose next . Or next week, but one. But tomorrow?! I don’t think this is right again.

"That fast? I mean, will they accept the invitation on such short notice?" I query.