Daddy, Please Marry Mommy!
Chapter 1 - Masked Halloween
Name: Liana Ashfield
Age: 19
Identity: Heiress to the Ashfield Group and Walter Ashfield's only daughter
Hobbies: reading, painting, extreme sports
Motto: Everyone deserves a second chance
Name: Cassian King
Age: 21
Identity: CEO of King Enterprises and head of the Dragon Gang
Hobbies: working (and respectfully stalking-, I mean, looking out for his (future) wife)
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Keith Ashfield
Lia, you're spacing out.
My brother snapped me out of my daydream as I leaned off of the wall and looked right at him.
Liana Ashfield
Do you have to scare away every eligible bachelor at this party from asking me to dance?
Keith Ashfield
It's my job to look out for you, little sis.
Keith was my stepbrother, but he took being my brother very seriously.
Ever since my mother left me when I was 2 and my father remarried three years later, Keith and I have been inseparable.
We were raised together like real siblings, so I don't tend to correct anyone when they call him my brother, not my stepbrother.
But sometimes... he's a little protective.
Something that he gets from my father, somehow.
Keith Ashfield
If you see someone that you like, make sure to tell me or Dad, okay?
Oh, so that you can threaten him to go abroad indefinitely?
Liana Ashfield
Sure, I'll be sure to let you know.
Keith smiled, and even through his mask, I could see his serious gaze.
Tonight was a masquerade ball, hosted by my father's legacy, the Ashfield Group.
It was in honour of Keith's mother, who unfortunately died five years ago. Keith is still getting over it.
She was kind to me as well, not like those other stepmothers in novels and television series.
She considered me to be her daughter, and I called her Mom.
Liana Ashfield
Are you okay?
Keith Ashfield
Yes, I'm fine. As long as I keep you safe, I'm happy.
My father and brother have both experienced loss in their life, and I seem to be the only thing that they still have.
And their grip around me is tight.
Keith Ashfield
Also, you don't need to worry.
Keith Ashfield
About the raffle dance, I bribed the raffler to call out my name when you come up.
It was tradition for all the ladies to dance with a partner drawn from the raffle.
Men spent money on tickets, which were put in the raffle.
Me, being single and very much eligible, this was the one chance every year where someone could approach me without my father or brother breathing down their necks.
And every year, my brother and father bribed the raffler to call out one of their names.
Keith Ashfield
Yes. I couldn't have you dancing with someone we can't control.
Liana Ashfield
"We"? So Dad is in on this too?
Liana Ashfield
No, this isn't fair. You can't keep me from meeting other guys forever, you know.
Keith Ashfield
It's not that. We just worry about you dating someone... from this class.
That's BS. They wouldn't let me date anyone, period.
No, today is the day that I put my foot down.
Liana Ashfield
I'm going to the bathroom.
Keith Ashfield
I'll wait outside for you-
Liana Ashfield
No, you're going to weird out the other girls.
Liana Ashfield
It's just over there, I'll be back as soon as I can.
I picked up the skirts of my midnight blue gown and walked towards the bathroom corridor, only to continue straight down to the raffle room.
I walked in, and found the small box with my name on it.
I opened it up and sure enough, there were only ticket stamps with my father's and brother's name.
I walked to the bin and found the other participants who had been thrown out and picked them out one by one before replacing them back into the box.
I took all of my brother and father's tickets and threw them out instead.
I'm sorry, Keith. I'm sorry, Dad.
But your little Lia is being rebellious.
Misty Plume
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Chapter 2 - Raffle Dance
When I walked out from the corridor, I was immediately met with Keith.
Keith Ashfield
Are you okay? You were in there a while.
I huffed, suddenly feeling less guilty about what I had just done.
Liana Ashfield
I had to fix my makeup.
Liana Ashfield
Oh, the haunted house has just opened! Let's go-
Keith Ashfield
No. I can't protect you properly in the dark.
And I happen to know that my brother hates the dark.
Liana Ashfield
Come on, can't I go in there myself? I'll behave, I promise!
Keith Ashfield
The answer is no, Lia.
Before I could say anything, my father stepped onto the stage.
Walter Ashfield
Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining us today.
Walter Ashfield
As always, we start off the party by reading out the names of the ladies who have generously put themselves forward and pledged a dance to the charity.
Walter Ashfield
My own daughter has also generously pledged her first dance.
Everyone eyed me like I was the last chocolate bar on earth, and I smiled back at my father, knowing something that he didn't know.
Walter Ashfield
We shall start with my daughter, Liana.
A woman span around the box before stopping it and putting her hand in.
Pulling out a piece of paper, she smiled.
Some people, to preserve anonymity, were given the option to use a colour instead of their name.
My brother and father looked at each other, almost dumbfounded, as a man stepped forward, showing a token with a black circle on it.
I turned around and looked at my Mr Black.
The irony of it all was that he was wearing all black. Black tie, black vest, black jacket, black shoes... all but his mask, which was a vibrant gold.
My father looked positively horrified by this turn of events, and Keith immediately looked at me.
Keith Ashfield
What did you do?
Liana Ashfield
I evened the playing field.
Liana Ashfield
And made the game fair.
Keith Ashfield
Lia... what have you done?
Liana Ashfield
I've given everyone a chance. You always speak of fairness, well here is my fairness.
Liana Ashfield
Shout at me all you want, but what is done is done.
Keith Ashfield
If you wanted to dance with a guy so badly, why didn't you just ask me?
I looked at him with the "really-you-just-asked-that" face.
Liana Ashfield
Oh, Keith...
Liana Ashfield
I can't just stay your little sister forever, you know.
Keith Ashfield
T-That... that's not what this is about!
Keith Ashfield
People in this world take advantage of people like us. We need to be careful-
Liana Ashfield
It is impossible to reason with you sometimes. Don't expect me home tonight, I'm catching an Uber to Marina's.
Keith Ashfield
Liana, that-
I turned my head and saw Mr Black right behind us.
Keith Ashfield
If you were smart, you'd give up your dance.
Cassian King
I'd be dumber if I did.
He suddenly slipped his hand into mine and pulled me out of my brother's line of fire.
I was dumbfounded. This man must be the only one here who dares stand up to my father and brother.
I couldn't tell who he clearly was through the mask. It has managed to hide all of his recognisable features.
However, I was sure of something. His hand sure felt warm...
Misty Plume
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Chapter 3 - A Performance
As my mystery Mr Black stepped into the middle of the ballroom along with the other couples, I smiled and gave out a slight chuckle.
Cassian King
What seems to be so funny?
Liana Ashfield
Oh, nothing...
Liana Ashfield
No sane man would go up against my brother. It's almost paramount to business suicide.
Cassian King
Good thing that I have a mask on.
Liana Ashfield
You don't seem to be interested in me specifically.
Cassian King
Do you take offense to that?
Liana Ashfield
No, I don't.
Liana Ashfield
So, what do you need me for? And if you say that you're just doing this to get on my father's nerves...
Cassian King
No, but a commendable guess.
Cassian King
My board is at this party, and recently, they've expressed a concern.
Cassian King
They worry about how my interest in "romance" looks...
Liana Ashfield
Oh, not the romantic type, are we?
Cassian King
I have no interest in pledging myself to another human being, so you're quite right.
Liana Ashfield
So, you need someone to play the part of your dashing damsel.
Cassian King
I'm glad that fate gave me an understanding damsel.
Liana Ashfield
Well, shall you lead, fair Romeo?
He chuckled as he slipped his rough hand into mine to begin the dance.
It was a simple movement, yet electricity ran down my spine.
Cassian King
Keep your back straight, fair Juliet. They're staring.
I felt my cheeks slowly flush under my mask as we began to waltz.
I've known since I was six how to dance the waltz. I've got the steps memorised, yet I can't help but find myself distracted.
Liana Ashfield
So, do you buy dances from women at every charity ball or is this one just special?
Cassian King
No. I asked another woman once, but when I told her that I had no intention of pursuing the relationship, she threw champagne at my face.
Liana Ashfield
I'm sure that the board didn't approve of that.
Cassian King
Oh, don't worry. I made sure to get her with my car. All I needed was a conveniently placed puddle and a car at a high enough speed.
Liana Ashfield
That's evil!
I giggled, leaning into him a little more unconsciously.
Meanwhile, my brother and father were whispering curses under their breath, glaring right at my masked beau.
Keith Ashfield
He won't leave here alive.
Walter Ashfield
Find out who he is. I will end his whole darn career.
Keith Ashfield
He looks like some temp assistant for some big shot. It won't take long to dig up his name, age, and social security number.
Walter Ashfield
Look how he's making Liana smile.
Keith Ashfield
She looks so uncomfortable. We need to intervene.
Walter Ashfield
No... unfortunately, we have to let this dance slide.
Walter Ashfield
As much as it pains me.
Keith Ashfield
Right, if not, Liana will hate us.
Keith Ashfield
She's already upset about the switching slips.
Walter Ashfield
Right. Play it safe, and we'll find out who he is after the ball.
Keith Ashfield
But that guy, he won't even see it coming.
Keith Ashfield
He won't be standing as tall as he was coming into this party.
Misty Plume
Thank you for reading my book! Make sure to like if you've enjoyed the story and want more. Subscribe by tapping the heart button so you don't miss any updates. Doing that would mean a lot! Leave a comment especially! I love to read them~.
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