"Mom ..., I miss you so much," Keira whispered in a hoarse voice that could make anyone who heard her, feeling how deep her longing was, piercing her heart.

Her full name is Keira Annele Martin. In short ... Keira, as she's usually called. The beautiful girl with a slightly wavy waist-length honey-brown hair was currently in her father's working room, as a temporary substitute.

She was still quite young, twenty-four years old to be exact. However ... she was already very reliable, especially when it came to helping her father with his work, while he had to rest, due to his health issue.

"Time doesn't seem to have passed so quickly," Keira whispered again while including a faint smile on her luscious lips.

She was sitting with her body slightly leaning towards the table, her hands resting there, letting her beautiful hazel eyes glaze over, gazing longingly at the smiling figure of her mother, looking back at her in a beautifully framed photograph in her hand.

The beautiful girl's delicate fingers gently rubbed her mother's face, which was the point of her longing.

"It's been five years since you left me. I hope that God will give you the best place to be. I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to visit you. I've been too busy lately, helping Dad manage the company."

The trembling lips stretched, returning the smile that had been so bitterly portrayed.

In her heart, she hoped that all her talks and sincere hopes could be heard by the mother whom God had taken with Him to the most beautiful place five years ago.

Tears of pain mixed with sorrow, longing and regret never ceased to escape from her beautiful eyes. The longing pierced her heart in every second and breath of her life since five years ago.

Grief and regret accompany the passionate longing. She never knew about her mother's health condition until her mom passed away in a hospital.

Her mother passed away due chronic heart disease. And the disease had already reached the worst level, until finally she could not be saved.

The regret Keira feels, every second of it is slowly killing her from the inside. The mother's hope to hide the pain from her daughter, so as not to worry Keira, became a sharp sword at the end of her story. Giving her a deep regret.

If only ... Keira could turn back time. She chose to suffer, accompanying her mother against the malignant disease that was eating away her health every moment. Perhaps, the regret would not have been this deep. Although in the end, she would still lose, but at least she had accompanied her mother to fight.

Everything had already happened. With a heavy heart, Keira had to let her mother go, even though the feelings of regret and longing always tormented her.

"Miss, may I come in?"

The sound of a knock on the door, accompanied by a resounding greeting, managed to disperse Keira's attention.

Keira was taken aback. The girl blinked, returning to her stifling world from the reverie that had swept her away in sorrow.

Keira wiped away the remaining tears. She took a deep breath, then let it out slowly as she willed herself to regain her composure.

Slowly and lovingly, she placed the picture frame she was still holding back onto her father's desk.

Then she looked up, staring at the door that loomed ahead. "Come on in!" She commanded after successfully taking charge of the overwhelming feeling.

A beautiful woman. Smooth, pale white skin clad in a neat work suit entered her room with a confident stride and a friendly smile.

She was Alyn. The secretary of Mr. Nickolas - Keira's father, who had been working at her father's company for three years.

Keira was already quite close to Alyn, although their meeting was still quite short.

"Hey! Your father just called me. He said you should hurry home!" Alyn screeched, a little irritably.

The friendly smile she had been wearing turned into a rictus smile as she finished her sentence.

Alyn and Keira's relationship did not look rigid and formal like a boss and an employee, but rather, more like friends of the same age, even though Alyn was four years older than her, instead have same age as Laura Leanne Martin - Keira's sister, twenty-eight years old.

Keira and Alyn would use informal language with each other, when they felt no other workers were watching, in order to break down the awkwardness and make Keira feel more comfortable around Alyn.

"Why?" Keira asked innocently.

"He said that someone is waiting for you at home." Alyn let out an exasperated breath as she folded her arms across her chest. "You still don't feel rich enough, do you? Always like to meditate in the office," she added.

Keira gave a small chuckle. "Sure, it's my dad who's rich, not me! But why he didn't just call me?"

Alyn rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, hence, you're being set up with a rich man," she muttered almost inaudibly.

"What does that mean?"

Alyn gasped. "Huh? Ahh, no." She smiled awkwardly as she waved both hands at Keira, not expecting the girl to hear her mumbling. "Mr. Nick has been trying to contact you for a while now, but he said he couldn't get an answer from you. That's why he called me."

Keira reached for her phone on the desk, after staring at Alyn for a moment in wonder. Seconds later, her eyes suddenly rounded perfectly, as she turned on the flat object she had grabbed and found nine missed voice calls from her father.

"Ahh, I left my phone on silent mode." Keira looked back at Alyn as she scratched the nape of her neck, which was not itchy at all, while showing an awkward smile.

"Ck."

Keira didn't want to waste much time. The girl shuffled, got up from her seat and began to organize - tidying up the files that were still scattered on her desk immediately.

"Then I have to go home now." She picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "I'll go first. See you tomorrow."

Keira gave Alyn a quick wave, after which she hurriedly left.

"Be careful on the road!" Alyn shouted as she stared at Keira's figure that slowly disappeared from her sight.

"Yes!" Keira replied with an equally loud chant.

***

Twenty minutes passed. Keira finally arrived at her doorstep feeling both curious and nervous.

Considering that her father was not in good health, of course the number of unanswered calls and Alyn's calls to come home quickly made her worry, a lot.

"I'm home ...!" exclaimed Keira as she opened the main door, entering her house. Changing her footwear first, then walking in a hurry.

"Oh, Kei... you're home sweetheart," greeted Nick, who was the first to notice Keira's presence in the living room.

Keira stopped her steps as she looked up, turning her head in the direction where her father's voice had come from. She was taken aback by the nervousness that ran through her chest when she saw that it wasn't just her father and Laura - her sister, who were there.

She was stunned, transfixed by the three strangers sitting comfortably on the circular sofa, their attention directed towards her.

Laura, realizing that, immediately got up from her seat and walked over to Keira. "This is my sister, Keira ...."

Laura explained as she took Keira's shoulder into her equally petite arms, making Keira gasp at the sudden touch.

Keira looked up at her sister who was smiling at her father and the stranger in front of her. For the first time in a long time, she finally heard the call 'sister' come out of Laura's mouth.

Her relationship with Laura was not normal, like any other sister. To be more precise, Laura hated and did not want Keira's existence at all since the beginning of her beautiful sister's presence in the family.

Keira, who was swept away and moved by Laura's title of sister, didn't realize that Laura had dragged her closer, facing her father and the three strangers who were there.

A simple title like that could stun Keira as long as Laura gave it to her. That one word was like a miracle that giving butterflies effect in her stomach.

"Hello Keira. Nice to meet you," greeted a middle-aged woman whose name was unknown.

Keira gasped and her attention was gathered again. She woke up from the daydream that had momentarily taken her.

She turned her head slowly towards the middle-aged woman who was staring at her while spreading a warm smile of welcome etched on her thin lips.

"Ahh yes ... Hello. My name is Keira. Nice to meet you too ma'am," she replied with a smile and a brief bow.

The middle-aged woman smiled back. "Ah ... how sweet. Come sit beside me," she ordered as she patted the empty seat beside her.

Keira turned a surprised look toward her father, simply asking for approval. Of course, her father agreed with a brief nod of his head.

Laura, who still had Keira in her arms, hurriedly let go and stepped over, taking her place next to her father.

Keira looked back at the middle-aged woman who had greeted her with a feeling of nervousness and confusion that filled her chest cavity and mind. She took a step and seated herself right next to the middle-aged woman.

Keira's gaze was downcast. Fighting off the awkwardness and nervousness that instantly piled up.

Keira gasped when she felt the touch of the middle-aged woman's hand that suddenly put her arm around her shoulder slowly and gently.

"Keira, I'am Diandra." The middle-aged woman briefly turned to her right side, where there sat a middle-aged man who looked about Nick's age. "And this is my husband, Dean."

Keira turned her head as she briefly bowed halfway as a sign of respect. "Yes, hello Mrs. Diandra and Mr. Dean. It's an honor to meet you."

The middle-aged woman turned her head back briefly as she fixed a bright smile while looking at the handsome but cold young man sitting next to her husband "And next to my husband, that's Sean. My son and also ... your future husband."

Tbc ....

With a friendly smile still on her lips, Keira also turned her head, focusing her attention on the young man Diandra had introduced her to.

The beautiful girl did not forget to give a brief bow. "Ah, hel-"

However, the moment reality managed to hit her consciousness hard, Keira hurriedly stopped the greeting. The beautiful girl was stunned with eyes that were bulging, perfectly rounded.

Keira swallowed with difficulty, then turned to Diandra, showing a confused and surprised look on her face.

Keira's eyes were trembling. Her head occasionally turned towards the handsome man named Sean, whom Diandra had introduced earlier and found the man's expression so flat, inversely proportional to hers.

"Wa-wait... didn't I hear wrong? Mrs. Diandra said wa-what earlier?" Stammering, Keira asked, wanting to make sure.

The reality that hit her hard made Keira realize that Diandra had just made a statement that she had never thought of before.

'Future husband? Seriously.'

While Keira was shocked beyond belief, Sean merely snorted haughtily with one corner of his lips turned up sharply, showing a evil smirk, after he saw Keira's expression.

Not getting an answer, while her heart was already raging with uncertain feelings, Keira turned quickly to her father with a fixed gaze, hoping for an explanation as soon as possible.

Nick cleared his throat hesitantly. "You didn't hear wrong, Honey. What Mrs. Diandra said is true." He gave Sean a quick glance with a smile. "Sean is your future husband. You and Sean are getting married in a month."

A thunderclap struck Keira's heart, making it stop working for a moment. Her mind was in turmoil, trying to digest the news that had just buzzed into her ears.

One statement that she had only heard before, she could not accept, her father added another shocking statement.

Tightness and upset instantly dominated, running through Keira's chest.

Keira was stunned. The beautiful girl with beautiful beady eyes stared at her father who was still staring at her with a sad, wistful gaze.

There was a clear, glimmer of hope, shining down on her. Hope that she would accept this arranged marriage immediately.

Keira turned her head hesitantly, intending to stare even briefly at the man who now held the status of her future husband.

Sean Anderson, a handsome man with a tall, slender, fair-skinned body, seemed so calm and even indifferent, in contrast to Keira's state of shock after hearing the news of her sudden arranged marriage.

Sean's handsome face did not show any expression at all, as if nothing big was happening there. Not even a single sentence or word or letter came out of his mouth, even his attention was focused on the cell phone screen that was lit up in his hand, on his lap.

Keira's palms were clenched tightly, squeezing the hem of the work skirt that was still wrapped around her beautiful body. Her body temperature was heating up, and even the blood flowing through her body was churning, boiling over the head that was beginning to throb painfully.

Of course Keira felt angry, annoyed and irritated to see Sean so indifferent, while something shocking was happening there.

Not wanting those feelings to intensify as she continued to stare at Sean, Keira looked back at her father. "Dad ... are you serious? I mean ... we just met. I don't know him, and vice versa, and you're asking me to marry him? You're joking, right?"

The anger and disappointment that had been building up could no longer be avoided, until the words that seemed so dismissive managed to be uttered by Keira at the end of the sentence.

"Keira darling ... your marriage to Sean wasn't all that sudden. We planned this wedding before your mother passed away." Dean interrupted, finally speaking up after feeling the atmosphere in the living room that his family and Nick's family were in, heating up a bit.

The frantic Keira, lost in the anger that was still choking her chest over the rejection of the arranged marriage, suddenly shifted her attention. She looked at Dean with a smoldering look in her eyes. Meanwhile, Dean looked at Keira with soft, soothing eyes.

However, that did not necessarily make Keira melt away. The tug of her hand on the hem of her skirt grew tighter. The beautiful girl poured out her anger there, not intending to contain it in the slightest.

"But why should I? I still have an older sister who's also unmarried. I can't possibly step over her, right? Why do I have to agree and get married first?" snapped Keira, throwing her refusal out loud.

"Enough, Kei. Don't you think you're going too far?!" screeched Laura, who finally spoke up.

Laura seemed to be angry, hearing Keira make a statement that sounded like she was cornering her. She looked at Keira who turned to her with a sharp gaze.

Laura's breathing was ragged, making her chest rise and fall with a rapid and heavy tempo.

At that moment, Keira and Laura's gazes met. The beautiful hazel eyes of both of them looked so sharp, portraying the emotions of each other.

Not wanting to stay silent, Laura finally chose to get up from her seat, running up the stairs to her room on the second floor with sudden sobs accompanying her.

Everyone's attention was focused on Laura's figure as she began to move away from view, until her figure was completely invisible, swallowed by the distance and blocked by the partition wall.

"Laura!" screeched Keira, expecting Laura to stop her steps at once, but that hope was dashed, as her emotionally-charged sister ignored her call.

Keira began to creep, preparing to move from her seat to catch up with Laura. However, her movement was halted by Diandra's hand, which quickly grasped her wrist tightly.

She turned lazily with a sharp look in her eyes, full of anger that was ready to strike. Not caring that the action she took seemed disrespectful, Keira did not hesitate to show her dislike for the matchmaking news she had just received to Diandra.

Seeing Keira's expression that full of anger, Diandra looked back at Keira with a sharp gaze while tightening her grip. "You have to stay married to Sean. With or without your consent, this marriage will still happen!" she said, quite intimidatingly.

Keira chuckled, she rolled her eyes in disgust. "I don't ******* care at all," she snarled as she pushed Diandra's hand with all her might, making Diandra's body and hand swing, staggering towards Dean.

Keira's actions immediately made Sean turn to her with a flushed face and a sharp gaze, filled with anger. "You're so rude."

Sean's palms were clenched so tightly that the veins running down his arms were clearly visible, tightening.

Keira shot Sean a glance with her sharp gaze. Then, she left quickly, catching up with Laura without uttering even a single word of goodbye.

Keira didn't realize that her actions would plunge her into a complicated problem that awaited her. A problem that seem more complicated than the arranged marriage itself.

Tbc ....

A rough exhalation of breath slipped through the gap between Keira's slightly spaced lips, as the beautiful girl flung herself onto the surface of the bed.

Keira had just returned home, after a long day of grueling work at her father's company. Plus, her head was a mess with all the thoughts of life, especially about her marriage with Sean.

Several days had passed since that night. It had also been several days, Keira desperately avoided her father, who often tried to discuss the marriage, at every opportunity he had.

Keira's life changed almost one hundred and eighty degrees, from all calm and peaceful, now the girl's days could not be avoided from the name of anxiety.

'Is there really no way out?'

In the midst of the thoughts that was busy struggling to successfully make Keira dissolve in it, the sound of the phone ringing in the next second, did not fail to make Keira stunned, forced to face the reality at hand.

The phone in the bag that was still on her shoulder suddenly rang. She quickly sat up and reached into her bag to retrieve her phone. She stared at the screen to see who was calling her.

A smile spread across Keira's thin lips and without thinking, she answered the call. She perched her phone on her earlobe so she could hear the caller's voice clearly.

"Eummm, Kay," she greeted coldly, but her lips ... there was no need for words to express that one was happy, if her lips had made it clear first with a smile that did not fade.

Mikayla Moore, Kayla for short ... was Keira's best friend whom she met when she first moved from out of town. The best friend she found during her middle school years.

"Oh hey, Kei. What are you doing?"

"I'm doing ... nothing. What's up? Get to the point."

Keira loved teasing Kayla, who still acted like a child even though she was the same age as her. But Kayla's childish behavior was what made Keira laugh.

"Aisshhh what a bitchy queen. You're so annoying. I hate you."

Kayla's whining, which was usually able to make Keira laugh, this time was only able to make her smile, indicating the sadness that she was now feeling was quite heartbreaking.

"Emmm, I love you a lot too. What's wrong?"

Her voice started to sound a little cheerful this time.

"Where are you now? Let's meet up. It's been a long time since we last met."

Keira was silent thinking about what she should say. Should she say yes or refuse Kayla's invitation this time. Her feelings were uncertain, although they were better than before.

"Come on Keira darling. Please ... hemmm?"

"Alright. Where will we meet?"

Finally Keira gave in to Kayla's whining for the second time. Her whining was too sweet for her to resist.

"I'll wait for you at my favorite club."

Yes, despite her childish demeanor, Kayla is a mature woman. She loves spending time at her favorite clubs.

"Alright. I'll arrive in about an hour."

"Alright, bye. I love you ...." Kayla said in a coquettish tone before unceremoniously hanging up the call.

Keira, who was baffled by Kayla's behavior, didn't really care, as she was used to dealing with her. Keira hurriedly accelerated her movements to put away the bag that was still crossing her body and threw it along with the phone she was holding onto the bed. She grabbed a towel hanging near the bathroom door and stepped into the bathroom.

However, her steps were halted when she reached the bathroom doorway, as her phone rang again. Annoyed and curious, she walked back to her bed and picked up her phone.

"What else? I was just about to take a shower. If you keep calling me, when can I get ready?"

Keira answered the call without even looking at who was calling her this time. She thought that it was the same person, Kayla.

"Uuu ... can I take a bath with you?"

To Keira's surprise, she discovered that it wasn't Kayla who was calling her this time. It was a man's voice coming out of the phone that she had placed near her ear. Then she looked at her phone screen to make sure, who this time had called her.

A smile spread across her thin lips this time, as she realized who was calling her.

"Oh Gavin ... my pervert Bunny."

Keira put the flat object back to her ear and started the greeting in a playful tone. Gavin ... his full name was Gavin Shawn Gonjales. He was Keira's only boy best friend. More than a best friend, he was a friend who meant the world to Keira.

"Hey! I'm not a pervert," Gavin whined, annoyed.

"Then what?"

"I'm just a normal guy with lust."

"Aisshhh really. Okay. What do you want?"

"I want to take a bath with you."

"Gavin ...!"

Gavin laughed after hearing Keira yell at him in a deafeningly annoyed tone. Of course Keira didn't really feel annoyed at Gavin. Instead, she smiled silently after hearing her best friend's laughter.

"Alright, alright. Sorry. I just wanted to ask you out. I'm feeling really bored and would die if I stayed at home tonight."

Gavin's laughter ended with a whimper that sounded so adorable, like a child asking for candy.

"I already have an appointment. I'm going to go see Kayla tonight. You can come with me, if you want?"

"Where? Of course I want to. It's not good for a woman to go without a man, there will be many men out there, flirting with you."

"No problem. After all, I'm still single. There's nothing wrong with that."

"Hey! Just answer me. Where are you meeting Kayla?"

Keira rolled her eyes. "Oh gosh. Calm down please. I'll meet her at her favorite club of course."

"Alright, I'll pick you up in an hour. Don't dress up too pretty."

"Okay. I'll see you later."

"Let's take a bath together."

"Ish! You pervert."

Keira ended the call that was enough to make her smile ridiculously, because of Gavin's behavior just like that. She threw her phone back on the bed and went to take a shower without any hindrance or interruption this time.

It only took Keira 45 minutes to shower and get ready. Fortunately, Keira doesn't like to wear too much makeup, so the time she takes to get ready is quite short for a woman.

Once she was done, she grabbed her bag and phone and put on her high heels. She checked her phone first and found out that she had received a message from Gavin, informing her that her best friend was already in front of the house.

Keira quickly put her phone away and walked out of her room to go meet Gavin. As she walked to the door outside, of course she had to pass through the living room first.

Keira was startled by the presence of her father and Sean's family, who were engrossed in conversation, until she suddenly stopped her steps and took a deep breath, determined to move on, ignore their presence and just leave.

"Keira ... where are you going?"

Tbc ....