Lily had just finished her last day at Percule Girls High School and was excited to quickly get home and tell her Father some wonderful news. She had been invited to Harvard Medical School. She was ecstatic! Lily lived a humble life, not a rich life but a decent life with all of the necessities. She lived with her Father, who became a heavy drinker after her mother had passed away. Once she came close to her house she felt a very bad vibe. 'Oh no...' Lily thought. Lily entered her house expecting her Father to be passed out once again but was shocked and surprised to find her Grandfather and Father sitting down. Her grandfather had cut ties with Lily's family after Lily's Father had gotten into gambling and for other reasons...

"Welcome home Lily, come and have a seat." Lily's grandfather slowly spoke. Lily quickly took a seat and knew that if her Grandfather had come, it meant some serious business.

Her Grandfather started talking "I came all the way from Italy to New Zealand just so I can clean up your father's shit. Your Father is in debt for 10 million dollars and of course I am not helping."

Lily was shocked, she could never make 10 million dollars in her lifetime.

"But, because you're  my favorite granddaughter, I have arranged a marriage for you." Her grandfather proudly stated.

"Grandpa, you must be joking, I'm not even at the age to get married, I've also been accepted into Harvard Medical School. You don't know how hard I've worked for this!" Lily said with tears threatening to burst soon.

"Your turning eighteen next week right? That will be fine. Your getting married next Sunday. Just a small marriage ceremony."

Lily looked at her Father only to see a blank and regretful face.

"Don't worry the gentleman your getting married has some pretty good qualities if I may say."

Soon, a week passed and it was already Friday. Lily was depressed and hadn't recovered from the news yet. Tomorrow, she was getting married.

There was a knock on her balcony and Lily was so surprised. She found that it was her friend, Maddison. She quickly opened the glass to her balcony.

"Yo yo yo, Maddison is in the house!!"

"What the hell Maddison! You know there is something called a door?"

"What the ****, there are some random security guards surrounding your house! I had to get back my climbing skills, I nearly broke my back. What is happening?"

"Maddison..."

Tears started flowing down Lily's cheek. She was overwhelmed with many emotions including anger, sadness and loneliness. These nights Lily couldn't get a good sleep.

Maddison hugged Lily tightly. Words didn't need to be exchanged, Maddison understood.

"You can talk to me about whatever happened, take your time" Maddison softly said.

"I'm leaving New Zealand and I'm going to America... I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier..."

Maddison slapped Lily.

Lily was shocked wondering why Maddison had slapped her. Hot tears flooded down her cheeks.

"The reason for that slap was one, you didn't trust me enough to tell me about this, second, you kept this to yourself, that's hurting yourself, third, you didn't tell me earlier and fourth to wake you up. I'm sorry though. So what happened, speak."

"My Father is in debt for a whole lot of money and now I'm in an arranged marriage..I have to leave New Zealand, go to California for a small-scale wedding then I will hopefully be able to move to Cambridge to attend Harvard."

"Damn gurlll... Well I mean your getting married to someone rich so isn't that good?"

"Maddison, I'm not a gold digger and I prefer to live a humble life."

"What if the person your getting married to turns out to be a good person?"

"My thoughts are mixed right now, I don't know what to think and I am confused. Maddison didn't you know I'm in a relationship with James?" Lily covered her mouth, instantly regretting. She was secretly dating.

"Oh my god, you didn't even think about telling me such big news like that? James, the one who is going to become  an orthodontist? Isn't he going to Harvard as well?"

"Yeah that one, at least I can see him at Harvard but I don't know how to break the news to him. Plus I'll see him again..."

"Well you need to tell him at some point I guess. Just call him now."

"Ok?"

Lily picked up her phone and called James.

"Hello, Lily?"

"Hey James..." Lily choked out

"Is something wrong  you sound like your about to cry, I'm coming over right now!"

James arrived around 10 minutes later.

Maddison told Lily to go outside and take a walk with James and tell him the news.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be waiting here. Tell me how it goes and if anything happens then just call me."

"Hi James, thanks for coming I guess..." Lily awkwardly started

"Hey babe, it's all good"

James wrapped Lily into a hug and kissed her forehead,

"What's the matter, you can say it slowly."

Lily pulled away from the hug and said "I'm getting married James.."

"What the ****? Why are you getting married?"

"It's an arranged marriage by my grandfather, my Dad is in debt, I had no choice!

"Lily we could have figured this out together, why do you try and do everything by yourself?"

"I'm sorry James, it was sudden."

"Lily, I need some time, let's chat again when we're at Harvard, for now I need some time" James sadly said.

"I understand, I'm so sorry for not telling you. I love you though"

James hurriedly kissed Lily's cheek and left.

Lily entered her house again, Maddison was waiting for her at the door.

Lily went into the house and found Maddison waiting for her.

"So... How did it go?" Maddison cautiously asked

"It went fine" Lily replied smiling.

Lily was a thoughtful person and she thought that since Maddison already did this  much for her, she didn't want to hurt Maddison any more.

Maddison received a call from her parents.

"I'm sorry, I have to leave now..." Maddison put on an apologetic face.

"Do you want me to call a taxi for you?"

"No, it's fine, I'm going to go now. Congratulations on your marriage I guess? If anything happens just call me ok?"

Lily beamed and watched Maddison leave.

That night Lily did not get any sleep at all. Lily was about to leave when her Father suddenly got onto his knees and apologized again and again.Lily helped her Father get up and held his hands, looking into his eyes and said

"It's ok Dad, don't worry about me. Give me a ring if anything ever happens ok?"

With that Lily's Father sadly watched as Lily went further and further away in the car.

Lily arrived at the airport, got everything done and went on her flight.

"Excuse me Miss, your flight has been upgraded to First class please come with me" A flight attendant said.

"It's ok I'm fine here, it would make me uncomfortable ... Please give the seat to someone else" Lily politely replied

They argued for a while but the flight attendant eventually gave up.

"Miss you are so stubborn, but please have an enjoyable flight."

Lily arrived in California and found a person waiting for her. But the person was attracting too much attention so Lily decided to find her own way to the house. Lily eventually arrived at the house at around 10p.m. She was very tired.

She gaped as she found a very lavish house standing in front of her. She didn't expect something so...Expensive. Lily sighed, calculating about how hard her life would be from her and out.

Lily knocked on the door three times to find that no one answered the door. Lily let herself in and wandered around the house. She heard a noise and followed it, hoping to find someone that could help her.

Lily entered a room and put her hands over her mouth. She was so surprised at what she was seeing.

A woman and man was having s*x

"Who are you and why did you intrude!?" a husky voice said.

"Sorry for intruding, I was given an address and came here. I'm supposed to be getting married to someone named Max tomorrow. Anyways I'll take my leave"

"Your that girl getting married to me?"

Lily was not too surprised to find her future husband to be a playboy.

"Yeah well enjoy your time." Lily remarked and left.

Lily couldn't care less about what her future husband was doing. It was a fake marriage anyway. At least for her.

Max's blood started to boil as he recall the event of his future wife's expression when she found out that he was having an affair with another woman. Max thought  'This is going to be interesting.'