Chapter 8

Elijah’s POV

I paced back and forth in my room, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in my stomach. I stopped in front of the mirror and adjusted my tie, attempting to calm myself down.

"Why Zoey?" I muttered to myself. "Of all people, why does my father want me to marry her?"

I had heard the rumors, of course. Who hadn't? Zoey Walters' partying and clubbing habits were legendary.

She was always in the tabloids, photographed with a different guy every week. I wasn't interested in that kind of lifestyle, and I certainly didn't want to marry someone who embodied it.

I remembered seeing her at a restaurant when I was discussing a business deal with a client.

She had been rude to a waiter, yelling at him over a minor mistake and even going so far as to have him fired on the spot.

I had been appalled by her behavior, and it had only reinforced my reservations about marrying her.

"What was my father thinking?" I wondered aloud. "Doesn't he care that I deserve better than some wayward socialite?"

I thought back to the argument I had overheard between my parents about the Walters.

"I don't understand why you're so insistent on Elijah marrying Zoey," my mother had said, her voice filled with concern. "She's not a good influence, and I fear she'll only bring trouble to our family."

"Trouble?" my father repeated, his tone dismissive. "Zoey is a Walter, and that's all that matters.

Her family's connections will secure our company's future. We can't pass up this opportunity."

"But Elijah deserves better," my mother countered. "He's a smart, kind young man.

He should be allowed to choose his own partner, not be forced into a marriage with someone like Zoey."

"Someone like Zoey?" my father echoed, his voice rising. "She's a beautiful, charming young woman. Elijah will be lucky to have her."

"Lucky?" my mother scoffed. "You know as well as I do that Zoey's reputation is questionable at best. Elijah will be miserable with her."

"Miserable?" my father repeated, his face reddening. "You're just being dramatic.

Elijah will do what's best for this family, even if it means marrying someone he's not in love with. That's the way it's always been."

I remembered feeling a surge of anger at my father's words. How could he be so heartless? Didn't he care about my happiness at all?

Just then, my personal assistant, Rachel, knocked on the door, jolting me back to reality.

"Sir, I have some information about the Walter family," she said, handing me a folder.

"What is it?" I asked, opening the folder.

"It's about the daughter you're supposed to marry," Rachel said. "But there's been a change of plans. You're actually marrying Abigail, the eldest daughter."

I scanned the pages, my eyes widening in surprise. Abigail Walter? I had never even met her.

"I need you to run a thorough background check on her," I said authoritatively.

"I need to know everything about her. Is she like her younger sister? What are her interests? What's her reputation? I need all the information I can get."

Rachel nodded, her expression professional. "Yes, sir. I'll get started right away."

I waved my hand to dismiss her. "See that you do. I want a comprehensive report on my desk by the end of the day."

As Rachel turned to leave, I called out to her. "And Rachel?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Be discreet. I don't want anyone to know about this."

Rachel nodded and bowed. "Of course, sir. Your secret is safe with me."

I watched her leave, my mind racing with thoughts. What would I find out about Abigail? Would she be a pleasant surprise, or a disaster waiting to happen?

The rest of the day passed in a blur as I waited for Rachel's report. Finally, at 5 p.m., she knocked on my door and handed me a thick folder.

"Here's everything I could find on Abigail Walter," she said.

I took the folder, my heart racing with anticipation. What secrets would it hold?

As I flipped through the pages, my eyes widened in shock. There, staring back at me, was a photo of the woman I had fallen in love with all those years ago. The one who had disappeared before I could even learn her name.

I stood up in shock as I took another glance at the photo.

"Rachel, where did you get this?" I asked, my voice low.

"I had to dig deep," Rachel replied. "I heard she doesn't like taking pictures, so it was really difficult to get her photo. This one was taken years ago at a—"

I cut her off, my heart racing with excitement. "At a charity event in Singapore."

Rachel's brow furrowed in confusion. "Sir, do you... know her?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Rachel's curious expression put me at ease. "I think I do," I said, my voice still low and contemplative. "Or at least, I think I met her once. A long time ago."

Rachel's eyes widened in surprise, her eyebrows shooting up. "What? Sir, what's going on?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

I took a deep breath, trying to process my thoughts and emotions. It was all so surreal. "I don't know, Rachel," I admitted. "But I think this marriage might be fate."

Rachel's expression changed from surprise to intrigue. "Fate, sir?" she repeated, her voice soft.

I nodded, my mind racing with memories. "Yes. I met a woman at a charity event in Singapore years ago.

We only spoke for a few minutes, but... there was something about her. Something that stuck with me all these years."

Rachel leaned in, her eyes sparkling with interest. "And you think that woman was Abigail?"

I nodded again, my heart beating with excitement. "I do. I'm sure of it."

Rachel smiled, a small, knowing smile. "Well, sir, it seems like this marriage might be more than just a business arrangement."

I smiled back, feeling a sense of wonder and anticipation. "Yes, Rachel. It seems like it might be."

All these years, I had wondered what had happened to her, and now... now I was going to marry her.

I looked up at Rachel, my eyes searching for answers. "What else do you know about her?"

Rachel hesitated before speaking. "Not much, I'm afraid. Abigail is quite private. But from what I gather, she's intelligent, kind, and driven."

I nodded, my mind racing with thoughts. This changed everything. I couldn't believe I was going to marry the woman I had fallen in love with all those years ago.

As I walked down the aisle, I looked at Abigail. For a moment, I thought she recognized me, but then she looked unsure. I knew I had to work hard to gain her trust.

I was determined to make this marriage work, not just for the sake of our families' business agreement, but because I had a second chance at love. And I wasn't going to let it slip away.