Chapter 19 - Loyalty or Love?

Rafael Chancellor's Point of View:

"The answer is no"

"But son you haven't even heard who she is"

Today is the last day that I have been 'granted' to get Alissa to talk to me before I had to choose a bride. I was unbelievably pissed off at my dad right now for even thinking that he could order me around. I should be trying to get Alissa to talk to me not entertaining my dad as he talked about forcing me to marry someone I've never even met.

"Do you even care that I don't love her?" my voice rose in volume. 

He ran a hand down his face, "son I want what is best for you...all I ask is that you trust me"

My eyes narrowed at his words. Did he honestly expect me to accept the crap he was spewing? There was a knock at the door before my mother waltz into the room. 

"Honey please just listen to your dad and meet the girl"

I sighed I found it so hard to disappoint my mom, "fine...but I won't promise you anything"

I reached for my phone when it suddenly started to ring. My heart began to pound within my chest when I saw that it was Alissa calling. I thought that I would have to hound her to get her to talk to me never would I have thought that she'd contact me first. 

After a moment’s hesitation, I answered the phone. "Hello"

"Hi Rafe," her voice was so angelic and I was addicted. "how are you?"

"Miserable without you," I answered honestly not even caring that my parents could hear me. 

She sighed. "can we talk?"

"Yes of course," I was so glad she finally wanted to speak to me.

"Okay meet me at our spot after your meeting," she hung up after I agreed.

If I wasn't so excited to see her then I would have questioned how she knew that I was going to meet someone. 

"Was that Alissa?" mom asked with a knowing look.

I grinned, "she wants to meet up"

"Thanks amazing my boy"

I turned to look at my dad. He merely nodded at me but didn't do or say anything else. 

I left the study and grabbed my keys to head out. When I opened the front door I came face to face with Harry. He's been avoiding me ever since he ran his mouth to Alissa. Naturally I gave him a very warm welcome, a fist to the face. He reeled back from the force of my punch and I reveled in that fact. 

"What the hell are you doing here?"

He rose a hand to his nose which was now bleeding, "jeez man I came here to apologize but maybe I should just go"

"Yeah maybe you should," I growled out as I brushed past him making sure to knock my shoulder into his. 

He was one of the reasons that why Lissa gave me the ring back. Him and his big mouth, maybe if I had been the one to tell her then she wouldn't feel so hurt and maybe she wouldn't have given me the ring back. Hopefully her calling me today meant that she was open to talking to me and wants to move forward. It would kill me if she wanted to meet up just so she could officially end things. I really hoped she didn't want to end things. 

When my bodyguard spotted me he stretched out his hands for the key, knowing that I was far too anxious to drive I didn't even bother to argue with him like I would on any other day.

"Where to?" he asked me after we had gotten into the car. 

"The bakery on 3rd"

"No problem," he started the car and pulled out of the driveway "that's it?"

My face stretched into a smile, "I'm meeting Alissa today"

He looked at me surprised, "wow that's awesome"

He was nearby when the whole thing happened so he knew what went down. I remained silent the rest of the ride as I was lost in my thoughts. I really didn't want to meet this woman but I also couldn't say no to my mom. 

"We're here," I looked out of the window and saw that we had in fact stopped outside of the bakery.

"Thanks Joe"

"No problem," he shook his head "go get your girl"

I got out of the car and walked up to the bakery. I looked around the room but didn't see anyone that looked like they were waiting on someone. I took a seat in one of the booths and waited for her to get here. I was rather impatient as I couldn't wait to go see Lissa. I didn't want to keep her waiting.

I was startled out of my thoughts when someone touched my arm. I looked up surprised to find that Alissa was standing in front of me smiling softly.

"I-I w-what are you doing here?" I didn't want her to catch me meeting with the woman and have her assuming things and coming to the wrong conclusion.

She sat across from me and waved one of the waitresses over, "Hi can I have a hot chocolate and a chocolate muffin please?"

"Sure thing honey," she faced me "would you like anything?"

I saw her lips move but I hardly heard anything.

Lissa touched my arm, "Rafe she asked if you wanted anything?"

I snapped out of my surprised haze, "I'm sorry...I'll have the same as her"

"Okay I'll bring the muffins over and the hit chocolate will be ready in five minutes"

"Okay thank you," Lissa smiled happily.

As soon as the waitress left, I sprang into action. "I'm so glad you're here but—”

"But?"

The waitress brought over the muffins and left, "but my mom has me meeting someone here and I don't want you to get upset with me about it"

"Who are you meeting?" She asked curiously.

I couldn't help the wince from her question, "I um my dad wanted to put me in an arranged marriage b-but I didn't agree to it and mom convinced me to just meet with the girl"

"Oh," she mumbled.

I rushed in to placate her, "trust me love I don't want to meet with her but I couldn't say no to my mom"

She pouted, "aw you didn't want to meet with me"

Now I was confused, "what?"

"You're so slow sometimes," she sighed and pointed to herself "I'm the girl your dad wanted to put you in an arranged marriage with"

"What?" Shocked would be an understatement to how I was feeling, astounded would be a better description.

"I didn't understand anything either after the whole ultimatum drama but then your mom came to talk to me and I knew I needed to talk with my parents as well"

There were far too many surprises right now, "my mom came to see you"

"Yeah she did... she's such a lovely woman," my lips lifted at that.

"Anyways my parents, well my dad, wanted to put me in an arranged marriage so I called to hear why he thought that would be a good idea. He told me that he was away on business when he bumped into an old friend of his and the two reminisced about their time as friends and how they wished they had stayed connected. Dad joked about staying connected through marriage and the friend lapped up the idea. It turns out he was under a lot of pressure and had to find a wife for his son or risk some serious backlash."

"When I asked my dad who the friend was my heart nearly stopped when he told me"

"It was my father," I whispered.

The waitress came and handed us our hot chocolates. Lissa took a sip before speaking, "Yes it was"

"Is that why you called me?" I questioned her with a heavy heart "because we're arranged to be together"

"What no!" Her voice rose a little "I called you because I love you and I didn't want to lose you"

I breathed a sigh of relief at her words, "really?"

Her eyes softened, "I love you Rafe"

A groan slipped past my lips, "I love it when you say my name"

"Let's get out of here," I stood to my feet and waved over the waitress "Can we get these to go please"

"Sure thing"

She packed up the muffins and the hot chocolate handing them to us.

"Where are we going?" Her voice was light and airy as she walked alongside me.

Joe nodded at me as he walked at a distance from us. I led Lissa over to our spot which wasn't at all far from the park. I mentally thanked God that our spot was empty. She giggled when she saw where we were headed.

We sat down and I set the food beside me. I faced her again staring into her bright eyes.

"Growing up I was taught by my instructors that I should put loyalty to my country above all else. My parents taught me to put love above that loyalty"

"Did you listen to the voicemail I left you?"

Her eyes popped out as she mumbled a quiet no. I gestured for her to take out her phone and she did so, listening to the voicemail.

When she was done she looked at me, "you'd leave your throne for me?"

"I'd do anything for the woman I love"

"I know I asked this before but now that there's no secrets between us I want to do this right," I dropped to one knee taking out the ring from my pocket and held it up to her "I was taught both loyalty to country and loyalty to the one I love and given the choice I choose love. I love you so much, will you marry me?"

Her eyes were filled with tears as she smiled down at me, "I'll marry you"

I slipped the ring on her finger this time with the assurance that she wasn't going to take it off.