Chapter 1

"Engaged? Me?" Beatrice Prior's jaw dropped. She rushed back home from London when she received a call from her mother. 'Urgent family matters, come home as soon as you can', said Mom. Tris wrecked her brain throughout the entire flight home, what was the urgent family matter that her mother mentioned? Little did she know, that someone had asked her parents for her hand in marriage.

Mom and Dad have already known about her trip around Europe with her friends after their final exam. Her train tickets that she bought previously had to be forfeited. Now that she's back, she needs to find a job, and who knows when her next travelling opportunity will come.

"Just be patient…" Tris comforted herself, not wanting to sigh or whine in front of her mother. She did not want Mom to be upset with her.

"But Mom, why the rush for me to come back home? You could have told me after I come back from my Europe trip, I was only planning to travel for a month," she asked, keeping her tone soft, not wanting to seem like she was challenging her mother's decision.

"They wanted an answer as soon as possible. If you are agreeable, they want everything to be settled by next month," Natalie Prior explained.

"Everything to be settled? Meaning, the engagement party?" Tris asked. Why the rush?! We don't even know each other, and engaged straight away? Is he old? Is that why they are rushing this? Tris frowned while drinking her tea.

"No, the wedding," Natalie answered.

Tris spitted her the tea that she just drank. Her sister, Christina, started laughing. Tris reached over the middle of the table, grabbed a napkin and wiped her lips.

"Wedding next month? Are you joking with me, Mom?" Tris was feeling shocked, this is understatement. 'Are there still people in this time and age getting married without meeting or knowing their future spouse? Me, getting married next month?' Tris placed her cup of tea on the table. She grew anxious looking at her mother's earnest expression.

"I hope you're enjoying yourself, laughing your ass off at me," She rolled her eyes at Christina, who still hasn't stopped giggling since her fountain show with the tea.

"Of course. My dear sister is marrying a handsome millionaire! I'm so happy for you!" Christina shrieked. Is the guy THAT impressive until my sister is supportive of this idea? Or is she trying to pull my leg?

"Mom, which handsome millionaire did you pick for me? I don't even know him, how can I marry him?"

"Aunt Evelyn's son. Of course you will have a chance to get to know him before the wedding, sweetheart."

"Who's Aunt Evelyn, mom? Is she a distant cousin?" Tris tries to think as to who her mother was referring to.

"Evelyn Eaton, wife of Marcus Eaton," Natalie added. Tris' eyes went wide, why do the Eatons want me as their daughter in law? And when did Evelyn Eaton went to 'Aunt Evelyn'? Is she Mom's best friend? Impossible.

"Yes Tris, you'll be the daughter in law of a rich family!" Christina said, smiling like a Cheshire cat.

"Tris, your Dad and I are not interested in their wealth. They are truly wonderful people. Which businessman does not respect Marcus Eaton in this city? And Evelyn, when you meet her, you will know how nice and accommodating she really is. Any girl will be lucky to be called their daughter in law," Natalie explained to her youngest daughter.

"What about their son? Is any girl lucky to be his wife?" Tris thought to herself, she couldn't possibly pose this question to her mother.

"When are you introducing Tris to her potential husband, Mom?" Christina asked, giving a cheeky smile to Tris. Tris struck her tongue out at her sister, as the youngest, she is always being bullied and teased by her older siblings.

"Aunt Evelyn requested for her son to meet up with you tonight. You're OK with it, right dear?" Natalie asked, with a convincing tone towards Tris.

"Mom! I just landed here yesterday, and I'm still experiencing jetlag! Why must I meet him tonight?"

"Of course you need to meet him first before getting married right, Tris?" Christina added. Please, Christina. You're supposed to be helping me out here! Tris stared at her sister, sending daggers in her stare, Christina shook her head, refusing to offer any assistance.

"Mom… please… I really don't want to…" She whined at Natalie, hoping for the older woman to give her a break.

"What don't you want? To go on the date or to get married?" Christina teased, while bursting out with laughter.

"Mom, this is unfair. Christina got to marry her college sweetheart, why am I being arranged for marriage?" Tris could feel tears starting to form in her eyes.

"You are too slow, Tris. Finished your degree and still no boyfriend!" Christina teased her again.

"Tris, your dad and I love you very much. We wouldn't be doing this if the boy is not acceptable to us and to you. We are thinking of your future, that's why we are even considering their proposal. They really want you to be their daughter in law. Both of them even came to the house, to ask me and your dad for your hand. Just meet their son first, get to know him better. If you really don't like him, we won't force you, dear." Tris kept quiet after listening to her mother's explanation.

Tris is finding it difficult to meet with someone she does not know. Christina is right, she is slow with things concerning boys. She has only had 1 boyfriend before back in high school, and lost her virginity to him. After going to separate colleges, they decide to break things off, and she did not date anyone else after that. But now, who is she to deny the request of her parents, the people who gave birth to her and raised her?

"Mom, I don't understand, why do they want me to be their daughter in law? Have they even met me before?"

"She met you during Caleb's wedding reception last year. Even then, she was already singing praises about you." Tris remembered meeting the Eatons, but she failed to remember whether their son was with them on that day.

Out of Natalie's 3 daughters, Tris is the most plain in her appearance and style. Tris would rather spend her money to travel or sight-seeing, rather than buying clothes or make-up. The most stylish, is her eldest daughter, Shauna, who's currently in Hong Kong with her husband who's working there.

"Isn't it weird that they want me as their daughter in law just after seeing me one time?"

"I'm not the least bit surprised. My daughter is nice, smart, sweet and beautiful. Of course, anyone would love you from meeting you at once," Natalie answered with a big smile.

"Mom, I'm your daughter, of course you would say that. Who knows what other people might think of me…"

Natalie smiled hearing her daughter's response. Tris has always been humble. She admits that her daughter is not as tall or voluptuous as those models on the front page of a magazine, but she's sweet in her own way. The most beautiful part of Tris is her personality. She is selfless, and never disregard the feelings of others around her. Back from London, not one person missed getting a souvenir from Tris, even their gardener. Natalie is extremely lucky indeed to have a daughter like her.

Natalie thought of Evelyn's proposal with a heavy heart. For 4 years Tris has been off to study in London, only now that she has gotten her daughter back. She just came home, and now they want her hand in marriage. She misses her daughter, and now, she will be going off with her husband.

"It's OK Natalie, her future husband is a respectable man. I should be thankful that she's given this opportunity for a good husband. After marriage, they will still be in this city, I can still meet up with her every day if I want to…" Natalie tried to coax herself to feel better.

"Mom, how am I supposed to marry someone that I don't know? And the weird thing is, why is Aunt Evelyn's son willing to marry someone that he don't even know, someone who he haven't even met! Is there something seriously wrong with him?"

Christina burst out in laugher at Tris' question.

"Beatrice Prior! It's not nice to say that! Tobias is a nice boy! Your dad and I have met him personally. We wouldn't be agreeing to this if there is something wrong with him!"

"I'm sorry, Mom, I don't mean to say that you and Dad are planning something wrong for me and my future…" Tris looked down at her feet, feeling bad for offending her mother.

"Tris, I have already said, meet him first. Get to know him. His parents are good people, I'm sure they raised a perfectly respectable man. Like I said, he has etiquette, and also not bad looking," Wow, Mom is really promoting Tobias.

"Mom, don't judge a book by its cover…" Tris said softly, keeping her eyes down. How is she going to get out of this date, and out of this proposal?

"Meet him first, dear. I'm not forcing you, but, if he is really a good man, why would you reject this proposal. Your dad and I can finally relax, all of our children have completed their studies, married with good partners, build their own families. It's just you left, sweetheart." Tris really cannot say no to her mother… I'm dead. So dead.

"I saw him before, Tris, and he's really hot!" Christina added on. What the hell is going on? Are all her family members on team Tobias right now?

"Even hotter than Will?" Tris asked. Will or William, is Christina's husband.

"Of course Will is hotter!" Christina quickly defended her husband.

"If that's the case, Tobias shouldn't be that hot then…" Tris teased her sister.

"Are you criticizing your brother in law, dear sister?" Christina pinched Tris' arm, which Tris managed to block. She mastered this skill since she was a little girl.

"Christina, let's look this guy up on the net!" Tris voiced her idea out to her sister. Who the hell is this Tobias Eaton, doesn't he have a girlfriend until his mother has to find a wife for him? Or maybe he's a nerd?

"Let's go, Trissy!" Christina exclaimed while pulling Tris' arms up the stairs to the latter's room.

Tris took out her laptop, and started Googling for Tobias Eaton.

"What? No Facebook? Is he from the ice ages?" Tris mumbled.

"Maybe he's using a nickname. Just do a search on Google Images, I'm sure we'll be able to find it." Christina replied.

"My dear Trissy, that's him!" Chris shouted, pointing to the screen.

"Oh…" That's all Tris managed to say.

"Close your mouth, Tris. I can see saliva coming out from the sides already! I told you he's hot, you didn't believe me!" Christina started laughing at her sister.

"Damn, he's drop dead gorgeous…" Tris whispered to herself. She would die if Christina heard what she just said.

Her heart started pounding looking at the image of Tobias Eaton on her screen. Handsome and intimidating. Hooked nose, deep set eyes with the most unique colour, ocean blue. Dressed in an expensive suit, complimenting his well-built body, he's lean and muscular. This is only in pictures, what about in real life? Will he look as good, or even better?

"Age, 28. Sex, male, duh. Occupation, businessman. Hobbies, golf and boxing, interesting... Education, MBA. Height, 6"3', very tall... So what else you want to know, sis?"

"Girlfriend?"

"Good question. So far no mention of any girlfriends or partners. Looks like you're in the clear!"

Tris tried to hide a smile. Wait, why am I getting excited? Am I even ready to get married next month?