'If you are a rose, then I want to become a thorn so that I can protect you from all the abhor of this world.'

A smile crept upon my lips when I read the sweet note in my book. I lift my sapphire gaze while tugging a strand of my raven hairs behind my ears searching for the one who wrote it. It's been six months since I have been receiving these notes. Like every once in a week, there's a note in my book with something sweet written on it. I have been searching for that guy ever since the first day but I couldn't find him. He just left the note magically in my book and leaves without leaving a trace behind. But, these are my salvation, the only other thing which made me feel loved after my sister Marianne. I sighed deeply and shook my head.

"Just where are you?" I mumbled to myself as I stood up from the garden of my university.

I'm Rebecca Morris, I'm 25 years old. After completing my Masters, I enrolled in a hotel management university because I'm really looking forward to a life in hotels. My father, Dayle Morris is a successful businessman owning Garnet Enterprises, based upon the name of my dead mother. My father never wants me to get a degree in Hotel management, he wants me to learn Business Finance so that I can help him in business but I prefer jobs over business so I pursue my dream. But, none of this would be actuality if it wasn't for my beloved sister Marianne Morris, she is 28 years old, with those same looks as me but height little taller than mine and having hazel eyes. She is a supermodel living in California. She always supports me and loves me dearly and I love her too. If it wasn't for her I may have died with her, she gave me hopes for a better tomorrow.

As loving sisters we are and how my sister made me feel that even if you stumble on your path, some act of kindness will always pull you up. And at the same time my father, he who made me face the bitter reality of the world that if you fall others will crush you even if that person is your own father. Being nothing but a contempt to my father, is something I never want to become but after 'that incident' I felt scared to be number one. But father never understood that, when I held power over everyone he stayed by my side, when I lost my strength, he left me all alone in the dark. Trampling over the empire I build from the shadows at the age of 18 and owning as his. But. I am not complaining, I am never the one who cared for money so I don't mind.

Back again to the reality that hit me hard that I couldn't find this secret admirer for the past six months. I even left notes in my books so that he could see them and show me his face. I waited for him countless times and at countless places but he never came. I looked down and murmured a 'thank you' to myself and left for my classes.

On my way, I called Marianne.

"Hello." I heard her voice and replied, "Hey, Marianne, when you are coming home?" I asked.

"Uh, Who knows.. Whenever my sister calls me." She said sweetly as a smile crept upon my lips.

"Papa is going out of the country. Can you come home and stay?" I asked.

"Rebecca, I am saying this again and again, move out of that place and live somewhere alone or maybe share an apartment with your friends, it's better than living there." She lectured me and I know she is right that I need to start my life but I don't think I can.. Not after it has ended.

"I can't... Can you please come?" I almost pleaded with her.

"Fine. I'll be there tomorrow. Until then, stay strong and you know it, what to do if you get scared, don't you?"

"Mari—Jane—Acca." I said our spell to vanish our fears.

"Good Girl, Now wait for me til then. Love you. Bye." She said.

"Love you too! Bye." I said in glee and cut the call. I am so exhilarated that Sister is coming. I have missed her a lot.

Ryan POV:—

I watch her from a distance, her raven hairs swaying with the wind. Eyes blinking while holding captive my heart in them. Her thick lips making a pout elicit the desire to kiss them in me. She put a hand on her neck while giving a beguile look that bewitch me in her charm. My heart flutters in happiness when I look at her. Just like a fascinating angel having an angelic name, Marianne.

I leaned on the wall watching her from afar as she was photo shooting for our new campaign as our model. Her photo shoots in California are a way for me to meet her. I continued to watch her from afar with faze of how can someone be that beautiful

I'm Ryan Knight, I have grey eyes along with my pitch—blacks combed backward perfectly, a fair buildup body and a tanned complexion enhanced by my tattoos starting from right side of neck to all the way to my right wrist. I'm 32 years old and tired of hearing my parents wanting me to settle down. I always shrug them because the person whom I want to spend my life with doesn't seem like she has any interest in me. I even told my father about it and he gave me advies too but to comply with them is so difficult. My mother, Sarah Knight and my father Xavier Knight have a love marriage. I also want to marry the person I love like them but thankfully they didn't force me that much. After my father's retirement I came back to California and took over business even if I don't want to. I wanted to stay at Grandma's place studying and doing a simple job but since I am the only heir, I knew I have to take care of our business. But I am thankful because this made me meet her.

After the shoot, I invited Marianne for dinner because every moment I spend with her is cherished deeply.

"I am glad to have you as our model again." I said to her. She just chuckled in her melodious voice and replied with a 'thank you'.

"By the way, Marianne, what are your plans for tomorrow?" I asked. I just loved how her name rolled on my lips, after watching her from afar for the past 3 years, I loved it when she called my name.

"Oh, I am going back to my hometown, my sister is home alone and she is afraid of being alone." She replied.

"Don't you think she is old enough to take care of herself and what about your father?"

"Fears don't come with age, Mr. Knight. Only they are elicit, they are difficult to remove.. And father is going out of the country so I am going back with the next flight for Boston."

"I am in no position to ask what happened." I mumble.

"And I am in no position to tell." She replied and turned her attention to her food. Every talk you share with me, I embed it deep into my core.

After a silence our sweet dinner came to a halt.

"When is your flight?" I asked her, dropping off at her place. She lives in California but her family lives in Boston.

"At 3 am."

"If you say, I can drop you off..?" I offered. she passed me her usual smile and said, "You don't have to Mr. Knight. You have done enough, thank you very much." She said and went away.

I took a deep breath and went home, only to see my parents sitting in the lounge while looking at our photo album. I gave Father a side hug and kissed Mother's forehead and sat in between them.

"Ryan, Look how cute you are looking!" Mother squeaked as I asked, "Am I not cute now?"

"No, Now you are handsome like me." Father said proudly. I chuckled and looked at my 5 years old picture.

"Mom.. Dad..." I called me dragging them out from those sweet memories. They both looked at me and I blurted out, "I have found a girl for me and I would like you guys to go to her place and ask for her hand in marriage." It took them a few seconds to register my words and when they did, they burst, "What's her name? Who is she? Since when you guys are dating? Why did you never tell us about her?"

"Her name is Marianne Morris, the top supermodel, the daughter of Dayle Morris, the Garnet Enterprises owner. We are not dating, she is not the type of a girl who would date guys... At least that's what I think so I thought... Maybe we can ask for her hand in an arranged marriage. '' I said. Mother remained silent upon hearing it but father began to say, "Look Son, We will do it but don't you think you should ask her about it before. Marriage is a great commitment, you'll spent the rest of your lives understanding each other, supporting each other, loving each other and since you don't know her thoroughly, you have to be prepared to accept her good and bad habits and no matter what happens, you'll never regret your choice as you'll hold her hands tightly which the intention of never letting it go and I not telling this to you for just this but to whoever the girl that will become your bride. You understand me? '' Dad's words of wisdom never fails to teach me good stuff.

"Do not worry father, I'll try my best to fulfill all my obligations as a husband."

"They may be obligations but do not forget to not to make your marriage a mere bond of responsibilities. It's a sacred bond and you should respect that."

"I understood father." I said sincerely.

"I agree we want you to get married but since we are going in for an arranged marriage, you'll have to be ready to face rejection, anything can happen. You should be prepared for everything, okay?" Father explained as my heart skipped a beat in dread just by thinking about it.

"I have thought about it for quite a while. I've mentally prepared myself for the worst case scenario." I said proudly.

But little do I know, I wasn't ready for the upcoming affliction as it's worse than any situation I could have imagined....