"Betrothed? What the hell do you mean betrothed?" Ari asked furiously.
"Now do not use that language with me-" She cut him off.
"Don't tell me what to do! Now, what the hell do you mean betrothed?" She repeated.
"It has been arranged since birth," he said simply.
"Since birth? And you tell me now sixteen years later? When I'm deeply in love with someone else? Great timing, Lucas!"
"That's it," he brought his hand up to strike her, but an unfamiliar boy stopped him.
"I can't have you bruising up my future bride, Mr. James," the boy said.
"Who are you?" Ari asked.
"I'm Travis Anderson, your future husband."
She stared at him in shock. Of all places to make first impressions, she wouldn't have picked here. Of all the times to meet each other, she wouldn't have picked now.
"Oh you're Travis," she said, "nice to meet you. Thank you for stopping him. I would love to chat, but I'm running late," she quickly hurried to the bathroom.
"Wait," he called after her, but she was to far away, "damn!"
Meeting back up with Tora...
After making herself presentable again, Ari searched for Tora. She had erased all the signs of her tears and put on a smile. If this was her last moments with Tora she wanted to make them count.
She looked everywhere, but couldn't seem to find him. Eventually, however, she saw him hiding in a dark corner.
"There you are," she breathed a sigh of relief.
"I see you found me," he pulled her into the shadows with him.
"What are you doing in this corner? You're not one to miss out on socializing."
"Ah, yes, that is true. I do love to talk, but tonight no one sparked my interest."
"Really? So that's why you're in a corner?"
"Yes, that and the fact that girls kept swarming me."
"Oh," she said, sadness crept into her voice. Was he only leaving for business or was there someone else? She thought to herself.
"Yes," he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes, "but I didn't want their attention. They were very bothersome. So I decided to wait in the corner for most interesting and beautiful person at this whole event. You, Ella."
"Stop..." she trailed off.
He put his hand on her cheek, "I love you, Ariella Sukimara James. I love you."
She wanted to say she loved him back, but she couldn't bring herself to. She was at a lost for words, and he still hasn't told her that he was leaving. She had to to learn from her father.
She looked away from him, "Then why are you leaving me?"
"Wh-what?" He asked her in confusion.
"Why are you leaving me?" She repeated as she began to walk away from him.
"Ari, wait!"
"No! I will not wait! Not when you won't give me a damn answer!"
"Let me explain! I don't see why you are freaking out! I was going to tell you, I just didn't know how. Please, calm down."
"Calm down? You don't get it, do you? I love you, Tora Igarashi! I've loved you since the first day we met. Everyday I fell deeper and deeper in love with you! I thought you loved me too. Was I stupid to think that an oh so wealthy Igarashi could fall for a trashy James!"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about what your father said. He said you loved me, but I don't believe him. Since I'm not, as he said, Igarashi material."
Tora was afraid that would happen, that his father would do something. He just didn't figure he would do it this soon. He tried to explain, "Listen to me, Ella. My father-" He caught his father's eye and realized he shouldn't finish the sentence the way he wanted to. He knew how he had to end it. He didn't want to do it that way, but he was afraid of what his father might do.
He took a deep breath in, emotionally preparing himself for what he was about to say. He looked deeper into her eyes than he ever had before, "My father is completely right. I need to find someone more up to par to help me carry on the Igarashi line. And you, Ariella Sukimara James, just won't do."
He felt his heart break and could see the pain in her eyes. He, however, kept the same cold-blooded expression. He turned around and walked toward the door, leaving Ari standing there helpless, tears pouring down her pale cheeks.
"I'm so sorry, Ella," he whispered wiping away the single tear that managed to escape his topaz eyes.