Love Aint Always Pretty

Verboten

- forbidden; prohibited by dictate

Origin: German

37

NICK'S POV

EIGHT YEARS AGO

"How do I look?" Catherine asks me.

She shows off to me her lovely white dress that I bought from a flea market in town and she seems to love it. It was just really cheap and I thought she wasn't gonna like it cos it was a cheapass dress but she loved it. She really loved it. She still makes it look so pretty damn good on her and I was glad it fits her. Catherine is always so beautiful to me no matter what she's gonna wear or how tired she looks like or how sleepy and how make-up free her face is. Catherine will always be beautiful to me.

"Say something." She pleads.

My lips twitch.

"How do I look Nick?" She asks again while she reaches for my hand.

I smiled at her. "You look very very beautiful, love."

She smiles sheepishly. "Are you sure? It's a perfect fit though. I really love it."

I cupped her right cheek and kissed her forehead. "Yes I am. You're the loveliest."

I am actually tensed to meet her parents. More like I'm scared to death. I'm not at my utmost best to be really acting okay in situations like this cos it's pretty damn obvious that things aren't okay between me and her parents. Catherine walks up to me and fixes my collar, giving me a pat on my shoulders then buttoned my polo.

"You look very handsome." She says.

"I wish they will like me Catherine."

"If they won't, we'll leave the party right away and just drop off the cake."

I nod. "But I would want to wish your mom a happy birthday."

She nods then kisses my cheek. "Just relax."

"I hope your dad is relaxed." I joked.

Catherine chuckles. I love how she encourages me and tells me to calm down. She believes in me too much and I really love that about her.

"I love you." I said.

"I love you much more." She said.

Both of us stumbled our way out of the house after she grabbed the small homemade cake both of us made. I borrowed a car from Alec's uncle for the night, at least, we will look formal. The entire was quiet and I know she's scared of what's gonna happen too. I don't really know why I signed up for this when I already know her father hates me. I just really love Catherine too much and I know this will make her happy that's why I'm doing it even though I don't want to. It's really against my will and I just hope I get out of that house with her.

The car almost reaches the tall silver gates and I see massive cars parked right outside the lawn. I parked car on the gravel road and I think I had the ugliest and cheapest car in here. Mostly were classic wickedly expensive ones and I have never seen these kinds of cars in real life. My heartbeat is now going dead fast. I see people, very rich people, around here. Not only one or two but I know all of the guests looked massively wealthy. I hopped off the car and opened the car door for Catherine. She knows I'm tensed cos she gently squeezed my hand and smiled at me.

"Relax love." She says.

I smiled at her, assuring Catherine that I was really okay.

We walked hand in hand and the moment they saw Catherine, I know they were shocked. Well, she's been missing and now she pops out of nowhere with a guy holding her hand. I just ignored all of them and those degrading stares at me. Catherine leads us to the inside of the house, I even noticed that we pass through this massively big pool before reaching the main mansion. And the main mansion? It was just huge and looked Mediterranean. The floor was shiny marbled, the curtains were very wide cream and white and all the furnitures looked like expensive things that came from other countries.

We walked up to him, but I really feel

Catherine finally calls

need air. Both of us needs a much much wider space if ever he'll hit me. I don't want to break things in here, I think I can't pay it. I see Mr. Forster clenching his jaw the second we stood

off and glared at his guests. He clears his throat and just hugs

to

himself away and stared at

sir."

didn't even nod at me or smiled. He didn't acknowledge my arrival. It felt like he didn't see me at all. Catherine smiled at me as she moves closer back to my side, placing her arm over

She asked. Acting as if we didn't elope and run away

won't make a scene here cos there are so many guests and it's his wife's birthday. He wouldn't risk. He's obviously trying to hold himself down and I could see the anger building behind his eyes. I see Mrs. Forster walking towards us cos I heard her calling out Catherine's name

birthday mom." Catherine

gift I've ever received. Where

pulled herself away from Catherine and Mrs.

missed you too mom. Sorry. I'm really sorry. I'm so

he?" She

feel Mr. Forster's eyes locked at me but I tried not to look at him cos it'll only make me remember

Nicholas Wilde. He's my boyfriend."

I didn't want to offer a handshake cos she seems not interested to

of a sudden she hugged me and I had to hug her back to be nice.

you. Catherine talks about you a

I'm surprised.

"But honey. What about--"

please don't." Catherine cut

what I heard then I hear Mr. Forster clearing his throat again and joins

don't you girls have a girl talk and I'll show Nick around

That's a bad offer.

her father might do something to me but I smiled at her, to make her

be nice." I

about this Nick?" Catherine

nod. "Happy birthday ma'm. I hope you'll have more

Mrs.

now

feel Catherine squeezing my hand before I let her go. I smiled at

okay." I mouthed to her then kissed her knuckles. She

and I'm with her wicked father who hates me to death. He grabbed two glasses of champagne from the waiter that was walking

sir." I said as I grabbed

they were greeting Mr. Forster every

a nerve to

daughter and I'm sure

make Catherine happy."

already happy before she met you. What do you really

quick drink from my glass. "I don't need

Everyone needs money. It's definitely money is it? How much? A million? Two million? Three? Name your price, I'll give it to

I exhaled heavily.

respect sir, I am in love with your daughter. I don't need your scholarship, car, house and lot, money or anything. I

again, "Can your love feed my daughter? Can your love support Catherine financially? You're nothing but a penniless man and you

shoulder with his hand and I feel his

wore an all black suit with a baby pink tie. He was a blonde with his pushed back gelled hair, and he's about my height as well. He looked like we were the same of age but that smug on his face is plastered telling

Fitzgerald." I hear Mr. Forster

take another drink from my

her. And you? Well you don't even own a car. Hans is Catherine's real boyfriend and he's the one to marry her." He