Martin II
More and more meetings were being held on the Salem family's territory. Therefore, the youngest grandchild, Arsinoe, was being introduced publicly more often. She was always seen with the older members of the Salem family.
He couldn’t understand why he was so eager to make that girl happy.
Am I that affected? he thought.
After a few more interactions, Arsinoe wouldn’t take her eyes off him. He always caught her staring. Unlike before, she no longer looked away. She would now bravely meet his gaze.
With furrowed brows, he stepped down from the podium, wondering why the young lady couldn’t stop staring at him. He had delivered his speech, interviewed with a few reporters, answered questions about governance, and exchanged quick pleasantries regarding his brother, the president.
But his mind was elsewhere.
Not on his job as a leader, nor as a governor, but on the thought of someone.
He was too affected by the girl.
He cursed silently when, at another party, Arsinoe was shamelessly staring at him again. There was no malice before, but now, he couldn’t figure out what he was feeling.
Arsinoe Deia Salem, his hermano’s daughter. Walking elegantly down the stairs, stunning and glowing in her champagne tube gown, her red hair perfectly curled at the ends. She was naturally beautiful.
She walked gracefully towards him, a small smile on her lips.
He swallowed hard—why was she so beautiful and radiant?
He was captivated.
In all his life, this was the first time he almost couldn’t breathe!
She looked like an angel descending. Her long red hair flowed with every step she took towards him and her father beside him.
Her scent was intoxicating. She stood out, more beautiful than any woman who had passed through his life.
In his mind, if she passed by, he would never let her go.
He cursed himself again and left to shake off the madness he was thinking.
Because it was impossible. He knew there would be war and bloodshed if anyone dared touch the girl. The Salem clan would kill anyone who wronged them.
And besides, what he was feeling was utterly wrong. His understanding was deep enough to know that whatever was running through his mind was against both the law and human decency.
Arsinoe was young, too naive for everything.
He wasn’t a fool—he understood what her stares meant. He let it all pass, like the times she followed him or suddenly appeared wherever he was, even if she didn’t speak to him, her gaze was intense.
It was as if she owned him with her stares.
He let it go because she was still young. Whatever attraction she felt for him would eventually fade, just as he knew his daughter would do with her own rebellions. He knew that no matter how much he tried to correct his daughter, she wouldn’t listen, so he was just waiting for her to grow tired and stop.
"Isn't she lovely?" Belinda asked him, the grandmother of Arsinoe. Hindi niya namalayan ang paglapit nito sa kaniyang tabi. Pareho silang nakatanaw sa dalagang nakahawak sa braso ng ama nitong congressman habang kinakausap ng ilang mambabatas ng bansa.
He couldn't find any words to say.
It was as if he was caught doing something illegal.
Nakakabighani talaga, tipong kahit nasa malayo at malingunan ay hihinto upang matitigan ng matagal. She was beyond just beautiful, almost like a goddess for possessing such beauty.
