2

Aspen

“What is going on?” I asked in confusion, watching as my father slammed the door behind me. “Who were those men? What did they want? Please don't tell me you went to borrow money from them.” I pleaded with him. I was already dealing with a lot and paying his debt was not something that I would be able to handle.

“Sit.” He forced me to sit. And I scrunched my nose at the smell of alcohol. From the way that he was moving, it was very obvious that he was a little tipsy.

“I asked a question. I hope you did not go ahead to burrow from them? Because I swear to God, I'm not paying back—”

“Shut up and stop talking. You are always so negative. You fail to use your head all the time.” Then he went ahead to sit on the chair near me and a sly smile appeared on the corner of his lips.

“The truth is that we are going to get rich.” He announced, smiling widely.

“I don't understand.” I had a $20k debt from my mom’s hospital bill. The roof in our house was leaking. Our electricity had already been cut off and there was no food in the house. Where was the sudden wealth coming from?

“Of course, you will not understand!” He snapped. “You are dumb and always fail to comprehend things.” Getting insults from dad was something that I was very much used to.

“If you had been smarter, we wouldn't have been in this situation. You have the beauty, the body and you are still a vir—”

“If you have nothing to say, I should take my leave.” I attempted to stand, but my father dragged me back down to sit.

“You are getting married.” He announced like it was nothing.

“No, I'm not.” It was not the first time that he was trying to talk me into marrying one of his old friends.

“Yes, you are. And you will like this one. He is rich, handsome, powerful, and young. He is everything a lady needs in a man and those men you met outside are his men.” I became even more confused.

“Are you drunk?” My father glared at the question.

“No, I'm not. And you are getting married. I'm taking you over to meet him tomorrow and you will remain there once he approves of you. As his wife.” I scoffed and made my way to stand up as I could not keep up listening to nonsense.

“Sit right there and listen. Killian Davenport wants a wife. He does not just want any wife, you see he can be very picky and has a list. You fit very well into that list. You are a virgin. He wants a virgin wife. A timid girl.”

“Bullshit!” I exclaimed standing up to my feet. I had heard of a particular Killian Davenport, and that man was bad news. He was a cold-blooded killer. A mafia lord who ended lives without mercy.

“It’s a fucking contract marriage and you will agree to it. He's paying $500k and will pay another $500k once the marriage ends. It's not fucking going to last forever.”

“I'm not interested.” I managed to stand up without him holding me back.

“You have to be interested. Can you just stop being stupid for once? This money will change our lives. Your mother will get treated. We will be able to raise enough money to find Clear.” I felt a painful twist in my heart at the mention of Clear.

My sister who disappeared three years ago without a trace.

“I will gather enough money.” I knew that was a big lie.

“And how do you intend to do that? You barely make enough. We feed from hand to mouth in this house.”

“And it is all your fault. Things would have been so much better if you do not drink yourself to stupor!!" I screamed at the top of my voice.

“And things would have been so much better if you had gone missing instead of Clear. Clear had always been the better one. Our lives would have been going great if you left instead. I wouldn't have been this way and your mother would not have been in the hospital—”

“Dad stop!!” I yelled, with tears streaming down my face. “Can you just stop? Don't bring Clear into this?” I sobbed.

“Well, it's the truth. She would have listened. She would have gotten married to save our family. But you are just too selfish and self-centred. You think you are righteous but the truth is that you care only about yourself.”

I sniffled and I could see the hatred and disappointment in my father’s eyes. “You don't even know why he wants to get married. You don't even know why Killian wants a virgin.”

“It does not matter. What matters is that we will get the money! Money is the only thing that matters and you will marry Killian. I will see to it that you do. You don't have a choice here.”

“I don't even know him.” I cried.

“And do you know yourself? Do you think working up until midnight at that stupid bar will fund your bills? Fucking wake up and put that thing in-between your legs to good use. We are going over tomorrow. Put on your best dress and best makeup.” My father said and he began to move towards his room.

“Remember what's in line. $500k. Think.” He added before disappearing into his room. My shoulder slumped and I fell weakly to the ground.

I wanted to let out a scream, but I did not get to do so when I got a text on my phone. It was from the hospital that my mother was admitted in and they were reminding me to pay up my bills or her oxygen supply would be cut off.

I decided to send a text to them saying that I would send some money the next day. I did not get to do so when my phone went off and I finally let out the scream that had been building up in my throat.