Chapter 3: Eavesdropping

Lexi's POV.

“I…I do not think I heard well father…you said what?” I asked, certain that I had heard wrongly.

“You heard your father, Lexi.” The green eyed stranger answered instead. His eyes were laid on me in a sinister way and my skin crawled in irritation.

“You will be getting married to me.”

“Dad, what is the meaning of this?” I asked, glaring at Dad. I wondered what sort of agreement they had going on but I didn't even care to know. I wasn't getting married to anyone.

“Lexi, try to understand. Mr Morano saved your mother. You know well enough that if he hadn't shown up, there would have been no chance of saving her.” Dad said.

“But there would have! I have the money for her treatment now. If it is because of that that this man thinks he can get married to me, then we can return his money. I have forty five thousand here, enough to…”

“There will be no return of anything.” Dad cut me off, leaving my mouth hanging open. “ He paid a total of a hundred and ten thousand dollars, forty five thousand is nothing.”

“I am not getting married to him!” I screamed.

“I am your father and I say you will!” Dad yelled back as he sprang to his feet. My heart raced at the thickness of his tone, it was filled with rage.

I looked at him with widened eyes. He had never spoken to me in that way for a very long time.

“Can we please be civilized?” I turned my glare to the man who my father wanted me to marry. Anger raged within me as I stared at him. Even his voice alone irritated me.

“I don't know you. And to think that you believe that I would get married to you just because you cleared my mother's treatment bills shows how much of a fool you are.” I spat out in rage.

I turned to Dad, “I am disappointed in you, Dad. And I'm sure mother will too when she hears that you married your daughter off because of money.”

Without waiting for any response, I stomped towards my bedroom.

“You will do as I say, Lexi!” Dad’s voice filled my ears.

“For your mother!" He added just before I slammed the door shut.

Tears filled my eyes as I sat on the edge of my bed. This cannot be happening. I couldn't believe my own father would do this to me.

To think that all what I engaged myself in to raise this money for my mother's treatment was all for nothing. I had lost my dignity to a ruthless stranger for nothing.

Tears rolled down my face and I facepalmed, dropping my face on my lap.

What have I done?

I could still feel the pain from the rough treatment I got from the masked man beneath me. My virginity used to be the only pride I had, my last dignity as a lady.

But now it was gone. Stolen from me…no, it wasn't stolen, I gave it away willingly…for something that wasn't even needed anymore.

My sobs became heavier as I rolled face down on the bed, crying my sorrows away.

A few minutes later, I heard a knock on the door. I sat upright and wiped tears from my face.

The door was opened and I turned my face away. I was still angry at Dad.

“You should be glad someone of my class is willing to take you as wife.” I turned my head up to see the green eyed man standing before me.

“Getting married to a Morano is what every lady dreams of.”

My heart skipped and I backed up. My eyes went to the second man standing right behind him.

“Where's my father?” I asked, my tone laced with suspicion.

“He was called at the hospital to meet his wife. I figured we should also meet, since we would be together tomorrow.” The corner of his lips rose as he spoke.

“Tomorrow?”

“Preparations for the wedding is beginning as we speak. We must be married by tomorrow.” He said, taking his seat on a chair across from me.

I frowned, “Never. I will never get married to you. Get out of my room!” I bellowed but he didn't move a muscle.

I opened my mouth, ready to yell again but I realised it was of no use. He wasn't afraid of me, so there was nothing I could say that would threaten him.

I suddenly felt weak.

“Please…I have half the money you paid for the treatment, if I pay you now, I can get the rest before the end of the week.” I pleaded.

Instead, he chuckled. “You want to pay me back?” He said amusingly.

“I don't want your money, Lexi. I want to marry you.”

“But if you must pay me back, I'll need everything immediately, no installmental payment.”

“But why? There are a lot of rich women out there that are more beautiful than I am. Why do you want me?” I asked, feeling fed up already. This was getting exhausting.

He rose to his feet and walked to me slowly. My heart skipped as he leaned over me. I could feel the heat from his body.

“Well, it's you I want. And you are mine already.” He asserted.

I gulped. He reached for me, placing his fingers on my face. I flinched at his touch, not reacting positively but negatively. I hated him.

“Since you will be mine very soon, why not practice what couples do on their honeymoon?” He whispered before his hand grabbed my waist.

I screamed and thrashed around. I landed several kicks on him but he grabbed my legs. Before he could pin them down, I pushed him off me and sprang away from him.

“Don't you dare touch me!” I barked.

The man with him earlier had disappeared.

“Why not? You're my wife-to-be.” He said and came at me.

I grabbed the chair and swung it forward while screaming. I shut my eyes as a thick thud filled the room.

When I opened my eyes, I saw him sprawled on the floor.

Seizing the opportunity, I dashed out of my room. His men would be in the living room, meaning no way out through there. So I went through the kitchen to the back exit and ran off.

I boarded a cab back to the casino.

…

I staggered into the restroom of the casino, tears rolling down my face in torrents. A few women who were present there stared at me blankly but I ignored them and found a stall.

There, I continued to cry my heart out. I couldn't do it, I couldn't just throw my life away and get married to a total stranger. Not to mention one that harassed and tried to take advantage of me.

There was nothing I could do now. Dad was on his side so there was no help coming from him. I wasn't sure when Mon would be well also. I was all alone.

Perhaps I could…run away. Before tomorrow, I could use the money to travel somewhere else and maybe begin my life afresh.

I checked my side absentmindedly but found nothing there. Hope disappeared from my heart as I noticed the bag of money wasn't with me anymore.

I covered my mouth with my hand. “I can't believe I forgot the bag!” I gasped, tears rolling down my eyes again.

“No no no, why is this happening to me?” I cried, burying my face in my palms.

Three knocks made me flinch. I wiped my tears quickly.

“Who…who is it?” I asked as I stood up.

“What's up with you, Lexi? The cleaners said they saw you dashing into the bathroom.”

I recognized that voice as Brody's.

“It's nothing, Brody.” I said dismissively. Why couldn't he mind his own business.

“Good. Now get out, this is the customers’ restroom.” He pointed out in a harsh tone.

Oh.

I went out and Brody asked me to help clean up the counters. While I was busy with that, he walked over to me again.

“Serve some drinks to the Exclusives. Do it fast.” He said and walked away.

I gave out a grunt. Why was it always me?

I took a few drinks in a tray and forced myself to walk straight to the Exclusive lounge. The pain between my legs was unbearable.

As I walked on, I hoped not to meet another disgusting rich guy this time.

Lucky for me, I met only two men in the lounge. One was standing aside while the other was making a call.

I placed the drinks on the table and left silently. Just as I got to the entrance, a word from the man caught my attention.

“How the hell did he get a wife that quickly?”

I was instantly curious. I had assumed these kinds of men do not have anything to do with marriages.

I paused just outside the lounge and leaned on the door while I eavesdropped. That was my specialty- my bad habit.

“I cannot allow him to present his wife to the Don before me.” The man said.

Don? Was he in some kind of gang?

“He's acting fast! I should be doing the same. I have told you to find me a woman willing to get married to me since last night, yet you have given me no results!” He continued to bark.

“Tell them I'm willing to pay. Just let them agree to sign-in a contract, and I do not want someone who will fall in love with me later on. She must keep in mind that we might get divorced soon after the marriage. I must get married before tomorrow.”

His words drew my full attention. That could be my only chance at escaping my planned marriage with that hoodlum. He was even willing to pay. I'm sure nothing could go wrong. Just get married to him, get the money and get divorced. Easy.

“Sir, your drink has been served.” I heard another voice say.

“I don't want it anymore. Let's get out of here.”

Approaching footsteps filled my ears and I shook on the spot. I was struggling between stopping him now and offering myself to be his wife or just running away before I was caught.

I chose the former and stood in front of the door. It opened and the man came to my view.

“I can do it.” I blurted.