CHAPTER 1

Heira struggled to understand the words she had just heard. Tears streamed down her face, she shouted at the man standing before her.

“You can’t be serious”. She had hoped that her father, Charles Arven, was attempting a prank on her, but she knew that he was no man for cracking jokes.

She waited for him to smile, to soften, to explain, but he stood there unmoving, waiting for the weight of it to land.

“You can’t just marry me off, I'm not some property to be traded,” she yelled at him.

“Heira, this marriage is important to our family, it is the only way of getting back up after the backlash the company faced. Investors are on our necks and we are losing a lot of deals.

“Dante’s family has exactly what we need, they are the most influential people in the city.” he said calmly.

“This isn’t a business deal!” she snapped.

Charles sighed heavily. “You are being selfish Heira, this isn’t just about you, it’s about our family and our future. You need to understand that”.

“I don’t care, and I won’t be a part of this marriage,” She screamed.

“It’s already done,” Charles said with a cold finality that told her there would be no negotiation . “You are to meet him at the registry office at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.” He turned and walked out without waiting for her response.

The Arven family was going bankrupt. The empire her father built began to fall apart after the company was accused of being involved in a financial fraud scheme.

Heira collapsed onto the soft mattress that had once provided her comfort. Eager to flee the unforgiving truth her father had forced upon her, she hid her face in the pillows.

Thinking back, Charles had always been a good father to Heira. Ever since her mother left, when the world felt colder, he had raised her with love. He was her protector and anchor. But now, he had changed out of desperation, placing the company above his own daughter.

She wiped her tears with the sleeve of the hoodie she had on. Reaching into its pocket, She pulled out her phone and made an attempt to call her best friend.

A snap memory of her and Ethan appeared on the screen, their bodies tilted towards each other with wide smiles on their faces. Her head gently rested on his shoulder while his arm securely wrapped her waist. 

It was New Year's Eve, and they had gone out to celebrate under a breathtaking display of fireworks. They spent the evening discussing the upcoming year, talking about the changes they would make and vowing never to let a day go by without expressing how much they mattered. 

All of it turned out to be lies, as the man she cherished had ended their relationship to pursue another woman. He didn’t state a reason for his action, leaving her broken and devastated.

Remembering this put her in a really difficult place, her heart ached so badly as if she had just been stabbed through her chest.

“I need to get out of here,” she whispered to herself as she dialed her phone.

“Come, let’s go grab a drink,” she said when Bethy answered from the other end of the line.

“Sure. I’ll meet you there,” Bethy replied with concern in her tone.

When Bethy got there, Heira had downed a bottle of wine. A few glasses were left on the table, and her eyes shone with both alcohol and tears.

“I have ordered a lot of bottles for us. We must finish them all. I need to forget about my worries.”

Bethy’s eyes widened as she was shocked to see her friend wallowing in tears, “What happened? Are you okay?” she asked, sliding into the seat beside her.

“I am being sold off by my own father,” Heira said helplessly.

Bethy gaped. “What do you mean by that?”

Heira explained all that had happened earlier that day to her.

Bethy sympathized deeply with her friend. She had grown up knowing how much Charles adored his daughter. In high school, Heira’s peers had even nicknamed her “Daddy’s girl” because of his constant indulgence. Yet now, desperation has turned that love into a cruel bargain.

“This is ridiculous. You shouldn’t be treated this way. Is your Dad out of his mind?

“You can’t let it happen, Heira. We have to do something about it.” Bethy said as she grabbed Heira’s hands so firmly while staring deep into her eyes.

“Maybe my Dad is right that I should marry him, I've invested all my time and attention into Ethan, I gave him all the love I have to offer, and he still decided to ditch me for another woman.”

Bethy shook her head sharply, her grip tightening. “Don’t give up on love because of that nuisance. One day, you’ll find someone who will value you and love you for who you are. Ethan was never that person.

“I am just really confused as to why your Dad would make such a decision for you.”

“He probably thinks he can regain all that he’s lost if he marries me off to the almighty billionaire,” Heira muttered bitterly.

“And who is that?”

Dante Mo…” She stammers as she struggles to remember his name

“Moretti?” Bethy guessed as she completed the name she thinks her friend might be trying so hard to pronounce.

“Yes, you know him?”

“Of course, who doesn’t?” Dante Moretti’s name wasn’t new to her, he is an accomplished billionaire in the city, which is why everyone knows him. Heira had studied abroad, and this is why she wasn’t familiar with his name.

“He is the most influential man in the city,” she exclaimed.

Heira appeared to be lost, so Bethy brought out her phone and searched the internet so she could show her friend.

Just then, a news headline pops up “Moretti Group records steady growth for fifth consecutive year”. Dante’s company is known for their annual outstanding achievements. Several companies in Chicago have tried but couldn’t beat him in the game. This explains why he has remained top in the chart of grossing companies of all time.

Heira's eyes glowed. She couldn’t help but let out a smile as she saw this, if she’s been forced to marry, it might as well be the most influential billionaire.

This sounded like a win to her, although she couldn’t help but wonder why he agreed to her father’s proposal.