The same man

Ava's POV

What?!

What were they talking about?

I was getting married. To whom? Why? When?

"How can I get married when I've not brought a guy home yet?" I said, refusing to believe what I heard.

I knew they hated me so much, but what did I ever do to deserve this?

"Do you need to bring someone to us, huh?" Mom sneered.

"You talk like you have anyone. No one is willing to date someone like you." Alison chipped in, with a smile on her face. 

I just felt that the ground would finally open up and swallow me. 

"Well, we arranged a marriage for you with the Miller's family." Dad finally spoke after a while. 

My eyes widened in shock as I tried to form words that refused to come out. 

I knew the Millers' family. It was known to be the wealthiest in the City. They ran different companies and sold different things.

They sold land, cosmetics, technology, malls, groceries, and many more, which made them prosperous.

My Dad was willing to sell me out to the family. My Dad was rich, but then it was nothing compared to them.

If they were interested in an arranged marriage, then why did Dad not give Alison instead of me?

"Why me? Why not Alison?" I finally asked. 

They had never given me anything good. It was a sign that the marriage was going to be hell. 

"Oh well, they said he is useless. He was going to die soon from a deadly disease. So I don't think I will go for someone like that." Alison said, scoffing in mockery. 

"Their family knew we were good for business, so they asked for one of our daughters, and you know we have two, and we felt you were the best for it." Mom said as a smile crept on her face. 

Unbelievable! They now counted me as a family member, just because he was a dying man. They would have just called a maid who could take care of their husband. Now, all I would do was work as a slave for the family.

"What about work?" I asked.

"Now, I know that you are just so stupid. Aren't you supposed to be happy that you are going to a wealthy family?" Alison said. 

My eyes got red as I gritted my teeth hard to control myself. 

I couldn't just decide how my life was going to be. They decided everything that happened to me.

"Dad, you don't know how the man is. Why do you hate me so much? So the best thing you could do was to sell me out?" I gaped. 

"Get out of here, little brat!" Dad barked, which caused me to scramble up to my feet. I rushed out with tears running down my face.

***********

It's been a week since they told me my unfortunate fate of getting married to an unknown man. 

Juliana, the only friend I had, came to visit me. "Ava, what is wrong? You have not been in college for a while now. What was wrong?" 

I stared for a while, lost in thought. Didn't know I was going to explain to her. 

"Ava, did you hear me?" she said when she realized that I was lost. 

"Oh yeah, I heard all you said," I replied with a smile. She was like the only family I had. I needed to let her know what was going on. 

"I am getting married soon to a stranger," I said in a cold and calm voice

"What? Why are your parents so heartless?" she said angrily, knowing fully well that my parents were the ones who arranged the marriage. 

Just then, Clara Wilson walked in. "Oh! You are here telling people about your useless life."

I turned to Juliana and said, "Please leave. I will give you a call later. Please."

She stood up and left immediately. Clara stared at her angrily. 

"I don't have anything to say to you. Just get downstairs in five minutes." she snapped, and then threw a dress at me. "Wear this. Your husband's family is here to take you home."

My eyes widened in shock. 

I couldn't believe what they said. 

I got downstairs and found a woman sitting there but then I didn't find the man. Tears flowed down my cheeks. 

"Is this the lady for my son? The poor little brat." A sharp voice pierced my ear.

Her voice was so disgusting and cold.  Meeting them for the first time and then being called a little brat was the beginning of another hell. I have been through pain, and this was another level of pain. 

"She is a bit okay. If she followed my rules, then it was fine." She smirked.

After so many complaints. I was ordered to follow her and then I finally left with the Wilson's family.

I got into the car. It wasn't up to an hour when we got to the Millers' mansion. 

It was a mansion. It had a minimalist design. The floor-to-ceiling windows seemed to disappear into the walls, flooding the space with natural light and offering a glimpse into a life of luxury. 

"If this deal crashes, you crash with it. Now get your smelly self in here and come meet your husband-to-be," she said, as we got into the living room.

My body froze and my steps came to a halt as I stared at a tall man in front of me. 

It was the man. The man I saved the other night. The man I  had a one-night stand with. 

"Wow, fate brought us together!" I said as I hugged him. 

My eyes widened as he pushed me aside. 

"Don't you dare come close to me ever again," he barked, his eyes darkened. 

I froze. Doesn't he know who I am? Has he forgotten about me? Impossible! 

"I am-" I tried to speak, but was cut off by his mother, Mrs Miller. 

"Please stop all this. He might not start loving you now. But with time." she said and left.