Chapter 1 – Forced to Marry

After all these years, I was finally getting somewhere I wanted to be. I was about to pursue my dream, my education. I was going to start university and finally get a break from my so called step-mom. I was away from her, from home, from everything. Freedom. Freedom was in my grasp and in an instant. One blood phone call changed it all.

“Dad?” my voice trembled with disbelief.

“Oh, my darling. I need you.” His voice seemed as if he had been crying. I wanted to cry. I was talking to the man after five freaking years. He just vanished and never looked back.

“What happened? Dad are you okay?” my free hand rested on my heart which was thumping so loudly I was afraid he might hear it over the phone.

“No Vivi. I need your help,”

He needed my help. What could I possibly help him over?

“I’m stuck in a problem Vivi. I messed with the wrong people and now I owe them a lot of money and if don’t give it to them they’ll kill me.”

And now I heard a crack in his voice. He was crying.

My stupid heart melted away. No daughter can see their father cry. Well not the first time, at least.

“How much money dad?” I asked before I could stop myself. I don’t even know why I answered it’s not like I have any with me. But I do know ways to buy him time…whatever he’s gotten himself into is definitely illegal. So, I was confident I could at least provide him with some legal backing.

“Vivi,” he sobbed.

“Dad. How much money?” now I was scared. I wasn’t prepared for the answer…at all.

“Ten million,” his voice came low.

What the fuck? Ten million?

“Dollars? Dad you took ten million dollars? From whom? What. I.” I couldn’t process. “Why?” I frowned.

Who even gave him that much money?

“Please help me darling,”

“What am I supposed to do here? I don’t have that kind of money,” I was getting irritated, frankly. What was his purpose of calling me after five years of complete shut off and just casually drop such a burden on my shoulder?

“I know someone. A Really good family. They are very wealthy…”

No.

“…And the man is handsome, he’s around your age and the family is lovely, Vivi…”

No. No.

“…they can really help me but they want a bride…”

“I’m sorry I can’t help you Dad.”

“Don’t be like that Vivi. Please just listen to me. I am your father. You have every right to be angry at me for all this but just know whatever I did, I did to protect you. I never intended to leave but I had to or you…you would have been in danger.” He sobbed…again.

I grit my teeth and closed my eyes. God. Why? I wanted to scream.

“I’m asking you. Daughter, I’m begging you. They will kill me. You just have to marry a man who can provide you with everything.”

I don’t want that.

“Wait they’re calling me. I’m calling you back. Please give me your answer by then,” and he hanged up.

“What the hell?” I muttered to myself.

This is so wrong but can I really just leave him to die. Sure, he left, but he says he did it for me…to protect me. But it doesn’t mean, I just marry someone off I haven’t ever met. When will we marry?

No.

I can’t even think about that. Do I any other choice? I do, technically. But that ends up with dad getting killed.

The phone rang. I stared at the unknown number. What will I say to him?

“Hello,”

“Have you decided Vivi? They’re waiting for an answer.”

My foot tapped impatiently on the floor; my eyes closed with agitation.

“Vivienne. Please.” He pleaded.

Fuck my life.

“Okay,” I barely muttered.

“What’s that?” his voice lit up.

“Alright, I’ll marry th-”

“Oh, thank you honey. Thank you. I will meet you tomorrow at your university at 1 p.m. See you sweetie. Bye. Thank you again so much Vivi,”

He hanged up again.

How did he know where I was? Something seemed strange all of a sudden.

He didn’t say I love you…he didn’t ask me how I was feeling. He just felt relieved as if I had lifted everything off of him. Well, I did by agreeing. Technically.  

So that’s it then. Everything I had worked hard for…all gone in an instant. I’m marrying some random dude my dad knows but I have never seen nor met.

How bad could it be?

The next morning, I went out when I got dad’s call. I hadn’t slept the night, I couldn’t. Everything seemed like a dream.

Dad was standing there, his arms opened, a huge grin on his face. I smiled back.

“Dad,” I hugged him and smiled as his arms wrapped around me. I never knew I missed him this much.

He pulled back a lot sooner than I expected and call me weird, he seemed awkward.

“Let’s go,”

“Where?” I questioned, suddenly taking a step backwards.

“You’re getting married today.” He stated as if he told me we were going fishing.

“Today? Right now? Dad, my university…”

“Can be looked at later. I’m sorry Vivi. But I have only till today. Don’t worry, your university…everything you want will be catered for. I made sure of that,” he smiled warmly.  

Sighing, I got in the car. The whole ride was quiet and it perked up my nerves. Why was I the only one hell bent on getting answers? Why wasn’t he clarifying things himself? Being the stubborn me, I didn’t ask any questions.

But stopping in front of the big guarded gate of a mansion, I wished I had.

“Are these the people I’m being married into?” I looked around as the car drove in. “Dad, why is everyone carrying a gun?”

“Wait Vivi,”

I looked at him, my eyes wide. Everything inside me was screaming something was wrong. That he had lied to me. He seemed so calm but I could notice the beads of sweat on his forehead, his hands slightly shaking as he held the steering wheel.

“Who are these people?”

“I said quiet,” he shot a glare towards me. I sank back to my seat, processing everything.

No.

No.

This is bad.

Something is bad.

He got out and opened the door for me. “Come out, please,” he was looking at me like I was his lifeline. For the first time I felt as if he wanted to smack me but couldn’t.

We walked inside the mansion.

“Wait here, the boss is coming,” a man spoke suddenly appearing in front of us, startling me. He wore a neat black suit. Seemed like a bodyguard. “Good afternoon, Ma’am,” he greeted when he looked at me and I gave him a small nod back not sure how to react.

“Boss?” I cringed. “Dad, what is going on?” I whispered to him. “Where is the family? Why is there no one to receive us? And I see no guests.,”

“You’re giving me anxiety Vivienne. Just stay quiet,”

The nerve.

“You know what. I change my mind. I can’t do this,”

I turned around ready to flee this place. I head him call my name out but I ignored. as soon as I opened the door to exit, I clashed against a hard chest. “Ow,”

I squinted my eyes and saw a broad chest in front of me blocking my path. I stretched my neck up, to look at the person in front of me.

That’s when a pair of beautiful eyes, misty grey, settled on me. He had really sharp defined features. His hair was slicked back and he was dressed in a grey suit. A sexy man indeed. He was like a painting, so beautifully crafted.

“Going somewhere sweetheart?” his voice vibrated through my body and I took a step back, gasping, realizing I was almost pressed against him.