Chapter 2: pack a bag and meet me at my house tonight.

Roxana

I step out of the room, the paper feeling like a ticking time bomb in my hand.

How on earth has my life become this? Hot tears streak my cheeks as I think of Aaron.

He loves me, and getting married to Tristan would crush him. What am I going to do now?

A lump forms in my throat, and I swallow it hard. Lost in thought, the long corridor seems to spin around me. I don’t realize I've reached the staircase until I slip and fall hard.

Pain explodes through my body, making me shudder. I let out a whimper, unable to stand.

Just then, Zendaya passes by and stops to mock me, laughing sarcastically.

I snap my eyes shut, drawing a deep breath.

The entire hall feels cold against my skin, the dark hallway adding to the pain spreading through me.

“Is there a problem, little sister? Or do you just wish to lie on the ground like the animal you are?” Her heels click on the marble floor as she circles me with her arms folded.

I try to get up, my vision blurring for a moment. I press my hand against the wall, my nails digging into the cool surface.

Why is she doing this? Can’t she just leave me alone? I push myself up, a wince escaping my lips.

Zendaya’s words cut through my pain: “Are you not the one……”

I push past her, my nose flaring.

She’s used to bullying the pathetic little sister, the child of a gardener.

As I try to leave, the ground sways beneath me, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to fall to the cold floor.

“Can’t you hear?” She drags my hair, my head burning with pain.

“What do you want?” I ask, barely above a whisper.

“Nothing—” she shrugs, “—I just like seeing you suffer.”

I jerk away from her. Her words sting. Do I care? Certainly not.

Breathing heavily, I dig my nails into my palm to prevent myself from hitting her across the face.

“And why is that? Is it because you’re so envious, so angry at the world, and you have no other option than to take it out on me? You spend so much time tormenting me that i almost pity you.”

Her palm slams hard on my face; I stagger back before regaining my balance. My hand flies to my burning cheek before I realize it.

I push away the hot tears threatening to fall.

The image of Tristan swims into my head, will he hurt me like this too?

“Mind the way you talk to me, you disappointment of a child.” She marches past me, and I yank her back, pulling at her beautiful platinum long blond hair.

Zendaya screams, shocked out of her skin. I never fight back. She’s so used to bullying me that instead of standing up for myself, I run to my room to cry.

But that ends today. She’s just a bitch looking for someone to vent her anger on. I won't be that person anymore.

“What the hell are you doing?” she struggles to free her hair from my grip.

“You don't get to bully me anymore. Or I will make sure you regret every bit of your life.”

I let go of her hair; her backside slams to the floor.

She clutches her head, looking up at me with her evil green eyes. “You will regret this.”

“Well, do your worst,” I grab the paper lying on the floor and head straight to my room without another glance at her. Inside, I slam the door hard.

My loud breath echoes through the walls. I can’t believe I actually did that.

I drop the paper on my dressing table and throw myself onto the bed. For a moment, I just lie there.

My body aches from the fall, so I massage gently. I consider calling a maid to help me, but decide against it.

As I lie down, my mind briefly drifts back to the arranged marriage.

A knot twists in my stomach.

My phone rings beside me. I pick it up. Aaron’s name flashes on the screen.

I hesitate—what am I going to tell him? That my parents have agreed to marry me off to another man? The phone keeps vibrating. I finally press answer.

His voice comes through immediately, worried as always. “God Rox, I’ve called your number ten times today. I was so worried. Are you okay?”

My heart squeezes; he’s the only one who truly cares about me. “I'm fine,” I manage to say.

“No, you’re not. You sound like you’ve been crying. Did Zendaya bully you again?”

I wipe away the tears with the back of my hand. “It’s not Zendaya.”

“Then what is it?”

“My parents… they are planning to marry me off to another man.”

The line goes silent. I imagine his jaw dropping. When he finally speaks, it sounds choked: “ Fuck Rox, how the hell did that happen?”

“ I don't know, i was called into Marco’s office this morning. “

“ That’s so cruel of him to throw you away like that.” Aaron clears his throat, “What are you going to do now? What’s going to happen to us?” “

I bite my lip hard before saying, “Honestly, I have no idea. You know how much I love you. I can’t live my life without you.”

“I don't know if you can do this—”

My voice rises slightly. “Do what?”

“Huh. The thing is, I think you should come stay with me. Your parents aren’t going to find you. We can run away together.”

My eyes widen at his suggestion. “Are you suggesting I run away?”

“Yes. If you truly love me as you say, that’s the only way out.”

What if my parents find out? They might kill me. They’ll kill Aaron too. But I can’t be with him once I marry Tristan.

“Rox, are you there?”

“Yeah, I’m here… I don't know. What if they find out? They’ll kill both of us.”

“They can’t find out. We’ll go far away. We can go to Mexico if needed.”

“W-what about my studies?”

“I can ask my dad to help. You can enroll in another college… We’ll be fine. Unless, of course, you don't love me anymore.”

I take a breath. “Of course I love you.”

“Then pack a bag and meet me at my house tonight.”

“Okay.”

He ends the call.

I set the phone down and heave a sigh. Staring at the ceiling, arms crossed, with a million thoughts swirling in my mind.

Tonight i would escape—or i lose my freedom forever.