Clara

“Prepare Clara. In three days' time, you'll marry in your sister’s place. Understood?”

The words were so sudden I didn't process them at first. 

Exhaustion from working throughout the entire day had worn down my body. Usually, when coming home, they wouldn't bat an eye my way and would have continued with dinner regardless of my presence, but tonight was different. Tonight, they were extremely insistent on me coming home early. 

I knew something was wrong. I'd spent most of the dinner wondering what they wanted, given how much they ignored me normally.

I HAD expected something. Just not this.

I looked up to where my father, John Hathaway, sat at the head of the dining table across.  His face bearing a nonchalant finality, as if he'd said something casual.

But I couldn't believe it. Marriage? What marriage? 

“I…don't understand.” I said.

“Are you deaf?!” he snapped a d  I flinched instinctively, biting the inside of my mouth to ground myself.

“I…I just want to understand f-father.” I said. “What marriage are you talking about?”

“Hathaway Cooperation hit a little snag.” he said lightly, “Thanks to that failed deal, our capital chain was about to break. Thus, we had to take some measures of our own.”

My stomach sank at the words ‘failed’. It was just as I'd feared. Even from a branch office, I'd heard whispers about it. If he'd listened to me—

“What measures?” I asked, shutting down those thoughts.

“We sought help from some sources, and fortunately they've agreed and we've settled a deal.” he continued, looking victorious, “thanks to the Damiani family, We don't have anything to worry about.”

I stiffened instantly. Damiani?

I wasn't particularly social. Unlike Nessa, I wasn't allowed or  given the chance to attend parties, or had friends. My life was mostly centered around my work and this house, but even I knew the name Damiani.

The Damianis were known on the surface as being an old family with strings of companies and cooperations under them, but everything else about them was a complete mystery.  There weren't any sightings of them. Nobody knew their identities. And their wealth according to rumors was almost impossible to trace.

Then there were rumors. Rumors that their cooperations were just cover-ups for  illegal ventures. Rumors that the reason for their anonymity and wealth was that they were in truth, mafia.

That word alone sent a wave of dread. How did my father make contact with them? When?

No, that wasn't the right question. Even from the little I knew, a family like that wouldn't make such a charitable deal, especially with my father. There had to be a huge risk involved…

Wait…Marriage…

“What did they want?” I asked, the late realization sinking in.

“They agreed to give us a loan under the condition that our daughter married their heir.” he said, glancing to the side. “surely, you can understand who they were talking about.”

 I knew, of course I knew.

Even though I was technically the eldest daughter of the Hathaway family, nobody was aware of my existence. There was only one person people referred to the daughter of the Hathaway's.

Nessa Hathaway, my younger sister. As far as most of the public was concerned, she was the only daughter.

They'd asked for her in marriage and I was meant to take her place.  

“I didn't know about this.” I said.

“Well now you do.” He snorted, “and now you know what you'll do, so prepare.”

My father had already looked away, ignoring my presence. Seeing the nonchalance on his face made the suffocating feeling grow.

“Mother, did you know about this too?” I asked, turning towards her. 

“It didn't concern you then.” She said, not even bothering to look my way. “Either way, the deal is done. The Damiani’s aren't to be trifled with. Although I don't know much, I've heard that the heir, especially, is known to be a ruthless brute. Nessa is too fragile and precious to suffer under those conditions. Luckily, thanks to you we have a solution. They likely don't know what she looks like. For the sake of the alliance, you'll assume her identity and marry him.”

Her words were like a slap to the face. For some reason, the smallest, longing part of me held onto the foolish hope that she would  be surprised. That she would contradict him or say it was absurd.  But there was no hesitation or any ounce of sympathy in her tone.

My stomach sank. Given the rumors about that family, I could fill in the blanks exactly of the kind of person the heir was. It was likely just as she said. A ruthless, dangerous man.

“And what about me?” I asked. It was a small question, yet the moment it left my lips, the room went several degrees cooler.

I felt my father's penetrating gaze as my mother turned to face me. I forced myself to ignore him and focus on her.

“Am…am I not also your daughter? What makes you think I should face him? Don't I deserve protection too?” I asked, heart racing. “W-w-why include me in this when you didn't even bother telling me any of it before—”

“Enough.” she snapped. 

My words were choked back. I was more than familiar with her tone when she was displeased, signalling that I'd stepped out of line.

“As the older sister, it's your job to pave the way for her.” She continued. “We’ve never asked or expected anything of you. We've raised you and tolerated your incapabilities. This is the least you can do for this family. Surely you understand that, don't you?”

Her words hung like a weight, settling over my shoulders with the same crushing familiarity it always had. The words I wanted to say were shut out under the silent pressure.

I had heard variations of those words my entire life, all saying the same thing.

I was always the one expected to understand. Always the one to blame, because they were family and I owed them. Because they tolerated my dullness, my nature and still treated me well.

That was how it always was. This would be no different.

“Yes.” I forced out. Those words broke the tension. My father scoffed derisively. My mother nodded as though the matter had finally been settled.

I lowered my eyes, swallowing down the ache. Just like that, my life was settled.

Without thinking, my gaze shifted to Nessa.

With her slightly more brunette curls and larger curvy frame that could draw eyes everywhere, it would be easy to assume that she was the older sister instead. She glowed in contrast to me, having the best of everything.

 Perhaps that was why even a family like the Damianis took an interest in her.

She didn't look my way, but I could tell she felt my gaze as her lips lifted into what could only be a smug smile.

My gut churned at the sight. I looked down at the rest of the dinner.

They never asked or expected anything of me because they didn't care at all. Not of my well being. 

I was dull. When I was younger, my family were ordinary people, struggling with business. It wasn't until I turned five that my father had his first big break. 

Afterwards, their wealth boomed, and their lives became more glimmering.

Then my mother got pregnant and they gave birth to Nessa at the peak of the business boom. She became their lucky charm, raised with the poise a wealthy daughter should have. I became the discarded daughter, too dull and uncultured for their flashy life.

Decades passed and it remained the same.

Nessa was the golden child. And I? I was the backup sister.

Bile welled up in my mouth, ruining the taste of whatever food was left.

I could only stand being there for a few more minutes before bolting out of the dining and into my bedroom.  

After locking the door, I rushed to the bathroom and retched but under the sink nothing came up. In the end, I slumped down onto the floor. 

Tears stung my eyes. I shut them tightly to keep it from falling, but it couldn't withhold the heaviness.

Hurt, despair, frustration, all with nowhere to go.

Within the Hathaway mansion, this home I'd lived in for 23 years, I'd been a stranger. Even if I couldn't have their favour, at least, I believed I had a life here, even as an invisible daughter.

But now, even that was gone. I had been given away as a substitute and sent to be married to a stranger in three days time.

Not just any stranger, I thought dreadfully, the apparent heir of the Damiani family. One who, if the rumors were accurate, was a dangerous man.

I needed to do something. Anything. But what could I do?

Nothing, I thought, shutting my eyes.

My life, for better and for worse, had been confined to the walls of  this house and my family. I had no friends, barely even acquaintances and no place to go. Even if I did, the weight of the family pressure was unavoidable.

For my family, for Nessa, I had to sacrifice. That was always how it was supposed to be.

That wouldn't change, whether I liked it or not.