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Chapter 1

10 years later

Liam’s POV

“Father, please, I don't want to get married to him…please, you knew fully well that if I got married to Elijah, I would be as good as dead. You’re aware how ruthless he is; is there no other way you can annul the wedding or remove the deal?” Ella said to my father in his bedroom, kneeling down; tears rolled down her eyes, and only that view made my heart ache.

“You're my daughter, Ella, and if at all there is any possibility…of course I wouldn't want to marry him. But we don't have a say here." Father responded by looking away from the window.

“No! Father, please ... I'm begging you. I don't want to marry him. I can't marry someone I don't love, and the both of us know that he doesn't even love me! If I marry him, he will kill me, Father…pl…please, I don't want to go there.”

I could hear Ella’s voice quivering; it was filled with desperation and tears…I knew and understood exactly how she was feeling. No one should be treated like a slave to an arranged marriage.

Yeah? Today is that day from the contract years ago, the wedding between the Sabasto and the Ronaldo. I couldn’t help but imagine my sister standing inside that bedroom shaking and the way both her hands would be clenched together ... pleading. The way her voice trembled and sounded broken killed my spirit immediately, but my father is kind of right…we had no choice.

And that was when I heard the next word that shattered my world totally. “We can’t do anything about that, Ella; you’re getting married to Elijah, and that’s final! This deal has been sealed for ten years, and you should consider yourself his wife. Go pack your bags…you're getting married today, and you are going to live there from now on.” Father said, even if his tone was serious… I could still feel the weight of pain in his voice.

I knew my only sister would be dead like a log of wood with those words; my father's voice struck her like a hammer, and I quickly peeked from an opening in the door…she stood up slowly; her face was so messy with tears as she staggered back.

“That's it? I'm just a tool to pay back a debt that I didn't owe….” She muttered under her breath.

But my father still didn't face her. “Just remember… I did this to save the both of you, to save our family's legacy.” When he said this, it seemed like Ella didn't want to listen anymore, so she turned slowly and left the room.

I was still standing at the door when she opened the door; our eyes met, and without waiting for me to say anything, she turned and rushed back to her room in tears.

I felt her pain immediately, knowing what she would pass through in Elijah’s mansion. I was so helpless.... . The pain in here wasn’t just sorrow…it was mixed with fear, the type of fear that weakened my knees.

But my instincts kicked in immediately; I was determined, and I said to myself, "She wants to be sold off into something she doesn't want, and I won't let that happen. She's just 21, and I won't let my only sister suffer!" I have a plan.

I quickly ran after her into her bedroom, as my shoes clicked on the polished floor.

When I got to her room, she was seated on the edge of the bed in tears as she was also folding her clothes with trembling hands.I walked slowly to her and assisted her in packing her bag, as if each item I folded could somehow shield her from what was coming. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” I whispered, as my fingers brushed against hers for a moment. “Ella…listen to me, you don’t have to go somewhere you don’t want to go. I know we are both stuck in this, and yes, it seems there’s no choice, but there’s always a way, Ella. There has to be a way.”

She shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face. “You're not supposed to be here, you know that, and… There’s no way for this, Liam. I am stuck in this mess. I just turned 21 yesterday, and just when I thought I could be like other of my friends in the university…I’m getting married to him. That was the deal, right? That’s all this family ever cares about—the family’s name!”

I couldn’t even talk; seeing her crying made my brows furrow. I got closer to her and patted her back.

“I understand Father did this for us, but did he even think about me? I’d rather die than marry that man! Everyone knows how ruthless and merciless he is; even Father knows about that, and you know what? He's coming. He’s on his way here, and the moment he comes, I’m going with him…. So you don't have to worry because the moment I go with him, you guys won’t see me again. That’s a goodbye.”

“You have to go now, Liam; Father wouldn't want to see you here… I love you, brother.”

The way her voice cracked at the end made me not notice that I was actually shedding tears… I felt my chest tighten. Seeing her like this, so helpless and broken, tore something up inside of me.

I was determined; I could let this happen to anyone who would talk more of my only sister…. I quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to myself. I tightened my grip. I held her family as my thumb was brushing across the back of her hands.

“Ella,” I said softly, “you’re my only sister; I can’t stand to see you being sold off to that man. You don’t have to marry Elijah today…. I’ll take your place; I will marry him instead of you.”

She raised her head instantly, and her eyes widened in shock; they were filled with a mixture of disbelief and fear.

“What do you mean by that, Liam? Are you crazy!? I know you care about me as my brother, but for Christ’s sake, Liam, you’re a man! How the hell did you intend to marry your fellow gender!? You know that's unacceptable in both gangs.” She said in shock.

I looked around the room to make sure that the guards or my father were not coming. I nodded my head solemnly, but I was only trying to keep my own fear and worry from showing.

I gently wiped her tears with the back of my hand and said, “Yes, I know I’m a man, Ella, and I know that it's more like a death sentence in both gangs, but I…I kinda found a loophole in the contract that was signed years ago.” I said, and she furrowed her brows in confusion.

“What!? How did you find the copy of it? I know Dad never allows anyone near his secret room.” She asked.

I heard her hand and said, “Yeah, but I managed to sneak in a few weeks ago, and I found it…it says Elijah has to marry a child of the Sabato family. It doesn’t have to be you—it can be any of us, whether male or female. And I’m going to take your place. I can do this for you.”

Her mouth fell open slightly, and she shook her head, her voice choked with sobs. “No, I can’t let you do this. Let me go instead of you… I shouldn't have complained in the first place; it’s my fate. I have to accept it, right? And also…he’s a monster, a playboy, and he's ruthless, Liam! A playboy. He’s ruthless, Liam! You can’t do this! I can’t let you go with him.”

“God knows how many mistresses he has. Even if you go there, he’ll still cheat on you. He’ll hurt you. And besides…how could Elijah possibly want to marry a man?”

I squeezed her hand tighter, causing my knuckles to turn white while saying, “You don’t have to worry about anything, I promise, Ella, and besides, I'm sure that when I fake this and claim to replace you…he might let go of the contract and cancel the marriage. I have to do this now to protect you; I have to do this. Please, let me.”

“No! You can’t! He will kill you! I don’t want you to die, please don’t!” she pleaded desperately, holding me tightly as tears rolled down her face. Her whole body was shaking in fear.

I was just out to respond to her when we heard a deep voice behind us, “Kill who?”

My blood ran cold as I swallowed hard, and we both turned back slowly… My eyes widened as my heart pounded like a drum at the sight.

It was the treacherous and ruthless Elijah standing at the door, staring directly at me. He was putting on a golden suit, already dressed like a groom…. His golden suit gleamed even in the dim light; he had tattoos on his neck and his hands... My eyes flashed at the flowers he was holding.

He looks strikingly handsome, and I couldn't help but stare at him with my lips parted.Holy shit! But his? It was as hard as rock and very serious, but his eyes were still locked in mine with an intensity that made it hard to breathe.

But despite how hard his face was and his cold demeanor, I could still deny the fact that he looked ridiculously and dangerously attractive. I was still staring at him, and my mind forgot to register the danger that we were in. Oh no… I’m doomed!

He stepped into the room with a smirk, and I could hear my sister quivering beside me; I bet she was already shaking. His boots were clicking against the marble floor, and for a moment, it felt like everything froze… My eyes darted at his slightly unbuttoned upper shirt.

Ella shrank back immediately as she grabbed my arms tightly and trembled against me, and that was when Elijah disengaged his gaze from me and it shifted to her…his look was tense with the way his eyes narrowed for her to answer the question he asked earlier.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “Elijah…I mean…” Don, please. Don’t…” I started, but before I could finish, he raised his hand at me, signaling me to stop talking….for a moment I wondered what he meant by that.

Ella cried beside me while holding me tightly. I tightened my grip on her hand, trying to shield her from him, from the inevitable. “You don’t have to do this, Liam,” she whispered, voice barely audible. “He’s dangerous…”

I could feel my pulse hammering in my ears. My mind raced, and my heart was torn between fear and resolve. I had to protect her. I had to. No matter what it took.

Tears were already falling freely from her eyes. I wanted to hold her, to promise her safety, but I had no idea how to face him.

I took a deep breath, my hands trembling slightly. I had to show courage, even if I didn’t feel it. “I’ll take her place,” I said firmly, my voice echoing with determination I didn’t feel. “I will marry you instead of her.”

Elijah’s lips curled slightly, and I caught a spark of interest in his eyes, like it was what he wanted—or was it a warning?

Elijah stepped closer to us; the light in the room reflected on his suit and his glinting eyes. I wanted to refuse him immediately and take back my words, but I knew I couldn't…

Because I had made a promise, and I'm going to keep it no matter what happens.