Chapter 2

Drisana

“I want to cut off the engagement.” I walked over to his table. “As of today, I, Drisana Varma, don’t want anything to do with Carter Grey any—“

He didn’t even wait for me to finish talking before he burst out laughing. I watched him in disbelief as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

“What’s funny? Did you hear what I said?” I asked.

“That’s not happening,” he simply said.

“W-what do you mean by that’s not happening?” I stuttered. “You didn’t even ask me the reason why I said that.”

He adjusted his glasses. “Whatever the reason may be, it’s not happening, Beta.”

“He’s cheating on me!” I threw my bag at a nearby chair. “I caught him sleeping with Sloane. My best friend.”

“Drisana, Beta, you’re overreacting,” he said gently.

“What? I’m overreacting? Walking in on my fiancé fucking my best friend and coming to you to cancel the marriage and you refuse to is overreacting?”

“You know we can’t just cancel—“

“Yes, we can. You know we can.” My voice rose despite my efforts to stay calm. “We don't need this business arrangement as much as the Greys do. We are basically helping them and you know it. We are not the ones at the brink of bankrupt—“

“That’s enough!” He stood up and slammed his hands on the table. “Stop this nonsense. You are getting married to Carter whether you like it or not. That’s final.”

My throat tightened. The corners of my eyes stung.

I couldn’t believe this. This can’t be happening. He actually meant it. He still wants me to marry that guy.

“After every…” I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. “… that’s it. I go ahead and marry that dirtbag? After everything I’ve endured for this family. For you. Do you know he has been sleeping around with multiple women even after we announced our engagement?”

A beat.

His expression changed to something I wished I didn’t recognize. He didn’t look surprised. He looked like… No. This better be a joke.

“Don’t tell me… You knew about this?”

“Me knowing still doesn’t change anything. We will work on that. I promise you, Beta. Everything will get better with time. Endure. Just a little bit more.”

I didn’t know when a laugh escaped my mouth. Endure. He wants me to endure instead and stop overreacting.

“You’d rather I stay in an unfaithful marriage than have your reputation ruined. Till when? When will it end? How long…” I scoffed. “Never mind.”

My chest seized like someone had squeezed it from inside. I picked up my bag and walked towards the door. I stopped and turned to face him.

“What if I just refuse?” I asked. “What actually happens if I say no?”

He looked at me like I had asked something embarrassing.

“You won’t,” he simply said. “Because you are a Varma. You are my daughter. My successor. And you understand what this family requires.”

He turned to the window. That gesture means “Conversation Over.”

“You’re right,” I said. “I do understand what this family requires.”

He nodded once, satisfied, not hearing what I actually meant.

I walked out.

By the time I hit the highway, I was flying. My foot stayed heavy on the gas pedal. The speedometer climbed higher and higher, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Every press of the accelerator felt like an attempt to outrun the anger clawing at my chest. My father’s words replayed in my head like a tape recorder.

“That doesn’t change anything. Endure. Stop being dramatic.”

I gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles ached and pressed harder on the gas. Barely noticing the curses and horns thrown my way. If only I could leave my father’s betrayal behind as easily as I left the city lights in my rearview mirror.

My hands were still shaking as I drove into my garage and parked my car.

“What the…” I cursed under my breath as the seatbelt got stuck. I screamed and yelled at it, tears rolling down my cheeks. I can’t even tell if it’s from the seatbelt or something else.

I ended up using a facial razor to cut through it.

I wiped my tears, grabbed my laptop from my bag, and stepped out of the car. I took off my shoes and walked barefoot towards the door.

The night breeze was cool. On nights like this, I’d be excited to have a cool bubble bath and some champagne. But here I am, miserable as hell and I don’t think bubble baths can fix this. Two bottles of champagne could.

I walked into the house. I didn’t even bother turning on the lights. The dim glow of the nightlights was the only thing illuminating the room.

I headed straight for the wine cellar, grabbed a bottle, and drank until it was half empty. Then I reached for another and made my way to my bedroom. No glasses tonight. I was drinking straight from the bottle.

I shoved my bedroom door open. The sight that greeted me made my blood run cold. The bottles slipped from my hands before I even realized I’d let them go. They hit the floor and exploded into shards of glass.

I screamed.

A massive basket of dahlias sat in the center of my bed.

Someone had broken into my house and left me flowers.