CHAPTER 1

“I will do no such thing!" Sloane's voice raged in anger and frustration as she stepped out of the car.

"Sloane!” Her mother's voice called on her. "You don't get to—”

Sloane didn't wait to hear the rest of the words. She slammed the door shut and strode into the house.

Shortly after she entered and sat down, Ms Barbara Wentworth, a slightly chubby woman in her early sixties, walked in with anger registered all over her face.

She walked straight to Sloane and launched a slap on her face where she was seated.

“How dare you little thing walk out on me?" Ms Barbara queried her.

Sloane held onto her cheek, where she had been slapped.

“Be in the meeting room now!" The angry lady continued. “The whole family will be there to make the decision on your behalf."

When she left, Sloane leaned backwards and shut her eyes. Her world was always full of drama. But this time, it was even more dramatic.

Sloane Wentworth, the first daughter of the family. She didn't always know who her father was until she turned twelve. Before then, she and her birth mother, Josie, managed to survive.

Her mother had her when she was in school and was forced to drop out. But then, her birth father, who was from a wealthy home, had left the country before the pregnancy was discovered.

She didn't get to spend a lot of years with him before the man eventually lost his life in a plane crash. That morning, he kissed little Sloane on the forehead and left for a business trip. But he never returned.

Now, her birth mother was battling her life in the hospital. Sloane was left at the mercy of her stepmom, Ms Barbara Wentworth, who was never happy about her presence in their lives.

They wanted her to get married against her will. And she wasn't going to let it happen.

In the meeting room, the family was there.

“Where is this girl?" Ms Barbara queried in an angry tone.

“Maybe I have to drag her to this place."

That was John, the first born. He had the traits of their mother— always ready to step on others.

“Let her breathe, please," Jacob, the second son, cut in. "Give her a little time.”

Sloane has three siblings— John and Jacob, who are older, and Sharon, the younger one.

"I'm afraid I don't have the time to be idle while waiting for that bitch!” Sharon groaned.

Jacob stared at her. " Show some respect. That's your elder sister.”

John sighed. “Let her express herself. You don't get to shut her up in that manner."

“Enough!" Ms Barbara Wentworth said and brought order. “Jacob, go and get Sloane here."

Before Jacob could get up, Sloane's voice crept into the room.

“There will be no need for that," she said and walked into the room.

It was a full room. The wives of John and Jacob, Erica and Ivy, were anchored beside their husbands.

She breathed in heavily and let it out before walking to her chair.

“Have you made your decision now?" Ms Barbara asked her.

Sloane looked at the faces of everyone. Then, she replied, ”Yes. There is no way I will do what you are asking me to do.”

A very thick scowl formed on the face of Ms Barbara once again.

“Do you really not know what is at stake here?" John asked her. “Wentworth enterprises is shaky and needs a helping hand. Bradley has made the decision to help us, but only on the condition that he gets married to you. And here you are, trying to say that you are unwilling to do this one thing for the family."

Sharon scoffed at her. “Yet, she claims to love dad. How pathetic of her.”

"Why do I have to be the one to sacrifice my own happiness?” Sloane asked. "This is not supposed to be an issue. For goodness' sake, you all are asking me to accept someone I barely know to be my husband. Damn it.”

"You can get to know him with time," Ms Barbara said.

Sloane got up from her chair. “The father of the person in question has a knack for being wicked. I will not sacrifice the rest of my life in order to make you happy!"

Sloane slammed her hands on the table angrily. She was about to leave when Ms Barbara spoke again.

“Your mother," the lady said.

Sloane felt a bit of ice all over her body.

"My mother?” She asked.

Ms Barbara nodded. "Do this and I'll foot the bills and make sure her surgery is done.”

That was her Achilles's hole. She would do anything to save her mother. And that included having to marry someone she didn't want to have anything to do with their family.

There was a pause. She processed the thoughts for a while and asked Ms Barbara. “Will you stick to your word?"

The lady nodded her head. "I will.”

Sloane cleared her throat.

"Fine,” she finally agreed. "I will do it.”

There was a little breath of fresh air that seemed to have entered the room.

Ms Barbara smiled and rubbed her hands together.

"Head to the city hall. He will be there to get your marriage registered.”

Sloane walked away, not minding the chuckles that came behind her. She had to save her own mother.

★★★★★

A couple of moments later, Sloane arrived at the City Hall to meet the stranger she was supposed to get married to.

After she got out of the car, she realised she had made a really terrible mistake. She had forgotten to at least get a good description of the person she was there to meet.

Well, there was no cause for alarm. Whoever the dude was, he would approach her.

Many minutes passed and there was no sign of anyone coming to her yet. She could see a man standing many feet away from her. He was alone, but looked like a construction worker. There was no way it was him.

She took her phone and dialed her Stepmom.

One ring. Two rings…three rings…

The call connected.

“Have you met with him yet?" Ms Barbara asked straightly.

Sloane stammered for a bit. “I.. I forgot to get his description from you."

“You silly girl!" The woman raged. “You can't be serious right now. If you see a good-looking man, you should know. In fact, he should be there already."

“But—"

Before she could complete the rest of the words, the call went off. Ms Barbara Wentworth hung up on her.

Sloane was hit with a bit of frustration. But then, the man standing a few feet away seemed to be waiting for someone, probably her.

She heaved a sigh and gathered her pieces together. Then, she strode to him immediately.

“Good afternoon, sir," she greeted him.

“Good afternoon," the man responded strangely.

Sloane sighed. “I get it. I don't know you either. But I'm the person you are waiting for. And please, don't make this any more awkward than it already is. You wanted me. I am here now.”

The stranger looked puzzled. " Am I supposed to know you?”

Sloane sighed. "Wentworth enterprises may need your dad's help. But that doesn't mean I'm into you. Don't feel too highly of yourself. If you have your passport with you, let's go and get this marriage registered immediately before I change my mind. Besides, I'm doing this for my sick mom.”

There was no word from him for a while. Then, he said, “Let's get it done. Let's get married."