CHAPTER 7

　　Emma slumped down on the floor. She buried her face in her knees and cried.

　　Her cheek was hurting her much. She didn't know if she is to be thankful or feel wronged for the slap.

　　She felt the slap being better than standing on ice for hours. She will be frozen, that punishment is worst, she can't imagine it.

　　But then, why couldn't he forgive her? The time she was given was short.

　　As she cried, she thought about her life and the outcome later on.

　　She used to be a happy child but now she is miserable, she has become unhappy in just a week.

　　She thought about a lot of things, there kept running through her mind.

　　Her mind drifted to her school, since she is not to step out of the house, will Blake allow her to continue her college?

　　She is just in the second semester of her year two. The thought of stopping her education sadden her the more.

　　All her life, she had dreamt of becoming a psychiatric doctor to help the mentally unstable people and her dreams is crashing down before she can even climb the wall of success.

　　Her life is so messy, it has become very messy since Blake stepped into it.

　　Will he listen to her? She is afraid of being punished for speaking to him.

　　Emma wiped her tears with the back of her hand, she stood up with swollen eyes. She has lost count on how many times she has cried during the week.

　　Without making attempt to look at Blake, she went downstairs and waited patiently for him to be done with his breakfast.

　　She has to seek for his approval, she had to tell him of about her college.

　　He should be aware of her being a college student.

　　"Must I tell you everything before you know what to do? You are to stand here and watch me eat till I am done. I hate talking, I hate conversing with commoners like you, I hate the fact that you get me mad all the time"

　　He aforementioned. Instead of speaking, Emma decided to stay quiet. She is not sure of saying anything else that apologizing.

　　Soon, he was done with breakfast.

　　Blake wiped his mouth and stood up from the chair not without staring at the lady in front of him.

　　He could see her lips quivering and her hands trembling.

　　His shiny bright yet cold eyes met hers, he raised a questioning brow at her.

　　Emma opened her mouth to speak but it kept trembling in fear.

　　"Do you think I have the time to be waisting with you? Speak up and do not waste my time" He said arrogantly.

　　"My college...can I start my college tomorrow?" She asked, her heart racing a marathon. She stepped back with the fear of being hit again.

　　Blake chuckled coldly, he stepped closer to her and raised her chin. She flinched to his cold hand.

　　"Are you stupid?" He asked staring at her as if waiting for an answer. Emma could only shake her head.

　　Her words might betray her if she tries to speak or say anything.

　　Blake removed his hand, he stepped away from her with a wintry glare.

　　"Your father didn't tell you what the contract entails did he? How could you foolishly not have read it?"

　　Blake asked. Emma's shoulder slumped, her stomach growled loudly necessarily not from hunger but from anxiety.

　　Her Dad only told her that she has to marry Blake to keep their restaurant. Is there more to it?

　　She was becoming more bluff than she was earlier. As she thought about the possibilities, she became apprehensive.

　　She was confused on whether to cry or laugh in agony. Why did her Dad do this to her?

　　"I knew you were cloddish from the beginning, more reason I despise you. You were only interested in my money that you didn't bother going through the contract agreement, how stupid"

　　Blake glower and dragged himself back into his room with disinterest.

　　Emma stood dumbfounded. The creepy feeling erupting through her became high.

　　She paled immediately, curious to know what the agreement says and at the same time, she was scared of knowing it.

　　She sat down on the chair, her head in her hands and her mind far away from where she was seated.

　　What could possibly be the agreement?

　　It is true she should be blamed for not looking at the agreement before now but even if she did, nothing could have changed since her Dad already signed it.

　　Is it that bad? What could they be? With the thoughts clouding Emma's mind, she lost her appetite to eat.

　　She haven't eaten very well since this all started.

　　She just sat there dump and confused.

　　★The Brysons' Resident★

　　Carl laid on his bed with a book in his hand. To someone that's seeing him for the first time, it could be mistaken that he is fully concentrated in the book he is reading.

　　But his mind is actually not in the book, he haven't catch a word since he opened it.

　　Mr Bryson entered his room yet, Carl didn't make any effort to acknowledge his presence.

　　"Son" he called sitting down beside him on the bed.

　　"I am sorry" Mr Bryson apologized which triggered Carl to look at him.

　　"Sorry? I am not the one you should to be apologizing to,

　　I am sorry to say this Dad but you were mean and egoistic with your decision concerning my sister's life, I do not want to talk to you right now"

　　Carl stood up from the bed and left the room. He miss his sister a lot and their fights.

　　Having the idea of what Emma might be going through in the hands of her husband hurts him the more.

　　She is a sweet soul that doesn't deserve anything bad happening in her life.

　　If he happens to be her, he won't forgive their Dad ever.

　　What he did is unforgivable, how can a father gamble with his own daughter's life?

　　To worsen it all, they hid the truth from her. Carl do not think of anything being worse than that.

　　Getting the thought out of his mind, he stride through the balcony. His sister's favourite place.

　　******

　　Emma was seated in the same spot for thirty minutes, she was lost in thought of her own.

　　Her mind was unclear about everything and nothing. She thought of the things that troubles her.

　　She was seated until Blake came back with his copy of the contract agreement.

　　He threw it at her and pocketed his hands revealing no single emotion.

　　Emma glanced at the papers then at him befuddled.

　　She did not know if she is to read them or not.

　　"I do not know what your father told you but if you read through the papers, it's more of ownership agreement"

　　Blake said looking into her eyes to see the confusion and hurt in them.

　　"Your father sold you to me, you were sold but Dad decided to use the marriage as a cover,

　　In the contract, I have the right to decide whatever goes on in your life, I own you little girl"

　　Emma trembled, ocean of tears flow down from her eyes. She felt betrayed, hurt and broken.

　　She knows that getting married to Blake means he will control her life but hearing that she was sold created a different feeling of anguish.

　　Her Dad ruined her life, she thought he loved her. How can he sell her like she means nothing to him?

　　Did he become greedy because of money?

　　"It is also stated in the contract that I can decide on whether you are to continue your college or not and this is my decision,

　　You are done with highschool, that is enough level of education because I won't let you continue going to college, consider this as me being lenient with you"

　　"You father signed the papers, he consented to you not seeing them unless I want to. You should read it and stop making me explain this to you"