Chapter one

“What have I done wrong?”

Heavy slaps land on her face, the sound almost reverberating around the room.

“How dare you question my order about who to marry? What say do you have in this family?

Jane’s father's eyes were filled with coldness, and his anger was glaring from inside.

This was not the first time she was beaten for asking a mere question.

She had wanted to know why she was being forced to marry when she had no plans to marry such a person.

“Your little sister would be happy if she had this opportunity, but Forster's family specifically requested you instead of Mariam.” Dad says this between clenched teeth.

“You should be happy. You’re not even qualified to marry into such a family.”

“Is that so? I’m not qualified, yet they asked for me? Who are you deceiving? Can’t you see that I'm no longer a child?” 

It was natural to have them protect Miriam; she was the family princess, while I, on the other hand, am nothing but a second person who is only considered in the absence of the best.

Dad was very furious. “If you don’t marry the young master, I will make this house unbearable for you, and you will have no choice but to leave this house in shame.”

“What shame is greater than marrying a man in a vegetative stage?”

He raised his hand for the second time, but suddenly the door burst open and my step mother sauntered in. 

She stylishly held his hand and scolded him for hitting me

“Dear husband, Are you still using violence? I thought we spoke about this before now."

I felt like vomiting at the display. Her words couldn't sway anyone. 

My stepmother was my mom’s half sister, who lied against her and had her chased out of the house. Chasing her mom out of the house was not enough; she wanted her out too.

My stepmother approached me and said, “Jane, I know you want the best for this family.” I flinch as her hands pat me softly at the back. “The young master is our ticket to permanent freedom from lack, or don’t you want us to live a normal life like we did before? I was furious; I was suddenly getting exchanged for their happiness, and their was nothing I could do about it.

“If you both cared about me just one bit, you wouldn’t be forcing me to marry a man I do not love because of money.”

“You better shut your mouth before I do it for you.” I ignored my father and faced my stepmother squarely: “If you’re desperate to be affiliated with the Forster's family, you can as well get your precious daughter to marry him.”

I would have been extremely happy to marry the young master if he were whole, but he wasn’t.

After completing his studies abroad, a careless driver allegedly rammed into him some time ago. The accident is said to have left him in a comatose state since then.

Rumour has it that he doesn’t have much time to live.

“I don’t want you to continue scouting for work without results like you have been doing since you graduated from college; marrying the young master will leave you wanting for nothing.”

I gritted my teeth in anger. I could run away from the house, but my younger brother was still in the hospital, and his bills were unclear. 

At the wedding, I could not see my supposed husband.

I had finally agreed to marry him after several threats from my dad and stepmother.

I completed the wedding rites, and with a nervous and uncertain feeling, I signed the marriage certificate. I was finally married to a total stranger, a man who was neither alive nor dead.

The drive to Forster’s family house was a weird one.

The mansion is located at the top of one of the most prestigious mountains in Alcony.

Only the social elites could afford to live in such a place.

The car came to a halt, and a servant appeared by the doorway.

“Madam, please follow me." The servant led me upstairs to a room.

The room was dimly lit and bigger than any room I had ever set my eyes on, not like I had seen many in the past.

On the bed in the master bedroom lay my supposed husband,Benjamin Forster.

He had a straight nose, sharp eyebrows, and a stern face. He looked like someone who would be difficult to get along with.

He was no doubt a well-known man; even though he appeared lifeless, his aura was oppressive, and I feared he would be quite dangerous if he wasn’t in a coma.

 A pang of pity suddenly hit me at the thought that he would be dying soon and wouldn’t be able to have a normal life like others.

My hand went for his brows, circled through his cheeks, and nestled on his well-curved lips.

Even in his sleep, he looked so tempting, and I secretly wished he was awake on our wedding night.

Suddenly, I felt him stir, and I quickly drew my hands away.