CHAPTER 1: Forget the lights, sweetheart

CHAPTER 1: Forget the lights, sweetheart

The car pulled to a stop, and the driver turned to Sarah. “We are already here, ma'am.”

Sarah nodded with a faint smile.

“I have to go, Cara. I have already arrived at his place. I'll talk to you later.”

“This is madness,Sarah,” she pressed further. “It would have been better to take up my offer of coming to Italy after college graduation. I have a bad feeling about this.”

Cara was the only person who had ever treated Sarah with love and kindness. Cara was part Italian. They had met and become great friends in college.

“Don't worry,Cara. I'll be careful. I have to go. I'll call you later. Bye.”

Sarah swiftly ended the call before Cara could protest further. She was aware of the look of displeasure on the driver's face from the front mirror. She offered him a small apologetic smile and slid out of the car. No sooner had she alighted, did the car zoom off, and her attention was immediately drawn to the palatial edifice before her.

Sarah swallowed the nervous lump in her throat and smoothed her dress with her clammy hand. With her purse clutched tightly in her hand and determination in her stride, she approached the door.

Sarah was ushered into the house and taken into a tastefully furnished and designed bedroom.

“When do I get to see the owner of the house?” Sarah asked the servant who was about to leave the room.

“Master gave instructions to bring you here once you arrive, Miss”

Sarah nodded. “And when will he be back?” She needed to impress him— whoever he was. Her family's salvation depended on it. If he wanted a bride, then that is what she would be.

“Master will be back soon, Miss Make yourself comfortable. Dinner will be sent up to you soon.”

Sarah was confused about the entire arrangement, but she dared not voice her opinion. Her family's benefactor had sent a car earlier that evening to bring Veronica to him, but alas, it was her that had come instead; but she was yet to meet him.

The servant left, and she was left alone in the huge bedroom. The assortment of different mouth watering delicacies was later brought up, and Sarah ate as much as she could with her stomach in knots.

Sarah decided to take a shower and change into the delectable and expensive looking lingerie that was led out on the bed for her.

She was fast asleep but awoke to someone hovering above her. Sleep quickly vanished from her eyes, and she quickly made to turn on the light switch above the bed, but warm and firm large hands swiftly caught hold of her wrists, pinning it down to the pillow on both sides of her head. Sarah knew this must be the man she was here to meet.

“Forget the lights, sweetheart. I just want to feel you,” he drawled in a rich baritone. His speech sounded a bit slurred. His expensive manly cologne— a marriage of musk, leather, and sandalwood - enveloped her.

She felt him inhaling her scent, sniffing, and trailing kisses on her skin along her nape and down to the base of her throat. She froze in his arms.

Sarah found a surge of panic when she felt his other hand exploring and pressing her body. She had never had a boyfriend or been this close to a man before.

“You smell and feel more beautiful than I even imagined, darling,” he husked in her ears, making a strange warmth spread all over her.

Sarah's mind raced.

Did he know her before? Of course not. He had requested the daughter of the Maxwell family. Of course, he was referring to Veronica. He thought she was Veronica.

She felt him loosen the knots of her silk robe and slide down the straps of her nightgown. She was a virgin, but she was not dumb. She knew where this was heading. She would have preferred to get to know this faceless stranger, first– or at least sign the marriage certificate before going this far.

Sarah had not even seen his face because of the darkness in the room,but his firm and toned body was taut with muscles,pressing her into the soft silken sheets. She guessed he was probably a young and fit man.

“Seems like we're going to have the wedding night before the wedding, sweetheart,” he drawled huskily in her ears.

Her eyes grew wide as saucers in the dark room, and before she could utter a word, his warm, soft lips claimed hers in a hungry kiss. Her words were swallowed, and his skilful ministrations left her a moaning and writhing mess beneath him.

Maxwell Residence (Same Day)

“Sarah,that bitch! Mom you would not believe what I just found out right now,” Veronica screeched in alarm as she stomped into the living room.

Estelle dropped the glass of wine she was sipping from, and dismissed the servant who was painting her toenails.

“Get out. Go and tidy up my room, now,” she hissed. The maid scurried away with head bowed low, cowering from the look of disgust and disdain that Veronica threw at her.

“Now tell me sweetheart, what has your pretty head all worked up so early in the morning?”Estelle asked her daughter.

“I just found out the identity of the new investor.”

Estelle's curiosity was piqued. The investment and proposal had come shrouded in secrecy. Although they were curious about their benefactor, they were only too glad to give Sarah in exchange for their salvation.

“Who is it?”

“It's Edward, mom. Edward Huxley,” Veronica screamed in rage.

She refused to accept the marriage because she was in a steamy romance with her model boyfriend—Dylan, plus she secretly suspected it might be a rich wrinkled old man or a creepy freak or psychopath.

Estelle's eyes widened in shock. “Are you sure, sweetheart? How did you find out about this?”

“Dylan's cousin works as one of his drivers. He was the one that picked her up last night. Maybe he recognised her, and he told Dylan about it.”

Edward Huxley was the owner of the largest Airline and Shipping Company in the country. He was the richest and most good-looking bachelor in the country. Veronica was fuming in anger by the thought of Sarah being with him right now, and even getting married to him.

Estelle's shock slowly gave way to a devious smirk. “This is actually great news, sweetheart,” she beamed. Things just kept getting better and better.

Veronica's brows knotted in confusion.

“What are you getting at, mom? Sarah is going to marry him now,”she snapped and paced the room frantically.

“I rejected the proposal, remember?”

Estelle was not bothered. She had always hated Sarah for being the child of her husband's mistress, and treated her with disdain. Veronica deserved the best of everything, not Sarah.

“That does not matter,”You are going to be the one to marry him, not Sarah.”

Veronica had changed her mind. She wanted Edward. He was wealthier and more good-looking than Dylan. She would never allow Sarah to win over her.

“What do you have in mind, mom? Cause I would never allow that skank to get ahead of me,” she spat with hatred for Sarah.

Estelle smirked. “Don't worry, dear. I have a plan. You just have to follow my lead and play along. Edward is going to be yours,”she assured.

Veronica smiled with relief at her mother's assurance. Mother knows best.

“Does Dylan's cousin know how we can see Mr Huxley?” Estelle asked with a devious smirk.