My sisters groom became my husband

Chapter 1: The Daughter Chosen for Sacrifice

“Sophia is not marrying Alexander Sterling.”

Amelia Hart stopped outside the study door.Her fingers tightened around the tray of tea she had been asked to bring.

Inside, silence stretched for a second and then her mother sighed.

“We cannot force Sophia,” Vivian Hart said softly. “She’s too sensitive.”

Amelia frowned.Alexander Sterling? That name made her stomach twist and Everyone knew the Sterlings.

They were the first generation and definition of Old money,Powerful and Untouchable.The kind of family ordinary people whispered about and wished they worked for.

Why were her parents now suddenly discussing about him?

Then Sophia spoke with her voice trembling dramatically like always.

“Mom, I’m serious!” she cried. “I can’t marry him. People say he’s cold and terrifying. What if he treats me badly or worse silence me for life because I did something he finds displeasing?”

Their father exhaled impatiently. All the previous stresses were fast telling on his health and he knew he had to make a decision fast.

“This marriage keeps this family alive. No marriage and you all could as well watch our family entire legacy fall apart.” He spitted out harshly.

“I don’t care!” Sophia snapped. “I’m not ruining my life!” She was the only who could get away with snapping back at anyone in the house but still Amelia frowned deeper.

Marriage? What marriage was going to take place in the family and she wasn’t already informed?

Her answer was soon provided with the next sentence that changed everything.

“Amelia will marry him instead.”

The tray nearly slipped from her hands and almost instantly Her breathing stopped and more worrisome was the fact that Inside, nobody objected.

Nobody even sounded shocked. It was As if the decision had already been made.

“At least Amelia has always been obedient,” her father muttered.

Obedient? That word landed like an insult at that moment or even worse a slap.

It sounded more cruel than Not being loved or Not being important. Worse not being Useful.

Her mother hummed in agreement.

“She’s the eldest daughter. It’s her responsibility.”

Sophia hesitated and she could feel sweat beginning to make a damp at her back.

“But what if she refuses?”

Vivian laughed quietly.

“When has Amelia ever chosen herself?”

Something right there broke inside her and Suddenly, every memory she tried to ignore rushed back even though tried hard to let it go.

Sophia getting everything she always wanted without so much as a grumble or hesitation. Sophia crying once and immediately becoming everyone’s priority. Sophia being protected because she’s the jewel of the household.

While Amelia.

The one Always sacrificed.Always expected to understand regardless of how badly she might be suffering in silence.

She was Always the second choice,second option,second replacement.

Her hands trembled violently and it took everything in her not to bang her hands against her Fathers door.

But she knew better what her actions might result into so Instead she pushed open the study door slowly.

The room fell silent and Sophia’s eyes widened.

Their father looked uncomfortable and Their mother only frowned.

“You were talking about me,” Amelia said quietly.

She expected Sophia to as usual try to gaslight her into thinking it was a misunderstanding but Nobody denied it.

Vivian simply crossed her arms and said “Good. Then sit down.”

“No.” The word flew out of her mouth before she even had a moment to process it.

Her own answer shocked her and judging from Her mother’s hardened expression she knew things weren’t going to be simple anymore.

“What did you say?”

“I said no.”

Sophia stood immediately with glassy eyes.

“Amelia, please don’t do this,” she whispered, already sounding close to tears. “You know I can’t handle someone like Alexander Sterling.”

Amelia stared at her in disbelief.

“So I should because I am what? A superwoman? Please can you just think before you start spouting nonsense?

Sophia’s lips trembled before she looked around her parents.

“You’ve always been stronger than me so why should this suddenly become a problem?”

The unfairness and hypocrisy almost made Amelia laugh.

Stronger? No. The right word would be Just forgotten.

Her father stood with a menacing look on his face.

“Enough,” he said firmly. “The Hart family is on the verge of bankruptcy.”

Amelia froze as the sudden news hit her hard. Bankruptcy? How,when or why? Amelia wondered.

“The Sterling partnership is our only chance,” he continued. “If this marriage doesn’t happen, we lose everything.”

Her chest tightened.

“So your solution,” Amelia whispered, “is to throw me away? To someone we don’t know even a cent about?

“No one is throwing you away,” Vivian said coldly. “You should be grateful.”

“Grateful?” Grateful for what Mother?” Amelia screamed now on the verge of tears. It hurt her badly that they all felt she was as disposable as a trash. Like she had no human feelings in her too.

“Everything,” her mother snapped. “Do you know how many women would dream of marrying into the Sterling family?”

Amelia looked at her mother like she was a stranger.

“You’re asking me to marry a man Sophia doesn’t even want.”

Sophia suddenly burst into hot tears with her makeup streaming down her face.

“I knew you hated me! You ve always hated me! And I don’t know what I ever did wrong to you.”

“Oh please,” Amelia said bitterly. “Everything is always about you!”

“Amelia!” her father barked and Her mother stepped closer to her.

“You are the eldest daughter,” Vivian said sharply. “Stop acting selfish.”

Selfish?The word hurt more than it should have.After all the years of sacrifice, of constantly always stepping aside and yet She was the selfish one?

“I won’t do it,” Amelia whispered.

The room went still.

Then before anyone could say another word…

SLAP!

The harsh Pain exploded across her cheek and palmed her face while Her head turned sideways. For a second, nobody dared moved and everywhere went still.

Vivian slowly lowered her hand.

“You will marry Alexander Sterling,” she said coldly. “And that is final.”

Amelia looked around the room At her father who was actively avoiding her eyes,At Sophia crying dramatically and once upon a time, At the family who had already decided her future.

Nobody cared what she wanted. No one had actually.And Without saying another word, she turned and ran outside .

The Rain poured heavily outside.

The Cold water soaked her clothes instantly but Still, she kept walking.

Her chest hurt too much to stop.Why was it always her?Why was she never enough for the family who should love her unconditionally?

Lost in her thoughts, Amelia stepped into the road.

SCREECH!

A black luxury car stopped inches away from her and Her heart nearly stopped beating in her chest.

The back door opened and A man stepped out.

He was Tall,had a Sharp jaw and dressed handsomely in a Dark tailored suit. His Cold gray eyes seemed to judge everything around him including Amelia.

He looked expensive and almost Untouchable. Even though the situation seemed like it could have been fatal he stood dangerously calm.

The Rain rolled down his coat as he stared at her.Then his eyes narrowed at her drenched clothes.

“Running away already?”

Amelia blinked confused. What was he talking about and most importantly why is he talking like he was familiar with her.

The man stepped closer and it took every in her not to freeze awkwardly.

“You fought hard enough for this marriage like your life depended on it,” he said coolly. “Don’t start pretending innocent now.”

Marriage? Her stomach dropped instantly and she could feel the bile rising towards her throat.

No!It couldn’t be.

This was Alexander Sterling.

Before she could speak, another car stopped behind her and Her father rushed out.

“Amelia!” her Father shouted angrily.

Alexander’s gaze moved between them Carefully before His expression darkened.

Then he looked directly at Amelia.

“Interesting,” he said quietly even though nothing felt like it at the moment.

“So this is the woman desperate enough to trap me into marriage?”