1. What’s at Stake!

SYLVIE

“There is no way I'm doing this,” I stood in front of my foster mother and sister with my hands on my waist, ready to pounce on them if need be. I placed the contract marriage agreement on the table, my heart racing with anticipation and a hint of fear. The very thought of entering into a loveless marriage sent shivers down my spine.

“You act like you have a choice,” Emily, my foster sister said with a grin on her lips. This deal was made on her behalf but right now, it looks like the tide has turned.

“But I do have a choice. I am a member of this family, "I folded my arms underneath my breast, trying to appear more confident than I felt. The truth was, I had always felt like an outsider in this family, and moments like these only reinforced that feeling. I felt like I was trapped in a never-ending nightmare, with no escape from the clutches of my foster family.

“If you are a member of this family, I suggest you put on your big girl pants and do what is asked of you,” Maryann, my foster mother said. Her voice was laced with a condescending tone, one that I had grown all too familiar with over the years.

I scoffed and walked around the living room, trying to avoid their piercing gazes.". I can't believe this. I should be focused on my residency, but instead, I'm being forced into a marriage to save the family hospital.

“I want to see Dad, I want to hear what he has to say about this,” I said to both of them. They looked at themselves and Maryann shook her head.

“Richard can’t see you right now,” I scoffed at the sound of Maryann calling Dad by his first name. She has always done that, it’s part of her way of making me feel I’m not a member of this family.

“I have every right to see him. He is my father as well," I said, looking at Emily but she just rolled her eyes and cleared her throat, trying to speak.

“Dad needs his rest, you know how delicate his health is,” I shook my head in disbelief.

“This was supposed to be you,” I pointed at Emily. “You are the one that is supposed to be getting married.”

“Well, things change and you are now taking my place.”

“I won’t do it. I won’t be used as a bargaining chip to save the hospital. You can’t force me to do it," I picked up my coat and walked out of the living room.

“Don’t make me use threats, Sylvie,” I stopped walking at the sound of those words from Maryann.

I laughed a little and faced her, “What do you possibly have to threaten me with?” I asked her, shrugging my shoulders.

“You seem to forget that you’ve made a lot of mistakes and it was covered up,” I swallowed the lump that stopped at my throat.

“I was young, you shouldn’t judge me for that. Dad doesn’t," I said to her.

“That’s because he spoils you and lets you get away with your mistakes,” Maryann says and I scoff.

“Like you let Emily?” I asked and I could see her face flash in anger.

“Emily is my daughter,” she says. I tried to keep the hurt I felt in my heart from showing on my face. She does this every time she can, to make it known that I'm not her daughter, nor would I ever be her daughter.

“There is nothing you can threaten me with,” I said to her and turned around.

“What about your surgical residency,” she said and I turned back immediately.

“What about my surgical residency?” I asked, blinking my eyelashes. Unsure about what she is about to say.

“I can have you removed and your slot open for the taking. There are a lot of people who would kill to be a surgical resident at Rhodes Clinical Hospital,” she said with a smirk on her face. Emily just stood there beside Maryann with a smile on her face too. 

“You can’t do this, Dad won’t let you,” I said with tears evident in my voice.

“Dad can’t help you Sylvie, take the deal and protect your residency, or don’t take the deal and say goodbye to it,” Emily’s voice filled the room.

“This is blackmail and extortion. Both of you should be arrested!” I screaméd with tears in my eyes but it didn’t seem to have any effect on them. As they both bústed into laughter at my own expense.

Being a Doctor means everything to me. Going through my surgical residency in one of the best surgical residency programs in the country is my path toward being a great Doctor one day.

Maryann and Emily have always been trying to take away any good thing that will ever happen to me and now they are trying to take away my best chance at greatness. I won’t let them win. If this marriage is the way to save my surgical residency then I guess I have no choice. The one person who is supposed to protect me from this sort of thing seems to have left me to fend for myself amid these vultures.

“I accept,” I said and their laughter ceased.

“Good, I knew you would do the right thing,” she said as she picked up the contract marriage agreement I earlier placed on the table.

“What are you doing?” I asked her.

“We are getting you married,” before I could react, I found myself inside a car and we drove out of the mansion.

“Where are we going Maryann,” I sounded agitated.

“Don’t be scared, Sylvie. You are getting married. It’s a thing of joy, cheer up,” Emily said with a smile but I could hear the sarcasm in her voice.

After what seemed like the longest time of my life, the car stopped in front of a courthouse and Maryann brisked me inside.

We got inside and my feet couldn’t move anymore. “What are you doing, people are waiting for us,” Maryann tried to move me but I didn’t.

“I can’t do this. It’s not supposed to be like this, "I cried out. I have always imagined myself getting married to the man I love and who is equally in love with me. Not getting married to a stranger in a courtroom, surrounded by people I don't know including my foster mother and sister.

“Think about what’s at stake here, Sylvie. The family’s hospital and your surgical residency. It will be a shame if everything comes crumbling down,” Maryann said.

“Finally, I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show up,” I heard a voice behind us and the hair behind my neck stood. I could recognize that voice anyway, even when asleep.

“Of course we were, I wouldn’t want to disappoint you, would I Logan,” Maryann responded to the voice behind us. My breath caught. Logan Benson. The guy who had stolen my heart in high school—and still had it.

I turned around and there he was, still looking breathtaking as usual. I couldn’t stop smiling. Maybe dreams do come through.