I Will Marry You

“Father told me that you were getting married,” Cassandra froze when she heard Lance’s cold voice coming from the doorway of her room, a fearful gasp escaped her, she had planned to avoid him, but she didn’t know how he was able to get to the door without her knowing, had she had forgotten to turn on the lock to the door?

Cassandra’s heart hammered painfully in her chest when she felt him come further into the room, only then did she turn to face him gently, his eyes gleamed with chilled malice, as he took slow taunting steps toward her.

“You traitor!” He growled lowly, suddenly reaching to grab her by the hair, he tightened his fists as if to hit her, but he only withdrew because everyone else was at home.

“Please,” she begged, tears had filled her eyes and her lips were quivering.

“Tell me your excuse,” he urged almost daringly, “Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” she shook her head hurriedly and Lance held her closer to himself, waiting for her explanation.

Cassandra’s voice came out as a shaky whisper, there were tears in her eyes as well, Lance was very vengeful, he would definitely punish her. “I didn’t know, Uncle N-Niko came to p-pick me up and...” she stammered, her words not making any sense, Lance grabbed her chin roughly, his fingers squeezing her cheeks making her silent.

“It’s father’s fault now, isn’t it?” His eyes were red with fury, he was barely holding himself back. “Okay, let’s say he did propose you get married to that wretched man, did you say no?”

Cassandra’s eyes narrowed, her tears leaking to her cheeks, saying no to the men of this family was not allowed, even after she was tortured, she would be forced to do it anyway, Lance understands this better than anyone.

“I-I couldn’t...” she squeaked. “I tried to, but Uncle didn’t let me, h-he told m-me to do it.”

“If you loved me enough you will fight for our love,” He flung her, and she fell to her bed, she tried to scramble up but he kicked her. “Or are you planning to take advantage of your marriage and run away from me? You think you can escape me?”

“No...” she whispered, even though it is true.

“No?” Lance queried.

“I don’t want to get married too, because I-I love you, Lance.” She said, her voice in a low whisper, hoping that he believed her, Lance paused for a while, a bit excited from hearing her confessions. His long fingers ran into her hair as if searching for something in her face.

“You love me?” he queried and she nodded hurriedly back in response. “Then say it again.”

“I love you.” She replied.

“You’re mine, you hear that?” he growled in her face and she nodded again. “You are mine.”

Cassandra picked up the wine glass from the table and sipped from the dark reddish liquid,  she had been in the restaurant, about thirty minutes early for her blind date, just because her Uncle Niko had demanded it from her. According to them, Blaze was an impatient man who didn’t like to wait, so she needed to be earlier than him for the blind date. Waiting for him,  didn’t bother her at all, what worries her, was the possibility that he remembers her, she suck in a deep breath, fine, she would use this opportunity to apologize to him properly. She glanced at her wristwatch, a little impatient, she wanted to make the marriage work.

Especially since what happened with Lance the previous night, even if she had to beg Blake, she would do anything to make him agree.

She was just so done with Uncle Niko and his goddamned family.

“This is table fourteen, right?” The chilling voice of a man disrupted her intense brooding, Cassandra jolted slightly as she looked up at the man towering over her, the piercing black eyes narrowed almost immediately in recognition.

Seemed like she was right to worry.

“What are you doing here?” he asked as he picked up the table tag, confirming the table number. “Are you not the lady who destroyed my phone?”

Cassandra was momentarily speechless, she knew this wasn’t the way she wanted the conversation to go, and this was already a bad start.

“Are you sure you are not sitting at the wrong table?” he queried in that chilling voice of his, as he pulled a chair for himself and sat down. “I already reserved this table, and I should be having a guest.”

“I deeply apologize for your broken phone, Mr. Mcknight,” she finally blurted, making Blaze’s eyes narrowed, he couldn’t believe this was the woman he was supposed to meet with.

His grandfather should have better taste than this, why would he invite such an ordinary and boring-looking woman to lunch?

“I never intended to damage the phone, I am sure it cost a lot of money, and even though I’m not financially stable at the moment, I will pay you back.” She said her voice filled with optimism, Blaze paused for a while wondering what to do with the woman who rambled endlessly in front of him.

“I am tired of that old man already.” He leaned into the table, looking at her dead in the eyes. “What do you think I can do to him to make him give up?”

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“I don’t want to get married, and even if I do, why does he think I would like to be with a woman like you for the rest of my life?” He queried, the disappointment in his voice was glaring.

“Excuse me?” Cassandra blurted in confusion.

“You know what you have to do,” Blake said with a stoic expression as he withdrew from the table, his eyes bore hatred into Cassandra, “Just tell him I was rude, and you don’t like me.”

Cassandra’s eyes narrowed almost immediately, this was the only chance she might get to make Lance stay away from her, she suck in a deep breath.

“No,” Cassandra answered with a small frown on her face, she had been rehearsing how to sound nice while she rejected his proposal but it was impossible.

“What?” He seemed surprised because he wasn’t expecting her to refuse.

“I said no, I am sorry, I can’t do that.” She muttered trying her best to be calm.

“You don’t have any idea what you are signing up for, do you?” He asked, both his hands balled into fists on the table, while she watched him silently. She was unable to defend herself because she had nothing to say.

“How much did my grandfather pay you?” Blake asked again, folding his arms across his chest. “I will offer you twice the amount he paid you.”

“Mr. McKnight didn’t offer me money.” She answered again, feeling even more offended. “Even if he did, I won’t be willing to bargain with you, Mr. McKnight wants you to have a wife, and I have decided that I am going to marry you.”

Blake’s cold expression faltered for a minute, but almost immediately, he masked up his emotions.

“You don’t even know what kind of person I am, if I am going to be good to you, are you sure you are willing to take such risks?”

   “I’m sorry, I told Mr. McKnight that I would marry you. I don’t think anything would change my mind.” She feigned confidence, holding onto her own hands to stop them from trembling. “We can just try to get along.”

“Get along? What was I expecting from a gold-digger?” he asked with deep seething frustration. “You all are the same.”

  “This wouldn’t be easy I assure you, princess, there would be a price to pay, a fucking expensive one.” He gets up and puts on his cap. “See you later, dear wife.”

  Unable to say a word she watched him storm away, her heart hammering painfully at his threat, but she already made it clear that she wouldn't back down so easily. Blaze is a smart man, he should figure it.