4.

Chapter Four:

Arya gulped down saliva and decided to walk to the young man. He looked expensive, like the rich CEOs she imagined after reading romance books, that was her method of escapism.

She stopped halfway when the man diverted his gaze from hers and took his phone. Maybe she should just leave? And how dare she try to have a conversation with such a hot guy, he might have come to pick his girlfriend up from school.

 She turned and headed home, ignoring the young man, who looked at her again.

 The young man was Sir Damien, he took a picture of Arya and sent it to Anna to confirm if she was the one he came for. He had never meet Anna since their middle school, where he was basically someone who caused fear in her. During his early teen years, he had been diagnosed with the yandere syndrome and had to stay away from her.

 He received a text from Anna. “She’s the one. Go get her bro!”

He smiled, getting back into his car.

 The driver, noticing his smile, suggested in a low tone. “Should I follow her?”

 His smile faded, the younger him would have done so but he was no longer sick, he shook his head. “No, our wedding is this week. Let’s go prepare.”

The driver grinned, before driving off.

---

“I found a man for you.”

 Arya froze in her steps as she walked back into the house. She was trying to sneak in through the back door but her dad was already at the kitchen where it was. He could read her thoroughly now.

 She frowned, rushing in front of him. “You aren’t going to sell me. This is the 21st century, and I am a human with rights.” she just had to keep character like she didn’t have a backup plan.

Her father raised his hands to hit her but she ducked. He brought the hands down, exhaling. “Don’t dare to question me, Arya. Be happy the man who showed interest is really wealthy.”

 He went back to the sitting room, Arya with sunken shoulders followed after him. A row of wrapped boxes and fancy buckets laid in a row as she walked inside the sitting room.

  Her eyes shone with surprise. She had been gifted presents already? Was it by Sir Damien or had he been late and another man was taking her?

 “I feel the young man overdid himself.”

 Arya’s eyes stood sharp on hearing ‘young man’. If he was a young man then it was probably Sir Damien. Even if she didn’t know how young he was, but since her sister said he was younger than she, he could be in his early twenties.

 “You fit his requirements so much that I felt he had you in mind when asking for a wife. His butler had a stupid British accent though.” Her father grinned.

 Arya stayed quiet, looking like she wasn’t pleased. If for anything, she was pleased that her father was grinning while walking into her trap.

 “Can I ask what requirements of his that I had fit into?” She demanded, to be sure if Sir Damien really went as far as being specific.

 “One. An engineer. The man is a CEO of a tech company and he would be needing a managing engineer. That’s where you come in.” Mr. Ernest said.

 She smiled, at least her father knew she was worthy of something.

 “He needed someone in his twenties too. You would be twenty soon. At least you’d be celebrating it in your husband’s house not mine.” Mr. Stark laughed.

 Arya secretly rolled her eyes. At least he knew her birthday dates, he didn’t know Anna’s.

 “Lastly, he needed someone who was religious. No religion specified. Maybe just someone to pray for him regularly.”

 Arya shrugged, she wasn’t very religious and maybe she should, so all these mishaps would stop happening to her.

 “So you better be all these. He had already paid $100,000 for you.” He pointed at her.

 Arya’s hands folded her arms. Her fee was only $100,00? Was that how much she worth or was that only how much her father had asked for? How can her father think she’s only worth $100,000 when she was about throwing her remaining life to a man?

 “When I asked for $50,000, I assumed it was too much but he gave double!”

 Her arms fell down. Her father had asked for $50,000 for her bridal fee!? Of course, what was she expecting.

 “Dad, you seem happy. I hope you use the $100,000 to pay my mother’s debt.” She said in a low tone, with bowed head.

Her father stopped celebrating and glared at her. “This money has nothing to do with your mother’s debt! This is what I get for marrying you off as someone who took care of you and your sister when your mother died!”

 She shook her head. He took care of them? He was more of a slave master than father. She and her sister learnt to mask their emotions and be a walking ‘Wednesday’. Tears well up in her eyes.

 “That’s not going to work this time. I am owning you no debt! Use that as my mother’s debt! You married me off so I am no longer entitled to take your shit!”

 A resounding slap fell on her cheeks, making her fall on the ground. Her body shook while she cried.

 “Don’t you dare run your mouth with me! Very well! The debt is off!! And you’re no longer my daughter! I have no daughter!!” Mr. Stark barked.

She jumped to her feet. “Fine, if I get freedom, then fine!” she sobbed, then stomped to the door. “I would want you to send a contract for me to sign, freeing my dead mother of her debt.”

 Her father exhaled. “Yes, I’d send it. And by tomorrow, make sure all your things are out of my house!”

Arya nodded, before leaving through the door. Outside the house, it was raining cats and dogs, she walked under it despite having low tolerance to cold.

At worst she’d catch a cold, then overwork herself till she sweats out and get better. Tears rolled down and she sucked it in.

 Her father finally let her go, no need to feel guilty for running away, she had no family now, apart from Anna. And then by contract, her husband. She exhaled, a husband she knew nothing about. But she should go along with it for the fact her mother was free from her monster husband, even if she’d be the contracted wife of Sir Damien.