2

Chelsea

I watched helplessly as both my mother and stepmother walked away without stopping to even look at me.

One of them hated me from the moment she saw me for the first time, so it didn’t matter, but my mother watching my mother leave the room without even looking at me made me feel so unloved.

I doubt my mother has ever loved me. She always tells me that everything she does is for me, but that’s not true.

She argues that I went to the best school, wore the best clothes, and lived a luxurious life because she gave it to me, but that’s not true.

Everything I have wasn’t mine. Not even my surname or the degree I earned.

I studied what my stepfather wanted me to study, and when he said I couldn’t work after I graduated, I tried to rebel and even moved away from home, but I soon realized that I was trapped, and until he says I am free, I can’t be free.

No one wanted to employ me, not even for temporary or part-time jobs at cafes or bars.

No one wanted to house me either, even when I had the money to pay.

No one dared to go against Benjamin Richardson, and I learned that the hard way.

“Don’t look so scared, it’s not like I am going to hurt you.”

Was that a threat? It was supposed to make me less scared, but it did the exact opposite.

“Why are you here? Where is Edward?”

I asked him.

“I think we should sit down because I need you to sign something, and I can’t do it standing.”

He just ignored my words and said something completely different.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

I pointed out.

“Yeah, because the question you asked doesn’t require an answer.”

Was he being for real?

“I am supposed to marry Edward, and you showed up instead of him, and I am just supposed to accept that?”

How does he expect that to work out?

“Yeah, since you should already know.”

I should already know?

“I don’t know! I am not even supposed to be getting married!”

For some reason, the nonchalant way he was speaking to me pissed me off more than finding out I was to be married instead of my sister.

“If you didn’t already know, then that’s your family’s fault for not telling you. The groom was changed last night, and it was communicated to your family right away.”

Wow, so they already knew? Was that why Esther ran away?

Up until yesterday, she was happy to be getting married, and even though I didn’t see why she would happily marry someone like Edward, I couldn’t judge her, and then she suddenly changed her mind and ran away.

Now I find out the groom was changed last night. She probably knew, and that’s why she woke up this morning and left home.

“I can’t marry you.”

I told him. He smirked.

“You don’t have a choice.”

Fucking bastard.

“But, I will make your life easy. The kind of marriage we will have will give you the freedom that you crave and will be strictly for name only.”

His words made me sit down.

“Tell me more.”

I told him.

“I see that I have finally interested you? Well, you can find out more by reading the contract I have drafted. This one is between you and I. the family doesn’t have to know.”

The more he spoke, the more I became interested in what he was saying. When he stretched the contract out, I reached to take it, but pulled back because our hands touched, and for some reason, my body decided that just touching him by accident was enough to make me shiver, which wasn’t a good start.

Thankfully, he didn’t notice and just dropped the contract on my lap.

I picked it up and read the terms in the contract.

“Two years?”

I asked, and he nodded.

“I don’t need a wife. I have no reason to be married, but for some reason, I have to marry if I want to lead the company, and I am doing it just for that. In two years, I would have proven myself to be a worthy leader to anyone who still doubts my skill, and by then, I won’t need to be married.”

Right. I didn’t respond and continued reading. Everything felt perfect since there wouldn’t be physical touch or any form of intimacy.

I refuse to let a man I don’t love touch me, so that felt just right for me.

“I can’t file for a divorce?”

I let out when I saw that part.

“No, you can’t! I will divorce you after two years, but you can’t be the one who files for a divorce unless you can afford the price.”

I looked at the price he wrote down.

“Five billion? That’s ridiculous.”

He wasn’t for real!

“Again, you don’t have a choice, and I am even offering you a way out of your current life. Stay married to me for two years and walk away before you are thirty! You will still be young to pursue the life you really want.”

I swallowed at his words. He was right. His offer, as absurd as it sounded, was way better than my life right now.

“You swear you won’t force me to have sex with you?”

I asked him.

“It’s not like you are a virgin.”

I resisted the urge to curse at him.

“You are right, I am not, but that doesn’t mean I want to sleep with you! I only sleep with someone I have feelings for!”

I told him.

“Don’t worry, not even a kiss.”

He assured me.

“Where do I sign?”

He asked, and he showed me. I took the pen and signed my name on the contract. I gave it back to him.

“There will be no ceremony; we are leaving right now.”

My eyes widened at his words.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know.”

I really didn’t know.

“The huge party was cancelled. I don’t like parties.”

Liar. I have seen him so many times at parties, and he has been photographed going in and out of those high-priced clubs. Not that it’s any of my business.

I don’t like parties, and I would happily skip the extravagant party Esther had planned, but what about the wedding?

“What about the actual wedding?”

I asked him.

“We just got married. You signed two papers, and here is your ring.”

My eyes widened.

“We don’t need a witness?”

His constant need to smirk was starting to piss me off.

He took my hand, and I felt that tingling sensation, but ignored it and watched as he slipped a diamond ring on my finger before looking at me.

“No, we don’t need a witness. The marriage is legal and binding.”

He answered and stood up.

“How I—“

My words were cut off when the door suddenly opened, and the only person who truly cared for me in the whole world walked in. I stood up immediately.

“Someone you know?”

Nathan asked me.

“My best friend!”

I let out and hugged Joan.

“I will give you two times.”

He said, and with that, walked out.

“What’s this I am hearing? Why are you suddenly getting married?”

Joan let out when she pulled away from the hug. I showed her the ring.

“I already got married.”

I told her.

“What the fuck? What about Kelvin?”

I scoffed when she mentioned the name of my ex-boyfriend. She doesn’t know yet that he is now my ex since she was on vacation when we broke up two weeks ago after I caught him cheating.

“That bastard cheated?”

I nodded.

“And now you are getting married? I thought it was Esther? I was so shocked when I got your text, and I had to beg my brother to get me here as fast as possible. You are married? To Nathan?”

Even I was shocked by the news of my marriage because it made no sense.

“Don’t worry, it’s only in name, and it will end in two years. I don’t have a choice in this, but the terms are favorable, and I will finally be free to date and marry anyone I want.”

I assured.

“Are you sure? You were looking at him a certain way.”

I scoffed.

“I wasn’t looking at him a certain way, and I am sure. In two years, I will be free. I am only marrying him for my freedom.”

I assured her.

“I don’t know, Chels, this is pretty sudden, and I feel you are marrying your sister’s husband, and it doesn’t sit right with me.”

She said, and before I could answer, the door opened again, and Nathan walked right back in.

“We have to go.”

I blinked in confusion and looked at Joan, who looked just as confused.

“Go where?”

I let out, but still let him take my hand, and almost pulled away when I felt a sudden spark that ignited from my hand he held to all parts of my body and made me self-conscious.

“Honeymoon, sorry she can’t talk anymore.”

He told Joan, and without waiting for her response, started pulling me with him. I turned to Joan, who waved at me.

“Why the hurry?”

I let out, wanting to break free from his strong hold.

“We have a flight to catch, and I don’t like your best friend.”

What the fuck? Joan is the sweetest girl ever, and I refuse to let him talk down on my best friend.

“In the two years we will be married, you can’t bring her to my house!”

Wait, our marriage hasn’t even started, and he was already dictating what I can and what I can’t do.

“You can’t make me stop seeing my best friend!”

I fired at him.

“I didn’t say you can’t see her! I said you can’t bring her to my house. Know the difference.”

Jerk. I wanted to scream at him, but Joan already doesn’t visit me at home because my family members are terrible people.

I reminded myself that this is just for two years. After two years, I will be free to do whatever I want. Meet with whoever I want to meet.

Two years for the rest of my life. If I think about it positively, two years was a short sacrifice to make for the many years I will have after the marriage ends.

Years of freedom.

I can do it.