Marriage Request

POV Emelia.

“Marry Mr. Samuel, Emelia!”

I fell silent when Father asked me to marry a man I didn’t even know. I looked at him calmly. I knew something was wrong, considering how he had always favored Bianca, my younger sister, over me. It should have been Bianca, not me.

“Why me? Why not Bianca?” I asked flatly.

“Your sister is still too young, Emelia!” Mother replied as she walked in, carrying a cup of warm tea for Father.

Hearing that, I smiled cynically. Too young? What a ridiculous excuse, considering we are only two years apart. Just last year, I had to give up the man I loved for Bianca, who apparently loved him too.

“I’m sorry, I can’t, Father. I don’t want to get married,” I refused immediately.

“How dare you talk back, Emelia? You must marry President Director Samuel, whether you like it or not! You will be the collateral because your father owes a huge debt to his company!” Mother snapped.

I gave a bitter smile. So that was the reason. Debt. How pathetic. It made me wonder if I was truly their daughter. Bianca had always received their love, while I was treated like a servant in my own home.

“Marry him, Emelia. Your mother is right. Not only will you be collateral, but your life will also improve. You will be marrying the richest man in this country,” Father added, staring at me sharply.

“If that’s the case, why not Bianca? Why not your favorite daughter marry him and enjoy that life?” I challenged.

“I don’t want to! I don’t want to be matched with that crippled President Director! You should marry him, Sister. It suits your ugly face!” Bianca suddenly interrupted.

I smirked. Maybe if I had the chance to take care of myself, I would be as beautiful as Bianca. But I never had that opportunity. Not even a single skincare product had ever touched my skin. No wonder I looked dull and unkempt.

So this was the reason. Because the man was crippled, they sacrificed me.

I nodded slowly, agreeing to the arrangement without hesitation. This was my ticket out of this house that felt like hell.

I did not care if the man was crippled or even a monster. I would marry him just to escape. Whether I would be divorced or thrown away afterward did not matter, as long as I could be free from this family that had treated me like a servant for twenty-five years.

“Fine, I agree to marry him. But I have one condition. After the wedding, you are no longer my family. I am done with all of you,” I said firmly.

***

Everyone agreed, especially Bianca. She even leaned closer and whispered that my future husband was a monster. I simply looked at her indifferently. I was not afraid because I had lived with monsters in this house for twenty-five years.

Who would have thought that the very next day, I would be forcibly picked up by a group of men in black suits? They took me into a luxurious car without telling me where we were going.

Last night, I had searched for information about my future husband on the internet. Samuel De Leon, a thirty-five-year-old man who had suffered a tragic accident three years ago. Rumors said he was completely paralyzed, and his face had been destroyed like a monster due to an explosion.

Not only his physical condition, but his personality had also changed drastically. Samuel had become a temperamental man, easily angered because of his condition. They said if he disliked someone, he would not hesitate to get rid of them on the spot.

Terrifying, wasn’t it?

I should have run away that night. But I did not. I did not care. Even if I had to die at his hands, I would accept it as fate. I was already too tired of this life.

The car stopped in front of a magnificent mansion, heavily guarded by dozens of bodyguards. I froze, staring at the luxury before me.

“Please step out, Madam. The Master is waiting for you inside,” a servant said as he opened the car door.

I nodded. Suddenly, my heart started pounding. Step by step, I followed the guard into the house, where nearly every interior was coated in gold.

My steps halted when the loud sound of a plate shattering echoed through the vast room. I did not flinch. I was used to harsh treatment in my old home. My mother would often snatch my plate and throw it away just because I dared to eat without permission. Broken plates could not scare me.

“Sir, what was that sound?” I asked softly.

“That was Mr. Samuel, your husband. He is probably angry at the servants because the breakfast did not suit his taste,” the guard replied calmly, as if it was a daily occurrence.

“Husband?” I repeated, thinking we were still just engaged.

“That is right, Madam. Sir has already legally registered your marriage. You are officially Mrs. Samuel.”

I nodded slowly. Everything had been arranged perfectly. “Is he always like that?”

“No. He used to be very gentle. Everything changed after the accident.”

I continued walking, curious to see what kind of chaos my husband was causing. But I froze when I saw the man in the wheelchair. Where was the monster everyone talked about?

What I saw was a very handsome man. His skin was smooth, clean, and flawless without a single scar. I was sure if Bianca saw him, she would fall to her knees, begging to take my place.

There was no monster here. Only a terrifying gaze. Cold and sharp like an eagle ready to seize its prey.

“Why did you throw away the food?” I asked without fear. After all, I was already his wife.

I looked at the scattered food on the floor. “What do you want to eat? I can cook for you. Do not waste food.”

“Who told you to speak?” he hissed sharply. His gaze was enough to freeze anyone’s blood.

I took a slow breath, strengthening my resolve. Instead of being intimidated, I wanted to turn that icy gaze into something warm one day.

“I am your wife, so it is natural for me to speak,” I replied calmly.

“Even if you are my wife, you have no right to control anything! You are nothing but collateral. Your father could not pay his debt, so he sold you to me!”

I nodded, not offended or afraid in the slightest.

“That is true. I was given as collateral. But now that I am your wife, I have the right to speak and even to manage this house.”

“Do not even dream of it!”

“Fine, then divorce me right now. I do not mind. I will leave this place this very second,” I challenged.

Samuel smirked. “It will not be that easy. You will stay here and be a servant in this house!”

I smiled faintly, then stepped closer and bent slightly so our faces were level.

“Oh? You mean a servant who also serves you in bed, my husband?” I teased boldly.

***

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