CHAPTER 1: I won't marry him!

Chapter 1

"Transaction successful." Mr. Sterling, Ethan's secretary, announced immediately after he handed Dad the check.

Dad's face glowed as he stared at it.

suddenly, Mr sterling face hardened.

"Mr. Ethan Marcus has fulfilled his own side of the deal... Failure to keep your own side of the deal..." He paused and squeezed the pen in his hand until it broke.

Dad swallowed hard, he needed no one to tell him what Mr sterling meant before nodding.

"Good. Mr. Ethan awaits his bride tomorrow," he said, and with a slight bow, he walked out, but not without glancing at Emma, who stood beside Mom.

The moment he left, Emma's voice rang throughout the living room.

"Mom! I don't want to marry Ethan!"

Dad surged toward her, but Mom shielded her behind.

"Emma, dear, I know... but it's for our family's benefit," he muttered.

"Armstrong!" Mom snapped.

"She's too young and fragile for this! How could you make such a decision about her life without even considering her feelings?" she spat.

A faint smile cracked through my lips.

Of course, when it concerns Emma, heaven breaks loose.

The decision they took three years ago, when I was sent to the correction center for Emma's crime, was it my decision?

no, it wasn't! But now that it had to do with Emma marrying Ethan Marcus for his investment in the family's company, they suddenly wanted her approval.

" Emma" Dad's tone lowered.

"I had no other option!"

Mom jabbed a finger at him.

"No, you had! Elena is there. Why didn't you propose her marriage to him instead of Emma?" Mom's voice rang out.

My fists tightened around the stairs ray where I stood.

I thought they were over this topic already?

Ethan Marcus clearly stated who he wanted, so why bring it up again when the wedding is tomorrow?

Slowly, Emma stepped forward and fell to her knees, with her hands pressed together.

"No, you guys have to do something! " she begged.

"I can't marry him... What if he turns me into a slave?" she sobbed.

Mom shook her head and pointed at Dad furiously.

"Armstrong, you have to do something! I can't watch her pride shatter like this!" Mom sneered.

"Then, what do you want me to..."

"Marry Elena to him in Emma's place!" Mom blurted out.

My breath hitched.

How can she say that?

Am I the only one who deserves to be tortured?

"Elena?... No, I can't!" Dad hesitated.

My face brightened with a small smile.

"But..." he added, rubbing his hand round his jaw like someone in deep thoughts.

I raised my eyes with a hint of expectation.

Then his next words came like a blow that shattered me completely.

"That would be a good idea..." he smiled.

"Elena would wear the veil. No one would be able to differentiate her from Emma," he muttered.

Mom's eyes sparkled.

"No one would suspect a thing, and Emma, our daughter, will be completely free."

My stomach dropped as she said those words... Emma is just their adopted daughter, so why was her happiness valued over mine? I'm their real daughter.

No, they can't do this!

They can't continue doing this!

What about my own pride.

"thank you..."

"What if I say I won't marry him?" my voice cut through her statement.

They turned to me.

"Elena... you're here?" Mom asked calmly, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

I walked down slowly.

My legs shook with anger at every step I took closer to them.

"I was here the whole time..." I paused to calm the anger in my voice.

"Listening to my birth mother as she plans her own daughter's pain." My voice cracked in my throat at every word.

"It's not what you think, Elena." Emma stepped forward wearing a pitiful look.

she grabbed hold of my hand, and gave it a little squeeze .

I scoffed and shoved my hand away from her.

She screamed and fell dramatically as if I had pushed her.

Mom rushed to comfort her.

"Elena, why did you push me? I was just trying to comfort you as my sister," she sobbed fakely.

I rolled my eyes at her drama and just as I expected.

dad stepped forward.

"Elena!" Dad thundered, raising his hand at me.

I shut my eyes, awaiting his hand on my cheek, but it never came.

I opened my eyes to see that it was hanging midair.

My brows furrowed.He has never hesitated before, so why now?

"Don't make me do what I would..."

"Regret?" I completed his statement.

His eyes flickered with shock...this is this first time I've ever spoken and acted this way towards him.

I took a step closer to him and pointed at him.

"You think hitting me would make you regret? Have you forgotten how you sent me to the correction center with your own hands, even when you guys knew that Emma committed the crime?" I paused.

I lowered my eyes as memories flashed one after another.

The floggings I received daily.

The starvation.

The ill treatment and all that I faced.

My fists tightened.

Mom moved away from Emma and stopped in front of me.

Her eyes were soft and calm .

"Elena... those were for your own good," Mom whispered, her tone calm and smooth. It almost felt as if she cared, but she didn't.

I let out a dry laugh.

"My good, you say? Have you stopped to think about what I went through in there?"

"Baby, it's all over..."

"Don't tell me that shit!" I sneered.

silence descended.

then she took a few steps closer to me.

"Elena, you know I care a lot about you..." she whispered gently.

"All your father and I did was for the betterment of the family."

A bitter smile spread across my face.

"Betterment?" I chuckled.

"Fine, all you guys did was for the betterment of the family." I nodded.

"But... what about now? Is marrying me off to Ethan in place of Emma for the family too?" I asked.

Their faces instantly brightened as if I'd just solved a long-dragged puzzle.

"Of course, darling." Mom grabbed my hands softly, her eyes glinting into mine.

"You know Emma is still very young... her getting married to someone callous as Ethan will be dangerous to her well-being," Mom said as her hands gently caressed mine.

I laughed, my gaze slowly falling to her hands.

"And what about me?" I frowned.

Her brows furrowed.

"I mean, I'm older than her by just two weeks, so don't you think marrying Ethan will also be dangerous to my well-being?" I asked.

I stared at her, anxiously awaiting her reply, even though I already knew what she was going to say.

And just like I predicted, she said the words.