Chapter 2: why drug me for her?!

Chapter 2

"No...you know Emma isn't used to a life of suffering, unlike you, who grew up in the orphanage."

My stomach knotted as her words hit me.

"Yes, Elena... you already know how that kind of life feels, but Emma doesn't!" Dad added.

My chest tightened further.

My gaze shifted to Emma.

She wore a sly smile — the kind that called me a loser. But the moment Mom glanced at her, it melted into something pitiful and innocent.

`"Yes, Elena..." She stepped forward.

Her voice low and calm.

"You know that... i have zero resistance to pain. but, in the end, I don't want you to suffer because of me," she sobbed, trying to portray the considerate sister.

I smiled and cover the space between us.

"You don't want me to suffer, right?" I asked calmly.

She nodded and wiped the tears that weren't there.

I smiled and patted her hair like I was about I'm comforting her but slowly my face hardened.

"Then, marry him!" I whispered and shoved her head slightly.

Her face turned pale instantly.

"You can't..." Mom wanted to interfere, but I cut her off.

"I won't marry Ethan!" I declared.

"Then be ready to leave this mansion!" Dad growled.

I laughed.

"Really? Is that even a threat?" I laughed harder.

"It's not a threat but... a warning," he replied.

"so be it, I denounce this family. I'd rather go back to the orphanage where I came from than remain in this mansion," I sneered and turned to leave, but Dad's words stopped me cold.

"Elena! You ungrateful bastard... you will marry Ethan with or without your will."

I shook my head.

"Over my dead body will I agree to marry Ethan Marcus..."

"Then be ready to marry him as a corpse!" Dad thundered and before I could fathom what he meant, a sharp sting bit into my neck.

It pierced deep into my skin.

My eyes sprang open.

I turned swiftly to see a syringe pressed against my neck.

My gaze slowly returned to them.

Mom lowered her eyes.

Dad looked away with a hardened face.

Emma stared with a sly grin.

Reality hit me hard.

It was their plan all along.

My vision blurred.

I staggered toward the door, but strong hands gripped my shoulders. I couldn't move nor utter a word.

Slowly, I felt them drag me down the hallway until a door opened. Without pity... I was thrown into a pitch-dark room.

I couldn't see a thing. My vision blurred even more.

"Why?" That was the only word that came out of my mouth, accompanied by a drop of tears from my eyes before the darkness swallowed me whole.

---

"This would look good on her!"

"No, this would look better on her."

I heard low, rumbling voices.

My pupils rolled beneath my closed lids until they lifted tiredly.

A bright light welcomed me.

I squinted.

"Perfect, you're awake... Which color would you like for your lipstick?"

I turned to find pairs of eyes from strange faces staring down at me, holding a full set of lipsticks.

My breath caught.

I shifted, only to land on the floor.

"Careful, Miss... so you won't mess up your wedding dress."

"Wedding dress?" My voice cracked, and they nodded.

I swiftly moved my gaze to what I was wearing.

My jaw dropped. I was wearing a white wedding gown.

My heart raced.

"No, no... this shouldn't be happening," I panicked.

My eyes caught my reflection in the mirror.

A drop of tears flowed freely down my cheeks.

So, they drugged me, locked me in the basement, and dressed me up without my permission just to protect Emma?

"What's taking so long?" Dad's voice echoed, announcing his entrance with two of his men.

"We are almost done," the girls chorused.

My gaze turned to him.

"Dad... how could you?"

More tears fell, but he didn't seem bothered.

"Enough already. The groom is almost here," he said coldly.

Then a voice called out from the entrance.

"Mr. Ethan Marcus is here."

Dad's face turned pale with panic. He quickly picked up the veil on the bed, handed it to one of the girls, and they forcefully placed it on my head without caring about my unfinished makeup.

The veil completely covered my face.

Dad raised the veil slightly and glared down at me.

"Behave and don't ruin things for me," he muttered coldly, without any iota of pity in his eyes.

My hands clenched into fists.

"What if I decide to expose your little game?" I replied through gritted teeth.

At that moment, Mom and Emma walked in.

"Elena!" Emma quirked, rushing to my side and holding my hands.

"Elena, you don't have to suffer for me... If you don't want to get married to him, just let me marry him, and I will kill myself afterward. At least it will be recorded that I sacrificed myself for my family," she cried and fell at my feet.

I rolled my eyes and stepped backward.

"No, don't say that... your sister will marry him. You don't have to sacrifice yourself."

Mom rushed to her, lifted her, and pulled her into her embrace. Dad then took her from Mom's embrace.

"You're too kind. You don't need to sacrifice yourself for anyone," he consoled her.

Just like that, she stole the show once more.

I shook my head and walked out of the hypocrisy-stinking room.

My hand rested on the doorknob of the basement for a few seconds, fighting with myself not to lock them inside and run away.

A few seconds later, Dad walked out of the room with his men.

He grabbed hold of my hand as if he were afraid that I would run away.

"I won't run," I muttered.

His eyes flickered.

I know deep down he might be wondering why I changed my mind so quickly.

well, right now I think marrying Ethan might be my only escape from this family.

dad said nothing and slowly let go of my hand.

No one uttered a word until we arrived at the courthouse.

The door opened.

My eyes scanned the room.

It was empty except for Mr. Sterling and the groom, Ethan Marcus, who stood at the decorated aisle with the aura of a king.

Dressed in a well-tailored suit, his face wore an indifferent expression, but that didn't hide the fact that he was frighteningly handsome.

Beside him was a table where the wedding contract lay.

"Here comes the bride!" our arrival was announced.

Ethan's eyes shifted to us.

He made to walk toward us, but his legs twisted, causing him to fall to the ground.

Mr. Sterling rushed to him.

"I'm... I'm fine," he waved and struggled to his feet.

He staggered to where we stood.

"Hello, Ethan."

Dad stretched out his hand for a handshake, but Ethan slapped it away and stood in front of me.

He leaned in as if trying to peek through the veil to see who was behind it.

I shifted back, not because I wanted to hide my face from him, but because of the strong smell of liquor that hit my nose.

He frowned and turned to Dad.

"Armstrong! How sure are you that this is my bride?" he asked suddenly.

My breath hitched the moment the question left his mouth, and I could swear Dad's breath hitched too.

"My... my... Lord, I mean, Mr. Ethan... of course she's your bride," Dad stuttered.

"I don't trust you," he said, his baritone voice low but carrying power.

Dad wiped his forehead and swallowed hard.

"Sir, you don't have to worry..."

"Enough! I will check myself." He waved Dad off and lowered his gaze.

My hands froze against my gown as he slowly brought his hand to my veil.

"Sir, you don't have... to do this," Dad stuttered, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

Ethan ignored him completely and started lifting the veil.

There, something flickered in his eyes as though he had seen a ghost.

"You bastard!"