Chapter 2: why drug me for her?!

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

My chest tightened further. A bitter smile spread across my lips.

My gaze fell on Emma. She wore a sly smile but quickly switched to a pitiful look when Mom glanced at her.

"Yes, Elena. I have zero resistance to pain... you know that, but in between, I don't want you to suffer because of me,"she chipped in, her voice low.

still trying to portray the considerate sister.

My smile darkened.

"He wants you, right?" I asked calmly, and she nodded.

"Then you he shall get!" I smiled.

Her face turned pale.

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

"I won't marry him... In fact, I denounce this family. I'd rather go back to the orphanage where I came from than remain in this mansion."

I turned to leave, but Dad's words stopped me cold.

"Elena! You ungrateful bastard... you will marry him, 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.

Before I could fathom what he meant, a sharp sting bit into my neck.

It pierced deep into my skin.

My eyes turned swiftly to see a syringe pressed against my neck.

I slowly turned to them.

Mom lowered her eyes.

Dad looked away with a hardened face.

Emma stared, her face painted with a sly smile.

Reality hit me hard. It was their plan all along.

My vision blurred.

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's the only word that came out of my mouth, accompanied by a drop of tears from my eyes before the darkness swallowed me whole.

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"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 slowly lifted.

A bright light in the middle of the basement 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 froze.

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 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 to be 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 immediately. 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 it 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.

"And what if I decide to ruin your little game" I smirked.

Shock flickered in his eyes.

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 scared that I would run away.

"I won't run," I muttered.

His eyes flickered for the second time.

Even though it wasn't my choice, I now think marrying Ethan might take me far away from this family.

Silence descended.

My words said it all.

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.

What was I expecting from an arranged marriage? A big fairytale wedding? I must be out of my mind.

Ethan 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.

I drew a deep, faint breath before stepping in with Dad beside me.

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.

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.

Why would anyone drink this much on his wedding day? 

I frowned.

"How sure are you 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 enchanting.

Dad wiped his forehead nervously even though there was no sweat.

"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 like it was my only support.

He slowly brought his hand to the veil.

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

Ethan ignored him completely as he slowly lifted the veil.

Something flickered in his eyes as though he had seen a ghost.

"You bastard!"