Chapter Three

“What?” my voice trembled. My knees almost gave up in fear.

My ears couldn’t believe what I had just heard neither could my brain digest it.

“What did you say?”

He got up, head almost reaching the ceiling as he made his way slowly towards me.

I shivered as he got closer, leaning down, his lips slightly grazing my ear as he whispered.

“You know, I’m beginning to think you have problems hearing. I said, your daddy,” he said the daddy with disgust, “owes me money. And I’m here to get it back.”

He stretched back to his original height, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.

“That’s impossible. My father died last year.” I said, barely audible, but he heard just the same.

“I’m offended you think I would lie, Miss Brookes. If you have issues believing why don’t you ask your mother?”

My eyes shifted to my mother. She cowered into the chair, avoiding my gaze as much as possible.

“Mother is this true?”

She said nothing.

“Coward, just like her stupid husband.” He growled.

I couldn’t say anything as I stared at her, trying to process the situation. My father had always been shady. He always owed money and was a drunkard who always beat my mum. He was the reason why things were so hard. He left us to pay up his debt after getting into trouble which cost him his life. I hated him, but I hated my mother more because she always supported him and was always willing to clean up his mess.

I wonder how this mess would be cleaned up.

Little sniffles came from her as her body raked in silent sobs and I almost eyerolled.

“Oh, please save the waterworks. I’m sure you knew about this all along.” Noah spoke and I turned to look at him.

His cold gaze flickered to me.

“And I’m sure you also knew about the arrangement.”

That caught my interest.

“What arrangement?”

He smirked again, my body turning cold.

This couldn’t be good.

“Your father made a deal. Instead of the money, his first-born daughter is mine. Whatever I choose to do with her. And I was thinking, what better way to truly own you apart from marrying you?”

His smile grew wider as he watched his words sink.

No. no no!

Even in death, my father was still screwing me over.

“No way. I would never marry someone like you.” I spat.

He burst into laughter. He looked devilishly handsome, and it made me hate him more.

“Bold of you to assume you have a choice. Let me give you a choice, to make this fair”.

Tears sprang to my eyes, but I stopped them from falling. I wouldn’t break. I’m not weak.

He clasped his hands together.

“Alright then. Would you prefer jail? Or death?”

“Either of them is more preferable.”

His eyes widened for a moment and the door slammed open as my younger sister walked in.

“Ah perfect.” He said staring at her.

My fear rose.

“Sophie go to your room.” My mother finally spoke.

“But why? What’s going on?”

“Go to your room!” her eyes widened as she stared at me, surprised since I had never raised my voice at her. After a second she ran into her room, slamming the door behind her.

Noah eyes followed her as she did, his evil smile returning.

“Let me make it easier for you. Marry me, or I’ll marry your sister instead.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

The smirk I grew to hate appeared again.

He would dare.

“What’s the choice going to be?”

“You are a sicko.” I spat.

“Time’s going, Brookes.”

“You are a monster.”

“Three.” He started counting.

“How do you sleep at night?”

“Like a baby, two.”

“I hate you.”

“Your sister should be eighteen. One.” He brought out a blue ring box with the letter A engraved on it.

“Would you marry me? Or I have to marry your sister?” he stretched his hand to take mine.

“You are not getting any where near my sister. I will marry you.”

He smiled placing the ring on my finger.

Any time I imagined being proposed to, it was always on a beach, with white roses soft music playing in the background.

What I get instead is a cocky bastard putting a real diamond ring on my finger and my eyes filled with tears, not the happy kind.

Life is a twisted thing.

The ring fitted perfectly, like it was made for me. It was a beautiful handcuff, bounding me to this demon in front of me.

My life was no longer mine. It belonged to Noah Adler.

“Now future Mrs. Adler. You are to begin living with me immediately.”

What the hell?

“Uh no way.”

His face turned cold as he held my wrist, cutting off blood flow.

“You, would do as I say. I,”

He tightened his grip.

“Stop, you are hurting me.” I whimpered.

“Own you. Understood. You are mine.” He loosened his grip.

“Now, go pack your things.” He adjusted his suit.

I stared at him; disbelief written all over my face.

His cold eyes flitted to mine. “Don’t let me repeat myself.”

“Fuck you.” I turned, headed into my room as my master said.

I packed all my valuables in a flash, tears blurring my vision as I did. My sister walked into the room as I finished up.

“I heard everything.” She said, not looking at me.

“Oh.” I carried my duffel bag on my shoulder.

She moved forward pulling me to her. “Thank you.”

I said nothing, leaving the room to meet my fiancé where he was waiting.

He left through the door with me following closely behind him.

My mother tried calling out to me but my glare shut her up. I didn’t need her pathetic apology.

Noah opened the door of the car for me like he wasn’t a monster.

The interior of the car felt cool on my skin as I sat beside Noah, his driver rolling away from my street.

I sank in further into the leather. Happy birthday to me.