Ancient troll

SOFIA POV

It's pointless arguing with my mother. There's no way in hell I'm getting married in two days to a man I don't know shit about.

Who the hell does that?

Does Father think we're still in the 1800s? Or was it the 900s? Whatever. Somewhere people thought this nonsense was normal.

It's ridiculous. Bat shit crazy.

I didn't bother knocking. I swung the door open the moment I reached Father's study and marched inside.

My father's head snapped up. He sat behind his desk looking tired as hell.

"Sofia?" His voice came out strained.

I didn't answer him.

"Dad, tell me it's a lie. Tell me whatever Mum came to tell me was nothing but a birthday prank that's probably going to end with me on a plane to Satroperez as my birthday gift." I bit out angrily.

My stomach knotted at the look on Father's face.

"I guess your mother spoke to you." He dropped his glasses onto the desk and leaned back in his chair.

I hurried over and sat in the chair opposite him, leaning forward.

"Dad, please tell me it's not true."

He sighed, rubbing his forehead. He looked so exhausted, like something was terribly wrong.

Dark circles sat beneath his eyes. His beard had grown out, something I'd never seen before. My father hated looking anything less than perfect.

For a man in his sixties, he looked like he was in his mid-seventies.

What could possibly be wrong?

"Sofia, you have to understand I'm doing this for our own good. Some things are really hard. I know this marriage will be a great advantage to us. I assure you, you'll never have to worry about food, security or a roof over your head. He'll take care of you."

And was any of that supposed to make me feel better?

Was money worth my freedom? Worth the fact that I was getting married in two days?

"And the wedding couldn't wait a bit longer? In two days, Dad? You didn't even have enough balls to tell me yourself. You had to send Mum."

I'd never spoken to him this way before, but it was only fair considering he was being dishonest with me.

"Your husband thinks it's better if it happens as fast as po—"

"YOUR HUSBAND! YOUR HUSBAND! YOUR HUSBAND!" I shot to my feet. "I don't have a husband and I didn't agree to one!"

"Sofia, can you not do this?" His voice grew tired. "It took me everything to get this man on board. I'm not about to let you mess it up. This is the first thing I've ever asked of you."

"Who is the man, Dad? Mum wouldn't give me a name. Is he that bad?"

My voice came out harsher than I intended.

I'm scared.

I'm so scared.

Why is it so hard to give me a name?

"You'll know in the next two days. It's going to be a small wedding. Your mother will have your wedding dress prepared."

He said it so calmly, as if we weren't discussing my forever.

"Dad, please... who is he?"

My eyes stung with tears. The more he brushed it off, the tighter something squeezed around my chest.

None of this was helping my situation.

"Sofia... please don't make me force you."

"Just tell me who he is. He couldn't be that bad, right? You claimed he'd take care of me, but you can't even give me his name despite making me marry him in the next two days."

A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it.

Father's expression tightened.

If there was one thing he hated, it was vulnerability. He hated weakness.

"Sofia, don't cry. It's a great opportunity for the family. You'll see it in the long run."

"Dad... who's this man?"

He rubbed a hand over his face, looking more exhausted than I'd ever seen him.

"You'll know soon."

"Is he old?"

His jaw tightened.

"Is he ugly?"

He didn't answer.

"Does he have a pot belly?"

He reached for the glass of water on his desk and took a slow sip instead of answering.

My heart began to pound.

"Does he have children?"

"Sofia..."

"Just tell me something, Dad!" My voice cracked. "Anything."

His grip tightened around the glass. He shut his eyes for a brief second. "Sofia..." He exhaled slowly. "His name is—"

The door swung open so hard it cut him off.

"Richard! There you are!"

The booming voice came from behind me.

I turned to see a man in a crisp black suit stride into the room. He looked around Father's age.

His eyes flickered between Father and me before settling on me for a second too long, as though he was studying me.

"Edward Mercer." Father stood so quickly his chair scraped against the floor. He stretched out his hand with a smile. "I'm glad you could make it."

He greeted the man with a respect I'd never seen him show anyone.

He was practically fanning over him.

Is he my husband? Panic settled inside me once again.

"Dad, I asked you a question."

He let out a frustrated breath. "Go out, Sofia. We'll talk later."

"But Da—"

"Out!"

I flinched, stepping back in shock before turning on my heel and running out of the office.

"Sofia!"

I rounded the hallway and nearly tripped over my thirteen-year-old sister, Emily. She was standing right outside the door, her wide green eyes giving away the fact that she’d been eavesdropping the entire time.

"Go away, Emily," I muttered, wiping the wet tracks off my cheeks as I hurried toward my bedroom.And of course, the little shit didn’t listen. She trailed beside me.

"Is it true?" she whispered, jogging to keep up with my fast pace. "Are you getting married? Is he hot? Like... Adrien Mercer hot?"

"I don't have time for this right now," I snapped.

"I'm just asking! Upper East Side girls will mock you forever if he's ugly," she whined, following me right into my bedroom.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" I yelled.

I pushed my bedroom door open and slammed it shut, but before it could close, Emily shoved her foot in the way and forced it back open.

Fine.

I let go of the door and threw myself onto my bed.

Pulling the covers over my head, I curled into myself.

I'd miss my room.

A broken whimper escaped my lips before I could stop it. My body shook as I cried beneath the covers.

"I won't go to college anymore. I won't be able to sleep with boys. I can't read my smutty books. He'll turn me into a sex doll. Why is my life so horrible?" I sobbed.

Emily sighed. The mattress dipped as she climbed onto the bed beside me.

"Don't cry, Sofia." Her voice softened as she rubbed my head through the blanket. "Can't you see your friend Daphne? Her marriage was arranged too, and her husband takes good care of her. He even lets her go out. Daddy won’t give you to someone terrible. Don't think of the worst."

"Why won't I think of the worst?" I cried. "They won't even tell me who my husband is. They refused to give me a name."

I sniffled loudly. "I'll kill myself if it's that man who walked into Daddy's study."

"Edward Mercer? Gross, no way. What if it's his son?"

I frowned, wiping my nose with the back of my hand. "He has a son?"

“He’s in his thirties and he’s so hot and handsome. I wish Daddy would give him to me when I turn twenty.”

I stared at her.

She continued as if she hadn't just said the most disturbing thing ever.

“I will allow Adrien Mercer to ruin me thoroughly, more than Elon Musk ruined T*****r when he changed it to X,” she beamed joyfully.

“What’s so special about him?” I asked.

Emily gasped as if I’d just insulted her entire existence.

I’d seen him twice, and both times, I’d only caught a glimpse of him at an event I attended with my father. He was hot, yes. But he wasn’t the type of man who would ever look my way.

And thankfully, I don’t give a shit about him. I have no interest in a cold, arrogant wall of a man who probably thinks smiling is beneath him.

“What’s not special about him? He’s filthy rich, ridiculously handsome, and apparently, he’s America’s wet dream.”

I rolled my eyes at her. Even my life was falling apart my sister was busy fantasizing about men.

She sighed. “You can take your dildo along, and I can sneak your smutty books in if I’m allowed to visit.”

“Emily!” I snapped.

“What?” she deadpanned.

“You said dildo! Why would you say that?” Gosh… My little sister is too grown for her age, it pisses me off.

“Maybe you should stop leaving it on your vanity,” she said, a smug smile appearing on her face.

God. I need to get rid of that shit.

“Go away, Emily. I’m so hurt right now.”

She sighed heavily. She pushed toward me and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tight.

"It's going to be okay," she whispered. "I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but I don't think Daddy would marry you off to some ugly, ancient troll. You're Sofia Ross. Even in an arranged marriage, you'll end up with a handsome billionaire who can't take his eyes off you."

I hugged her back, staring blankly at the wall as her hopeful words washed over me.

**********

She lied. Emily fucking lied to me.