1.

NARA

“You will marry him, and that’s final. I don’t want to hear whatever bullshit you have to say!” my father yelled.

“I will not. That man is a widower, for crying out loud!” I shot back, struggling to stop the tears burning in my eyes.

“And so what if he is a widower?” My father’s voice dropped deathly low as he advanced toward me.

“I will not be used as a replacement for any man. I deserve to be with someone I love—and who loves me too. Not someone who is looking for a substitute.” I was defiant and hell-bent on not marrying Jared Wilson. A billionaire businessman and mogul, he had the looks and the money any woman would normally desire.

But I would live a life of eternal sorrow if I married that man, because he was only seeking a breeding tool. He had lost his wife five months ago—Catherine Wilson. She was the opposite of everything he embodied, yet the poor woman had died while giving birth to their child, the acclaimed heir to his family’s fortune.

And now he was searching for a new wife.

My greedy father and wicked stepmother were using their connections to push me forward as the sacrificial lamb, all for the financial benefits it would bring to my father’s debt-ridden company.

“Nara, if you had even a shred of sense left, you would understand that we have your best interests at heart…” my stepmother, Camille, began.

I chuckled darkly at her farcical sympathy. Camille had never cared about me. In fact, she had turned my father against me ever since my mother died, and life had been hell ever since.

“Darling…” she continued in that syrupy, fake tone, “We are imploring you to marry Mr. Wilson. You will never find a better match. Yes, he is a widower, but he will grow to love you. He is rich, remember, and your child would be an heir to his—”

“That’s if I don’t die in that marriage!” I snapped. “If you think he’s such a wonderful man, why aren’t you pushing Danielle to marry him? Because you’re selfish. You would never risk Danielle for anything, but you wouldn’t hesitate to destroy my life for money!”

My words earned me a sharp slap from my father.

I nearly stumbled back, clutching my throbbing cheek. From the corner of my eye, I saw both Danielle and Camille smirking.

“How dare you, you ungrateful brat, speak to your stepmother in that tone?” my father growled. “You are stupid and useless. I am trying to secure you a financially comfortable future, and you are making this unnecessarily difficult—acting like the world revolves around you! You will marry Jared Wilson, and that is final.”

He glared at me, daring me to argue.

But I knew better.

My body was already riddled with bruises from his and Camille’s physical abuse whenever I dared to protest their commands. The tears I had been holding back finally spilled down my cheeks. I wiped them away with the back of my hands, swallowed my words, and turned toward the stairs.

“Foolish girl!” I heard my father curse behind me.

I didn’t turn back.

I was used to this.

*********

I sat on the edge of my bed long after I shut my door behind me.

I didn’t cry right away.. I just stared at the wall opposite me. The paint had a thin crack running through it, right down the middle. I’d noticed it a long time ago, but I’d never really looked at it like this. It felt fitting somehow now like everything in my life was slowly splitting apart, and I was standing right in the middle of it.

My hands were folded in my lap as my chest felt tight.. I couldn’t control the pain and sadness all over me.

“Marry him.”

The words kept repeating in my head.

Jared Wilson.

A man I didn’t love. A man I didn’t even know. A man who had already loved someone else and buried her not even up to half a year ago.

My throat burned.

Mike’s face, my fiance, came to mind without effort. It always did when things got bad. His soft smile. The way he looked at me like I was something worth protecting, not trading. I pictured the crease between his brows whenever he was worried, the way he went quiet when he was thinking too hard.

What would he do if he heard this?

I swallowed hard.

He’d be hurt. I knew that much. Not angry at me, but hurt for me. Hurt that my parents could do this. Hurt that I was being pushed toward another man like our three years together meant nothing.

Three years.

I let out a shaky breath.

We’d been careful. Private. He’d asked for that, and I understood why. Mike didn’t come from money. He worked hard, harder than anyone I knew. He always said he didn’t want to stand in front of my parents until he could look them in the eye and say he could take care of me. He wanted to come prepared, proud and financially steady.

“I’ll marry you right,” he used to say. “Or not at all.”

My lips trembled at the memory.

How was I supposed to tell him that my parents had already sold me off?

That they didn’t care who I loved or what I wanted?

I pressed my palm to my chest, trying to calm my breathing.

I’d tell him in person all this person. I decided that right there. I wouldn’t do this over a call or a text. He deserved better than that. I’d go to him, sit across from him, look him in the eyes, and tell him everything.

And if it came to it…

I nodded slowly to myself.

We’d run!

The thought scared me, but it also gave me a strange sense of strength. I wasn’t helpless. Not completely. If things got worse, if they tried to force me down the aisle, I’d leave. I’d choose Mike. I’d choose myself.

I was just starting to breathe easier when a sharp knock hit my door.

I flinched.

Before I could even speak, the door opened.

Danielle walked in first, her heels clicking against the floor like she owned the place. Camille followed right behind her, calm and composed, the same fake smile on her lips.

Neither of them waited for permission.

“Wow,” Danielle said, looking around my room like it amused her. “You look like shit.”

I stood up slowly. “Get out.”

Camille shut the door behind them instead.

“Mind your tone,” she said softly. “We’re family.”

I sighed bitterly. “You don’t come into someone’s room uninvited and call that family.”

Danielle scoffed. “Relax. We just wanted to check on the future Mrs. Wilson.”

My stomach twisted.

“Don’t call me that,” I snapped.

She smiled wider. “Why not? You should start getting used to it. Jared Wilson. Billionaire. Widower. Sounds like a dream.”

Her eyes flicked over me, cold and cruel. “Though I can’t imagine he’ll ever love you. Not the way he loved Catherine.”

Danielle didn’t stop her. She never did.

Danielle walked closer, circling me slowly. “I heard he was obsessed with her. Couldn’t breathe without her. And now look at him. Looking for someone new to warm his bed and raise kids for him.”

She leaned in. “That’s you, Nara. A replacement. A body. A breeding tool.”

My hands clenched into fists.

She laughed. “Honestly, it suits you. You’ve always been good at taking what’s left.”

“Shut up,” I said, my voice shaking.

She tilted her head. “I hope he doesn’t get bored of you too fast. Would be awkward if he divorced you once he’s done.”

“That’s enough,” I yelled. “Get out of my room!”

“I’m not marrying him,” I continued, my voice rising. “Do you hear me? I will never marry Jared Wilson. Never.”

Danielle rolled her eyes. “You don’t get to decide that.”

“I do,” I shot back. “What if I already have someone? Someone I love and willing to marry? Doesn’t his feelings too count?!”

That finally got Camille’s attention.

She laughed. Not loud. Just a soft, mocking sound.

“Oh?” she said. “And who is this unfortunate soul?”

I met her gaze, my heart pounding. “That’s none of your business.”

Her smile faded. “Careful.”

“You think dangling money in my face makes this okay?” I continued. “You think I’ll just lie down and accept it?”

Camille stepped closer, her voice calm but sharp. “You should be thanking us. Do you know how many girls would kill for this chance?”

“I’m not those girls.”

She scoffed. “You’re worse. At least they’d know gratitude.”

Danielle crossed her arms. “Honestly, you’re lucky. We could’ve tossed you out a long time ago. Let you beg on the streets.”

My chest burned. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Camille’s eyes hardened. “Don’t push me.”

She leaned in, her voice low. “You will behave. Jared Wilson and his family will be here for dinner tonight.”

My heart dropped.

“Tonight?” I whispered.

“Yes,” she said. “And you will be on your best behavior. No drama. No tears. No embarrassing nonsense.”

Danielle smirked. “Try not to look too desperate.”

Camille straightened. “And don’t tempt my fury, Nara. You won’t like it.”

She turned and walked out. Danielle followed, throwing one last cruel smile over her shoulder before shutting the door behind them.

I stood there alone, my body shaking, my eyes burning.

Dinner tonight.

I sank back onto my bed, pressing my hands over my mouth to keep from sobbing.

Everything was closing in.

And I was running out of time.