The First Arranged Marriage

Imogen

I stared at the marriage certificate in disbelief, memories from that day suddenly came rushing back into my mind, the very day I had run away from home because my father wanted to force me into marrying an old man he had borrowed money from.

So no, this was not the first time my father had arranged my marriage.

This was actually the second time.

I had only just graduated from the university and was preparing to finally begin my life properly when one afternoon my father suddenly called me into his study.

At first, I thought he wanted to congratulate me for graduating with distinction, so I happily walked in and sat opposite him without suspecting anything.

But instead of congratulations, he dropped a bombshell on me.

“Since you have graduated, Imogen,” he began calmly, “I think it is time for you to get married.”

The moment those words left his mouth, shock immediately washed over me, but before I could even properly process what he had just said, he continued speaking.

“And I have already chosen your husband for you, so prepare yourself because both of you will be meeting this evening.”

Immediately, I stood up from my seat while staring at him in complete disbelief because honestly, I could not understand how my own father could suddenly decide something so important for me without even asking what I wanted.

Did he truly hate me that much?

Just when I was supposed to begin building my future and getting my life together, he wanted to throw me into the hands of a man I had never even met before.

“What are you saying, father?” I asked slowly while hating the cold expression on his face as he stared at me through his spectacles.

“I said you are getting married,” he snapped angrily. “Do you want me to repeat myself?”

Immediately, I bit down hard on my lips while trying to control the emotions boiling inside me.

“I will not do that,” I challenged him despite the fear slowly building in my chest.

Instantly, he got up from his seat too.

“If you refuse, Imogen, then I will disown you,” he threatened while the veins on his forehead bulged visibly from anger.

“You will disown me?” I repeated in shock, but the expression on his face made it clear that he was absolutely serious.

A huge lump formed in my throat because despite everything, I had never openly disrespected my father before.

But deep down, I already knew I was about to.

Countless thoughts immediately began rushing through my mind, and among them all, one stood out the most.

Run away.

“The man you are about to marry will help teach you some proper manners,” my father continued coldly. “Or perhaps once you begin taking care of his children, you will finally learn how to become responsible.”

Immediately, my entire body froze.

“His children?” I asked in disbelief.

My father calmly adjusted his spectacles before sitting back down.

“Yes,” he replied casually. “He is a divorcee.”

And just like that, everything inside me completely shattered.

I simply stood there staring at him in disbelief while tears slowly streamed down my cheeks, but the moment he noticed me crying, he hissed irritably as though my tears disgusted him.

“Crying will do you no good, Imogen,” he said dismissively while waving his hand toward the door. “Now go prepare yourself to meet him this evening.”

I already knew my father disliked me, but that day made me realize just how deep his hatred truly ran.

Still, I did not argue with him anymore.

Instead, I simply turned around and left the study while silently crying to myself.

The moment I stepped outside, I was met by Silvia standing nearby as though she had been listening to everything all along.

And the instant she saw the broken look on my face, a smile slowly spread across hers.

“Do you want to know what else I heard?” she whispered while moving closer toward me.

Then she leaned close to my ear.

“They say he’s a very dangerous man.”

Immediately after saying that, she chuckled softly.

At that moment, my fists clenched tightly beside me while conflicting emotions battled inside my chest because honestly, I was no longer interested in arguing with any of them.

I wanted to act.

I would rather my father truly disowned me than marry any man he chose for me.

And so without hesitation, I marched straight toward my room, grabbed the first travelling bag I saw, and immediately began packing every single keepsake my mother left behind for me.

Once I was done, I moved toward my closet and packed only the necessary things I needed.

I was not going to continue playing by their twisted rules anymore.

I was going to play by mine.

With that determination, I carried my bag downstairs, fully prepared to leave the house.

But as though my father already expected exactly what I was about to do, he was standing directly by the front door waiting for me.

“And where exactly do you think you’re going?” he asked coldly.

With anger burning inside me, I answered immediately.

“Anywhere but here.”

Silvia stood behind him quietly as though both of them were prepared to physically stop me if necessary, and so I looked directly at my father before reminding him of his own words.

“You said you would disown me, right?” I said bitterly. “Then before you do that, I’ll do it myself.”

Immediately, my father burst into laughter while Silvia joined him shortly after.

“You think you can survive out there alone?” he mocked while stepping aside slightly. “Tell me, do you even have money? What exactly are you going to do after leaving this house?”

Then he raised three fingers confidently.

“I’ll simply inform the man that you won’t be meeting him today,” he said. “But I promise you this, Imogen, you won’t survive three days outside before crawling back here ready to marry him.”

And honestly…

He was right.

He knew perfectly well that I was broke and had absolutely nowhere else to go.

Still, despite knowing that, I refused to submit quietly.

Even if I eventually failed, I still wanted to fight back at least once.

And so without another word, I walked past him, opened the door, and stepped outside.

“Don’t come back begging,” Silvia called after me mockingly.

But I never looked back.

I simply kept walking.

I honestly do not know how long I walked for that evening while dragging my bag behind me, but eventually the roads became darker and lonelier with only the occasional sound of passing cars breaking the silence around me.

And the entire time I walked, tears refused to stop falling from my eyes because honestly, I felt completely miserable and alone in the world.

The only friends I had were the ones I made in school, and they were struggling with life just like I was, trying desperately to establish themselves after graduation.

There was no one I could call for help.

And as for my mother’s family, I knew absolutely nothing about them because my mother barely ever spoke about them while she was alive, and whenever she did, sadness would immediately appear on her face.

So truly…

I was alone.

Completely alone with no one to lean on or share my burdens with.

Suddenly, a black car slowly stopped beside me, causing my steps to halt immediately while alertness filled my body.

Fear gripped me instantly.

What did they want from me?

Were they kidnappers?

Or perhaps my father sent them after me?

Countless thoughts flooded my mind all at once, and my first instinct was to run as far away as possible.

But before I could move, the back window slowly rolled down and a soft elderly voice suddenly spoke.

“Darling,” the woman called gently, “why are you walking alone this late at night? Do you perhaps have somewhere you’re going? I could drop you off.”

Slowly, I looked toward the car properly and realized there truly was an elderly woman seated inside.

Immediately, relief crashed over me so strongly that I did not even realize when tears began pouring uncontrollably from my eyes again.