Author's point of view...!
Taking a steadying breath, I pulled myself together, feeling something shift deep within me. If they want me dead so badly, then let it be...! “Fine,” I muttered, biting back the bitter taste forming in my mouth. “I’ll go through with the wedding, Dad, but I don't think this would work out well...?" His eyes narrowed, I continued under my breath, "You won't be able to leech them for long" He gritted in frustration and grabbed my wrist, stopping me from going out. "If it's not going to work, you will have to make it work, Ericka. No matter what..." he said in his menacing tone. I squeezed my eyes shut. This man could be the cruelest father in this entire world and the heavens had cursed him upon me...! I sucked in a cold breath and calmed my nerves. I was never a loser, and I won't be one in the future as well. "Okay fine...! I will marry him..." I blurted out, pulling my wrist from his grip. "I will go through it. Even if it is to fight for every breath I take." I said that to myself. He looked at me with smug satisfaction, already dismissing me as if I were some chore he had finally completed. I forced myself to stand properly, my heart feeling both fractured and hardened. I turned and walked away. When Chairman Davis put this proposal before me, I tried hard to refuse it but he was so serious about it. He didn't let me talk to him anymore. I thought maybe it was for my good and his son might be the right partner for me. God...! Who could have guessed, what his son actually was?? I walked back to my room and slammed the door behind me. As I know I couldn't avoid this, I can at least make it bearable. Sitting on my bed, the first thing I did was block Logan's number to let my mind suffer less from his venom. A week passed and Dad indulged himself in the so called preperation of the wedding. I didn't hear anything from Logan after that and I had been avoiding Dad as well. I was glad that at least I wouldn't have to hear those venomous words again, but soon, my little shell of safety shattered. The day before the dramatic wedding, my Dad walked in with his phone in his hands and my heart skipped a beat. My intuition was screaming in my head that it might be something, something was really off. Did Logan call him? And what is he up to now? "What is it, Dad?" I asked, puzzled, and as expected, Dad replied with some urgency in his tone. "It's Logan, Ericka" My heart sank, I couldn't avoid him any longer. I extended my trembling hand towards him to get his phone. Preparing myself for the curses that would follow, but Dad didn't lend me his phone;; instead, he said excitedly. "Get prepared, honey" I was stunned for a moment. Did he just call me honey!! As if smacking me out of my trans, Dad continued. "He hung up but he called me just to invite us to a family gathering and you to his bachelor party..." Wait...! What?? "What...!!" I was so shocked. That scumbag is actually inviting me to his party...! No way, right? Is that for real!! Or is that some kind of trap that he laid carefully for me!?? No way...! There is no way I am going to be his prey. I won't go there...! "Come on, get ready..." My Dad's desperate voice pricked through my thoughts, and I tried hard to protest. I can't go...! I must not...! "No Dad...I wouldn't..." I protested but he cut me off yet again. "What did you say..." Dad's eyes narrowed and his demeanor instantly changed into something ugly. Not again...! Before I could repeat myself, he blurted out through his gritted teeth. "I don't want to listen to that nonsense crab again, Ericka..." he smacked, "Your father-in-law had arranged everything for you to get ready for this party, and you would do whatever is needed..." I froze, speechless. It seemed that I couldn't just avoid this disaster. "Mr. Jameson had personally asked me to tell you to dress up elegantly as this will be your first time meeting your future husband..." he added, seriously as if stating a chapter of solemn oaths. My future husband...! Yeah, right!!! I heaved a sigh. Dress up to be humiliated or to be killed...? I have no idea what he had planned after I ditched him. He must be going crazy with anger by now. Everything that I had been trying hard to forget, to bury, resurfaced. I found myself trapped in this. My mind insisted that this was the trap he had been preparing all this while, and I could not afford to go. He is a monster and I am sure he would go to any extent to stop this wedding. Though we share the same goal, he would never consider my safety to achieve his goal. Instead, he would rather kill me without any hesitation. "We will be leaving early this evening. Be ready and don't you dare play any tricks this time, Ericka" Smacking that, Dad left me alone to cry. What a loving father...! I stayed in my room all day, with no food and no one to talk to. How could I even think about eating when I knew that something wrong would happen to me tonight? That was so annoying...! In the evening, I was called out by my father. I descended the stairs only to find the entire hall crowded. As I reached the bottom, my eyes widened. There were young women everywhere, dressed in matching uniforms, bustling around like a carefully choreographed performance. Mr. Jameson had apparently arranged for a whole team to prepare me for tonight’s ordeal—maids, makeup artists, stylists, and even assistants holding a lineup of designer dresses, bags, heels, and jewelry. The setup was impressive, like something straight out of a fairytale. But instead of feeling pampered, I felt trapped. This wasn't helping. A knot settled in my gut. I tried to take in everything, but still, my hands and legs shivered. The extravagance around me felt suffocating. All of this was for bringing me to him...! Logan, the man who starts hates me to his core. Just the thought of his name sent a shiver through me, a nauseating churn roiling in my stomach. I didn't understand why I had to do this. Why was he throwing a party if he despised me so much? The entire team worked swiftly, doing all the chores they were supposed to do, but I couldn't help but feel uneasy. “Ma’am, we’re ready,” one of the makeup artists said, her voice cutting through my anxious thoughts. I blinked, snapping back to reality, and hesitated before looking at my reflection. "What the heck..." I exclaimed in shock. “Is that…me?” I murmured in disbelief. The person in the mirror who looked back at me didn’t look like me at all. The transformation was stunning, almost unrecognizable. I looked like some high-fashion model, too polished, too poised. A stranger, to be honest. "You look so beautiful, ma’am," the girl beside me said, her voice soft with admiration. I forced a tight smile, trying to appreciate the compliment, but something inside me just wouldn’t let it settle. I sighed, my eyes falling from the mirror. No matter how beautiful I looked on the outside, it couldn’t erase the turmoil I felt within. "Ma'am, we will leave now," the girl from earlier said in a low tone, and I nodded. The entire team left, leaving me alone in my room. I inhaled and exhaled a few times to let my mind settle into reality. No matter what was waiting for me out there, I had to face it. **************Author's point of view... I walked out of the room, my heart pounding with a helpless, quiet scream. The hall was just a few feet away and I wished it would never end as I laid my eyes beyond it, the car that would take me to my unwanted fate was waiting for me at the entrance. I wanted to turn and run away, to vanish before anyone could stop me, but there was no escape from this. As I neared the car, a pair of familiar eyes caught my attention, narrowed with resentment. Elvira was glaring daggers at me. She was my cousin, a year younger than me. Dad told me that they were invited to a family gathering with the Davis family. She might be here for that. I could almost feel her jealousy seething. And of course—this dress could make anyone turn green with envy. But did she have to give me that look? "You might be flying above cloud seven, aren't you?" she sneered with her voice dripping with disdain. I inhaled deeply. Elvira is my sister but we never have anything that
Ericka's point of view... It was a risky plan, but I was desperate enough to take the chance. If Logan, the young master of the Davis family, was smitten by Elvira, perhaps I could escape the fate I so dreaded. "Ma'am...I was asked to bring only one guest..." the driver said, his tone a mixture of confusion and curiosity. Something was off...! The driver behaved so oddly. “We are sisters, do you have any objections?” I protested, trying to play it cool. “I thought I was the guest of honor today, but I think I need to ask Mr. Davis send me another car...." I picked up my phone scrolling down the screen, pretending to be calling someone. And as I expected, it did intimidate him. "Ma'am, that's okay. No need to disturb Sir. We are already running late..." the driver said, respectfully and opened the car door for us. Elvira smiled sweetly, her earlier resentment replaced by an eagerness to impress. "Thank you," she said, her voice sweet and gentle. What a gentle butter
Author's Point of View... Ericka stepped cautiously into the nightclub. It was dark and eerily quiet, which immediately unsettled her. "Elvira..!" she called out for her sister but there wasn't any response. "It's just a few minutes, where did she go?" As she took a few more steps ahead, she couldn't see anything. Some times she even bumped into empty chairs and tables. "This is weird...!" she thought, "Isn't this supposed to be a nightclub? Shouldn't it be loud and full of people? Why is it so silent??" She took a few more steps, her heels clicking against the cold marble floor. The vast emptiness of the space made it feel less like a club and more like an abandoned set. A chill ran down her spine. "What’s going on here? Did that scumbag set this up to scare me? He wouldn’t be that childish... right?" she had tons of guesses but no one seemed to match the situation better. Ahead, she noticed another door. Her palms were clammy, and a shiver crept through her body.
Author's point of view... The man who held the flashlight focused entirely on Ericka's body, and the spectators sitting in the lounge all gasped in shock. "That's a beauty..." they exclaimed, their voices dripping with malice and lust. Ericka was indeed a beautiful woman and to add to her appearance, the buttering up that the makeup artists had done to her was remarkable, making her look even more enchanting. "I want her...!" one of the spectators stood up and was about to come closer when another one pulled him back. "I am willing to pay ten million for her" Ericka's mind stirred. She thought Logan had arranged something to ruin her reputation but never in her wildest dreams did she think that he would actually sell her. How dare he...! she screamed in her mind. How could he disrespect a woman like that!! "If I ever get out of this place alive, I will kill you Mr. Logan Dawis...!!" she vowed to herself, gritting her teeth in disgust and anger. Her heart pounded as
Author's point of view...! Alex’s expression shifted, momentarily surprised, but his smirk quickly returned. If he had known this earlier, that the girl Logan wanted to ruin would be so beautiful, he wouldn't have arranged all this mess. He would have volunteered to help Logan with this instead. His lips curled upward as he stared at her beauty without even a blink. "Yes...she is telling the truth," Elvira cried out, "Just take her and do whatever you want, but please let me go...I... I am of no use to you..." Elvira begged. Ericka squinted her eyes as she inhaled deeply. She needed it so badly to maintain her patience. This girl was her sister...! She never once thought to protect her but was ready to throw her under the bus. However, Ericka knew that this mess was her to clean. This had nothing to do with Elvira, and if anything happened to her, Ericka couldn't forgive herself. "Let her go..." Ericka said, her head hung in despair. Alex's lips curled into a smirk, and he
Ericka's point of view... I struggled a lot to free myself but it was all in vain. They injected something into my veins and my head started stirring like hell. I was dying with dizziness. I forced myself to stay conscious but couldn't move a finger. Everything was out of my control. Maybe they drugged me with something. Alex grinned and scooped me into his arms. "Boss, let me carry her" his subordinate offered but he clearly refused to let his men touch me. I couldn't feel anything by now. He had been staring at me and I can see those eyes of his, filled with desire. This is not good. He was like a bloodthirsty animal who just got his satisfying prey and couldn't wait to bite. I could see his grin spread ear to ear, as he strode towards the entrance. From his shoulder, I saw his men scooping Elvira up. She was drugged too. Those creeps were touching her as if everyone of them wanted to tear a part of her body. Bloody monsters...! I gritted at my helplessness, at
Ericka's point of view... I stood at the grand entrance of the Dawis Mansion, its huge gates looming over me like an omen. I was angry but a bit nervous too. This family wasn't a small family that I could stand against. But that man had gone too far. I comforted myself. I had to do this. My heart raced, but not from fear. It was anger—a seething rage that boiled within me, begging for release. I clenched my fists, recalling every detail of the nightmare Logan had orchestrated. He must pay for what he did. I would make sure of it. I pounded on the ornate wooden door, my knuckles stinging with each knock. Before I could gather my thoughts, the door creaked open, and a handsome face popped out. I clenched my jaws together. How dare he...! There in front of me stood the man I wanted to kill right then and there. Logan Dawis...! He stood there, an ever-charming smile plastered on his infuriatingly handsome face. His dark eyes glimmered with amusement as if he’d b
Ericka's point of view... "Oh my...look here, dear, it's already so late, you should get some rest before your wedding tomorrow. It's your big day, after all, and you must look your best, isn't it?" I was jerked out of my thoughts as I heard that one word again. Wedding...! He still wants me to marry his son?? I...I...I can't believe this. I swallowed the anger in me and wanted to talk it out with Mr. Jonathan. "Mr..." I could barely utter a word when Logan chimed in. "Dad you are right. Look how tired she is. I think she should come in and get some rest. We can talk about everything later..." he hugged my shoulder and I snuggled away. Mr. Jonathan laughed, "I can't be any more happy than this...Oh Ericka, I am so glad that you came into his life..." he said, amused, genuinely delighted. I was rendered speechless. Logan continued his loving and caring facade, smiling at his father and me. He is just pretending, and I can clearly see that. What is he up to? I am su
Author's point of view... "We won." The awkward silence in the hall was broken as Luke shouted excitedly like a small kid. Nathan instantly felt his entire body was on fire and released Ericka immediately as if holding her for even a second more might bring him disaster. Whereas Ericka was flustered, both with embarrassment and fear. She didn't know how she fell on him, but she could see that the men around her might have misunderstood that she did it on purpose. She looked up at Nathan's handsome face, which was now contorted, and saw something different in his eyes. She thought he was furious, but that wasn't the case. "Playing dirty?" he said accusingly with a smirk tugging on his lips. Ericka frowned. "I...I wasn't..." she immediately denied, but Nathan just chuckled and stepped aside. Ericka was furious. "It's full. We won..." Luke cried out, winking at Anna, teasingly. Everyone was dragged back to reality. As they looked at the socket, it was empty. Anna fr
Author's point of view... Anna had just finished her turn by rolling down eight of the pins in the first go, then completing the strike with the other bowl. It was a tie, though Luke still had an upper hand in the game. Nathan was up next. "Nathan, you can do it!" Luke said, cheering his friend on. Nathan tilted his head slightly and looked at Ericka. Her eyes seemed to be begging him under her long and curly eyelashes. Although they were technically married, the relationship between them couldn’t even be compared to that of friends. He might have considered helping her in other circumstances, but today, there was a desperation in his eyes. He wanted to win this bet. He stepped up, positioned the ball, and took an unfocused yet smooth shot. One pin after another, he knocked them all down, finishing with just a strike that had everyone surprised and cheering. "Wow...!!" "A complete ten...!!" The audience erupted. Ericka's jaw dropped. It wasn't an impossible thing to s
Author's point of view... "I quit." The moment those words left Ericka's lips, everyone near her, including Anna and Nathan, interrupted in unison. "No way..." Ericka looked up at them, stunned. Anna did notice something about the masked man. He seemed to be interested in her friend and that made her frown. It would be different if she got attention from the young master of the Copper family, but that mysterious man is definitely out of the league. She didn't want her friend to get involved with some mysterious guy whose origin even she didn't know. "Let's go for girls versus boys," Anna declared. Ericka elbowed Anna with a questioning gaze. She clearly didn't want anything to do with Nathan. Who knows what he was thinking at that time? She didn't want to play. Why was Anna dragging her into this!! Anna immediately leaned closer to Ericka and whispered in her ears. "It's just a game, sweety. What are you so afraid of?" Anna sensed the discomfort of her friend and turn
Author's point of view... Luke and Erik exchanged a quick look when they saw Nathan casually tapping his fingers on the desk. He seemed inexplicably happier than usual. Silently, they both pulled out their phones and started texting, careful not to draw his attention. Luke, "Is my vision acting up?" Erik, "It was not his wife then who could it be?" Luke, "Hell man, I have no idea! Did he get a secret girlfriend?" Erik, "No way...! Nathan!! in a relationship!! I feel like fainting" Luke, "I was getting the same feeling!!" Thier chatting ended as Nathan dismissed them all. When it was evening, Ericka was already waiting at the address Anna had sent her. She glanced around the exclusive bowling club in surprise. She’d never expected Anna to bring her here. Though Anna had taught her bowling back in their teenage years, they rarely had time for games these days. Just when Ericka was feeling uneasy a sweet voice echoed in her ears and a pair of slender hands hugged her
Author's point of view... Ericka was furious. Her cheeks burned looking at the man getting closer and closer. She couldn't help but feel infuriated. He dared to flirt with her when all he was going to do was divorce her. He is shameless. Jack felt his mind getting numb. The man sitting in the back seat was actually flirting with his wife. His boss flirting with a woman...! Jack thought that he might have heard it wrong. How could Nathan say those words? He felt he should just disappear from there. Why is he listening to something that he shouldn't have?!! Ericka unconsciously covered herself with her little hands and closed her eyes. Nathan stopped. A smirk tugged on his handsome face. Ericka's flustered face looked so attractive and appealing, but she didn't want to do anything stupid, not at least now. Getting back to his normal place, he grunted. Ericka slowly opened her eyes as the heat that she felt earlier on her face subsided. She looked at his handsome face, surpri
Author's point of view... As she walked in, Ericka saw that the entire Dawis family was gathered at the breakfast table, though her husband and the old lady were missing. At that point, her mind was in a mess and she was in no mood to join the crowd. She won't be welcomed dearly, anyways, so she went upstairs, straight to Nathan's room. Just when she was about to reach out for the door handle, she heard some noises coming from inside which made her freeze on the spot. "Sir, everything is done. What are we going to do next?" It was Mike's voice and she was sure about it. She hadn't seen him for days. Mike was on the phone. Nathan didn't respond immediately but after a minute, he spoke coldly, "Nothing" he said nonchalantly, he had just achieved what he wanted, there was no hurry about the rest of the plan. "Just wait until grandma transfers the shares." he replied, Ericka gasped. Shares!! Grandma's shares! So that was all true!! Logan was telling the truth...! T
Author's point of view... A hush came over the room. Everyone sat speechless as Elvira's lies were exposed. Elvira, out of any ideas to deal with the matter, pretended to faint and slumped into Logan's arms. "She might be stressed!" Nathan said coldly, the sarcasm evident in his voice. Ericka, however was not at all in a mood to see through her sister's act. She was so furious that she felt her cheeks started burning. "Logan, just take Elvira to rest" Jonathan was the first one to speak, easing the awkward situation. "That little girl...she might have done it by mistake. Why would she harm her own sister?" he tried to cover up Elvira's lies. Nathan scoffed but didn't say anything. With that, the matter was closed, just like that. Logan, however, shot one last glance at Ericka before scooping Elvira into his arms and rushing out of the room. Finally, a staff member broke the silence by announcing that breakfast was ready. Everyone left the room as the show was finally ov
Author's point of view... Elvira was so stunned in disbelief that it took a few minutes for her to recover from her shock. "You dare hit me...!" she growled when her mind reeled everything back before her eyes. It was the first time in her entire life that someone had slapped her and out of all, the one who slapped her was none other than Ericka, her useless sister, who was not more than a punching bag for her and her mother for years. That was utterly unbelievable. "You bitch..." Elvira was just about to spring up to grab Ericka's hair, but Ericka kicked Elvira's knees, making her slump down again. Ericka was done with everything that had to do with this shameless sister of hers. "Stop messing around..." Ericka warned through gritted teeth but her words were cut off as Jonathan strode to them. Taking advantage of the situation, Jonathan stepped into that mess, standing between the two of them. He glared at Ericka with disdain, clearly declaring his stand for the other o
Author's point of view... As Elvira walked in, she saw how affectionately the old lady held Ericka's hand while she was being ignored completely. She couldn't take it anymore. As the only daughter of the Hollow family, she was used to being treated like a princess, whereas Ericka, being the breadwinner of her family, was treated like a maid who would do anything. Elvira couldn't just see Ericka being loved. She just wanted that attention to herself. How could her cousin, a girl from a mediocre family, have that importance while the only daughter of the Hollow family was being ignored!! That's not going to happen...! That old hag must be blind to not see her!! She gritted. Moving forward, Elvira stood beside Logan. "Oh my, Ericka, you are here. We were all so worried about you last night, weren't we, Logan?" Elvira remarked, nudging Logan with a smirk. She just wanted to show herself quite dissolved in the family before the old lady. As if she cared a lot about her siste