One

Nina’s POV

“Oh, Liam…” I whimpered as a tear rolled down my cheeks. I was holding a stolen photo I had taken months ago in my trembling hands as I stared out of the window.

He was looking away from the camera with his perfect jawline accentuated by the dim lighting, as a smile tugged on those perfect lips. Liam was the city’s most favored billionaire bachelor, a man who commanded entire boardrooms with just a single glance and for the past year, I had secretly, hopelessly loved him from afar.

Every time he visited our estate to discuss shipping matters with my father, my heart would flutter helplessly and I had spent twelve months building a fantasy in my head, imagining the day I would finally gather the courage to tell him how I felt.

But that fantasy shattered because a few days ago, when he came to our estate once again, he wasn’t coming for business but this time, he came for my sister, Anya. Apparently, they had been seeing each other for quite some time and I had no idea.

"Nina! Get down here this instant!"

My father’s cold voice called from the hallway, snapping me out of my thoughts. With a shaky breath, I shoved the photograph beneath my mattress and quickly wiped my tears before hurrying down the hallway.

When I entered the living room, the tension was thick enough to suffocate as my father, Arthur Beckett, stood by the fireplace, looking commanding and proud as always as his cold eyes ran over me. By his right, Anya sat on a sofa, wearing a flawless dress and looking every bit the stunning princess she had always been.

"Sit," Arthur commanded coldly as he motioned to the vacant seat by his left.

Sensing trouble, I swallowed hard and quietly sat down before looking back at him. "What is this about, Father?"

Arthur cleared his throat as he met eyes with Anya, like they already had a little agreement which I wasn’t aware of. His gaze softened on her but when he turned to look at me, that soft look was completely gone and replaced by the cold look he always reserved for me.

“We are finalizing the timeline. The merger or rather, the wedding between Anya and Liam is officially happening in two days and the media coverage is already secured."

Two days.

My heart squeezed painfully as I tried not to let my emotions show. I thought I still had enough time to soothe my pain but two days was only a few hours away. Swallowing hard, I turned to look at Anya, who was practically glowing with excitement.

"Two days?" I whispered, my voice cracking, despite my effort not to let anything out. "Why the sudden rush?"

Arthur's eyes snapped to me, hardening instantly. "The timeline is none of your business, Nina. Your only concern is fulfilling your duty to this family, though god knows you rarely do. You will be Anya's maid of honor."

I felt the air leave my lungs as my eyes widened. "What? No, please. Let one of her friends do it because I can't—"

"You will do it," Arthur snarled as he stepped forward and towered over me possessively. "Just look at yourself. You are pale, disheveled, entirely plain and not appealing to look at. Anya is marrying into the most powerful family in the city, elevating the Beckett name to heights you could never dream of achieving and what have you ever done for the family except rotting away in your room? You are nothing compared to your sister, Nina. The least you can do is stand at the altar, hold her dress diligently, and try not to embarrass me for once in your miserable life."

I let out a shaky breath as I turned to look at Anya, who wasn’t going to defend me as usual. Father always looked for ways to talk down on me but Anya never sided with me, nobody ever did. Anya simply leaned back and checked her perfectly manicured fingers, completely indifferent to what was going on.

“Father, please—"

"That’s all, get out of my sight," my father dismissed, turning his back to me. "The caterers will be here soon, and I don't want your depressing face ruining the atmosphere."

I wasn’t just heartbroken, I was going to watch them get married.

Wasting no time, I stood up, my legs shaking so violently I could barely support my own weight, and practically ran back up the stairs. I slammed my bedroom door shut and locked the door before sliding down the door as a fresh wave of sobs left me. Anya was always compared to me and no matter how hard I tried, I could never please my family. Anya was the perfect daughter who always looked for ways to take whatever brought me any form of joy. I felt so small, so utterly worthless as I curled into a ball and sobbed quietly.

Bzzzz.

The sudden vibration of my phone on the nightstand startled me. Wiping my eyes, I walked over to the nightstand to see the call was from Frida, my best friend.

"Frida?" I answered, trying to sound better.

"Nina, oh my god, thank goodness you answered," Frida answered. "Listen to me. I’m parked right outside your gates and I know you're going through hell with the wedding news, so I came to break you out of that prison."

A weak smile touched my lips at her effort to make me feel better. "Frida, I don't think I can leave. My dad just—"

"No, Nina, shut up and listen to me for a second," Frida interrupted, as her voice dropped low like she was trying not to be heard by someone else. "I was just about to honk, but a black Rolls-Royce just pulled up at your house and the security guards at your gate are literally bowing."

My breath hitched. "What?"

No, it cannot be Liam. I have been avoiding any form of contact with him since I got news of their wedding.

“Wanna escape?”