Chapter 3

"Did you know about the marriage talks?" Via asked her brother as soon as they arrived home.

Collin nodded his head. "Troye is a fine man. He's the best match for you."

"You could have told me," she said in an annoyed tone. "I was the only one who did not know what was going on earlier."

"You'll know eventually so I didn't think it would be necessary to tell you beforehand," Collin tried to explain but it just annoyed her even further.

Though she was already expecting it, it still hurt to hear it coming from his own mouth. Her brother knew, but he did not even inform her about it. Were they expecting that she would just accept everything? Did they think that she would just blindly obey again this time?

She could not even tell if she was a member of the family or just a mere decoration for the Hansen name. All her life, she dedicated her every action to uphold the reputation of their family. Why did she have to give everything for a family that never even saw her as a person?

Via sighed. She reminded herself that she was just hurt and her thoughts were a little too much. She wanted to control her emotions but she was too sensitive at that moment. She badly wanted to understand their side but all she could think about was how she felt unwanted and used.

"Via, are you listening to me?" Collin interrupted her thoughts.

She forced a smile. "Sorry, Collin. I think I got too tired from the meeting."

"Then you should go rest, Vi. Don't worry." Collin smiled and patted her shoulder.

Via smiled before she entered her room. She dropped on the floor as soon as the door was closed. She felt so tired. Her emotions, her thoughts, and the things she encountered that day drained her energy. Yet, her mind was still filled with hateful thoughts about her own family. She never knew she could hate them until that day. She did not know how to vent her anger.

She could not believe how happy she was earlier just to feel betrayed once more. Just when she thought she was given a chance, she suddenly felt like she was being used. Was that all she amounted to? Someone to be shown off then traded off when they had no more use for it?

Those kind of thoughts filled her mind and her anger grew even more. She wanted to do something to get the burden out of her chest, but she did not know what to do. Was she suddenly in her rebellious phase?

She took out her phone and dialled the only number saved on her phone aside from her family.

"Cassie, do you want to drink with me?"

"What were you thinking, Vi? This is so not you!" Cassie exclaimed as soon as she saw Via outside the club.

"Can't I have fun like this too? Most people our age come here often." Via led the way as they entered the bar.

"But not you. Remember when I brought you here the first time? You were the kind of person who would run back home without even taking a seat from this kind of place!"

"I was too young back then," Via chuckled. "I think I'm going to enjoy this place today."

Cassie sighed. "Just make sure that you won't do anything that you'll regret tomorrow, okay?"

"Stop being a worrywart and just teach me how to have fun!"

Indeed, Cassie was right. She was someone who would hate being in a place like that. Drinks and cigarettes weren't her thing, but she wondered why people who had problems seek them. Wasn't it the best time to figure out?

She sat in the bar counter and Cassie followed suit. She looked at the list of drinks they were serving before she asked Cassie for a recommendation.

"Can you even drink?" Cassie asked in a worried tone.

"How would I know if I won't try?" Via chuckled before she turned to face the bartender. "Can you give me a shot of tequila?"

"What the heck, Via! Do you even know what a tequila is?" Cassie was dumbfounded. It was the first time she saw Via being so daring. Could she even handle her liquor?

"That one, right? It sounds nice and strong," Via laughed.

Cassie sighed once more. Her best friend was usually level-headed but at that moment, she knew she was not okay. Just what the heck happened in that meeting for her to end up like that?

"Careful!" Cassie exclaimed when she saw how Via downed the shot of tequila.

"So it tasted like this," Via laughed. It was bitter and she could feel the warmth going down her throat. "It was amazing."

She felt like she could do anything. Was that the reason why people drown themselves in alcohol? She was still in pain, but somehow she also felt good. She felt as if she was going crazy.

She asked for a few more glass until she felt numb. She was a little dizzy, but she was ecstatic. She could finally understand the others. Alcohol was not great, but it somehow numbed her.

"Vi, you're already drunk. Let me bring you home," Cassie suggested but Via would not budge.

"I haven't had my fun yet, Cassie. Should I try going to the dance floor? I'm so confident in dancing right now!"

Via stood up and walked towards the wild crowd. Cassie let out an exasperated sigh before she followed her drunk best friend.

Via danced without inhibition. It felt as if she was throwing her anger and pain along with every move of her body. She wanted to forget everything. She wanted to stop herself from thinking that she was a tool used by her family. She wanted to continue deceiving herself that she was loved when in reality, she was not.

While dancing, a man approached Via and he started dancing behind her. Cassie watched them, afraid that the man would do something and that Via would lose control over her senses. She was about to call Collin when the man started putting his hands on Via but she felt relieved when Via slapped him.

"I didn't give you permission to touch me! What's wrong with you?" Via walked out of the dance floor and went back to where they were seated earlier.

"Shall we go home now?" Cassie asked when Via seemed a little sober.

"I'm not going home."

Cassie's eyes grew wide. "What are you saying?"

"I'm not going home," Via repeated. "'I'll sleep in a hotel."

"But your dad will look for you, Vi. Are you really sure?"

"Look for me?" Via laughed hard. "Why would he look for me? He was so eager to trade me off right after I made a mistake! I bet he would be ecstatic that his good-for-nothing daughter left home!"

"Vi..." Cassie was worried. "Can you at least sleep at my place? If you don't want to sleep at your house, then I'll bring you to my house."

"Not a chance! My brother will take me home if I go at your place," Via pouted. "I'm sleeping at a hotel. That's final!"

Via stood up. She was dizzy but she walked her way out of the club on her own.

"Let me at least go with you to the hotel," Cassie insisted.

"No! You'll tell my brother where I would be staying!" Via said in an annoyed tone.

"But I'm worried!" Cassie exclaimed. "I can't leave you alone in this state!"

"I'm okay. I still know what I'm doing so just go home in peace. I'll send you a message you once I finished checking in at the hotel, okay?"

Cassie sighed. She had no choice after all. "Make sure to send me a message, okay?"

"I will. Bye!" Via called for a cab and waved Cassie goodbye.

As promised, Via sent Cassie a message as soon as she received her room key. She felt so dizzy that she was in a hurry to reach her room.

The room was already open when she arrived but she did not have the leisure to think about it. The room was dark but she did not bother to turn on the lights. The world is already spinning and she just dropped herself on the bed.

"They sent another one?"

Via heard a baritone voice near the bed, but she thought she was just hallucinating. Why would someone be inside her room?

"They're persistent, aren't they?"

She heard the voice again, but she didn't bother opening her eyes. Maybe it was the effect of the alcohol.

"Fine. I'll let them have their way this time."

Via felt someone went up the bed.

"Tell the one who sent you here that I will enjoy you tonight," the voice whispered in her ears and before she knew what was happening, his mouth already claimed hers.

She knew that what he was doing was wrong, but she could not deny that she enjoyed his kisses. His hand touched her skin, but she did not feel any disgust. Rather, she felt a tingling sensation that was new to her and she wanted to feel more so she just let him do what he wanted.

"Did you come here based on your own will?" The man asked while kissing her neck. His hands were slowly removing her clothes but he stopped to check her response. "Tell me if you don't want this..."

Instead of giving her answer, Via pulled him to a kiss. Why would he ask when she was already giving him access?

"Are you sure you want this?" The man asked again. He stopped on whatever he was doing to her to check her expression. "You're drunk. You might regret this."

"It doesn't matter," she answered. She looked at him with dazed eyes. Her body was already hot and she knew she wanted him.

Though her mind was reminding her that she might regret what would happen next, she was too intoxicated with everything that he was doing to her. She knew she could not stop. She did not want him to stop.

If she was going to be sold off to Troye, it would be better for her to do something she chose at least once in her life. In that moment she was sure that she wanted to choose him.

And as expected, she woke up with her whole body aching and her head throbbing. What the heck did she do last night?