A loveless marriage

“Dad, I don’t understand,” I stammered as I stood there looking at my old father who had just blurted out some unbelievable news.

“Darling please understand that I didn’t mean to hurt you,” He replied as he held my hand. “You don’t need to bother yourself,” He continued.

Tears began to fill my eyes as I thought about the trouble my dad had gotten himself into.

“What exactly did you steal,” I said, as I wiped the tear drop that had just rolled down my face.

“I didn’t steal anything but they’re accusing me of stealing some money at the company,” He said while he sat on the couch.

“A-A-And how much do you think it is?” I asked stammeringly. I knew it would be a heavy amount but I was scared of how much it would be.

“A million dollars honey,” He replied and sighed.

“W-Well, I know what to do. We must look for a loan shark to lend us the money,” I said as I walked up to my father to sit beside him on the couch.

He grabbed my hand and placed it on his and faced me.

“Honey, he doesn’t want the money.”

“I don’t understand, what exactly does he want then?” I asked with a furrowed brow.

“You.” My father muttered.

Just as he said so, a group of hefty men kicked down our front door and marched into our home.

My father and I jolted up and walked into the living room.

“Who are you guys and what the hell are you doing in my house?” I asked with my eyes glistening with anger.

They replied me with silence while my father looked like a child who had just peed in his pants.

“He’s here,” My father’s mouth trembled.

“Who is?” I asked as I picked my father’s hand to calm him down.

Suddenly a tall, handsome, imposing man walked into our living room. He was on a navy blue suit that complemented his brown hair that was slicked back.

“Is she ready?” His deep voice vibrated around the room.

“Dad, what is going on?” I yelled out loud.

“Daddy dearest hasn’t told you?” The mysterious man asked sarcastically. “We’re getting married,” He spat out.

“Married???” I questioned with shock written all over my face.

“Honey, that’s what I meant by he wanted you. You are to marry him, otherwise I go to jail,” My father said as he bowed his head, scared to look me in the eye.

“You heard him darling. Come with me and your daddy dearest gets to be free. Failure to do so, your daddy dearest suffers the consequences by going to jail,” The mysterious man laughed.

I stood there, looking confused and wondering where it had all gone wrong. I was just a journalist who barely made ends meet at home, how did I return home to be met with a marriage proposal.

I couldn’t marry this man. I grew up thinking you should marry someone that you are in love with not marrying someone as an agreement.

But I couldn’t leave my dad to rot in jail. I had to save him.

“Honey you don’t have to do this,” My dad said as he grabbed my hand.

“It’s okay Dad. I’ll go with him,” I replied as I squeezed my father’s hand tightly.

“Wonderful,” The mysterious man said with a smile. “Gregory get the papers now!” He snapped.

In no time Gregory brought the papers and handed it over to me.

“What is this?” I asked as I wiped my tears with the back of my hand.

“It’s our marriage documents darling. Now sign them.”

I looked at my poor father and looked at the papers. This was the life I had signed up for and I had to co- operate otherwise my father would be sent to jail.

I grabbed a pen from my desk and wrote my signature on the space that Gregory pointed out. With the final stroke on the paper, I knew that I had just sold my soul to the devil.

“Wonderful! Congratulations, you are now Mrs Vanderbilt, Wife of Matthew Vanderbilt.” The mysterious man said with a smile.

“Let’s go,” He said as he tried ushering me out of my own home.

“I need to pack my things,” I objected.

“You don’t need anything in this dump,” He said with disgust. “Gregory, grab her.”

Gregory then grabbed me by the arm and practically dragged me out of the house.

“I love you father, I would be back,” I cried out loud as I was dragged out of the house.

“Careful!” I cried out loud as these men squeezed my arm as they walked me to the car.

The car was the black luxurious suv that made me question the kind of man that my man had messed with.

“Handle her gently,” Matthew ordered with a stern face.

Immediately the men’s grasp felt loser on my arm.

I got into the car and almost immediately the car took off. As I watched the car drive past the familiar road of my childhood, a tear drop fell from my face. This was my new life now and the sooner I accepted it, the better.

* * *

“Welcome to your new home,” Matthew said as we entered in his living room space.

It had to be the most luxurious space I had ever set my eyes upon. There was gold everywhere. The staircase railings, The tiles, The paintings. Everywhere sparkled.

I looked around in awe. I never in my life thought I could ever step in such a space talkless of living there.

“Gregory, show the kind lady to our room,” William said with a smirk.

“I don’t understand. Our room? I thought we get separate rooms?” I said faintly.

“Don’t be silly darling,” He laughed out loud. “You are my wife so no, you do not get separate rooms,” He said as he stood tall and scary infront of me.

I took a gulp of my saliva in fear. “Sure,” I said barely louder than a whisper.

“Come on ma’am, let me show you to your room,” Gregory said.

“Aren’t you coming up?” I asked Matthew dryly.

“Not yet darling. I have some work to finish in the study,” He replied and placed his palm on my cheek. “Don’t worry, you would love it here,” he continued with a reassuring smile.

He then walked away and entered into this room with tall doors which I believed was his study.

I followed Gregory upstairs and marveled at the beauty of the mansion. Soon enough Gregory opened a door that revealed a grand bedroom.

There was a king sized bed with soft sheets that looked just like in princess movies.

There was a vanity desk that was probably for me. The room had everything.

“Mr Vanderbilt said you would be taken shopping tomorrow,” Gregory said breaking the silence.

“No problem. You may leave now,” I said dryly.

Gregory took a bow and walked out of the room. I sunk into the bed and thought of how my life had drastically changed in the space of two hours. I only hoped that my father would be fine with living alone.

As I continued to think about the events of the day, I fell asleep.

I woke up some hours later, feeling the emptiness of the room.

Matthew wasn’t back from the study so I decided to let my curiosity wander. I walked out of the room and went downstairs to Matthew’s study.

I met the doors of the study slightly ajar so I peeped to know what Matthew could possibly be doing that he hasn’t slept by now.

I peeped into the space and to my greatest surprise, I saw Matthew passionately kissing and taking off a woman’s clothes on top of his desk.

I couldn’t believe it. The man who had forcefully married me was already cheating on me on the first night of our marriage.

I needed to get out of the house, out of his estate for a breath of fresh air. I ran out of the house and continued running to wherever my legs were taking me. All I needed was some time alone.