chapter 1

•𝑺𝑶𝑭𝑰𝑨•

The loud shattering of glass followed by a chain of high-pitched profanities successfully confirmed things had taken a rather ugly turn in the persuasive discussion.

"What the fuck do you want me to do?!" Natalie cried hysterically, probably crashing whatever shattered noisily onto the ground next. "You fuck up your life and now you want to fucking ruin mine next?"

I clutched onto the book I'd been quietly reading a little bit tighter, my hands beginning to slightly tremble.

The words I read suddenly made no sense and I could barely read them properly, hot tears pricking my eyes.

We used to be happy, peaceful and comfortable. We used to make sacrifices for each other in a heartbeat, but just like that, it all became history.

We were miserable and I wasn't sure how long I'd be able to pretend I was resilient before the plastic armour I built around myself withered away.

A soft sniffle across the room drew a dagger into my chest. I knew I wasn't the only one faking a smile, but sometimes I preferred the façade to the reality of how much the people I dearly loved were equally breaking.

I placed my book facedown on the small mahogany desk in the corner of the room and ambled towards the bed at the centre of the room, tears blurring my vision completely.

I plopped onto the bed with a soft thud, wrapping my arms around Ava from behind across her heaving chest, my forehead resting on her shoulder lightly. "It's okay, sweetie," I barely whispered. "It's gonna be okay."

Ava trembled beneath my touch, restrained sobs tearing through her chest. "It's all my fault," she cried softly. "If only I hadn't fallen then maybe-maybe we-"

Her words faltered, a silent torrent of tears bleeding from her eyes thereafter, lips trembling. I couldn't help but hold her a little bit tighter, my tears disobediently falling and soaking through her fluffy white sweatshirt.

Ava Martel was the sweetest fourteen-year-old I'd ever known dealing with unfair misfortunes for a pure soul like hers.

A freak cheerleading accident nearly a month ago had ruthlessly robbed her of her sweet genuine smile and carefree spirit, damaging her spinal cord and temporarily paralysing her from the waist going down.

We'd prayed relentlessly for a recovery miracle, but her health seemed to regress, her arms constantly growing numb and stiff.

The migraines and nosebleeds weren't getting any better either and everything felt draining and overwhelming.

There was hope according to the multiple specialists consulted, hope to cure her and get her on her feet again and reclaim her normal life, but that required a series of surgeries and that meant millions.

Poor timing, Mom would sob herself to sleep chanting every night. We were on the brink of bankruptcy and none of our trustees were willing to help us because of recurring debts our father left us to deal with plus impending criminal charges that'd triggered the heated argument downstairs.

Before his sudden demise nearly two months ago, he'd reportedly stolen a large deal of money from the wrong people and now they were hell-bent on restoring every penny for compensation plus heavy penalties.

Mom tirelessly struggled to avoid a lawsuit and begged for mercy, leading to negotiations that landed us in our current situation.

The ridiculously powerful people we owed proposed marriage to form an alliance and show mercy in taking over our assets without leaving us completely dry.

According to Mom, a matrimonial union would form a strong familial bond, where Ava's medical bills would be completely covered and our family business resurrected although not exclusively ours anymore.

She tried to make it sound like the ultimate way out, but all I heard was bondage, manipulation and a wicked way to keep us in a chokehold.

Something deep inside me blurred red lights that this wasn't mercy. It was a well-calculated scheme to show who we'd messed with, but somehow I was the only one with that perspective.

A loud slap resounded, jerking me back to reality. Ava's sobs only grew louder and sadder, her trembling fingers closing in on mine. "I'm sorry," she wailed pitifully. "I'm so sorry."

Her voice seemed to break, her soul withering. My sweet little sister. I loved her too much to watch her go through so much pain, guilt and trauma. Just holding her made me understand Mom's desperate decisions. We couldn't lose her.

"It's not your fault," I murmured, fighting my own tears. "It's not your fault, Ava."

Truthfully, it was no one's fault except the one lying peacefully in his grave, but he was still our father and he was gone. Blaming him was pointless.

I deeply wanted to call Natalie selfish and inconsiderate for so passionately denying to participate in the offer, but that would be inconsiderate of me too.

She had a blissful life and was madly in love with someone she'd met in high school. I wouldn't agree to marry a stranger too and forget the hopeless love I shared with someone else that had me daydreaming.

Natalie was older and according to Mom, much more mature and fierce enough to handle the pressure of the cruel world. Maybe that was why she pinned the responsibility on her, not me.

I was just Sofia, the soft and calmer sister who couldn't control her emotions. Often, it greatly offended me and made me feel weak, but part of me knew it was true.

I was just too soft for the ravenous wolves I encountered daily and what sucked most was nobody seemed to understand how much I tried. Everyone seemed so strong yet I paddled in my own world, prioritising people's feelings over my sanity half of the time.

The arguing only seemed to grow louder, much more violent and hostile. They didn't hold back from saying painful words probably triggering more guilt in Ava and scarring their relationship even worse.

There was only so much turmoil I could take before getting fed up. I couldn't just sit still and watch the people I loved drift apart and create rifts at a time when solidarity was a necessity.

I unwrapped my arms from Ava, helping her lie on her side. She wanted to be alone and break down peacefully. She was in pain and that pain radiated to the softest parts of my heart. She didn't have to hurt, not anymore when something could be done.

I stumbled onto my feet, clenching my trembling fist hard. I took a few steps forward towards the slightly opened door, my stomach rumbling with a nauseating sensation.

I let out a shaky breath, looking at my reflection in the mirror to my side. I was old enough to be someone's wife, freshly twenty-three, a Harvard graduate and jobless after quitting my first highly rewarding job.

My boss had been an exhausting perverted prick, constantly demanding personal favours and seeking to turn me into his puppet plaything.

Two weeks and I was fed up, resigning against his orders and busting my chances at ever securing a stable job in the United States.

Some called me stupid for my decision, but I'd rather be jobless than someone's worthless sex toy. I valued my self-worth and dignity a little bit too much to allow such disrespect and defilement.

At this point, I had nothing to lose by walking into a den of lions and a future I wasn't sure of. I had no love interest whatsoever to bawl my eyes out for and feel guilty for leaving.

I just had the people I loved to protect and that was enough to push me forward to agree to something that'd probably destroy my sanity and humanity altogether.

I pulled the door open with a slight creak, taking a deep controlled breath.

"Sofia," Ava called me softly in between sobs. "Where are you going?"

I looked back at her, my lips curling into a feeble smile. "I love you," I breathed sincerely, smiling through the pain.

She probably didn't understand my sudden confession, but nodded anyways, responding with equal sincerity. "I love you more, Sof."

That was all I needed to hear before exiting the room, softly closing the door behind me so she couldn't hear much of the commotion.

Mom and Natalie were so deep in argument they barely noticed me walk down the staircase in slow steps, trying to calm my senses.

"Fucking deal with it some other way!" Natalie shouted aggressively. "Heck, marry him yourself if you're so hell-bent on that being the only way out but forget about me ever walking down the aisle for any other man that's not Lucas."

Natalie was so furious one would think she wanted to hit Mom. That wouldn't be too surprising given her anger issues. She took after Dad more than either Ava or I did.

Mom had tears in her eyes, trying to pretend she had the situation under control, but this was undoubtedly a lost fight. She'd never agree.

I walked to the bottom of the stairs, swiping at my eyes with my unclenched fist. I could be the bigger person for once and do something for my family. I could handle the pressure and conflict.

For Ava.

"I'll do it," I whispered barely audibly, blinking away my tears.

They probably didn't hear a word, continuing their struggle. I had to be bolder. No one would ever hear me if I acted like a pushover all the time.

I clenched my fist even harder, taking another step forward. "I said I'll do it, Mom," I announced firmly, the boldness in my voice oddly satisfying.

The arguing died down instantly and the two blonde women slowly snapped their heads at me, looking puzzled.

Natalie creased her brows. "Sofia, this is not a fucking joke," she scolded. "Get back upstairs and I'll deal with this bullshit."

"I'm serious," I responded, making eye contact with her. "I'll marry him as long as you both stop arguing so much and destroying our house."

There was brief silence infused by maximum tension before Natalie threw away the broken candlestick she'd been holding, clicking her tongue and brushing her hair back with her hands.

"Could have saved us the drama and just said so earlier," she grumbled, grabbing her purse from the white couch and angrily storming out through the main entrance, nudging my arm roughly in the process.

I stumbled to my side, releasing a deep breath I'd been holding. Mom looked at me for some time before trotting towards me and wrapping her arms tightly around me in a warm motherly embrace.

It felt like an eternity in her arms, an emotional embrace with constant sobs and shared misery. It felt like a farewell, a final send-off before I'd even been married. I wasn't ready for this.

What have I done?

"Things are gonna get better now, I promise," she said promisingly, placing her hands on my shoulders with a big weak smile lighting up her face.

"Ava is gonna get treated, she'll get a caretaker and you don't have to worry about getting a job anymore. Your in-laws will take care of everything, okay honey? Please don't cry anymore, alright?"

I wanted to bawl like a baby, but I couldn't. I'd brought this upon myself without anyone forcing me into it. I had to face the music.

"W-what do I have to do?" I mumbled. "When do I meet him? Who is he a-and when is the wedding?"

Mom's smile faded a little, her hand placed on my head as she stroked my strawberry blonde hair back and forth lightly. "They want things done quickly so it's gonna be tomorrow. You'll have to meet him at the altar, honey."

"But we're not even engaged yet," my lips quivered as I tried to internalise the information I'd just received.

Mom pulled me back emotionally into her embrace. "I know, Sofia," she sobbed. "I know."

What the hell had I gotten myself into?