3

As I’m still crying it takes me a second to grasp his last statement. 

I look at my father.

A marriage?

“I’m not getting married dad” Monica says with a shocked laugh. “I’m going to be a supermodel like the Hadid sister or Kendal Jenner, I’m not going to ruin my future by marrying so old sleazebag with a pot belly, no way” she laughs once more flipping her chocolate strands over her shoulders.

She didn't use to be this bad, when we were little girls, she loved dad when he took us to the park and got us ice cream or toys during his travels, but as time went on, we saw less and less of him as the company took off. I'm not sure if this new attitude toward Dad is a kind of coping mechanism, to detach herself from Dad before he passes so she doesn't miss him much when he's gone.

 Dad breaks into a fit of coughs, his hands jump to his chest and he leans to his side, I stand up to assist him, ”Careful Dad” I say softly, every nerve-racking cough from his chest twisting my insides and making me nauseous, it sounds so painful.

“Are you out of your David?” Eunice snapped “You know what I don’t care, just ensure my daughter and I get what rightfully belongs to us when the exchange is done, I’m leaving now, this place makes me sick” she shudders “Come baby” she waved at her daughter who follows behind her like a little duckling to the exit.

Dad wheezed slightly, trying to get air into his damaged lungs as I helped him back onto his pillows, patting his lips with a napkin, mopping the dots of sweat on his forehead from the strain his body had just gone through. “Shall I call your nurse?” I ask after disposing of the napkins in the trash beside his bed. 

“No need my dear” he pats my arm still breathing hard.

I squeeze some sanitizer onto my palm afterward my eyes going to the entrance, I’ve always known Eunice to be a witch since Dad brought her and Monica to our old house when I was two and introduced her as my new mum.

She just hasn’t shown her contempt so openly towards Dad until these past months. A part of me wished she would have swallowed her venom for much longer and allowed Dad some peace in his final days. 

“Did you hear a word about what I said, my dear?”

My eyes fall to my nails rubbing off the last of the sanitizer, I nod my head. 

“I don’t want to ask this of you my daughter,-”

“Then don’t” The words come out low, so low it's barely audible. 

I look up with tears in my eyes, the sight of my father glassy as he lays in bed “I’m twenty-one years old dad, I don’t want to get married” 

His hand reaches for mine but I withdraw. 

I know that the company has been struggling since Dad was diagnosed and had to step down as chief of operations and be on bed rest. But still, “How can you ask this?” I bite my lips, trying to find the words, a wave of disappointment fills me that even in the end, he is still thinking about his work, putting the company first. I shake my head, there is no need to dwell on the past. 

Now the tears run freely, and a lump forms in my throat, I try to sound strong but I can't. “Anything but this dad” 

See tears in my father's eyes, I want to scream at how unfair this is. “It is my last wish as your father, please Katy and I will die with a smile, knowing the most important thing in my existence, my legacy will live on” 

My heart sinks, and because I have always been the girl who simply can't say no, I bit my lip that I might prevent the word from leaving my tongue but in the end, 

“Yes” I murmured nodding repeatedly as tears ran down my cheeks. “Yes I’ll do it, Dad, I'll save your company," I say even though my heart breaks into a thousand pieces. 

**

I caught an Uber ride back to the house, crying all the way the driver had to ask a few times if I was fine and if he should drop me off at the police station. 

I can’t help but think children are supposed to be the most important thing in a parent’s life.

When I get home, in my room, I cry myself to sleep.

I regret my decision the moment I wake up the next day. I’ll go to the hospital and tell Dad that I can’t go through with it.

That I’m so sorry but I can’t marry a man I’ve never even met and I don’t love. My heartache has given way to sadness and my sadness into anger. 

I’ve never felt like this before. 

His company? his dream? I have dreams too. And none of them include getting married to strangers anytime soon. 

I want to find love, meet a nice boy and have sparks and butterflies, he would be handsome like the gentleman from the mall, but he was no boy, he was all man. With his light green eyes and gorgeous hair. If I marry now, I’ll never get to be with someone of my choosing. Someone like him.

So, no, I will not be doing this. 

I’m sure Dad will understand, he has to. 

I roll off my bed, heading straight to the bathroom to wash off the stench of sadness and tears, as I brush my teeth by the sink, I fortify my will.

I will talk Dad out of this somehow, there has to be a way. 

After a quick shower, I slip on jeans a blue shirt, and my white Converse, brush my hair, and leave the room. 

My stomach feels empty as I didn’t have any dinner the day before, just went straight to my room and cried myself to sleep, but some food would be nice today, I’ll need the strength I plan on standing my ground with Dad today. I debate going to the kitchen but the voices in the living room call my attention. 

Do we have guests? 

All visitors stopped coming when Dad moved to the ICU permanently, his condition was too critical for him to remain in his bed and he needed twenty-four-hour care. 

I paused upon entering the living room my stepmother, Eunice had a glass of wine in hand, dressed to the ninnies, I want to point out that it was probably too early to be drinking but what do I know?

What has my attention is Mr. Alfred sitting before her, his usual black briefcase positioned beside him on the floor, while he and points out something on a stack of papers to Monica. 

“Good morning?” 

“Ah, there you are I was about to come wake you just now, you are doing this family a great service, it is much appericiated” Eunice says with a smile.

I remain rooted to a spot, a part of my mind tells me to turn around and run, the urgency is almost startling and my heart begins to pound in my chest. 

Mr. Alfred, Dad’s lawyer and long time friend turns to me with and grim look on his face, something tells me I won’t like whatever it is he’s about to say. 

What is he doing here anyway? Is dad- I seize the thought. He still has weeks to go. The doctors said so. No need to be scared.

“I brought the papers as per your father's request”

“What papers?” I questioned looking between the three of them.

He shakes his head at me as if to say, “For the agreement”

My brows furrow in confusion.

Eunice drank more wine, and with a wave of her hand she said “Try to keep up will you, you’re getting married today Katy”