2

Kyla Jackson

"What do you mean, what? You'll be getting married first thing tomorrow morning. You have a problem with that?" She said, again in a nonchalant tone. 

"Aunt Capella, g.. ge.. getting married, ho.. how? But I don't have a boyfriend" I stuttered as tears welled up my eyes. 

I just hope it's not what I'm thinking. 

"Of course, I'm not dumb. I know you don't have a boyfriend and that's why I found you a husband instead. You'll be getting married tomorrow and that's it. "

"Are you selling me off to a wealthy man?" I asked, my voice trembling. 

"Yes, I am! I need to sell you off so I can save my dying company. The same company, I use in getting you clothes and feeding you! Now tell me, are you marrying him or not?" She asked, glaring at me. 

At this point, I dare not tell her I don't want to. She will end up throwing me out of the house. 

Where will I go if that happens? Neither do I have a job or anyone to run to. 

Tears slipped down my cheeks before making my way up to my room.

•

I stared at myself through the mirror in front of me as a sigh left my lip. This dress is indeed beautiful. It's a short strapless black gown that stopped an inch before my knee. It has a cut at both side waist with an embroidery design all over it, especially the down part. 

This is my first time putting on an expensive and good-looking dress after my Dad's death. I didn't have enough money for shopping and neither did Aunt Capella bothered to get me any good dress.

Putting my hair in a ponytail, I decided to leave my face natural as I do not have any makeup. I've decided to do as I was told because, even if I plan to run away, I have nowhere to go. 

Being a married woman to a billionaire is better off living in hell with Aunt Capella and her asshole son, Joel. He's older than me 6 years. 

My room door opened and Joel walked in. I became alarmed. 

"What are you doing in my room?" I asked, glaring at him. 

"What am I doing in your room?" He repeated the same question and smirked. He strode fastly towards me and suddenly pinned me to the wall. "Well, let's show you what I came here to do" he added as he lean his face closer to mine but I pushed away him with all my might. 

My heart begins to pound like crazy. 

"What do you think you're doing?!" I asked, taking a step back from him. 

He's a prick! He's an asshole! He has always been an asshole! I hate being around him because he always makes me feel so uncomfortable. 

The way he always stares at me and the way he touches me, I hate it!

"I've always known you're this beautiful. Just take a look at you" he commented, taking a step closer. 

"Don't you dare come closer to me" I warned, taking a step back again from him. 

"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. Daddy is here for you. All I want is just to feel you" he said, coming closer to me. 

My heart begins to strike from pain. This always happens to me whenever I'm scared. 

I wish he can just go away from here. I hate his presence! I really do!

I tried escaping out of the room but he grabbed me and pulled me closer to his body. "I heard, you will be getting married tomorrow. How about you consider my offer before you become Mrs? Allow me to have a taste of you" he said, his hand beginning to roam down my body. 

"You must be crazy!" I shot him an angry look as I pushed him again with all my might. 

My eyes falling on the knife on my nightstand, I hurriedly move closer and grab it. 

He smirked and raised his hand in the air. "Don't you dare come closer to me else, I still strike you with this knife" I threatened.

He is crazy if he thinks, I'm going to give in his foolish desire. He knew, I'm still a virgin and has been asking to be my first. This is not his 10th attempt to sleep with me. I'm glad, I always escape from him every time but I'm really scared right now. 

He might really end up having his way with me if I'm not careful. 

Without heeding my warning, he walks closer to me and I strike him with my eyes closed. I slowly open my eyes and saw blood flowing out of his body. I screamed as the knife in my hand fell on the floor and I begin to tremble in fear.

Di... Did I... Did I just kill him?!!! 

My room door burst open and my Aunt walked in. "You foolish cursed gir-" she stopped in her mid-sentence at the scene in front of her. 

"Jeol!" She screamed. "Je... Jeol! Are you okay? What happened to you? Why are you in the pool of blood?" She bombards him with questions.

"I'm fine, Mom. It's just a minor cut, I will be fine" he said, a small smile creeping at the corner of his lip. 

"What do you mean, you're fine? Who did this to you?"

"She did" he answered, pointing his hand at me. 

"What?!!!!" She turned to face me. By now, I was already trembling and crying at the same time. No words coming out from me. I tried opening my mouth to talk but, I can't. 

"Bitch!" She marches forward and slaps me so hard across my face. 

I winced from the pain. 

"What did you do to my son?!" 

"I did nothing to him!" I said, looking her straight in the eyes. This is the first time in 5 years I decide to stand up for myself. 

Enough of the pain and cheating!

"What do you mean, nothing? I only came to call her as you asked but, she turned wild out of blue. She said something like; 'she's never going to forgive you for selling her out to someone' or something like that" he said with a straight face. 

"W.. what? No! No, no. I... I never said that" I said, shaking my head vigorously as tears continues to flow down my cheeks freely.

"You said that?" 

"No, I did not-" Before I could complete my sentence, she slap me hard, cutting me off. 

I stared at Jeol who was  standing right behind her and smirking at me.

Just before she could bounce on me again, we heard a knock. "Who's there?" She asked in a pissed tone. 

"Becca, ma'am"

Becca is our maid. 

"Come in" 

She walked in, saw the scene going on and pass me a pitiful look. 

"What? Are you going to stand there, looking around, or tell me what brought you here?"

"Sorry ma'am. They're... I mean, your visitors are here" she announced and my heart stopped beating. 

What if, he's an old man? What if, he's a drug dealer, an addict, and also a beater just like Aunt Capella? Should I run away from here? 

Even if I want to, how will I escape? We only have one exit and that's the main door in the living room. 

The way she suddenly grabbed my hair in her hands brought me out of my thought. I winced in pain as I stared into her eyes. 

I was wrong earlier when I said I'm going to stand up for myself. I can never do that. I'm a weakling and would always be! 

"Stay right here in this room and never go out. I will come to get you when it's the right time, understood?" She said, grabbing my hair real hard this time around. 

"Yes, yes" I answered and hoping she will let go of my hair. It's really painful. 

"Good" she pushed me and walk out of my room. Becca follows right after her too. Leaving behind Jeol and I.

"How was the little drama? Did you enjoy it?" He asked, his lip twitching into a sneer. 

"You bastard! You lied!"

"That's what you get for turning me down, princess" he wink and laughed wickedly before walking out of my room also.

I begin to get cold, I slumped on the floor and curled in but, it didn't help get rid of the cold. Tears stream down my cheeks. 

This is not the life I had prayed for. I never wished for any of this to happen to me right now. 

•

Ten Minutes later, Mr room door burst open again and Aunt Capella walks in. "Bitch! Why are you still on the floor, crying? Get up! It's time to meet your husband and his family" she said, dragging me up from the floor. 

She sat me down on the chair and begins to comb my hair. She made it look neat once again after destroying it earlier. Someone walked in again and this time around, it was Becca. She has a makeup kit in her hand. 

Aunt Capella asked her to apply the makeup on my face. After a few minutes, she's done. I look at myself through the mirror as sadness and worrisome overwhelm me. 

All my pains have been hidden behind the makeup on my face.

"You can leave" She ordered Becca. 

"Now, listen to me" She said, turning to face me. "This meeting means a lot to me. Do not ruin it for me. Always make sure your response to them is Yes, understood?"

I only nod my head afraid of speaking. It's all pointless if I decide to go against her. 

"Now, do me a favor and put a smile on your face"

We both walk downstairs where I met a beautiful, classy and elegant lady in her mid 50's sitting on one of the couches. Everything about her screams for wealth. 

Just as she saw me, she jumped up from her seat and engulf me in a tight hug. Not only am I surprised, but Aunt Capella and Joel are also. 

"My goodness! I can't... I can't believe you grew up to become a beautiful lady" she comment and spin me a little. 

"Yo... You know me?" 

I can't remember ever seeing her face from anywhere. 

"Of course, I do! I know, you can't possibly remember me but, I knew your Dad very well. He is a good man" she said again. 

"I told you, you'll like her" Aunt Capella said.

"I already loved her before coming here to see her. I can't wait to have you as my daughter-in-law" she squealed, excitedly. 

"Yo... Your son?" I'm still confused about the whole thing.

I thought Aunt Capella sold me to an old rich man? And, why does this woman seem so happy to see me? 

"Yes. Actually, he was here just a while ago. He had to receive an important call and that's why he excuse himself" she explained, smiling at me. 

"Oh! There he is" she announced again and I turned my head to see who she was talking about. 

My heart stopped beating as I widened my eyes in horror. 

Raymond Locason?!!!!!