My mind fills with thoughts as my hair and makeup get done.
My body is here, but my mind isn’t, it’s trapped back in that suffocating room where I signed away my freedom and my future, just to protect Andrew.
Now i will never be able to escape, because if I try, Andrew’s life will be taken.
Kill my dad for all I care, but not Andrew, he’s the one I will do anything to protect.
Mr. Zephyr has won.
When they finish with my hair, makeup and get me dressed. I stare at my reflection in the mirror, not even recognizing myself. I have never seen myself this beautiful.
My tousled light brown hair is styled in elegant French curls, and my makeup is light, enhancing my features. My lashes are darker, longer and thicker, framing my light brown eyes perfectly, nails are perfectly polished. All these are things I never had the luxury to care about.
My entire life, I’ve never had enough time or money to care about myself.
I was always doing chores in my house, studying, crocheting, or searching for ways to make money. I have no idea that I can look this beautiful, like someone else entirely.
The only thing I hate is the goddamn wedding dress that clings tightly to my body. Switch it with a club gown—a place I’ve never even been to—and I’d feel more confident.
Adora walks into the dressing room, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. “It’s time.” she announces.
~
As I walk down the aisle, my eyes sweep over the small gathering of guests, search for my family, but they’re nowhere to be seen.
I hoped, to see Andrew, to make sure he’s okay. But he isn’t here. None of them are.
I turn my attention to the rest of the guests. There aren’t more than twenty people present, and most of them are men in black suits, standing rigidly in various places as if they’re not there to celebrate but to protect.
Miss Adora is there, along with a few new faces.
In the front row, the very first one I spot a familiar face. It’s the exceptionally mysterious, attractive man from yesterday—the one who warned me about this place, about Lennox Zephyr’s cruelty, the one I can’t stop thinking about, the one whose voice has been ringing in my head over and over.
But today… he looks different, more handsome than yesterday. He’s dressed differently, in a striking red suit with a black shirt underneath, far more stylish and expensive-looking than the other men, who are all in black suits.
I can’t still tell who he is… A slight resemblance to Zephyr flickers in my eye.
Wait…. Is he…. My…. brother inlaw?
Mr. Zephyr’s younger brother?
That explains his confidence and his overly expensive suit.
My eyes shifts to the little girl next to him, about five to seven years old.
Now that I think of it, I haven’t been introduced to any of the children Zephyr claimed to have. He said he had a son but never mentioned a daughter. So if that is really his daughter, where is his son?
I finally reach the altar, and I give my vows. When it’s time for Mr. Zephyr to kiss me, I allow a quick peck before pulling away.
Everyone stands and claps with smiles, celebrating the start of my misery.
I look around the crowd, irritated and disgusted by the smiles, until my eyes land on him.
Him again. He’s the only one not smiling or clapping, Our eyes lock, and he stares back at me. For a brief moment, I think... is he my only ally in this nightmare?
Mr. Zephyr wraps his hands around my waist drawing my attention back to him. His touch makes my skin crawl, but I force myself to stay calm. “Very good, darling. You’re doing well so far—keep it up, and your life will be heaven.” He honeys, taking me down.
I hate how he talks with a smile and a sweet voice when he’s truly a devil inside.
“Please, nothing should happen to Andrew.” I plead in a whisper.
His smile falters as he turns his face to mine “Oh, they had to show you the picture” he cocks a brow, “So you weren’t being good after all?”
“I am. I will be,” I quickly argue, “Just, please—nothing should happen to him.”
His grip tightens around my waist as he leans in, his breath hot against my ear. “Forget about them. They abandoned you. Let’s meet your new family.”
I nod and He pulls me toward the front row, guiding me like a puppet on strings. My eyes catch the little girl innocently taking a bite on a cupcake. “The girl?” I ask.
Mr. Zephyr scoffs. “Nothing but an illegitimate child. A child of an unclean and stained woman— A prostitute who was not a virgin. A woman I had not married,” he spits out his words with disgust and my heart ache for the little girl, no matter what it’s his child! How would she feel hearing her dad talk about her like that?
“You don’t have to worry about her; she has her own mother,” he sneers. “Let me show you my son, the child you will mother.”
Mr. Zephyr leads me, my eyes are out for a little boy or at least a teenager but turning to zephyr his eyes are fixed on him, the man in a red striking suit. Him again? Why him. That same guy that caught my eye, that has been in my mind for too long. The one i have come to conclusion that he is zephyr younger brother,
I think we are going to pass him but we don’t we walk and stop right in front of him.
Oh perhaps Mr. Zephyr wants to introduce his brother to me first.
“This is him—your son,” Zephyr declares.
My eyes widen in disbelief. “My what!?” I choke out. My eyes blinks repeatedly as it shifts back and forth between them.
Mr. Zephyr jabs him on his softly built arm and he flinches a bit. “Go on boy, be polite and introduce yourself.”
He glares at Mr. Zephyr for what feels like a second before he turns to me his brownish hazel eyes locking with my wide ones.
“Hey….” He starts extending his hands for a handshake. I reach for it and our palms meet. “I’m Ryan… Ryan Zephyr,” He says.
What? I can’t help but scoff a bit.
This man, who is way taller, bigger, larger, and most likely older than me, is my stepson??!!
“Haha, he’s a very well-mannered young man, which might be a weakness.” Zephyr says, attempting to jab him again but, Ryan leans to the side dogjing the contact.
His grip around my hands becomes slightly firm. “I hope we can get along well,” he says softly as his eyes travel from my head to toe then back to my eyes in the most sultry way ever.
I tremble a bit and before I can respond, he lets go of my hand and walks away, his tall form retreating into the crowd.
I stand there frozen still stunned, all this time he was the one, My stepson.
The wedding reception officially started at one p.m and the after-party drags on till some minutes to past five.I stay by Mr. Zephyr’s side the entire time, plastering on a forced smile as he drinks and laughs with his friends.My mind keeps drifting to Ryan, my eyes searching for him. Right after we took some family portraits he disappeared from my sight.In a mansion full of nothing but monsters, it feels like he’s the only one who isn’t entirely a monster. It feels like he’s the only one that will listen to me.I need to talk to him.Looking at the round table I sit at in the midst of Mr. Zephyr and his friends. I kno
“No! Mom! Dad! Please,” I cry, staring at my parents, as I struggle with two huge men aggressively dragging me out of my house. “You can’t do this to me! You can’t just sell me off like this!”Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine my life would turn out this way.I have dreams and goals I look forward to, and I’m happy with whatever life has in store for me. But that doesn’t include being hauled away by several men, and forced into marriage with a mafia boss. The day starts like any other—actually, better than most.I’ve just wrapped up my third year in college, now in a taxi heading home for summer break. Today is better than most days not because I’m going home but because I get to see my younger brother, Andrew again. He’s the one I care for the most.Better than most days ‘cause I don't have to stuff my face in textbooks. My college life is stressful and hectic– normally it shouldn't be, but because I have to work twice as hard as top students to maintain my full-time schola
“Wife?”I must not be hearing correctly, because did I just hear this creepy man, who looks more than twice my age, call me his wife?This isn’t real; this must be some kind of joke. Yes, a prank! Because I will never believe this; I will not accept it.My head instantly snaps in my parents’ direction, searching their faces for any sign of protest, some kind of denial, but all I see is guilt and resignation etched deep in their expressions. My mother avoids eye contact, her hands clutched tightly in her lap, while my father stares blankly ahead.“Mom, Dad, this must be a joke, right?” I ask, hoping they tell me, yes, and this is just some extreme welcome-back party.“It is not, Hazel,” my dad answers curtly, making my eyes widen more than they already are.“Wha… what do you mean?” I ask, my lips trembling, my voice breaking. “What do you mean it’s not, Dad? Who is this man, and why is he calling me his virgin—” I yell.“He is Lennox Zephyr, and you will be getting married to him, Haze
They shove me into one of the luxury vans and My eyes widen, caught off guard by the design I had only seen on TV. Instead of the usual rows of seats all facing forward, two plush seats face each other.They force me down into one of the chairs, carefully binding my wrists. Across from me, the brute man settles in, his men occupying the other seats.“Don’t worry, Hazel darling,” he says, His eyes gleaming with a sick satisfaction. “Your life from now on will be filled with so much enjoyment and luxury. You’ll be crowned the queen of an empire. Just make sure to obey me, and everything you desire will be yours.”"I don't want anything from you but for you to let me go!" I snap.His smirk deepens. “And if I do, where will you go? Back to that family that sold you? The ones who will hand you over to another organization the moment they’re in debt again? You don’t understand the situation you’re in, Hazel. You have nowhere to go, no one to run to—except me.”I hiss, biting back the angry
“It’s time to begin the second part of your day.” Adora's voice greets me from behind. Almost immediately after the extremely attractive man walks out of my sight.I turn on my heel to face her, my brows raised, “Second part?”She nods “Our tour is over. It’s time to check, then clean you up.”“Check?… Clean?”Before I can question further, they whisk me away to another room with a doctor in it. I lie nervously on the hospital bed in a loose-fitting hospital gown. Watching as a woman in a white coat approaches me, her hands encased in gloves.“To make this experience less hateful," she says in a flat tone, "I plead with you to simply follow my instructions.”I stare at her, speechless.Her eyes remain emotionless. “Open your legs wide for me.”My body freezes, and my heart slams against my ribs. “What? Why? What do you want to do?”“A hymen examination.”The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My chest tightens, as my hands grip the sides of the bed. So this is what the check-up is