Chapter 2

The room pressed in with the weight of the sentence. Married? To Ryan Bennett? I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My whole body trembled and I locked my fists at my sides to regain my composure.

I'm not getting married," I said, my voice shaking but steady. “This has to be a joke.”Victoria’s cold eyes narrowed, and she stepped closer. “Does this look like a joke to you? she asked, her tone as sharp as a blade.

“I’m only eighteen!” I protested, my voice rising. “I’m not even old enough to get married! But I have aspirations I want to complete my education and become a physician. You can’t just sell me off like this!

”Clara laughed from the position of her seat, making her legs look like a spectator sitting on a screen. “Oh, poor little Alice,” she said mockingly.

Still living in the daydream of a life that is not mine.I turned to her, anger bubbling in my chest.

“Stay out of this, Clara.”

However, before I could even finish, Victoria snapped her fingers, and two muscular bodyguards walked into the room.

“Seize her,” she ordered, her voice calm but commanding.

The guards approached me, and I took a step backward, panic surging inside me.

“What are you doing? Let me go!”

They held my arms securely but not harshly, keeping me fixed. My heart pounded as I struggled against their grip, but it was no use.

“Stop fighting,” Victoria said, her tone dripping with disdain. “You’ll only make this harder for yourself.”

I glared at her, tears stinging my eyes. “Why are you doing this to me? I’m your family!

”Victoria laughed coldly. “Family? Don’t make me laugh, Alice. You’re nothing but a burden.And now, you finally have a purpose.”

She turned to Ryan, who had remained silent. He stood up, his tall frame towering over me. His icy blue gaze fixed on mine, and for just a second, I thought I saw movement in them pity,maybe. But it was gone in an instant.

"Does my dad owe you money?," I said, my voice cracking.

“Is that what this is about?”Victoria answered for him.

“Your father took a significant loan from Mr. Bennett before he died. And he didn’t pay it back. She folded her arms, a smug smile on her lips. Ryan is choosing to accept a human as payment."

My stomach churned. “A person?”

“Yes,” Victoria said, nodding toward me.

“You.”

I had the feeling that the floor had been suddenly ripped out from beneath me. My father would never agree to this. He loved me. He wouldn’t sell me off like… like property.

“I won’t do it,” I said, shaking my head. “I can’t. There has to be another way.”

“There isn’t,” Victoria said firmly. “Do you know how much trouble we’re in because of your father’s debt? This is the only way to save this family.”

“Save the family?” I spat. “You mean save yourself and Clara. I’m not doing this."

Ryan stepped forward, his expression unreadable.

“Listen to me, Alice, " he said, his voice low and controlled. “You have two choices. You can either agree to this and come willingly, or I’ll take this to court. And believe me, the courts will side with me. Either way, you’ll end up being my wife.

”His words sent a chill down my spine. I glanced a few times around the room, desperate for someone to come to my aid.But Victoria and Clara only looked amused, and the bodyguards stood like stone statues, unmoving.

“I’m just eighteen,” I said, my voice breaking. “I have my whole life ahead of me. Please…I wanna go to school, become something. You can’t take that away from me."

Ryan’s expression softened, but only slightly. “You can study,” he said. “I won’t stop you from pursuing your education. But you will do it as my wife.”

I stared at him, my heart racing. Was that supposed to be a compromise? I did not know whether he was being nice or was just playing on me.

This is not right”, I cried, tears running down my cheeks.

“Life isn’t fair,” Victoria said bluntly. “Now stop crying and do what you’re told. Sign the contract.”

I shook my head, I did not want to look at the papers laid out on the table. But Ryan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.

I'm going to give you a whole night to consider it," he said, voice firm but not harsh. “But if you refuse, your family will lose everything. Do you want that on your conscience?”

I bit my lip in an effort to stifle a sob. This wasn’t my fault. None of it was. But they were making it seem like it was.

Victoria sighed dramatically."she’s always been so selfish,” she said to Clara. “Can’t even do one thing for the family.”

Clara smirked. “Typical Alice.”

Their words stung, but I refused to let them break me. I straightened my back, even as the tears continued to fall

"I'll maybe," I replied in a soft tone, recognizing I had no real choice.

Ryan nodded, stepping back. “Good.”

When Victoria gave her hand, guards released me. I rubbed my arms where their hands had been, the skin still tingling from their grip.

“Go to your room,” Victoria said. “And don’t try anything foolish. The guards will be outside your door.”

I went back and turned and walked, my legs trembling, my heart pounding. The more I ascended the stairs, the more I seemed to feel the judgment, mockery on their part.

Upon arriving at my childhood room, I shut the door and sat up against it lying down on the floor. The walls were bare, the furniture sparse. It didn’t feel like my room anymore. It didn’t feel like anything.

I buried my face in my hands, my crying getting worse now that I was on my own. How has my life come to this? I had gone from being my father's favourite to this?

My freedom was slipping away.

I had to make a choice. But no matter what I chose, I would lose.