Prologue

"I want you to get married as soon as possible." She couldn't help to stand up outrageously as shock started enveloping her system after hearing her father's statement.

Their Dad just arrived at the mansion. He ordered her and Alec to meet him in the study room for an unknown reason. Senior Alonzo De Hizon was the lord of the house, whatever he said, it will be like a rule must need to follow.

"D-Dad!" Fright and different emotions radiated her face now.

Marry Alec? Her brother? This is preposterous!

"What! Is this some kind of joke, old man!" Alec burst out. With the look on his face, he may be managing to keep his composure but it was obvious he was now pissed at the moment.

"Did it sounds like one to you, young man? You heard me, I want you to get married as soon as possible." Her father uttered solemnly again. His face was drop-dead serious and knowing her Dad, he doesn't know the word joke.

"B-But D-Dad, w-were siblings!" She finally found her voice and courage to object but to her surprise, the old man just laughed sarcastically.

"I told you, you're not my real child. You were adopted Emerald Marie, that makes you and Alec not blood-related." That bitter truth was slapped again in her face. Hearing that truth coming from the one who thought her family was so painful and disappointing. To know you're not a real part of this family you used to love and cherished when all you just wanted all through your life is to belong with them, it feels like her world crashed down.

"Are you out of your mind! We're not blood-related but you raised us knowing we're siblings! Now you want us to get married? This is ridiculous!" Alec shouted while gritting his teeth out of uncontrolled anger.

His jaw was now clenching and some veins down his neck are now showing as a sign of resisting anger. Their old man just laughed mockingly aloud as if not even undaunted by Alec's rage. These two men are dangerous and no wonder they were real father and son. Alec just acquires his father's features and behavior. They were both short-tempered and dangerous when upset. She knew that they have both capacity to be aggressive mostly the old man. She has seen how Don Alonzo had hurt Alec physically in their childhood days. He does not hesitate to show force and violence to him and by the rage, Alec was showing now, it seems like he was not scared even a bit with the old man.

"You knew we had a talk eight years ago. You knew all along that Emerald will be your future wife and now is the time, Alec. You'll marry her whether you like it or not." The old man evilly stated.

Stunned by what she heard, her eyes switched from Don Alonzo to Alec giving him questioning stares.

What does the old man saying they talked eight years ago about this marriage? So all along Alec knew about this arranged marriage?

"You know I was against it. You can't manipulate us in accordance to your will, old man. We're not your puppets!" Alec then stands up in outrage. He was now mad as hell and she suddenly got afraid that this argument turned out to be physical. How many times she had seen Don Alonzo went physical to Alec and she was afraid that Alec might fight back the old man seeing how furious he was right now.

"I can and when I said you'll marry Emerald, you'll do as I've said." The old man calmly replied as every word he spoke was like a rule he imposed.

How could her father stay calm and cool in a moment like this while on the other hand, Alec was now raging in fury like a provoked bull. Senior Alonzo has been always like that. He shows no emotion, shows no pity at all. He's always stiff and cold and she wonders what made him be this way. He rarely smiles and that's just when he was with his business associates. Senior Alonzo De Hizon was hard as a rock, cold and stiff as steel.

"And what if I didn't?" Alec's eyes were now shooting daggers at the old man.

"Simple. I will disown you. I will destroy everything you have. Your businesses, your hotels, your beloved resort? I know how much you love that resort. Everything you have young man, everything you worked hard for. I'll take everything from you and you know I can do that in just one flick of my fingers." Senior Alonzo warned dangerously.

"Are you threatening me?" Alec's undauntedly recorded.

"I'm not. I'm just telling you what I am capable of doing." With that, Alec grew more angrier.

"You ruthless manipulator old man! I will never let you control our lives! I will never marry Emerald just because you said so!" Alec shouted in fury.

I knew then he was against it. He loathes me ever since. The idea of marrying me was the worst thing he could ever imagine. That was the typical Señorito Sebastian Alexander De Hizon I knew. He just hates me for an unknown reason.

"Emerald Marie, please leave us, Sweetheart. Alec and I just need a sweet talk, darling." Her Dad suddenly ordered.

"No need. There's no use for us to talk!" Alec retorted.

"Trust me, young man, you would want to hear what I'm about to say. Emerald Marie, leave us, now." The old man hardly insisted. His face was solemn and void of emotions. She knew their father's tone of voice when he made an order and wanted to follow immediately.

She wanted to oppose but she has no courage to do it. It's like she has no voice in this conversation, in this family. It was her life and her future they were talking about here and they were dismissing her like she has no right to interfere in their conversation. She was not a puppet neither material nor decoration in this family. She was a human and she owns her life so no one will plan her future but her.

Okay, she may leave this time, but it's not like she was letting the old man manipulate her life. Not this time, not anymore. One thing she knew, she was against Senior Alonzo's will. She can't marry Alec. Never!

She then chose to take her steps out of the room and leave the two men. Deep inside, she wanted to shout angrily for being so helpless at the moment. Whatever happens, she'll oppose this arranged marriage, she promised.

***

It's past midnight when she got awaken with the feeling of being watched in her sleep. It was dark and the curtains are being blown in the open window of her room. Rubbing her eyelids from sleep, her eyes roamed the whole room using the dim lights illuminating by the lampshade. Wait, she can still remember she turned off the lampshade before she decided to sleep. When her eyes went and halted on the corner of her bed, she saw a figure of a man standing before her. Shock filled her lungs when she saw Alec was inside her room, intently watching her. The sudden rush of fear immediately crept inside her chest so she quickly arose and curl herself into a ball out of dread.

"W-What are you doing here! " she accused. To her surprised, he didn't even show any signs of being shaken.

Her heart jumps when he slowly walked closer to her bed then seated in it. She fastly moved away from him as he kept on staring intently at her. He smells alcohol and that increases more the nervousness she feels in her chest. He was drunk for Pete's sake!

His eyes slowly raked her body full of lust. He stared lasciviously at her breast down to her long slender pair of legs which he can freely see since she was curled into a ball to cover her breast from his feasting lustful eyes. She got alarmed knowing she was only wearing a thin nightie without wearing a bra so she knew Alec could almost see everything of her.

"You have sexy boobs and nice pair of legs..." He whispered sensually.

"A-Alec... W-What are you talking---"

"I never thought you'll grow this beautiful, Emerald..." She felt her body shivered as her downy hair raised in fear of hearing him say those nasty words.

With that, she immediately grabbed her blanket and covered her almost exposed body but unfortunately, Alec drastically pulled it from her and threw it on the floor.

"A-Alec!" She uttered nervously.

She saw him grinned dangerously. She almost jumps in tremble like she got scorched when he sensually caressed her shoulder.

"That old man was right, I will not be able to resist your beauty, Emerald. You are irresistible..." He whispered but enough for her to clearly hear every word he said.

"A-Alec you're drunk! Get out of my room please..." She pleaded nervously knowing she was in danger.  

He just laughed dryly, a very sarcastic laugh and she felt her downy hairs raised out of dread.

"The sweet and innocent Emerald seems scared of her big brother, uh?" He mocked.

"Alec, stop this! Whatever Dad says, I'm not marrying you!" She stated bravely in his face.

"But I do. I will marry you, Emerald." A revelation that made her gape after hearing what he just said.

"A-Are you out of your mind?" She uttered out in outrage as she stands up and moves away from the bed to get away from him.

"Maybe, but then who cares? You think I will let my businesses and everything I worked hard for be destroyed by him? No way! That old man is very shrewd and evil. Besides he offered to give me all of his wealth if I married you. That's quite a tempting offer, uh.." He declared evilly. Hearing what he said, her anger arises.

"What made you think I will marry you!" she retorted bravely.

"You have no choice little Emerald, you owe this family a lot. You just have no right to oppose. " He stated viciously while undauntedly meeting her glares.

He was ruthless... Oh, how I hate him so much...

"I hate you! " she burst out in anger. Something crossed his eyes after hearing what she said. She was not sure but is it a tinge of pain that crossed his eyes?

Impossible!

He stands up in the bed was about to come near her again but she immediately moved away and run from him so he can't come near her.

"W-What are you doing..." Nervous and fear was very obvious in her voice.

"Relax, I just want a kiss to my fiancee." He uttered as he laughs scornfully.

He was slowly coming closer as his eyes not leaving hers while she steps backward trying to avoid him until her back felt the cold cemented walls. He cornered her and there's no way of scaping him. 

"Alec, No! Please don't come near me!" She alarmingly said out of fear.

Next thing she knew he harshly grabbed her and claimed her lips torridly. She suddenly remembered it was the second time he kissed her eight years ago. She still has the same fear towards the impact of his kiss just like the first time. Fear, panic, and different kinds of emotions rush all over her body.

He aggressively deposited her in the bed and she got terrified when he roughly cupped her breast. Scared, she tried to push him away but he was a lot more stronger. His rough kisses went down to her neck as he gives her painful bites on it. She felt her body shaking in fear as tears richly falling down her cheeks. This was out of her will, she was being forced by him. What terrified her more is when she felt that hard bulk down her belly and he was trying to grind it at her roughly and painfully.

"Stop please, Alec..." She cried and pleaded in fear.

When he looked at her seeing her face full of tears, he got stunned as different emotions filled his eyes. She was sure his face softened and worries radiated his face when she met his eyes. She was sure that's the feeling reflected in those gray orbs. But that was just for a moment, his face turned dark and somber again as he released her from his grasp. She immediately arises from the bed and moves away from him. 

"You're not bad to be my wife anyway." He uttered as he lustfully started to raked her body again.

She was still crying while she glared back at him. She hates him so much and to think she will spend her lifetime with this vicious man terrified her more. She had made up her mind, she will never marry this ruthless man!

"I hate you... " she stated in between tears.

"The feeling is mutual," he replied sarcastically as he finally arises on her bed and stands up. 

"We will follow that old man's manipulation. Prepare yourself to be my wife, Emerald. You will marry me whether you like it or not." He concluded dangerously before he decided to leave her room.