Chapter 3

Annelise’s POV

I still could not believe what has happened. How could my father leave me there in a stranger's house? I was lucky enough to leave there peacefully. Then I remembered the way the guy Ken called me a whore. My blood boiled as I made my way inside the house. I secretly opened the door to my room with the intention of awakening no trouble, only for me to bump into Anastasia,

“Where have you been all night, you mutt? Have you started seeing a man now?" My stepsister Anastasia, who was just two years older than me, asked.

I stopped and turned to her. So she didn't know what was going on? “Why do you care?”

“Don't even think of running away. I have people keeping an eye on you.” My father interjected

And I stared at him in surprise. So it was intentional? “What do you mean, father? Did you plan on leaving me at the party from the start?” I asked as my voice was tinged with annoyance.

“You should get ready for your wedding with the Harringtons” he added

“There will be no wedding,” I said. Why does the name Harrington sound familiar? Before I could think more, I was given a slap by my father, and he gave me another one. I had to move away from him to avoid his hit. My cheeks were in pain from his hard hit.

“Are you telling me you messed things up? After my warning to you?” my father asked angrily.

“Father! It was terrible, I woke up only to be called a whore,” I said, meaning to sound angry, but my voice betrayed my little confidence as it sounded so weak.

“And you couldn’t have swallowed your pride? I told you what was at stake, didn’t I?”

I could not say a word as I watched him. At his back, Anastasia was grinning, ear to ear at me. “Don’t you dare question my authority again. You should get ready to be the bride to the illegitimate son. I don’t care at this stage; you must be married to the Harringtons,” my father yelled

“What?” Anastasia blurted out. “You mean Ethan?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“But dad, he is an illegitimate son. I don’t think—”

“Enough,” my father cuts Anastasia off from completing her statement. What does she mean? So I was getting married to Ethan, what was the identity of the stranger I woke up in bed with?

“You, go get changed; we are going out. And if you dare mess this up again, say goodbye to your mother’s hospital bills.”

“You can’t do that!” I protested. Only if he could just tell me which hospital she was being treated at, but he won’t. He knew I can’t leave my mother like that.

“You know I can,” he said in a deadly voice. “I will be waiting for you,” he said.

“O..kay,” I said and went ahead to my room with tears falling down my face. I heard Anastasia speaking to him as I closed my room door. I just can’t believe I was still living in a hell like this one. My mother had been in the hospital for almost a year, my father would show me a live video of her. The investigation on the hit and run was stopped by my father.

He wanted peace, and that was his way of finding it. Sometimes I think he was the one behind the incident, just so he could take over her business. A month after her accident, my father came home with his new wife and his daughter. He must have been cheating on my mother for a long period of time. I became an outcast in my own home.

As the water ran over me, I cried out in pain – pain of rejection, pain of betrayal, and all types of pain I had passed through for almost a year. I had to stop so my eyes wouldn’t be puffy, which might lead to me being punished by my father again. Thank goodness I had not run into my stepmother; she was a witch, and I always had to avoid her.

I quickly got dressed and met my father outside in his car waiting. He took one look at me and didn’t comment on my chosen dress – a knee-length black floral dress that made my skin and hair stand out. The car started, and we drove off; I did not bother to ask where we were going.

The car stopped in front of a tall building, and we got out and entered the building. My dad told the receptionist who we wanted to see, and we were directed to the elevator. We got to the 45th floor and got out. I followed my dad like a lost puppy at 23; we were ushered into Mr. Harrington’s office, a lady ran out from the office in tears.

“Make sure I never see her again, or your job is also on the line,” a hard voice said. Shouting was not necessary as the cold voice was filled with fear and tension.

“Mr. Harrington,” my father said in a lighter mood. “I am Mr. Simon; I called you earlier.”

There was silence in the cold room. I did not look up for fear; I can't understand how it suddenly became chilly in the office. “The marriage proposal,” my father said in a way of introduction.

“Have your seat,” the cold voice finally said.

“Thank you,” my dad had his seat, and I sat beside him with my head still bowed. “This is my daughter, Anastasia,” my dad said. Anastasia? Last I knew I was the only daughter of his in the room. This made me look sideways at my father; was he mistaken?

“Father, I am—”

“She is honored to meet you,” my father cuts me off. What was he planning again? Referring to me as Anastasia?

“I see,” the cold voice said again.

“How soon can we have the wedding?” my father asked.

“I have to check and see if my calendar is free,” cold voice said. They both ignored me as if I was not in the room with them. I heard the sound of a keyboard. “What about in two weeks' time?” he asked.

“Perfect,” my dad jumped at the offer.

“Dad!” I finally said with my head raised and a disapproving look fixed on my face.