3

Serenity Jones

I entered the room with tears welling up in my eyes. My gaze was immediately drawn to the young man on the large bed- a very good looking handsome man, likely in his late 20s.

As I approached him, my legs trembled beneath me and I ended up collapsing to the floor. I couldn't believe what my family had done to me, especially my father. He had abandoned his only daughter, sacrificing me for his position by marrying me off to a dying man.

I stood up again and leaned my face closer to his, confirming that he was indeed a stunningly handsome man. If he were healthy and strong, any woman would undoubtedly be smitten by him. I couldn't help but wonder, if he weren't like this, would I have still become his wife?

I doubted it.

I'm just realizing now that I knew so little about this man. His grandfather had only told me his name and the story of the terrible accident he had been in with his girlfriend. She had died instantly, while William had fallen into a coma, where he had remained for six months now. The doctor was uncertain when he would wake up, predicting it could take two to three years, or even longer.

One part of me felt sympathy for him, but I couldn't help feeling more sorry for myself. Was I supposed to devote myself to an unconscious man for three years or even more?

Would he ever wake up, or were we doomed to continue like this forever? I felt trapped and unable to escape this situation even if I wanted to, since I had already signed a binding contract. The thought of being tied to a man who might never wake up feels so frustrating and suffocating.

Flashback

Today was supposed to be the day of Alex and Mr. Smith's grandson's wedding, but a situation has spiraled out of control. For the past four hours, we had been searching the entire house for the bride, but she was nowhere to be found.

Just a week ago, everyone seemed happy and content. However, my relationship with my father had taken a turn for the worse. He had become my enemy, avoiding me at all cost. Whenever I tried to talk to him, he would come up with excuses to evade our conversations.

I had even spent two days at Tiara's place, deliberately staying away from the house, yet he never bothered to call me to check on my whereabouts. He had also barred me from going to the company, claiming that Alex was more deserving of the position than I was.

Janet and her daughter had literally taken everything away from me.

"Hey! Take this dress and change into it quickly!" Janet exclaimed, bursting into my room and shoving the wedding dress into my face.

I grabbed the dress, confused and looked at her incredulously. "What do you mean, I should change into it? I'm not the bride, remember? This belongs to your daughter, not me!"

"I don't care!" Janet snapped. "Just change into it. The groom's family is waiting. We can't keep them waiting for too long."

"Are you crazy?!" I retorted, outraged. "How can you barge into my room and order me around? I'm not your daughter, remember? You have no right to tell me what to do. I'm not wearing this ridiculous thing you call a wedding dress. Take it out of my sight!" I shoved the dress back at her roughly- already feeling upset by her annoying behavior.

She grabbed the dress and her face suddenly twisted in a deadly glare.

"I'm sure you're aware that your father is in a condition- either you marry Mr. Smith's grandson, or he loses everything. The choice is yours, dear Seren. Save your father or continue being the heartless person you've always been."

A cold smile spread across my face. "And what about your daughter? You and she were eager to secure a marriage into the prestigious Smith family. What's stopping you now? Where has she run off to? Have you two discovered something you shouldn't have?"

"W... What are you talking about?" Janet stuttered, her eyes darting back and forth, her composure beginning to break down.

"The truth is that you're forcing me to marry a man who's on the brink of death, simply because you can't bear the thought of your own daughter being stuck with him. So, you conspired with her to escape and trap me instead. What a wonderful mother you are!"

The truth was, I caught a bit of their conversation a few days ago, but I had no idea it was about Mr. Smith's grandson. Now, everything clicked into place.

"You're being delusional! I don't know what you're talking about!" She said as she hurriedly denied it.

"Deny it all you want, but it won't change the fact that I'm never going to marry a half-dead man!" I declared, glaring hard at her.

"Is that your final decision?" She asked, her voice cold and menacing.

"Get out of my room." I commanded in a cold tone.

"Fine, then. You want it the hard way? I have no other choice then." Janet retorted, her voice dripping with malice as she smirked. "Come out." She called out, her eyes glinting with triumph.

I looked at her, confused and wondering who she was talking to, as a young man walked out from my bathroom, half-naked and I looked at him in bewilderment. "W... Who are you and how did you get in there?" I stuttered, my voice laced with panic.

"Allow me to introduce you to one of your boyfriends, Sam." Janet sneered, her words dripping with venom. "He's one of the many guys you've been secretly bringing to your room without your father's knowledge."

"What are you talking about?! I don't know him! I know nothing about this man. Who the hell is Sam?!" I exclaimed, my voice shaking with anger.  "I have no idea how he ended up in my room! What in the world are you cooking up this time, Janet?" I asked, my tone weak and defeated.

I thought I could handle everything that had been happening recently, but this was too much. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of chaos. "Watch me, sweetheart." She said, her voice dripping with malice as a wicked smile spread across her face. "Watch as I make you wear this beautiful dress right here."

Then, she suddenly switched to a fake, outraged tone, yelling. "OH MY GOODNESS! Oh my God! What's going on here?! Seren, what in the world do you think you're doing?!"

My dad rushed into my room, his face etched with panic. "What's wrong? Is everything alright?"

"Nothing is alright, Joel! Your daughter... Just take a look to your left." Janet's voice was laced with feigned concern. He turned to follow her gaze, and his eyes widened in shock as he took in the sight of the strange guy standing in the corner, trying to cover himself with his hands, clad only in his underwear.

"What's going on here?" My dad's voice was icy cold, his glare piercing as he turned to me.

I began to tremble, shaking my head vigorously. "I... I have no idea, Dad. I don't know who he is or how he got in here."

"What do you mean you have no idea who he is? This isn't your first time, is it? You've been bringing different guys in here and sleeping with them!" Janet accused me, her voice dripping with malice.

"What?!!!" I exclaimed, shocked and outraged. The most annoying part is that I'm the only one who get to understand the lies in her tone.

"Yes, Joel." Janet continued, fake tears welling up in her eyes. "I've caught her with at least seven different men already. And whenever I tried to talk to her about it, she told me I had no right to interfere because I'm not her mother. All I was trying to do was care for her like a real mother would."

"Stop lying, you wicked witch!" I shouted, but my dad's sudden slap silenced me.

"D... Dad?" I stammered, tears streaming down my face as I touched the spot where he hit me.

"You're a disgrace to this family!" he thundered, his voice trembling with rage. "You know what? You're going to marry Mr. Smith's grandson in Alex's place, whether you like it or not. I don't care! I won't let you ruin my reputation in front of everyone."

"And you..." My dad growled, storming over to the guy and dragging him out. I had no idea what he planned to do to him and frankly, I don't care.

The wedding ceremony took place just an hour later. I walked down the aisle alone with a white gown and veil covering my face, a bouquet in my hand. And just like that, I became Mrs. William Smith.

End of Flashback

"I see you've met your husband already." Mr. Smith said, his voice startling me. Before I could respond, he added, "Are you crying? Oh, no... you shouldn't. You're now part of the prestigious Smith family- aren't you happy about that? To be part of us?"

"What's there to be happy about? Being forced into this marriage? Or the fact that your grandson son might never wake up! I'm trapped forever in this useless bondage called a marriage and you call this happiness? Do you even know how much I hate you for proposing this to my dad, and I hate my dad more for selling me out for money!!!" I wanted to unleash my fury to tell him this but I bit my lip, nervously and hastily wiped away my tears.

I forced a fake smile as I raise my gaze to meet him. "Mr. Smith, why are you here?" I asked.

He chuckled and shook his head. "Can we talk for a minute?" He asked. But before I could respond, the door burst open, and a woman in her mid-50's entered, followed by a girl of my age trailing behind her. They both exuded wealth and beauty.

"Dad, is it true that you've already handed over all the properties to that gold digger you married to—" She stopped talking as her gaze fell on me, and my heart skipped a beat. "There she is...." She trailed off, her tone calm yet menacing. "The little cunning witch who wants all the wealth for herself."