chapter 4

"I'm not delusional, I am simply ambitious. But I, however, believe that my ambition is not needed in this case because what I want I already have. you are mine,  the minute I gave your parents 3 million dollars you became mine Elizabeth,  don't let that little stubborn voice in your head trying to prove you otherwise.''  His words strike a chord in me. the way he talks like he has all the power in the world. I glanced over at her parents and instead they have already busied themselves doing other things.

 They act as though nothing is happening,  as though taking money in exchange for their daughter was not an act of cowardice and inhumanity.

 "3 million?''  I ask breath hitched in my lungs. He looks up at me but all my attention is focused on my ignorant parents.

 "Is that what I am worth to you?'' I ask, catching the attention of My Father who looks at me with a stern expression.

 I expected him to say something. to at least justify his actions but all he does is scoff and look back down to his newspaper.

 "Believe me, love, you are worth much more than three million dollars.''  the billionaire says as though hoping that I will smile and fall head over heels in love with him because of that. When I look around that room, I realize that I am surrounded by strangers. The people I thought I knew,  the ones that brought me up; had now sold me for money.  My Parents were not different from strangers. They were the people I thought I knew but had failed miserably. What they had done today had broken the bond of family,  that Beautiful relationship that was always held between a child and their parents was broken at this moment.

“Listen to him Liz, this man will love and take care of you. He is way better than that Ricardo kid you were seeing.” My mother says, taking a stance as she stares at me. My heart falls shallow at the mention of Ricardo. It was always going to be a sore topic.

“How dare you? How dare you bring him up just so you can get you..”

“It is for your good daughter! I made the tough decision that you could never make. I  went out of my way and found you a good husband. You don't need to work anymore..”My father interrupts.

“But I never asked for any of this. I didn't ask you to find me a husband. I was not even interested in a husband, to begin with. you have done this for yourself. you care nothing about what I feel or what I think. What about my dreams father? My ambitions? the things that I want for my life? do none of those matter to you?” 

Everyone is Silent. my dad does not make eye contact. just remains quiet. I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed about this. about the things that happened today. because at the end of the day I had the biggest belief and Faith in my father. And I knew that he could never betray me. not in a thousand years. Even though for the longest time ever I had taken over the obligations of the family in this house,  I Still Believe in the Bond between us. 

 This moment however continues to prove everything wrong. it makes me look like a fool for believing in my family. For expecting much better than what they have done. 

“Look at him Elizabeth.” my mother says,  taking slow steps forward. I'm not sure about what I feel at this moment. because the betrayal has broken me more than anything. I had a lot of faith in my parents. in who they were. but right now it would seem that nothing matters. I had been betrayed.

My mum stands in front of me and holds my hand. but the feeling is not the same anymore. it doesn't show me love or affection. it only shows me deception. it makes me feel like I'm standing in a room full of strangers and I know absolutely no one. 

“He's an extremely handsome man. you can even G****e about him. He is a billionaire. you won't need to worry about anything. You are going to be sorted.’

“How long have you been planning this?” I ask feeling the tears trickle down my face.

“Listen to me daughter.’ my father suddenly calls out with a harsh tone. goosebumps tickle my skin at the sound of his voice. I was always going to be afraid of him. at the idea of his punishment and what he can do. and I had every right to be scared. My father can be a cruel man whenever he wants to.

“If you're not getting married to this man then you had better forget about us as your parents. you better forget about this family. You better start assuming that we are not related. I will denounce you if the need arises. But you have to understand that this is for your good.”  he says with authority and command.

This stranger still standing in the middle of the room,  the man who had allegedly bought me as his wife says nothing.

“ And you're ok with all of this?” I turn and ask him,  hoping that unlike my parents there was a sense of humanity inside him.

" I assure you that after the marriage,  you will have a lot of Riches at your disposal. you'll be able to buy diamonds,  your family will be able to pull themselves out of this little house.'' He speaks as though the mention of a little house makes him suffocate. the way he flicks his fingers in general shows disdain. As though he assumes that all we wanted to do all our lives is get out of that house. I hate the way he makes assumptions about us. I hate the way he looks down at us. he looks at us like we are lesser humans. But isn't that the fault of my parents? They had painted our family as one that was filled with greed. They have presented it as a family that would do anything just for money. Betray each other just for wealth.

 At this moment,  looking at them, I realized that there was no safer place for me than in the arms of the man who had already bought me for marriage. I made a decision that I was sure I would leave to regret.  But it had to be done because this was the final thing that would settle the Debt between my parents. I needed to cut ties with them completely. and if I needed to free myself of this toxicity then I needed to first be in the lion’s den before I  escape. 

 "Very well, when are we getting married."

...........

I felt like I was living in a trance, an adjusted version of the reality I always believed was true. I could not help but shed a tear while sitting at the top of the staircase. Yes, I watched my entire family love and celebrate the new Union that had come with the cost of money. My three brothers had come back from the overall jobs they carry out in the city with the good news that my father had brought them.

 "Honey, won't you come down and eat breakfast with us.'' My mother calls out, all the attention turning to me. I feel extremely disappointed not only in my parents but also in my brother. I expected the three of them to at least make a stand for me or try to reason with my parents. I expected them to be first in line to defend me and say that I had a better future for myself other than marrying for money. It would appear that everyone in my family was prepared to give me up for wealth. it is as though I did not know the people that I have been living with all my life. The ones I would give my life to now have given my own life for money.

"What for, your family seems to be enjoying themselves, why would I come to ruin it,'' I say in spite.

 The entire house Falls silent,  there is no longer the happy laughter or the Jovial stories that are shared around the table. All eyes were on Me.

 "Daughter, you are not entitled to speak like that.'' My father says in a harsh tone. when I get to the bottom of the stairs my family falters, my brother's looking at me as though I was the only price that fulfilled all the dreams they had.

" And why not?''  I asked courageously. everyone seemed taken aback,  even my brothers who are already grown up living their own lives were afraid of my father. His forms of discipline were much worse and more torturous than the scolding and grounding my mother always used to give us when we were children. father believes in violence,  and that is the very thing that had broken all his children. he had instilled that fear in us and made it become the only house stronghold.

"DO NOT RETORT BACK AT ME! You are stepping the line daughter!'' His voice is proof he is already angry. I did not miss the tension that dances around the room. Does my brother feel uncomfortable? Mother snakes an arm around him,  hoping that the action would come to him. I was tired, I was done with the fear and having to live with the toxicity.

"The line was already crossed when you sold me for money,  I'm afraid that right now, the only boundaries you have left are the fact that we are simply strangers living in the same household,'' I say again.

"Elizabeth!''  Philip calls out in a scolding manner.  Other than Philip, my other two brothers were stepping back. They could tell that Dad was about to unleash his anger and they did their best to hide and run away. This was a family of cowards. This is the best thing I would call them.

They are not my family anymore.