chapter 6

There was a long silence that followed after. As though everything froze. My father's eyes were still on me, stuck to me. This was the first time I had ever Rendered my father speechless. Even though dad was a man of few words, today's expression showed me that he had been taken aback by my words. He knew that I would rebel but he did not expect me to rebel to this extent. What did he really expect? He had married me off to some billionaire just for the sake of lifting the financial status of his family.

"Say that again.'' came his voice in a low tone. It was dangerous. dangerous to hear my father ordering someone to repeat what they had just said. All my life, we were always afraid of our father. My brothers and I, why afraid of the discipline that he gave in the form of violence. He had broken Phillips's leg when he was 11 the day he first found him kissing a girl. His actions were always reckless and he ended up causing more harm than good. mother was weak. I loved her but I now realize that she would never have defended us from her own husband. There are times that I suspected that Dad had also been violent with Mum when we were younger. when he had no one to vent out his anger on.

''Which part would you like to hear me say again, father? is it the part where I have clearly told you not to put Your Hands On Me Again, Or is it that part where I have clearly indicated that if you do, put Your Hands On Me Again, there is no marriage that is going to happen.'' I explained further with a confident voice. his head tilts back. his eyes do not leave mine. He is looking for just an ounce of Fear. of cowardice. because he would use that against me and beat me to the pulp I had always been. Was it right? Was it right for a father to break his children to that extent?

''You have crossed the line.'' he says inner defeating tone. He takes a step backwards, glancing back at the entire family who had been watching us closely. My brothers cannot believe it. father was backing down.

''You are a monster. You are a monster and an unappreciative little Witt For using this as your getaway plan. you know that you deserve the discipline. have I not taught you better?''

''The only thing you have done is teach me that Family is not worth it.'' I responded.

I immediately turned around and began working towards my room. He cannot stop me. He will not stop me. For the first time, I've become a master at my father's game.

''You are going to regret this.'' were the last words that father says before he picks up his jacket and walks out of the room in Anger. I feel all eyes on my back.

'' did you have to go that far?'' I hear Phillips' question echoing through the room.

I turn around to meet my brother's eyes as I moved towards him.

'' what do you mean?'' I asked oblivious of the situation.

'' You threatened him, Elizabeth, you just talked back to, father,'' he responds with a stoic expression.

'' I did. But did I threaten him with a weapon he did not put in my hands?'' I ask.

''It doesn't matter. Why do you keep viewing this marriage as though it's a curse? you have gotten the chance to lift your family out of poverty. this is not a curse, this is a blessing. '' He has the confidence to say that. He says it has though it is something he is entitled to.

I am left speechless by his words. I cannot imagine that my own elder brother would have been one to hold the same beliefs. Are they really going to force me to see this matter from a different perspective? What was the blessing in this? What was the blessing of being forced to marry a man for money? money that had already been given to my parents without my consent.

'' this is not what I wanted. you all know this is not what I wanted.'' I say in a disappointed broken voice. I feel my heart aching. what is happening before me right now is something I never anticipated. the faith that I had in family had collapsed this day.

'' Then why? why did you accept it? Mother told me that you yourself clearly asked the billionaire when the wedding was going to be. if I did not know better Elizabeth, I would say that you are more eager to get married and have a taste of the luxury than we are. you might hate us for making that decision for you, but you're nothing different from a gold digger, only this time, your course is Noble.''

"You are less than half the man I believed you to be. You brother, you're an enemy of my future. today you stand before me and tell me exactly how you have always viewed me. How dare you call me a gold-digger when this family itself had put me in this situation? Did I ask to get married to a billionaire? did I even ask to get married at all?''

'' Dad is right, he is always right. we needed to make this decision for you because you're just stupid and dumb. you women need to know your place in this fam..''

''Philip!'' I hear my mother's words.

" What Mum? Is it not true? did she not accept this marriage because the man was well off with millions of money?''

I'm still stuck on his previous statement. I never once expected that Phillip would hold that belief over our gender. I did not expect him to diminish me to such an extent. To view me as someone who could not get their brain operating. Did he really think that he needed to make the decisions for me?

"Tell me Elizabeth, if we were getting you married to some low-life man with nothing to offer, Would you have taken the deal?''