CHAPTER ONE

SCARLETT'S POV.

"There's nothing we can do, Scar, you have to marry him."

My heart shattered into a million pieces immediately I heard that, and I felt my breathing cut short as I stared at both my parents in shock.

I blocked out everything my mother was saying as I pondered what everything they'd just said meant for me. I was going to have to get married to one of the most ruthless billionaire's in the country all because of some stupid debt my father owed?

No way. I wasn't going to allow this to happen to me. There was no way I was going to marry Luca Nicholas.

"No way," my body finally swung into action and I got up from my seat. "I'm not marrying that monster, you can't do this to me."

Dad  heaved a frustrated huge sigh and said, "Scarlett we know this might sound too much for you, but I want you to know that I've thought about this properly before making my decision. There's no other way—"

"You can't tell me that, Dad," I cut him off sharply, forgetting my manners. "Can't we think of something else? There's no way I can marry him, please Dad. I still have college to go to and a whole life I can't toss aside just like that."

"But we don't have any other option," Mom said with tears glistening in her eyes. "He has been threatening your father for days to repay his debt and now he says he can't wait any longer, he wants something back in return and it's you, Scarlett. He's so adamant about getting you."

"Believe me when I say this man has gone through different routes to trap me, Scar," Dad concurred with her. "The man is very dangerous and I don't want you anywhere close to him, but what can I do my dear? If there's anything I can do to keep you away from him then I would do it."

Immediately he said that, an idea popped into my head.

"Then why don't I run away? If he can't find me anywhere then he can't demand for me," I turned to Mom with pleading eyes. "You know how much I love Kevin and my freedom. I would never be able to live with a man like Luca and I can never forgive you guys if you allow this to happen."

"That's ridiculous, that would only make things worse for us," Mom said, looking towards Dad to see his reaction.

My heart started to beat extra fast in anticipation of what he was about to say. I knew that whatever decision Dad was going to make right now would determine my future and my happiness going forward. To say I was nervous was an understatement.

Finally Dad stopped having the look of contemplation on his face and let out a sigh before saying, "how fast can we plan your escape? Luca is going to be here in three hours."

My heart leaped with relief and I instinctively reached out to envelope him into a tight hug. "Thank you so much Dad. Thank you for understanding with me."

Dad hugged me back but quickly pulled away and said, "don't be so excited yet. We need to get you out of this city fast and very far away, where he can never find you."

Mom still looked skeptical when I looked at her so I went over and took her hand in mine. "Mum, please just do this for me. Let me get out of this city before this man comes here and ruins my life forever. I promise you can trust in me, if I run away and I'm able to chase my dreams then I can help you guys out of this mess. I promise you, mum I'll find a way to get us out of this situation but first I need to get out of here."

There was silence as both Dad and I waited for her until finally she smiled and pulled me into a hug. "I love you so much Scarlett and I'll do anything to protect your happiness. It's not going to be easy for us to help you run away without getting into more trouble with Luca but if we have to do that to make you happy then count me in."

I held onto her tighter and finally let out tears of my own. "Thank you, mum... Thank you so much,  I'll never forget what you guys have done for me."

"Enough now," Dad said, his face going serious. "We need to get you ready to leave. I'll call up my assistant and have him ready to drive you to the house in California. I think that'll be a far enough place for the meantime until we can get you out of the country."

And then just like that, thirty minutes later, I was ready with a small suitcase and a travel bag to leave the home I'd lived in since I was a kid. It felt like shit to have to run away from my home, but the thought of being married to a man like Luca sounded like my worst nightmare, so I sucked it up and stared at my parents with tears still in my eyes.

"Henry says he's already outside waiting for you," Dad said, standing awkwardly with tears now glistening in his eyes. "We'll stay here and when Luca comes we'd say we have no idea where you've gone.  When he sees that you aren't coming back, we'll continue to act ignorant about where you've gone and hopefully as days go by, he'll give up when he sees that you're never coming back."

I forced a smile as I saw the pain in his eyes and when a tear slid down his cheek, I reached out and wiped it away. "I feel horrible about leaving you to deal with this all alone."

Dad shook his head, wiping his eyes quickly. "You don't need to feel bad. It's all my fault anyways and it would be horrible of me to allow my daughter pay for my mistakes. You don't need to waste anymore time, Princess. We'll take care of everything, don't worry."

" Go now, Scarlett. That man must not find you," Mum said with a warning tone.

"You all take care, alright," I shot one last look of pity at them before I sighed and made my way to the black Audi parked outside, with different thoughts swinging around in my head. This was just too much to handle in one day.

Henry smiled at me with sympathy when I got in the passenger seat after stuffing in my luggage and thankfully he wasted no time in getting on the road.

I couldn't believe how quickly my life had spiraled out of control. One minute, I was being told to marry Luca, a cold and heartless billionaire I'd only heard bad stories about and the next, we were arranging my escape. But as I sat in the black Audi, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. I was not going to be trapped, I was born to be free.

The somber landscape of the city zoomed past me as we sped down the deserted highway. I clutched onto the armrest, my heart pounding against my ribcage, a mix of excitement and fear coursing through my veins. The warning in my mother's voice still echoed in my mind, giving me motivation. "Go now, Scarlett. That man must not find you."

But suddenly, the screeching sound of tires pierced the air, jarring me from my thoughts. I looked up, my eyes widening in disbelief, as a car abruptly parked in front of us, blocking our path. Panic welled up within me as I stared out of the window to see that two men dressed in a black suits were now getting out of the car.

I watched with my heart pounding against my chest as they got closer to us and then knocked on the window I was looking out from. It was with disappointment that I realised that they were probably here to stop me.

My breath hitched, and my hands began to tremble involuntarily. This wasn't part of the plan. I had trusted Henry to whisk me away to freedom, away from the clutches of a man who would surely imprison my soul. But now, here I was, trapped.

I watched with trembling lips as a handsome man stepped out of the sleek, black vehicle with an air of confidence that chilled me to the bone. His perfectly tailored suit clung to his sculpted frame, accentuating the power and dominance he exuded. His piercing gaze locked onto mine from the window, a coldness lurking within his eyes that sent shivers down my spine.

Fear danced in the pit of my stomach, threatening to suffocate  me as I stared at him. But before I could utter a single syllable, the man beckoned for me to step out of the car.

Trembling, I opened the door, feeling as if I were walking toward my own demise. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to run, to escape while I still had the chance. Yet, as my feet carried me closer to him, my father's voice from the past echoed in my mind once more. "You always have to be strong, my Scarlett. Stand tall even when facing the devil himself."

Summoning all the strength I had left, I steadied myself, fixing the man with a defiant glare. "Who are you and what do you want from me?"

He let out a dark chuckle before saying, "hello Scarlett, I'm Luca. Your soon to be husband and also your worst nightmare."