Chapter 1: The Switch

Abigail’s POV

“You should pack your bags, you will be getting married on Friday," My dad said, taking a seat on the worn-out couch in the sitting room.

“W-wh-what? What are you saying? Me?...marriage?... With whom?... How? When?... Why? Wait, wait, wait. Is this some kind of joke or something Dad?”

Knowing my dad, he definitely wasn’t joking but I never expected something like this from him.

“Why didn’t you ask me if I was interested?” I asked, horrified.

“I don’t have to ask your permission; I am in charge of you, I own you so I can do whatever I want to do with you.” He said, unbothered by my feelings.

“By the way, I have received the bride price and signed a contract, so you now belong to them”.

“Dad! How…how can….how can you do this to me? I’m your daughter! You sold me out to people I don’t know, people YOU don’t know! What if they do something bad to me?”

“What they want to do with you is none of my business, I already collected the money, so get ready to leave with him,” he said, emotions void of him.

“What? Dad!” I opened my mouth to say more words, but nothing came out. Heavy tears flowed out of my eyes as I dropped to the ground.

I sat on the floor crying for hours then realized that my tears wouldn’t solve any problem. I decided to run away from home, at least then I wouldn’t be able to marry whoever it was he collected money from. I quickly picked up the money, went to my room, and packed a few of my things. I was so grateful that there was no work for the rest of the week.

After I packed my things, I slowly tiptoed to the door so I could leave, but to my surprise, the door was locked and I could not find the keys.

“Don’t even think about it,” He said coming out of his room.

“Before you go anywhere, you must tell me, and I will go with you wherever it is you are going," he said.

“But I have to go to work!”

“You have to quit that job of yours because I’m sure those people will not want you working,” he said nonchalantly and went back to his room.

I went back to my room with all my hopes lost. Just when I had hopes of leaving this hell, I was being sent to another and I could only watch as my freedom flew out the window.

***

The car pulled up at a quiet place, there was also a black car there, and it wasn’t just any car, it was a limousine. A Limousine. This man must be stinky rich to have a limousine I thought, but still I was scared. It felt like I was being secretly snuggled.

Dad came down from the car, I did the same and then he removed my bags from the boot then went to the other car. “She is all yours,” I heard him say before returning to his car.

I saw the face of the man that I was supposed to marry. Nothing would have prepared me for this.

The man had a round chubby face and a pot belly. He wore glasses and…his whole hair was gray. I almost collapsed…I mean I was expecting an old man, bu-but not this old. This man is even old enough to be my granddad.

I thought of running away since my dad was not here but, I don’t even know where this is, so I just gave up the idea.

“Sir, please, take a good look at me, I’m young enough to be your granddaughter, what if someone as old as you were marrying your grandchild?” I asked desperately hopeful. “So please sir, I can work as a maid in your house i can do anything, but please, please, don’t marry me. Please, sir, I beg you.” I pleaded with him desperately.

“My child, you don’t need to be this worried, you are in good hands. And I’m not your groom, the one marrying you is a very young and nice man, so you don’t need to worry,” he said reassuringly.

“What! If you are not the groom, then who is?”

“Don’t worry my dear, you will meet him soon” the old man said.

One would think that I would be relieved after hearing this, but that wasn’t the case. Dread filled me. What kind of young rich and nice guy will want to marry someone like me? This is all a setup. I’m going to be used as someone's money-making machine.

As the ride to my new fate continued moving, I couldn’t help but think about how my life was just going in a good direction in the past few weeks. Everything was just so perfect.

Dad would usually drink himself into a stupor and come back home to lash out his anger on me by beating and insulting me which I was able to avoid for a while. I had gotten used to it, but I was tired of it. Which is why I made plans to leave that hell.

Who would have thought he would transfer me somewhere else to continue with my bitter life? I hate him. I hate him so much. I hate Andras William so much for putting me through hell.

I should have never returned home. I should have just gone and booked a room that night when I had the chance. I guess the heavens had other plans for me.

Four days earlier

“Hey Abbi, you’ve got the rest of the week off. Your boss will be back on Monday and I have no more tasks for you,” Mr. Dave, the COO said to me.

I was happy when I got the information, but the happiness immediately died down when I remembered I'd be at home during these days, which meant more insults and beatings from Andras.

I really didn’t want to stay at home. I checked my bank balance and saw that I had just enough money to lodge at a motel two streets away from work. I even had enough to rent an apartment for a year.

I was so happy with all the plans I made in my head to leave. I’ll just act like I'm going to work the next morning and never return. What a perfect plan…If only he didn’t return home and dropped that huge bomb on me.

I regret not staying back and booking a room. I really regret it. I could have saved myself from this situation…maybe. But it didn’t matter anymore though. I was already currently in front of the humble abode of doom.