Chapter 1: Swapped Wife

 Chapter 1: Swapped Wife

Today, a cold morning in Bloomington, USA. I wake up; it’s still 6 AM. I remain huddled in the corner of the bed. Today is an important day for my family, well... it hasn’t been since my mother died, but today is the day they sold me to a man I don’t know much about. I don’t know what he looks like today; they say he’s a poor, disfigured wretch, but I heard he was a very handsome man about two years ago. He was only twenty-five years old when he was involved in an accident, and since then, no one has seen his face. Oh! Why?

He had 70% of his body burned in that accident. Ever since this family told me I would have to marry him, I delved into research. He was an important billionaire in the United States, yes, and indeed, he was a handsome man. But behind the facade of power and beauty, a life of excesses and scandals, especially with women, was hidden. He was the embodiment of what I despised the most to have as my first relationship in my entire life, and now... it seems I will be stuck with him for the rest of my life, even if he was an important person.

I, on the other hand, am just an ordinary girl. At eighteen, I finished high school two years ago and managed to get into a good college thanks to an 80% scholarship. My intelligence was the best thing I had; I thought I could get a good job, but now I’m just a commodity.

Trapped in a family that isn’t mine, I’ve lived in this house since I was ten years old. My mother married Luiz, my stepfather, and he already had a daughter, Danny.

She, Dhany, was chosen to marry this horrible man. But, since I have neither mother nor father, and no right to choose, they force me to do what they want, and with nowhere to go in this city, I don’t have many options left.

My mother died two years ago. Since then, my stepfather Luiz has made my life a living hell; in an act to get rid of me once and for all, he condemned me to this obligatory marriage. The family is having financial problems, and the heir Marone has been looking for a woman to take care of him for some time.

My uncle, driven by greed, decided to send me instead of his daughter. He made up that Dhany was sick and wouldn’t be a good wife for Marone, even calling her a "stone" and a "burden." And, let’s be honest, considering Dhany's greedy personality, his words weren’t far from the truth.

All this family cares about is money. I would even try to run away, but if they found me, the punishment would be severe. And as he says, I have an obligation to pay for everything he did for me and my mother.

As if that weren’t enough, it’s even harder to deal with depression while trying to pay for the part of my studies that the scholarship doesn’t cover. It’s a constant struggle, a heavy burden that accompanies me every day, but it’s better to have something to fight for every day than to let feelings of helplessness take over me. I really want to live.

In this house, I no longer have any reason to stay. As my uncle said, I am of age and should be independent. But reality is harsh, and without enough money, freedom becomes a distant dream.

"I supported you and your mother in this house for years, do something for us!" My stepfather Luiz’s words echoed in my ears like a cruel mantra. Every day, he reminded me of the debt that I, according to him, owed the family. A debt that, in his view, could only be paid with my submission and obedience.

And now, as if that weren’t enough, I was forced to take the place of my stepsister, Dhany. The idea made me nauseous, a mix of anger and helplessness consuming me from within.

Dhany was, without a doubt, a stunning woman. Compared to her, I felt like a mere pale reflection. She was the epitome of classical beauty, with her perfect features, sculpted body, and long, silky hair that fell in waves over her shoulders.

I, on the other hand, was just an ordinary girl. A bit taller than her, perhaps, but nothing that stood out. My body these days I would say is somewhat disproportionate, I don’t consider it either slim or fat—or at least that’s what I like to think, given that living in a place where anything outside the norm is despised is enough, since the antidepressants made me gain some weight which made a big difference. And my hair? Oh, my hair was a case apart. A mix of straight and curly, turning into a nest of rebellious knots if I slept without a cap.

Next to Dhany, I felt like an ugly duckling. A shadow of insecurity hovered over me, making me question my worth and my chances with the heir Marone, not that I thought it would work out; after all, it would be complicated if he rejected me, my stepfather Luiz would skin me alive.

“Alessa, don’t forget you’re leaving in an hour!” Dhany’s voice echoed down the hall, dripping with sarcasm. “I’m sure your deformed husband must be very picky, he won’t want to see a woman looking like a beggar.”

She didn’t even bother to open the door. I was invisible to her, just as I was to the rest of the family. Of everyone in the house, I was still worthy of having a room, even if it was at the end of the hallway, more like a cubicle than a home.

That was the first thing that changed when I lost my mother. I lost part of myself, my belongings, my decorated room, my clothes... All that was left were some old pieces and the feeling of living like a servant.

But I didn’t complain. I had gotten a job at a restaurant with some acquaintances, enough to pay for college, buy my medication, and save a little money to find a place to stay.

I got up from the dirty corner where I was lying next to the dresser. It was time to get ready to meet this man. I approached the old wardrobe, opening its doors with a bitter smile. The rusty hinges protested, and one of the doors almost hit me in the head again, and I hadn’t even recovered from the last time yet.

“I never want to see them again.” The phrase hammered in my mind like a sledgehammer as I prepared for the wedding.

I opened the dusty wardrobe, looking for something decent to wear. All I found were faded and out-of-fashion pieces. A sigh of frustration escaped my lips.

“Ah… damn it!” My old heels no longer fit my feet. It was depressing, a symbol of my precarious situation. The only option left was my worn-out and tattered sneakers.

The dress, at least, still fit... barely. It squeezed my belly, which had grown a bit with the extra pounds, but I could bear it... That’s how my clothes were, as long as they didn’t tear, I wore them. This blue dress was a bit tight at the waist, and in it, it even looked like I had huge breasts, so tight was the neckline. At least from the waist down it was loose and didn’t squeeze me, allowing me to walk. It was simple but elegant enough, and I wore it with a heavy heart, feeling like an actress in a role that didn’t belong to me.

With a forced smile, I looked at myself in the mirror. "I hope he doesn't like me and sends me back home," I thought with a hint of hope. The idea of returning to my uncle Luiz's tyranny was also unbearable. "God forbid, that would be death," I imagined, a shiver running down my spine.

I combed my hair to make it look neat but left it loose. As soon as I appeared at the top of the stairs, everyone was already waiting near the door. Dhany was holding back laughter at the sight of my condition. At least I had taken a bath.

I could narrate the tragic event of my life as I lazily descended each step in my tight sneakers. I, Alessa Skill, was marrying a mysterious billionaire who had 70% of his body burned in an accident.

When I finished descending the stairs, I was literally thrown out, being dragged by my stepfather Luiz. He shoved me into the car with my old suitcases. No one was coming with me, which left me even more panicked.

"Be obedient and ensure a dignified life for your family," Luiz asserted with a fake smile. "At least we fed you well. Now you can satisfy a man's desires. Goodbye," he concluded, closing the car door.

I stared at him with wide eyes. What do you mean, dear? Satisfy what? I hope it’s cooking... If it's what I think it is... Of course, it is what I'm deducing!

"Let me out! Help!" I started shouting desperately. I only got this notice yesterday; I didn’t have time to think or prepare for this moment. I don’t even know what I’m doing now. Damn it... mother... help...

"Sorry, miss, you can only get out when we arrive at the Marone mansion," the driver warned in a robotic tone.

My stomach churned, and my head spun. I collapsed onto the leather seat in the midst of an existential crisis. My eyes welled up. I had never been so screwed in my life. I let a few tears wet the seat, but I quickly pulled myself together. Today I would have to see my husband... and... Damn it... I didn’t want to! How can they force me to marry someone just for money?