Threatened Into Matrimony

"Bride? What are you talking about?" I stepped forward, my brows drawn up in confusion.

Her eyes narrowed in annoyance, "You're going to be taking my daughter's place to marry that monster. I went through a whole lot of stress to find you, so you had better be worth it."

"What the-" I trailed off, "I'm not just going to marry some guy I don't even know. That's crazy."

"You will," her mouth which was painted a bright red pulled into a smile. “You'll do exactly as I say or I'll blow a hole through your friend’s head."

Beside me Trisha let out a startled cry and turned to me with wide eyes.

"You are prisoners in one of the most dangerous prisons in the country. If you're found dead, it won't come as a shock to anybody. You're extremely disposable. So if I were you, I wouldn't test me," Lucrezia warned, "If you don't do as I say, I'll get rid of you and find replacements. It's that easy."

My jaw dropped, horror making my spine stiffen.

How evil was this man that she was willing to murder people for the sake of her daughter not ending up with him?

"Who is the man?"

Before I could blink, her hand rose up in the air and came down on my face with a loud thwack. I staggered back, cupping my cheeks as pain bloomed on my face.

"The next question you ask, I'll have my men detach some fingers from your friend," she said, then shifted her gaze to the two men behind us, "Take them away."

We were grabbed by our arms and dragged out of the room. At the end of the hallway, the other guard began to pull Trish in the opposite direction.

"No!" She cried, "Winnie, help me! "

I knocked my shoulder into the unprepared guard holding me and raced towards my friend. The man grabbed me by my air and I screamed as I felt my scalp burn.

"Let me go!" I screamed, clawing at his hand but his grip on me didn't loosen, "Trish, it'll be fine. You'll be fine!" I screamed as she was pulled further away and finally out of sight.

Tears streaked down my cheeks as the girl I had sworn to protect disappeared from view.

"If you obey Lucrezia, your friend will be returned unharmed. If not-" he let out a dark laugh that told me more than words what the consequences would be. A shiver wracked through me and I suddenly felt very cold.

He pushed me into a room and I tripped and fell to the ground.

"You idiot," someone snapped, "We can't have bruises on the bride."

I glanced up in surprise to see that there were about five women in the room, each one setting up in a different corner. One of them approached to help me up and then led me to a small bathroom off the side.

"Shower," she ordered before walking away, leaving the door ajar.

Clenching my jaw, I took off my clothes and turned on the icy cold shower water. After that, they shampooed my hair and then handed me a robe.

My brown hair was cut to shoulder length, with flattering layers and I was given some side part bangs.

Face masks were placed over my face and someone even had me open my teeth for a hasty teeth whitening treatment. My eyebrows were plucked and my entire body waxed.

They helped put the blue contacts over my grey eyes and then I was helped into a lacy wedding dress that weighed a ton.

When I looked at myself in the mirror, I was completely unrecognizable. I looked like the old me.

The Edwina from years ago who had shopped in designer stores and flown first class all around the world.

Before that bastard had gotten too greedy.

I pushed the thought away, not wanting to think about him. The man who had ruined my life.

"We're running late, let's go," the hairstylist announced.

The door swung open and Lucrezia walked in, eyes pinning me in place. She drank me in silently before giving a sharp nod.

"Good job, ladies," she said with a smile, "You'll be well compensated for today. And let me remind you again that you should keep your mouths shut if you don't want to face dire consequences."

One of the guard stepped in with a briefcase full of cash and then began to hand out bundles to the women as they walked off.

"It's time," she announced with an evil gleam shining in her eyes.

A blacked out SUV was waiting outside and we climbed into the back, one of the guards taking the driver's seat. I felt like a completely different person, unrecognisable as the car sped away from that abandoned building.

"You'll do whatever your new husband tells you to do," Lucrezia warned me, "You won't give him any reason to end this marriage."

"How long do you expect me to do this? I can't just hand my life over to him forever."

Her mouth pressed into a thin line, "That was the fate that would have befallen my daughter if I hadn't taken this bold step. But now my poor Sofia will be stuck in hiding for the rest of her days."

I raised a brow. So while her daughter would be free to live out the rest of her life, I would be forced to live with a monster.

I didn't exactly pity Sofia.

"You'll keep your mouth shut and spread your legs for him no matter how many times he demands it. You'll take whatever abuse he metes out without complaint and if you ever think of telling anyone your true identity, just think about Patricia's life first."

I smoothed my sweaty hands down my dress as the car came to a halt in front of a church. My eyes widened as I recognised the church.

"A-are we in New York?" I asked nervously.

I couldn't be here. I couldn't be in this wretched city. Not again.

She eyed me with disdain before climbing out of the car.

With a sigh of resignation, I opened the car door and stepped down too, knowing that I had just signed my life away.