Chapter 1:  Marriage

"Stop screaming Cecy, it's just a marriage you are twenty-two years so it doesn't matter if you get married now or later," Cecy's father yelled angrily.

Cecy sat down on the floor speechlessly. This has always been her life cleaning after her younger sister's mess.

"You will marry Zacky James whether you like it or not we are on the verge of bankruptcy we have debts all over what do you expect us to do?" Her father yelled again feeling so frustrated.

"Dad," Cecy said weakly in this family she had no say.

"Shut up, it is not debatable,"

"Zacky chose Barbara  why should I marry him? He only loves Barbara  plus he can totally see the difference even a blind man can tell," she tried sounding as reasonable as possible.

"I don't care this is our only chance and option, do you want us to starve to death? We don't have any money left get that into your thick skin,"

"So, all this is all about money? You are selling me just to pay your debts?" Cecy felt so frustrated, "I'm your daughter dad, mum? Say something," she turned to her hoping that she could make a bit of sense or at least defend her.

"Listen to your father," she hears her mother say. She stared at them speechlessly before going back to her room this was her life now

"How could they be so cruel?" She said silently.

She sat down on her bed staring at her sister's empty bed. It immediately took her back to a few days back how it all started.

Her sister Barbara  was an extrovert who liked partying and having fun but she was the total opposite.

Zacky James first met her sister at a club. He fell in love with her, and after that night he immediately sent a marriage proposal.

The James family was known to be the richest and most influential family going down to more than a hundred generations. In other words, Cecy's father found a chance to revive his fallen company.

Their family had a debt of over a hundred million the family that was once known to be well off was now living in poverty and debts.

The next day after receiving the marriage proposal, they found Barbara 's letter. She clearly stated that they should consider her dead and that she was not ready to be bound in a loveless marriage as she had someone she loved who loved her back.

Cecy stared at the ceiling as tears rolled down her cheeks. She wanted to run away but she had nowhere to go. She finally made up her mind to give up her life for the so-called marriage.

"Great, it's time for dinner," her mother said seeing her walk down the stairs.

"I'll marry him take it as repaying my debt for all that you have given me after that we will cut off ties," It had taken her more than courage to say those words.

Cecy wasn't as bold as her younger sister Barbara  they had two different personalities. She wondered if she would be able to fool Zacky.

Thinking of Zacky she shivered slightly. Zacky wasn't a fool he wouldn't be able to control the whole James family if he was easy to deceive and manipulate. She immediately stood up intending to go back to her room.

"You haven't eaten yet," her mother said.

"You? Not hungry?" She laughed.

"What is happening to our daughter today," her mother turned to her husband.

"Fine, I will eat first," everyone knew Cecy wasn't one to skip a meal Barbara  was beautiful, elegant, and always had a flock of boys around her. Unlike her, she loved eating and was most of the time lonely. She didn't have friends and was poor at making friends.

At times she would wonder if they were really sisters as the difference was quite large. Her sister was the daring one while she was the coward one. Her sister always took the first while she followed behind her. The only place where she could boldly stand before her sister was during an exam but that wasn't enough as beauty still mattered. It was why Zacky chose her sister who wouldn't? She was just a boring and naive girl.

"Go change those glasses into a contact lens tomorrow,"

"Didn't you say you don't have any money?"

"I don't, but we can't risk you being exposed. Your sister doesn't wear such hideous glasses,"

"Was it necessary to point out that my glasses were hideous?" Her subconscious kicked in but she couldn't say it out loud.

"You should stop wearing those long dresses, look abit more seductive,"

"What about my studies? We all know Barbara  hated reading," She asked after a while. At twenty-two, she had already finished her degree and master's and was doing her Ph.D.

"You will have to drop it for now,"

"What do you mean to drop it?" She finally lost it.

"You are about to get married Cecy your work will be all about taking care of your husband don't mind such trivial things. Your husband's family is rich enough to cater to your whole generation."

"I won't stop my studies what if Barbara  comes back?"

"She won't, she said it herself didn't you read the letter? You know your sister very well,"

"What if she does Dad? What if Zacky found out we have been lying to him?" She went on and on with the what-ifs until her dad stopped her.

"That's the difference between your sister and you she is more confident she is your sister can't you just help her? She would have done the same for you,"

"Really? But I wouldn't back out in my own marriage we are nothing alike don't compare us,"

"Enough you two," her mother finally interjected.

Cecy placed down her cutleries and then went back to her room. She wanted to cry it all out but nothing came out. She was tired.

Her sister this her sister that. For more than twenty years she had lived in her sister's shadow. They all thought that she was better than her. She walked toward the mirror and then stared at the large glasses on her face. She took it off and immediately threw it away.

Maybe getting married was a good thing. She thought but immediately threw that thought away.

She suddenly wondered if she would be able to pretend to be her sister. First, she had never fallen in love that aside she had never been so close to a man. She wasn't one to invest in her feelings all she cared about was studying.

She heaved a long sigh before walking to her sister's part of the wardrobe. They were about the same size so she picked a few decent dresses that weren't too revealing and then threw them on the bed trying one after the other.

After trying all the dresses, she made up her mind. If she was going to do this, she would do it her own way. She was tired of being told what to do and what not to do.

This took her back to a few years ago on their eighth birthday.

"Sister, you don't like playing with toys can I have your presents?" Barbara  said.

"Cecy, it's just a toy you don't have to act so pitiful you love studying more I'll bring you to the bookstore later to buy you more books," her mother interrupted them. Each time Cecy would have something nice or a new dress, Barbara  would take it for herself. Eventually, she got used to it and began taking those that Barbara  hated.

Barbara 's old clothes were all left for her.

Days flew by and it was time for Cecy's wedding. As it grew closer her anxiety was at its peak. She had not yet met Zacky so she had little to zero expectations which were okay for her.

On her wedding day, Cecy felt numb as she walked down the aisle. Her heart was heavy with sorrow and regret. She knew deep down she couldn't back down not now not ever.

"Don't even think of backing out, don't try anything silly," her father whispered as they grew closer to the altar. It was as if he had read her mind.

"Run, are you willing to sacrifice your whole life? You have been sacrificing yourself for your sister it's time to do something for yourself. Run, run, run," her subconscious pressured her. But she didn't have the energy to do it.

She felt trapped and felt like a prisoner being led to her execution. She was dressed in a beautiful white gown, but she didn't feel like a bride.

As the ceremony began, Cecy felt like she was watching a scene from a nightmare. She wanted to scream and run away, but she couldn't. She felt helpless and alone. The ceremony went on smoothly but Cecy didn't pay attention to any of it soon it was time to say her vows.

She subconsciously turned to her parents and the crowd afraid of saying the 'I do'.

"Are you okay?" Zacky asked her. It was the first word she had heard him say.

She nodded her head before forcing out an I do and a smile it was the least she could do. After the wedding, she was so exhausted Zacky led her into his Rolls Royce and immediately drove off.

"Who are you? You seem quite different today," he said after a long silence.

"I'm done, I'm done how did she find out so soon, I need to make up an excuse," her mind repeated over and over again.

"Hahahaa..." she laughed awkwardly. She immediately facepalmed herself. Zacky stared at her awkwardly before repeating," You know what I'm capable right?"

"Driver, stop the car," he yelled slightly pissed.