Chapter # 3

"It's ‘your’ marriage, Rebecca. " He said derisively.

I narrowed my eyes in perplexity, registering his words for a few seconds and asked, "What are you talking about?" He took a step back and turned.

"You see Rebecca, Now that you have become nothing but a disdain, I no longer need you." He said.

"I knew that long ago. Come to the point." I scoffed.

"They will come to ask for Marianne's hand in marriage but the one who will marry their son would be you or else I doubt anyone would want to marry a burden like you." My eyes widened in disbelief when I heard those ridiculous words.

‘What a way to throw me out.’

“So now you have decided to be degenerated?” I scoffed. Honestly, I don’t give a damn about myself, I don’t care.

"Don't fall that low." Marianne spoke faintly.

“And who the fuck asks for hand in marriage by using his parents in twentieth century?” I argued, frowning deeply. Pissed at the guy who cannot handle his marriage himself.

“Everyone has their own tradition, it’s theirs. They are a people of culture.” He defended him but I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah right. And you will smear it under your feet by changing the bride. Wow, I can only imagine the worthwhile drama.” I chuckled dryly, putting my hand on my waist.

Why is it not hurting me? Why am I not feeling anything? Am I so dead?

“Ah, I feel sorry for the man.” I let out a hollow smile, holding my forehead but Father sighed deeply.

“He is the only man who can handle you. Someone as lifeless as you need someone with life.” He replied coldly, looking away, facing his back to me.

“Only he can help you.” He breathed out but I slammed my hand down.

“I don’t need an outsider’s side.”

“Or what? Therapy is useless, Me and Marianne can’t do anything. No one can help you need an experience to end this stubbornness because you made yourself like this!” He yelled, slamming his hand on the table.

My lips parted to argue but he was right. I let this happen to me.

“None of us are going to marry him. I don’t need anyone to be my redemption.” I scowled, narrowing my eyes in ire.

"Fine then. I'll make Marianne marry him and make her quit her career. She will be deprived of her dreams because of you.” He declared, earning a gasp from us.

“Is your age eating your mind as well? How badly is your mind functioning?” I asked in disbelief.

"Please don't... " Marianne whispered while holding on my shoulder. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she was about to fall.

"I will not let anyone destroy the life Marianne spent years to build." I said sternly.

"Then do as I say. You will marry Ryan Knight." Father announced.

"For her, I will do it." I said firmly.

"Don't Rebecca.. Please don't ruin your life for me.. " I turned to Marianne and smiled at her.

"Marianne, my life is already in ruins but you have a long and successful life ahead of you. Please live your life, I don't want you to end up like me." I said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Tears rolled down her cheeks as I continued to smile,

"Rebecca, none of us have to do it. We will run away. We will go back to California, I can bear your expenses. We will be together.” She said desperately, holding my hands.

“We will live our lives together and never return here. You also have your life to live. You have dreams, you can do it. Please don't sacrifice yourself for me." She pleaded.

I wiped her tears and turned to Papa and spoke with venom laced in my voice.

"You see that man standing there. He will never let you live your life. He will make a show of the scars you are hiding behind these layers of makeup." I said making her recall the torture of her abusive ex-boyfriend.

“And a tainted beauty can never become a model, your dream of working with Mr Black will be ruined.” I whispered, curling my lips upwards.

"Watch your mouth." Papa snarled.

"Shut. The. Hell. Up. " I said threateningly. My raised voice is enough to shut everyone in the room.

"I have lost my will to live long ago. Believe me, I am not feeling anything, Not even compassion for that man." I said, nibbling my bottom lip, resenting myself for being like this.

"Please.. Don't.." She cried, she was the only sensible person here. Me and Papa were only having a glaring competition.

"Rebecca is right. Just to throw her away, I will do anything including what she just said." He said with his devoid tone.

"You are the worst form of a father! Why can't you throw her out of the house rather than binding her life with a stranger!? Why are you doing this to her?!" Marianne shouted, sobbing, lowering her head, tears streaming down her face.

She doesn’t deserve us. She is too pure to be stained with fights and toxicity.

"Only if I could. But, that will affect my name. That's why I need to make her leave using this way." He said with a shrug.

“Leave him, Marianne.” I said, narrowing my eyes and I hit where it hurts the most.

"That man has proven that money has blinded him. He has proven that he is the worst form of a father. I hope no child gets a father like you." I said and walked out and went to my room with Marianne following me from behind.

Assaulting his sensitive nerves but he deserved it, if he gets a heart attack from my words then so be it.

"Please don't do this, Rebecca. It will drown me in guilt. " I stopped in my tracks and turned to her.

"Then don't let it. Look, You have to live your life. You have a long path ahead of you. Don’t waste it, don’t let people around you manipulate you, Marianne." I said tenderly, hoping to make her understand.

"And what about you.. Your life..?" She asked.

A hollow smile crept upon my lips as I replied, "It ended the day Jane died." and left.

***

"Oh, both of your daughters are beautiful." Said Sarah, Mrs Knight.

“We deeply apologize if we caused any inconvenience by the proposal. We actually have an Indian heritage and there, parents talk first, let it be arranged or love marriage and I firmly believe that marriage not only binds two people but two families as well.” Mr Knight said, that explains it.

Well, I never thought about it in this sense. In fact, I never thought about it.

“Ah, what a beautiful thought.” Father agreed, faking a laugh. Arse, I bet he disagrees but acting if he is going along.

“Well, most couples do meet the parents of their partner, there’s nothing new or innovative about it. But, that being said, there are a ‘couple’, era of arranged marriages is rare nowadays. Don’t you think so?” I asked, almost ridiculing them because the looks I gained were enough.

“I don’t think Indian heritage has anything to do with this. That is another matter if you want the marriage to be traditional. That would be understandable if you mention it then.” I smirked emptily, leaning back and they were only staring at me with a gaped mouth.

“Please don’t mind Rebecca, she is only curious to know.” Marianne spoke up with a nervous chuckle.

“She doesn’t know, it was hard for her to sink all this.” Father said as well and they sighed in relief.

“I don’t want to say this but I agree with Rebecca.” My groom himself said, looking up at me with a sweet smile.

“It’s normal, Father but it would be another matter if we want a traditional marriage, don’t you think?” His voice was so tender but surely an assertive presence.

He was handsome to the core yet I didn’t feel anything. His presence was warm, possessing everything a girl desires but I felt a void in my chest- not even pity.

“Now you said it… Yeah, you are right.” Mr Knight nodded and they all laughed in the end.

We continued having dinner with our special guests, whose reactions I am looking forward to seeing when they find out that their bride is the younger daughter, not the elder one.

Ah, the sight.

An empty smile formed on my lips when I raised my gaze and looked at Ryan, who was looking at Marianne at the corner of his eyes with so much love and affection.

But no matter how much he loves her, Marianne doesn't want to get married. Marianne passed Ryan a smile and tugged a strand of her hair behind her ears.

Only we sisters can feel the awkwardness of the situation.

"So, How did you guys meet, Mr Knight?" I asked Ryan. He turned to look at me with his silver eyes. He passed me a smile and replied,

"Three years ago when she became our model for the launch of our debut in the cosmetic field."

"Ah, Ruby Cosmetics." I said and he nodded.

"By the way, I have heard a lot about you from Marianne. She told me you are a genius. I was looking forward to meeting you." He complimented me.

"Was. " I corrected him which made him raise an eyebrow at me.

"I left all those behind. I am just a simple woman now." I said taking a bite of my food.

"She told me that too. Since I have heard a lot about you, I wanted to meet you and you showed that you truly are an intriguing person. I think we will get along." He said with a chuckle and I looked at Marianne from the corner of my eyes.

I almost choked on my food when he mentioned we will get along. Oh dear, we will never. Now I am feeling bad.

She is just eating her food in silence.

"Well, now you did. But, don't you think you should talk to the person you came for? Our Marianne is surely silent that you are not talking to her." I said in my usual cold voice.

Ah Ryan Knight, Your heart is going to break terribly in the end.

"Yeah, You are right. I humbly apologize." He laughed and turned his head to Marianne as I excused myself and left.

....What fate has in store for me is truly fascinating...