Chapter 3

Catherine’s pov

     Life has never been on my side, ever since I could remember. That was the reason why it wasn’t a shock to me that My mother and elder brother ended up getting found, the very next day.

As soon as dad came to announce the supposedly good news to my younger brother and I, we had both tensed up and as soon as we were alone once again, I had instantly busted into tears.

“No, no, it can’t be. Why is life always against me?” I whispered in a ragged voice as I sobbed into my pillow. Zander was perched on the edge of my bed, and he could do nothing but try to offer me comfort.

Which was of no use, because nothing could make me feel better at this point.

“Now that the stupid Mafia Don has found them, I’m going to be married off like the sacrificial lamb that I am.” I pointed out as I pushed myself up into a sitting position, with my legs folded beneath me.

“Stop it, you’re not a sacrificial lamb.” Zander argued feebly.

“I am. That’s what dad said. You and Ethan are the only important assets he has in his children.” I said harshly, roughing scratching my cheeks with my hands.

“Well, I don’t want to be a stupid asset.” Zander pointed out and I breathed out a bitter laugh. 

“At least that’s way better than you being nothing but a sacrificial lamb.” I said around a bitter laugh.

Zander reached out and took my hand in his. “I’m so sorry, I swear. I really am.”

I sniffed as I closed my hand around his. “It’s okay, you don’t need to apologize. None of these is your fault, remember?”

“I know, but still. Regardless.” He pointed out and I nodded weakly, not knowing what else to say.

A few moments passed with none of us saying a thing. I was silently thinking of how ruined my entire life already was, when Zander’s voice pulled me back to reality.

“How about you run away?”

I blinked at him for a few moments before hitting him admonishedly.

“Zander!”

“What? Elsa did it, and she managed to pull it off successfully.” He argued instantly.

I pursed my lips, suddenly feeling tongue tied.

Elsa was my dad’s second child, and my dad’s first daughter. She was born three years before me and had been the one in the limelight since I could remember.

Her existence alone removed any attention from me. She got everything. The high expectations, the attention, the praise… she got everything, and I never complained, because I liked it that way.

Elsa was someone I’ve always looked up to since I was born. She was someone I’ve always aspired to be. She was literally the most perfect human ever to me.

When she had clocked nineteen and dad had told her that he’d be marrying her off to a man whom he had betrothed her to even before she had been born, she hadn’t argued.

I had expected her to disagree and put up a fight at least, but she had done none of that and had instantly agreed, making dad unbelievably happy.

The night before her wedding, was when she ran away. 

I had been with her till the very last moment. I could remember how I had hugged her tightly with tears running down her cheeks on the night she had planned to flee.

I begged her to take me with her, but she had said it was too dangerous and that it would better if I remain at home for now. She had also asked me who was going to be there for my Zander if she had taken me along with her, and that had instantly made me swallow my sobs.

She had promised to come back for me when she hugged me one last time, and I had believed her.

I held unto that promise until days turned into months and then years without any trace of her.

I wasn’t sure of her whereabouts, or if she was even alive.

“That was then, dad’s security around the house wasn’t as tight as it currently is,” I finally mumbled in response, lifting my hand to hastily brush a trail of tears off.

“I still thing you should give it a shot.” Zander offered, still persistent.

“And leave here all by yourself?!” I cried out.

“You’d be leaving here one way or the other. My heart would be at ease if you’re a free bird compared to you being married off to a monster.” He responded in a low, ragged voice.

I reached out and grabbed his hands, as I blinked back tears. I wasn’t sure of when Zander had began to drastically nature emotionally as well, but it was obvious that he doesn’t think like a little kid any longer.

“I don’t want to be away from you.” I whispered, sniffing back tears.

“I dont want that either, but I don’t think we have that much of a choice now.” 

I reached forward and pulled him into a hug, sinking into his arms and breathing in his familiar scent in. 

The thought of being unable to feel him in my arms after I get married off, left a really bitter taste behind.

“Okay. You know what? Let’s do this.”

~~~~

    “How dare you attempt to run away? You want to end up bringing immense shame on your family like your sister did?!” Those furious words had rained down on me with loud slaps that left my ears ringing.

It wasn’t so much of a shock that I ended up getting caught by dad’s guards, just when I had been able to scale the stupidly tall fence.

“Do you know what the Mafia Don would do if you don’t get his prize as agreed?” Dad demanded as he hit me again.

“I don’t care! I don’t care what he does.” I cried out, already anticipating the feeling of his belt colliding with my skin.

“You stupid ungrateful child, you’re just like your useless sister.”

I was given a beating of my life, for attempting to run away days before my wedding, and Zander who felt guilty for being the one who had suggested I run away, had been unable to stop apologizing.

Mum had been extremely appalled that I hadn’t eagerly agreed to be a sacrificial lamb for her life and my elder brother’s, and she hadn’t hesitated to make that known to me.

“You’re such a selfish child, Catherine.” Mum had said when she came to my bedroom that night.

“Please leave.” I whispered with so much venom in my voice.

I sobbed myself to sleep that night, after I had made sure my door was thoroughly locked, to prevent my elder brother from paying me an unwanted visit.

Although, that had never really stopped him if he really wanted to pay me a visit.

~~~~

   The wedding day drew nearer and it was safe to say I was now a complete shadow of my former self.

I had gotten thoroughly waxed. Gotten measured for a wedding dress, and for the maids who’d be accompanying my mother to shop for new accessories which I’d be taking to my husband's house.

I wasn’t sure of how I wasn’t going to face the Mafia Don, or how I was even going to be around him, without fainting from fright.

I was getting married tomorrow, to a man I haven’t met before – but have heard so much about, that my mind cannot even begin to fully process.