The rain peddled down the window as the breeze gently invaded the room where Selena laid. The night was so calm that it could put even the troubled mind at rest. But it could not calm Selena who was struggling on the bed clearly having a nightmare : " Mother you're hurt." the little red hair said as her tears seemed to have no end. But her mother did not listen instead she run even faster as if scared of something or someone. Selena cried as she hugged her mother tightly as she run. Her mother run for sometime and hid in a cave as she put her hand on Selena's mouth in an attempt to silence her.
" Where are they." a man roared at his comrades in the rain. "Find them alive. Master Z needs her alone so you can kill the girl if she tries to cause trouble. Hurry!" he instructed as his comrades went in all directions of the forest in search for them. Hearing their footsteps distancing she removed her hands from her daughter's mouth and said with a loving tone as fear was visible in her eyes "I will protect you no matter what. No one can lay a hand on you as long as your mother is alive. Okay?" she said as she peeked her daughter's hair in an attempt to soothe her.
Selena suddenly woke up with a jolt as she tried to calm her racing heart. What was that? Was it a memory? but before she could even think further a loud bang was heard at the door. The banging continued to the extent ,that annoyed her and she opened to see the rude person. The scent of alcohol reeked on Henry as he staggered into Selena's room rambling on about some things. He pinned her to the wall as he sniffed her scent. " You.. can't...you can't get married. I won't allow it." he said as the strong scent of alcohol assaulted her nose. " What is wrong with you. It seems you are wasted. And what is with all the crap you are talking about." she replied with a confused look as she pushed him. But that only made him come at her with full force and held her in a tight grib. " You belong to me and no one else. Selena you are my sun and I won't allow anyone to take you away. You know what? How about we escape together and get married. We can have children with the same bewitching hair as you and I will love them no matter what." he stopped as he run his hands through her hair " Please let's run away. I don't care about the inheritance because you are my only wealth and I don't need anything else. We could go to a place where it is legal for cousins to get married so please, come with me." he begged as he licked her cheek.
With an arched brow and a mocking smile, Selena pushed him as she wiped her cheek with her hand. He tried to come at her again when he felt a stinging slap and a kick to his balls as he fell on the floor groaning in pain. "Do you realize we are cousins, you flithy excuse for a man. You came here to disrupt my beauty sleep.Who the hell do you think you are?" she asked as she kicked him in the stomach. " You sided with uncle on this marriage and when I'm actually going to enjoy the luxurious life ahead of me, you come up with this escape plan." she said as she kicked his face this time breaking his nose. "Arg! So it is all about the money. Don't worry I have enough money to last our next generation so please come with me." he pleaded again. Selena knelt down beside him and started to caress his hair.
She yanked his hair as she whispered " I don't need money to last a generation, I need it to last for all my generations and that is something you can not give me only the Duke can. And yes! I do not like used stuffs and you are already married. Learn how to appreciate your wife." she said as she strengthened her hold on his hair. She dragged him out of her room and threw him out and shut her door.
Henry was so broken hearted that he could not breath. It was indeed his fault maybe that's why she did not accept him. She said she liked rich men and single men so that's what he would do to have her. Suddenly a new determination settled in his eyes as he laughed in the rain. " You are mine and no one else's. Only mine."
For the next two days, Selena formed a new plan and avoided Henry after what he did that night. Henry pretended like nothing happened for those days. Atlas the day had finally arrived when Selena would be taken to the Duke's house.
Selena had packed her things and was waiting outside. Martha cried and hugged her so many times because that was the last day she would serve her mistress. The Baron did not bother to see Selena off when the carriage came with Lord Mickel to pick her instead, he looked at her from the window of his office. " Shall we sister-in-law. We must make haste. " he said as he gently held her hand and led her to the carriage. When the carriage began to move Selena to turned back to see Henry standing in the forest looking at her in a longing manner. She turned her head with a smile knowing that apart from Martha she would not miss even an ant in that house. As she looked ahead she smirked at the new opportunity she had been given.