Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across Olivia's luxurious bedroom, where she lay lifeless on her plush bed, an image of vulnerability. After a minute, she stirred, struggling to sit up, and buried her head in her hands, groaning in agony as a migraine surged through her skull.
"My head. What the heaven happened?!" she muttered, her voice strained and thick with confusion. Just then, a stern voice cut through her haze—her father, Mr. Stone. Olivia turned sharply to see him and her mother, Mrs. Stone, standing at the doorway, their expressions a mix of anger and concern.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Mr. Stone demanded, his voice sharp and unyielding. Taken aback, Olivia could only stare at them in stunned silence.
"Olivia! What happened? This is not like you," Mrs. Stone chimed in, her tone softer but still filled with concern.
"I don't actually care!" Mr. Stone snapped, frustration palpable in his voice. He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in. "You will not soil this family's name on my watch! We have important things to discuss. Meet me downstairs in an hour!"
With that, he stormed out of the room, leaving Mrs. Stone hovering near Olivia, who now sat on the edge of her bed, anxiety etched on her face.
"What happened?" Mrs. Stone asked, her voice calm but firm.
"Mom, I am sorry; I promise it won't happen again," Olivia replied, her voice trembling slightly.
Sternly "It better not, because we have more important things to worry about right now," Mrs. Stone said, her worry flooding Olivia's eyes.
"What's going on?" Olivia asked, her dread mounting.
"You will find out when you come downstairs. I will leave you now to freshen up, alright?" Mrs. Stone stood, but Olivia's agitation rose.
"Mom! What the heaven is going on? Dad said something strange, and now you are repeating his words." She paused, her voice softening. "Please tell me what's going on?"
"Freshen up and come downstairs, Olivia! You'll find out," Mrs. Stone replied tersely before walking away, leaving Olivia with a growing sense of dread.
With a sigh, Olivia rose and headed to her bathroom.
Entering her opulent bathroom, painted in soft hues of white and grey, Olivia was greeted by the inviting sight of a luxurious round bathtub surrounded by tasteful decor. Quickly, she tied a short pink towel around herself, exposing her soft, feminine curves.
Turning on the shower, she let the warm water cascade over her, enveloping her in its soothing embrace as she stood lost in thought. Memories flooded her mind—her first meeting with Richard, how kind he was, their first kiss, their first date, their first intimate moment together. Overwhelmed by the weight of these memories, tears began to flow. She turned her back to the wall and sank down until she was squatting, the water mingling with her tears.
After a while, she shut off the shower, wrapped herself in the towel, and wiped her eyes as she approached the mirror. Taking a tongue scraper, she meticulously cleaned her tongue before reaching for mouthwash, gurgling and rinsing, trying to cleanse not just her mouth but her soul.
Emerging from the bathroom, Olivia walked to her vanity table. She took a cotton pad, poured rose water on it, and gently cleansed her face.
Looking at herself in the mirror, "I know you are sad, but you won't allow this to ruin your life. You are only going to get better. You are beautiful, you are strong, you are rich, you deserve good things," she whispered to herself, breathing in and out to steady her racing heart.
"So, let's get ready!" A smile broke through her sadness as she applied face lotion and then body lotion, relishing the comforting textures against her skin.
Olivia opened her closet and selected a stunning red short dress that hugged her curves perfectly, accentuating her tiny waist and exposing her shapely thighs. Gathering her hair into a rough bun, she applied mascara and a pink lip gloss that enhanced her pouty, plumb lips.
Finally, she slipped on a chic white jacket over her dress, donned combat boots, and spritzed herself with three different scents of perfumes—rose, vanilla, and strawberry—transforming herself into a vision of strength and beauty.
As Olivia descended the grand staircase in the Stone's Mansion, the opulence of her surroundings infused her with a newfound confidence. The intricately designed railings framed her descent to the dining area, where her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stone, sat at the elegant breakfast table, their expressions tense and unyielding.
"Hi, Dad, hi mom," Olivia greeted as she approached, the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries wafting through the air. "Can we talk about what we want to discuss later? I need to go see Carly and Jensen."
Mrs. Stone met her daughter's gaze with a stern look that brooked no dissent. "You are not going to school today, Olivia," she stated firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument.
"What the heaven! Why? It's important, Dad," Olivia protested, frustration bubbling to the surface.
"You think I care? We have bigger fish to fry," Mr. Stone replied, his tone clipped and authoritative.
"Fine! What's it about then?" Olivia sighed, crossing her arms defensively.
Mr. Stone studied her intently, his gaze sweeping from her head to her feet, as if assessing her worth. "You look good. We are having the Blackwell over today and after lunch, you are going to be going on a date with Tristian Blackwell," he informed her, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.
"And who the hell is that?" Olivia shot back, her irritation flaring.
"Language! Olivia," Mrs. Stone interjected, her voice sharp and disapproving.
"He is going to be your husband," Mr. Stone stated matter-of-factly, and his words struck Olivia like a blow.
"Husband?" The word echoed in her mind, and she burst into laughter—a nervous, disbelieving sound that lasted a solid ten seconds. Abruptly, she stopped, her expression shifting to one of disbelief.
"Dad, please stop with the jokes. I'm in no mood for this right now," she insisted, her voice rising with panic.
"I am not joking, Olivia! You are getting married!" he declared, his voice loud and stern.
"Married! No way!" Olivia's heart raced as she looked to her mother, her eyes pleading for reassurance. "Mom, what's he talking about? I can't be getting married now! I'm 19!"
Mrs. Stone remained silent, her expression a mix of concern and resolve, leaving Olivia feeling more isolated than ever.
"You want me to marry some old gizzard at my age?" she screamed, frustration spilling over. "Why! I demand an answer!"
"Calm down!" Mr. Stone snapped, his voice cutting through the chaos of Olivia's thoughts. But despite his command, she felt the ground beneath her shifting dramatically, leaving her grappling with a reality she never wanted.
The tension in the air was palpable as Olivia confronted her parents with incredulity. "Calm down?" she echoed, laughter that bordered on hysteria escaping her lips. "You're selling me off to some man, and you're telling me to 'calm down'?"
Mrs. Stone sighed, her expression a mix of concern and resignation. "It goes deeper than that, Olivia."
"Then explain it to me like I'm a five year child so I can understand," Olivia shot back, her voice laced with frustration.
Mr. Stone took a deep breath, his face tightening as he prepared to lay bare the harsh truth. "Our company's stock is plummeting. It has dropped by 45 percent, and we entered a deal with the Blackwells. Asher Blackwell said the only way to secure the deal is if we join as one. He believes in keeping wealth in the family, so he suggested we marry off our children."
Olivia's heart sank. "And you agreed with him? Dad! I won't be marrying a man I don't know from anywhere just because you want to secure your wealth. I don't care!"
Mr. Stone let out a bitter laugh. "You think you have a choice?" His tone turned stern, the authority of a father ringing clear. "Everyone in this family has made sacrifices to keep wealth in this family. Sacrifices for the luxury you are enjoying now. It is already done! The Blackwells will be here in thirty minutes, so you better get prepared."
"I am not getting married to anyone I don't want!" Olivia stood up, anger bubbling over as she stormed out of the dinning area, her heart racing with a mix of rage and despair. Her parents exchanged worried glances, and Mrs. Stone quickly rose to follow her.