I will never forget the day when my parents showed up first thing in the morning with my things. I was going down to the first floor at the time, wide-eyed watching them throw my things into the hall. I ran out of tongue in my mouth and just watched them, not believing that this was really happening.
The only sentence running through my head at the time was: "are these really the same people who raised me for nineteen years?".
- Mom ... Dad," I finally whispered when they saw me. Their faces were devoid of any emotion.
- You are not our daughter. You were never her. - I heard, and all the happy memories stood before my eyes.
With tears in my eyes, I watched them leave, slamming the door to say goodbye. I ran after them, but they didn't even turn around to look at me one last time.
That day I learned that everything was a lie, and that despite the fact that they had raised me all my life, they were complete strangers to me, who only protected me for the sake of millions.
In their hearts there was not even a particle of love towards me.
Everything was a game. From the beginning to the very end.
- My life also sucks. You are not the only suffering person in this world. - I shift my gaze from my plate to Luke as he sits down next to me in the dining room. - You could say we're almost family now, sitting in the same shit.
The food gets stuck in my throat.
- I feel lied to at every turn.... by everyone," I say in a whisper, pecking at vegetables with cutlery. - Why did you tell me that I was sold by my parents, while they are not related to me and took care of me for money?
- My father was not a bum who sold me for a bottle of vodka. - I raise my eyebrows, surprised that a man who has a split ego is just opening up to me. - Although I was forced to serve your future husband anyway.
My stomach goes up to my throat every time I hear that I am soon to be married to a thug.
- I'm sick of eating," I mutter, throwing my fork against my plate.
- My father served Alexander all his life, until his death he was devoted to him. He was his right hand. - A tinge of grimace runs across his face. - He is trying to do the same with me. He wants me to take his place.
- So how is it that you suddenly become a cruel man and do black work for him? Is this a play on your part?
Luke closes his eyelids. It seems to me that his breathing becomes heavier.
- I have no control over this. He is the one who has control over me, and the same thing will happen to you after the wedding if you don't obey him.
I won't let that happen in my life. He can kiss my ass.
- I don't know which is worse.... - My face becomes sad as I remind myself of my family again. - The fact that after eighteen years I found out that I was raised by strangers for money, or the fact that I am soon to be married to a mafioso more than twenty years my senior.
- I didn't think Alexander would reveal the truth to you so quickly....
- He admitted that I was not sold for my father's debts. That was a lie. - I twist the corners of my mouth, forcing myself to smile. - It feels strange to think that I was raised by strangers I thought were my parents. How many secrets are behind my background? Why should I be the one to become the wife of this cruel man?
Luke shrugs his shoulders. He himself apparently does not know the truth about my origins.
- We are trapped in a cage.
- So there is no way to escape from this man?
The boy puts his finger to his lips, silencing me as he hears footsteps coming from the kitchen.
A housekeeper emerges from the next room. As she passes, she glances at us out of the corner of her eye, then leaves the dining room.
- The walls have ears. You have to listen to every step if you want to talk freely.
- So the employees report everything to him?
The brunet twists his lips in a smile.
- Everyone is trying to get into his employer's ass.
Through the open window I hear a car pulling into the yard.
- He's back. - I put a grape in my mouth and watch Luke get up from the table and leave the dining room without a word.
I don't give a damn. The housekeeper is going to tell this moron that I ate in the company of his man anyway, so he might as well see us together.
I put more grapes in my mouth, stuffing my cheeks with them. I sidle up to Alexander as he stands in the doorway and looks in.
- We need to talk. Once you've swallowed everything, join me. I'll be waiting for you in the living room.
Since he said so I will undoubtedly choke, so I spit everything out on the table for my own safety.
What does this perverted old bastard want to talk to me about now? Is he going to let me in on another secret?
*
With wide-open eyes, I look at the mannequin dressed in a beautiful wedding dress that stands in the middle of the salon, arousing a monstrous fear in me.
- What is the meaning of this? - I ask in a stifled voice, shifting my gaze to the forty-year-old man.
- I have completed the final formalities that allow us to have a wedding ceremony tomorrow.
What do you mean, where is my approval? Where is my signature?
- Is this a joke?
- Your "fake" parents signed the consent, since you are still a minor.
All the food retreats down my throat. I'm about to throw up.
- I feel like a fucking slave. I don't have an opinion of my own.
- You are not a slave... - His voice sounds sharper. - You are simply subservient to me.
I snort under my breath.
- It doesn't change much.
Alexander spreads himself more comfortably on the couch and folds his arms over his chest, not stopping to hide his satisfaction as he glances at the dress.
- Every girl is waiting for this.... tomorrow you will be the happiest woman on earth. - His arrogant expression drives me crazy.
He is probably having a great time.
- I am shaking with excitement for tomorrow. All my life I've dreamed of marrying a stranger, twenty years my senior, who is a hoodlum.
His lip trembles, he tries to smile but I can see that I have upset him with these words.
- Don't ever call me a hoodlum again," he says to me in a warning voice. - I just take back what belongs to me.
- Unlawful - I interject, hating this guy with all my heart. I am terrified by the thought that tomorrow I am to stand in front of the wedding cake with him, forced to do so by force.
- I wonder if you will still have such a cut tongue after tomorrow....
I watch him as he gets up from the couch, piercing me with his eyes. He heads up the stairs to the second floor, and I glance once again at the beautiful dress I would gladly wear if I were to marry the man I love.
I feel tears coming to my eyes. I'm so stressed that I don't have the strength to get up from the couch. With sad eyes I look at Luke, who has been standing off to the side for some time, his arm leaning against the wall. He looks at me with compassion in his eyes.
- Help me," I say to him in a whisper.
- I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do," he replies painfully, then walks away.
I have less than twenty-four hours to find a way and avoid this wedding. The worst part, however, is that I can't think of anything. I have no idea at all.
*
Where is my phone? Where could Alexander have hidden it?
The first place that comes to my mind is his room. Unfortunately, I saw that he locks it, so I have no chance to get inside.
It's evening. The clock reads twenty-one o'clock, and I'm just sitting on the floor, about to cry.
If I could at least make one more phone call to Henry.... I know he's terribly worried about me, since I've gone missing without a trace. Even though he was drunk, I'm sure he remembers our last conversation very well, before Alexander snatched the phone from my hand.
Should I put my pride in my pocket and ask Luke for help again? He is my only chance. He has professed that he will protect me, so shouldn't I take advantage of that as much as I can?
With a combative attitude, I pick myself up from the floor and want to leave the room, but someone warns me and comes inside without even knocking beforehand.
Luke looks around to see if anyone sees him, then closes the door behind him.
He must have sensed that I have an issue with him.
- How good of you to be here.... say, will you be so kind as to lend me your phone for a moment? - I extend my hand to him, but when his gaze finally finds my face, my face pales.
His eyes sparkle with madness. He is not himself.
He grabs my wrist and smiles a sultry smile. He's brutal and doesn't resemble at all the compassionate boy I talked to in the dining room a dozen hours earlier.
- What's wrong with you? - I ask, and then he pushes me toward the wall and rests his hand right next to my head. - Have you fallen on your head again? Have you adopted a second personality? - He tries to joke, but my voice trembles when I see how dangerous his gaze is.
With his other hand, he grabs my chin, not letting me look away.
- I can't stand the fact that tomorrow you are to become my boss's wife. It tears me up from the inside when I think that I could have you first.
Okay, now I'm absolutely terrified. Can stories about demons possessing people actually be true? This guy is a perfect example of how an affectionate boyfriend turns into a beast.
- Do you realize that your boss is at home? If he sees you in my room, you'll be dead.
But he is not impressed. He just sultryly laughs in my face. He lets me go, then walks over to the door and locks it.
- Hey, aren't you exaggerating at this point? - My heart is beating like crazy with fear as he grabs my hand again and throws me on the bed like a rag doll. He squats on top of me, making it impossible for me to move at all. I want to scream, but he covers my mouth with his hand. He leans over me, frantically searching my face with his eyes.
- Let's just finish what we started on the island. - I open my eyes wide, trying to jerk away from him, but he is stronger than me. - I feel like protecting you, Solar. You must be mine alone, and I will not allow this wedding to happen.
And I'm supposed to trust him? Am I supposed to sleep with him to prevent the wedding? I will never believe his words in my life, not while he is in this state!
Someone help me... Someone get me out of the house where I am surrounded by dangerous lunatics.