"That bitch! How dare she talk to Kai!" A shrill voice catches Astra's attention as she walks past an alley on her way home.
"Right? Everyone knows you're going to marry him!" Another voice says.
Astra calmly turns her head to look at the 3 girls who are talking.
"Look! She's here." The last girl says as she notices Astra watching them.
"What are you looking at?" The first girl asks as she slowly approaches Astra.
"Just a few barking dogs." Astra replys indifferently.
"You!" The girl screams angrily.
"What about me?" Astra asks provocatively.
"Just you wait!" The girl says as she stomps away followed by her two lakey's.
Astra just rolls her eyes before turning to continue walking. No matter how many times Tina had threatened her nothing had ever happened. Tina couldn't afford to offend the Winters family. She was all talk and everyone knew it.
Only Tina and her friends knew the reason they never did anything to Astra. They had tried once and that was how they found out she was part of the Winters family from the capital.
Astra never bragged about coming from one of the capitals top families and Tina didn't want anyone to find out. If people knew then Astra would become the center of attention again. She had only just regained her popularity and she was afraid of losing it.
As she's walking Astra suddenly feels a hand on her arm and just when she's about to attack instinctively she hears a familiar voice.
"Astra." The young man says making her stop her movements.
"You said you needed space." She whispers not daring to look in his direction.
"I'm sorry." He says impatiently.
"Don't lie to me" Astra says pulling her arm away.
"You can't run from me. You're mine." He says darkly.
"If you think you've won now, you don't know what's coming around for you." Astra says just loud enough for the man to hear her before disappearing around the corner.
As she approaches the huge manor she sees her mother angrily walk out the door to meet her.
"Unfilial girl!" Astra's mother yells as she lands a loud slap on the teenage girls face.
"I don't want to marry someone I've never even met." Astra says after a moment. She had to suppress the burning rage in her heart when she saw her mother's face.
She would have long left this family if it weren't for her brother. She didn't want him to suffer the way she had too. She needed to protect him and the best way to do that was to do what her mother wanted.
"They're on the way so hurry and go change." Her mother said. It was as if the woman hadn't even heard her.
Astra had to keep telling herself that she was doing it for her brother so she didn't kill the woman.
Gritting her teeth Astra slowly starts walking towards the manor.
"Oh and Astra!" The woman says making Astra turn to look back at her. "You better keep your pretty mouth shut." She says sarcastically.
Astra doesn't reply as she turns to continue walking towards the house.
When she reaches her room she considers killing her parents and escaping with her brother but she knows she couldn't really do it no matter how tempting.
She slowly changes out of her school uniform into a short black off the shoulder dress. She knew it would annoy her mother so she decided to wear it today.
She doesn't wear any makeup as she's too lazy.
She walks lazily down the stairs with her phone in hand. She was hoping to get the man and his family to cancel the engagement.
"Astra come meet the Colton's!" Her mother says when she notices Astra walking downstairs.
The girl puts her phone down in annoyance as she walks over to sit on the sofa with her mother.
She doesn't even give the guests a glance as she glares at her mother in anger.
"You're beautiful!" The old woman sitting across from her says kindly.
Astra just nods politely towards the woman as she finally looks up at the people in the room.
The group consists of the old woman, an old man, and a handsome man in his late twenties.
"Astra! You're supposed to thank someone when they give you a compliment." Her mother says trying to hide her anger.
"I wasn't aware you're earlier demand had expired." Astra says lazily as she looks at her mother in annoyance.
"Whatever do you mean?" Her mother asks not realizing what Astra means.
"I believe you're exact words were, 'You better keep your pretty mouth shut.' Does it not apply to this situation?" Astra asks sarcastically.
Her mother's face flushes red and she can't seem to get a word out.
"Thanks I take after my father." She says politely to the woman before standing to leave.
"Interesting." The young man mutters as he watches the girl walk out of the house. "Something came up." He says loud enough for everyone to hear as he stands to follow the girl.