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After discovering that her father has used her as collateral, arranging her marriage to Damien, a mafia devil without her knowledge, Aaliyah decides to give love a chance with Damien but then discovers that she is pregnant with the child of her ex-lover, Jason. When Jason decides to come back to make amends and claim Aaliyah and his child, how would the ruthless mafia devil react when he discovers that his wife is pregnant with another man's child?
Chapter 1 Broke
"I will not tolerate that attitude from you young lady. I am the head of this empire and so I know what is best for it."
"What else can you do to me, father, you've already done enough in ruining my life completely!"
"Aaliyah!! that's no way to talk to your father,"
"It's okay sweetheart, I understand how you feel. I should have told you sooner about the wedding, but your mother and I have already made a decision."
"Oh hell no you expect me to agree with whatever bullshit you two cooked up..."
"Aaliyah..." Her mother cut in.
"Don't Aaliyah me!! How could you two do this to me; giving me off to get married to a man I do not know or have ever heard of just to save your empire?"
"It is what is best for the empire, baby..."
"Fuck your empire, Dad. Jason is the one I love and that's who I'm going to get married to."
"You can cuss at me all you want, young lady but just know this, not you or anyone else can stop my empire from being the biggest in the city." He paused to catch his breath before continuing, "Now get up from that bed and go wash up, your husband will be here any minute and you better put on your best behavior."
Aaliyah looked up and tried to meet her Mother's gaze. But on her mother's face was a smile that didn't seem to reach her eyes. It was as if she wasn't happy about the situation either but she couldn't do anything about it.
"C'mon Aly, cheer up. You're getting married to one of the biggest names in the country."
"Did I just hear you say cheer up?... Mom, you of all people should understand me better. I mean you loved my father despite his wealth before you married him. Why would you want to give me out to someone I barely know?"
Her father interrupted, "And you should know that this empire is almost crumbling to bits and you're the only...."
"And I'm the only sacrificial lamb. I understand." Aaliyah said as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her fate had been decided for her and there was nothing she could do about it.
"So...so what happens when he gets here?" Aaliyah asked, her gaze still fixated on the both of them.
"He takes you to his home." Her father replied sternly.
"That's it?!"
"I go along with him to his home, like I'm some slave auctioned to the highest bidder," Aaliyah said as she choked on her tears.
"Oh Zayd, please don't let her go with them immediately. Let her stay for a week or two," Aaliyah's mother held her husband by the arm and pleaded.
He turned and looked into her eyes as his countenance softened. How could he possibly say no to his dearest wife? "Five days and that's it!" He announced as he took out his phone to dial a number and led her out of Aaliyah's room.
"What the fuck Dad?!" Aaliyah shouted after them but they had already exited the room.
A few weeks back, Zayd had decided to go into business with a big gun hoping that it would boost his company and ascend the ladder of the most successful companies in the country. Despite the warnings from his family to stay clear from his supposed newfound business partner, Zayd went ahead with his dealings, unfortunately, things went south and he decided to seek help somewhere else. The only person Zayd knew could get him out of the trouble he was in and rescue his company from crumbling was Don Alejandro who was the deadliest mafia boss in the city.
********
"Please sir, I'm begging you to help me get out of this mess. I promise I'd do anything, just please help me save my company," Zayd clamped his hands together as fell to his knees, prickles of sweat gathering on his forehead.
Don Alejandro tapped the butt of the cigarette in between his large fingers on the cigar tray. He took it back to his lips and took a huge drag. He stared into oblivion as he took another long drag, his legs were crossed and the chair under him seemed like it was giving its all in holding his weight.
His face had no emotion on it and a long scar that ran from a corner of his eye down to his cheeks added to his menacing appearance.
"I will help you... " Don Alejandro's voice was raspy as he spoke. "Only if you agree to my conditions."
"Thank you, sir, Thank you." Zayd's face lit up in a wide smile as he crawled closer to Don Alejandro to show appreciation, but the warning look that appeared suddenly on his face sent Zayd crawling back.
Zayd composed himself before he asked, "What are your conditions, sir?"
Don Alejandro took another drag before tossing the cigar in Zayd's direction. "That your daughter gets married to my son." He said blatantly.
Zayd gulped on hearing the condition. The air made Zayd grow taut and it was as if he was finding it unbearable to take in the same air that went into Don Alejandro's nostrils. "But... my daughter is engaged..."
"Then you can forget about me helping you."
"Oh... Oh.. Okay," Zayd stuttered, raising his hands above his head as if in surrender. "Fine, she'll marry your son, just help me."
Don Alejandro nodded and looked down on Zayd for the first time and noticed the plum-sized man he had been talking to all this while. He clicked his fingers and a man that stood at least seven feet came trotting down. Don Alejandro signaled for the man to bring his ears closer to him. Don Alejandro began to whisper something into the man's ears while pointing in Zayn's direction.
**********
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" Aaliyah yelled as she flung the pillow that was close to her to the farthest corner. She stood up and paced around the room. "How could Dad do this to me when he knows that Jason and I will be getting married in a few weeks?" She asked no one in particular.
"Oh my poor Jason, how is he going to take the news of me being with another man?" she clenched her chest as fresh tears cascaded down her reddened cheeks.
There's no way I'm going to let Dad take away my happiness from me." she had barely gotten all the words out when she started to feel funny. She clenched her stomach tightly and held her mouth from spilling the liquid that had clustered there. She ran for her bathroom door, kicked it open, and threw her stomach out into the sink. When she was done, she noticed that there were traces of blood in the vomit. Her heart skipped as she quickly turned the tap on and flushed the vomit down the drain.
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