Ava stood in front of her dad, tears streaming down her cheeks as she yelled at him.

"Dad you can't do this, selling me off to a man I haven't even met in my life, I'm not some kind of property to be traded, I have feelings of my own" Ava said as she couldn't hold herself from crying.

Henry stood there, his face impassive, as he listened to her outburst. With a look in his eyes, he wasn't budging.

"Can you stop being selfish for once? You are of no use to me, I asked the doctor to save your life thinking you were a boy, If only I had known I would have let you follow your useless mother to the grave" Henry said as he spat on her face in disgust.

"I don't care! I won't do it, and I won't marry someone I don't love just because it is convenient for you", she screamed, her voice breaking.

"Dad please ... .i don't know him, I can't do it," Ava said as she went on her knees begging Henry to have mercy.

"It's not your choice anymore, the date will be communicated to you, get prepared" Henry left and shut the door in her presence.

Ava was beyond reasoning. She had always been a respectful daughter, but she was drawing the line this time. She couldn't sacrifice for her father's happiness, someone who didn't even care for her since she was born.

"I won't do it, I won't be part of your arranged marriage," she yelled sobbing.

"Why me? Why did I have to be born into this heartless family? I'm just twenty-one for Christ's sake and I don't even love him" she said, soaked in tears.

A knock was heard on the door. It was Scott, her stepbrother.

" I heard you and Dad talking rather arguing, what's the matter" Scott asked.

" He sold me off Scott to a mafia boss over some stupid agreement, I hate him", Ava said.

"I was aware of the bet but didn't know he would actually do this, I'm so sorry, you know I won't hurt you, you're my sister ", Scott said.

"Step sister" she answered so rudely at this point.

"I heard he is a rude, arrogant, and selfish man, Is that true?" She faced Scott.

"Well that's what we heard, but you know, you can't quite judge a book by its cover till you get to read it" Scott replied trying to make her feel better not knowing he was making the matter worse.

"Bullshit! I wish I had never been born into this family" she said, giving Scott signals that he wasn't needed again here and should head out.

Scott understood the message and left her, he knew she needed space as it wasn't easy going through this situation.

"THE WEDDING IS IN TWO DAYS", were the words her dad screamed out so she could hear.

"He is joking, right? Two days? Wait, who does this man think he is? Not only is he selling me off but he didn't even give me time to get prepared" Ava was in great shock as she didn't expect it to be this soon.

Night came fast as Ava couldn't resist crying. She didn't want to do it but knew she had no other option.

The day was fast approaching and the only solution she knew was to run away, but running away wasn't easy for someone who wasn't familiar with places.

"Why is my life so boring?" She questioned herself.

"If I had friends then probably this running away wouldn't have been so difficult for me, Mom I wish you were here with me, I know you would have protected me from him" " she said going to bed.

Knock knock

Ava's door was opened by her father who brought in her wedding dress already for her.

"It's time to shine my beautiful daughter, today you will make us all proud," Henry said with a smile around his face.

"Dad, please I really can't do this", she said.

The priest cleared his throat, drawing her attention back to the present.

"Do you, Ava, take this man to be your lovely wedded husband?" He asked, but Ava's mind was blank.

She felt her father's harm on her arm, a silent pinch for her to say yes. She looked over to Scott, her step-brother, who gave her a small, sad smile as she remembered his words, "We make sacrifices for the people we love even though some aren't worth it."

With a deep breath, Ava turned her face to Mason Edward. He looked at her expectantly, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. And at this moment, she knew that this was her new life, no going back, no escape.

She took a deep breath and said' "Yes," her voice barely above a whisper. A sigh of relief swept through the crowd, and her husband grabbed her, pulling her in for a close kiss.

Ava closed her eyes, trying to ignore the emptiness that still lingered in her heart. This was her new life, her new reality. And she would have a way to make it work, to find happiness in a life she never wanted or imagined.

She settled into the car with Mason on their way to the mansion. The car was filled with awkward silence as he lit up a cigarette.

Ava only fidgeted nervously in her seat.

Mason suddenly turned to her, offering her a pack of cigarettes. "Do you smoke?" he asked, his voice sharp

Ava shook her head so quickly. "No, I don't smoke," she stammered.

His expression hardened, and he took the pack away, saying. "Fine, I don't like women who smoke anyway."

Ava looked at him in disgust, her anger started to boil."Why did you offer me one, then ?" She asked, her voice tight.

Mason took a drag of his cigarette, not looking at her as he blew the smoke out of the window, not explaining.

Ava could only stare at his side profile, fuming uncontrollably.

"Why did you marry me if you intend to treat me like that? Ava asked out of nowhere.