SOLD BY MY MOTHER

" You're Getting Married Tomorrow"

"What did you just say?" Serena's voice shook.

Her eyes widened as she stared at the woman she called her mother. The woman who gave birth to her. The woman she trusted her whole life.

"I said, you're getting married tomorrow. To Liam Steel," her mother said calmly, placing a brown envelope on the table.

Serena's heart skipped a beat. "Marry who?!"

"Liam Steel. The billionaire. The heir to Steel Empire."

Serena burst into laughter-bitter, loud, almost crazy. "You've got to be kidding me."

"I'm not," her mother said, folding her arms. "Everything is arranged. You'll be his wife by tomorrow morning."

Serena's smile faded. "Mummy, are you hearing yourself? You want me to marry a complete stranger? Someone I don't even know?"

"I know exactly what I'm doing," her mother snapped. "This is not about love or feelings, Serena. This is survival."

Serena stood up and knocked the envelope off the table. "What about my feelings?! What about what I want?! I'm your only daughter!"

"And I'm your mother! And as long as you live under my roof and eat my food, you'll do as I say!" her mother shouted, slamming her hand on the table.

Tears filled Serena's eyes. "So you're selling me off to save your pride?"

Her mother's face turned hard. "I'm saving your father's life!"

Serena froze.

"What?"

"Your father needs surgery. A major one. We don't have the money. Liam's mother-Mrs. Isabella Steel-offered to cover the full hospital bill... if you marry her son."

Serena stared at her mother like she was a stranger.

"So you agreed?" she whispered. "Just like that? You didn't even ask me?"

"I signed the contract already," her mother said. "It's done."

Serena's mouth dropped open. "You forged my signature?!"

"I did what I had to do," her mother said, her voice low now. "Don't test me, Serena. If you dare disobey me, I will disown you. I mean it."

Serena shook her head in disbelief. "You're joking. Tell me you're joking."

"You think this is a joke? Your father is lying in the hospital, dying. We have nothing left! Nothing! And you're here talking about love?"

Serena's voice cracked. "So you just threw me away like I'm nothing?"

"You're not nothing. You're our only hope," her mother said coldly. "You'll marry Liam Steel. You'll play the role they want. And you'll save your father."

---

Serena locked herself in her room that night. She didn't eat. She didn't speak to anyone.

Her heart was shattered.

She kept replaying the words in her head: *You're getting married tomorrow... I signed the contract already... If you disobey me, I'll disown you.*

She cried until her chest hurt. She couldn't believe this was happening. Marriage? To a man she's never even met? Liam Steel?

She had heard the name before. Everyone had.

Liam Steel-CEO in waiting. Known for being cold. Rich. Quiet. Dangerous. The media called him "The Ice King."

And now... she was being forced to marry him?

It didn't make sense. Why would a man like that need a wife?

She got her answer the next morning.

---

At 10:00 a.m., a black car pulled up in front of their house. Two men in suits stepped out.

"Miss Serena Catarh?" one of them asked.

She didn't answer. Her mother did.

"She's ready."

"I'm not ready!" Serena shouted from the door. "You can't make me go!"

Her mother grabbed her by the arm. "Don't embarrass me in front of them. Get in the car."

"No!"

Her mother's voice turned ice cold. "If you walk back into this house, you're no longer my daughter. Don't test me, Serena."

Serena's heart broke all over again.

With tears running down her face, she got into the car.

---