OUR MARRIAGE DEAL

BE

ough the two large men behin

e floor, but it wasn't loud enough to drown out the whispers and

Vincent walked in front of me, his steps firm and

amily's eyes, I was j

serious about

my head and saw an elegant-looking woman, who was obvi

e this? To b

nted to answer, wanted to defend myself,

lied in a calm tone, though there was

le, interjected in a dismissive tone. "No backgrou

ncent cut in, this time in a sha

hest. I knew they were talking about my family-about

Vincent continued. "She's going to ma

ing at Vincent with a mixed express

e, you made a stupid decision. You can't bring a wo

replied sharply. "Amber is mine. And

blood boil. Yours? Doe

ver agreed to this, Vincent," I said, my voice

, but you cannot force me to be

ked, some were angry, and some were

ow but full of menace. "Don't mak

" I laughed

ught me here against my will, and now you want me to accept

ill never allow myself to be treated lik

oment, I could see the tension on V

someone in the corner, a

restraining myself

ent said finally, his voice cold.

g to the men who ha

e lea

sure-I may not have much choice now, but I wasn't going to give up. Vincent may think

*

lt when Vincent's voice came from behind the thick wooden door at the end

ing you asked," she said, h

I'm going to marry.

what I had just heard. The woman to mar

wered in a heavy, a

family is not built on marriage alone. You must show

show?" Vincent sounded i

ook care of the family reputation. And now I even brought Rena

wall to hold my suddenly limp body. Con

Vincent," his grandfather

er will make me trust you? She has

. "She is my choice. And she will be

a moment before replying, h

that she is part of a bigger plan. Otherwise, don't

, even the destruction of my family-were all just tools to fulfill his

calmer but determined. "I will make her do wh

loor. My breath caught, my eyes hot. I didn't want to

oor, and locked myself inside. My heart felt broken. Vincent, with all h

y resolve growing stronger. If he thought I would comply, he was wrong. I

*

ld them tightly to look strong. When Vincent walked in, dressed in his always neat d

k," I demanded

tly surprised. "You look se

, looking him squ

t your grandfather. About the inhe

in an instant, hi

e eavesd

. You wanted to marry me not because I was meant for you, but b

tepped towards the sofa, sitting

s not what

t laugh, full

render, dragged me here, then you pretend that it was about love or whatever nonsense

her sharp dark eyes, b

e, Rena. But I never thoug

I cut

ry to justify all this with the n

ve a big responsibility in this family. I want to make sure my pos

heating up. "You don't care about my feelings, about my honor, or

is voice echoing in the room. "It's abo

of anger. "You think I'm part of your collection?

ense. For the first t

y you, Vincent. Not for your inheritance, not for your family

to touch me, but I took a step b

nally seeing you for who you are. And I hate mys

teps were heavy, but I knew one thing-I wasn't going to let myself

t of our agreement anyway," V

aced a document

d on the table in front of me. On it, it wa

is majestic chair, like a king giving a decree. "I want

e first page. Vincent's eyes never left m

en there made my chest tighten. I thought this would be a diffi

not allowed to make any decisions concerning personal

t him sharply. "So I can't

in charge of all that.

continuin

y is required to attend all family event

I don't have the freedom to ref

the family's image," he repl

ne of the sections tha

clause based on the agreement of both parties. If the second party breaches th

o, this all has a time limit? You've ev

h a cold face, as if my

covenant. I offer you security and status, and y

n though my tears had a

lings, Vincent. It's all about control. About ma

ir, his strong arms linke

ment like this provides stability. You'll be s

ust going to be a puppet in your life, following all

e for a long moment,

eed this kind of security, Vincent. I don't need

know this is the best way out for you. Your family cannot

he verge of falling. "You're wrong. I'd rather fi

chest, then turned to leave. But before I wa

u will never be able to force me to love you