I shrink back, trying to think if there’s anything I’ve done to upset him.
I did every chore I was assigned before joining them here. And since I came, I’ve been in the shadows, never once showing my face.
“G-Good morning, Father,” my voice is thick with fear.
“Keep your mouth shut and come with me. Now!” he rages, bald head catching the overhead light. I don’t let him close thedistance between us before I scamper out, stumbling once on my feet before I get to the door.
Once I leave the room, I see people frantically walking about the hallway. Even the usually composed men in suits look like they’ve lost all sense of composure as they type away on their phones, barking incoherent orders into their phones. The women are as white as ghosts. Melanie is the worst of them all. Some of them are in tears, while others are giving me a stare that’s a mix of disgust and pity.
My heart races faster than it ever has in my entire life. It’s not the stare that scares me; I’m used to that. It’s the foreboding feeling that knots my gut in a loop. Something bad has happened. No. Something bad is waiting to happen to…me.
I swallow thickly, training my eyes on the marble floors and adding a bit of hurry to my steps.
I’m still walking ahead of Father when all of a sudden, his hand clasps mine tightly and yanks me into a room. A grunt spills from my lips as I stumble to the floor, the door slamming shut behind me.
I look over my shoulder to see Father, standing in front of the door with a menacing glare. I don’t hold his stare, I can’t. But I expect him to say something. He doesn’t.
The strained silence doesn’t last for long as more people file into the room. I lift my head to see Melanie along with two maids.One is holding a bouquet of white roses, and the other has in her hands a bridal dress and veil.
On my father’s command, both maids start to walk toward me.
“W-what’s going on?” The words almost catch in my throat as I glance from the dress to the maid holding it. Then, finally, to my father.
“Dress the new bride,” is all he says, and my eyes widen in horror.
No. I dart my eyes to Melanie’s to see if this is all a joke, but from the look in her eyes, I realize this is anything but a joke. She stares at me with contempt before training her gaze elsewhere.
The world tilts even though I’m on the ground. My blood goes cold, a surge of emotions bubbling through my veins.New bride…
No. No. This doesn’t make any sense. Where the hell is Elena?
Fuck. I can’t marry Dominic. I’m supposed to be the invisible twin.
I try to breathe, but it feels like something is lodged in my throat. And with each breath I take, the obstacle seems to expand.
Tears burn my eyes, but I hold them back as I bring my gaze to my father’s and say the one word I haven’t said to him in years.
“P-please… I-I don’t want to get married to—”
Before I finish, he closes the distance between us and lands a striking slap across my cheek. The world goes quiet as pain collides with the fear in my stomach.
“You stupid girl,” he growls, pulling my ponytail. A strangled grunt escapes my lips as my head lurches back forcefully, his grip tightening on my hair.
“You fucking ingrate!” he yells, spilling saliva on my face. “All your life, you’ve been useless. You should be grateful I’m finally giving you an opportunity to help the family.”
Like every other time, anger mixes with the fear in my chest, but I hold back my words and my tears. They’ll do me no good.
I clench my hands into fists as he yanks my head further back and meets my gaze with fury. My lips quiver as he raises his hand again, and I shut my eyes tight, expecting another slap, but it doesn’t come.
Instead, Melanie’s voice cuts through the air.
“Dean, that’s enough! She’s the bride, she can’t have marks.”
I open my eyes to see his frown deepen just as he shoves me back down. My face is still against the cool marble, but I hear him walk out before slamming the door.
Then a lone tear rolls down my cheek. Steadying my breathing, I quickly wipe it, pull myself up, and raise a hand to the side of my face. My cheek still stings, but it doesn’t compare to the wrench in my chest.
Why me?
