Married to the Billionaire Biker I Bet On

“You're not going?” Estelle asked with a stern look. I didn't look away; instead, with an emotionless face, I confronted her, “What's in it for me anyway? I know you and your daughter are just going to do something; that’s why you are forcing me to come along—” A loud sound echoed throughout my crowded, sad room. I held my face tight from my stepmother Estelle's slap. Catalina scoffed, “Did you just accuse us of bullying? Can you believe her, mother?” I know that if looks could kill, I would have already killed them with mine. I know I needed to be there as a member of this family, but I wasn't lying when I told them there was really nothing there for me. After all the hardships, from one event to another, humiliating me from time to time. I decided not to go this time. Estelle was also looking at me intensely when, suddenly, Catalina grabbed her arm and said, “Let's go, mother. I know she's just bitter because I'm Raphael's fiancée and not her.” Estelle laughed, “I agree. I don't know why Xavier forced me to force her to come along.” Estelle looked at the back of her hand that she used to slap me and rolled her eyes. “My hand is just stained with filth now.” I just looked at them with tears on the verge of falling as they left the room. Defenseless? Yeah, right. But the more I gave in to what they wanted to happen, the more I would be hurt, humiliated, and lose my dignity. It's been four years since my mother died, and a few months after her death, my father got married again. When he remarried, Estelle became the new lady of the house, and Catalina became the heiress. Father’s attitude toward me did a full 180-degree turn, more or less. He treated me as if I were the one who ruined their family, when, in fact, I was the real member of this family. I always believed that what my mother and father had back then was real, but I think I was too young... too naive to understand the true meaning of love. I shook my head, opened the mini fridge beside my bed, put some ice in a reusable ice pack, placed it on my swollen face, and lay down on my bed. I looked at the ceiling and tilted my head slightly, whispering, “So this is what the night of my freedom will look like...” I sighed and sat up to look around my room. This isn't my old room; the room I grew up in was given to Catalina even before she came to this house. It's not like it matters now, but after all these years, I didn't know that I would eventually outgrow everything. The feeling, the longing... I learned how to suppress my emotions until I felt nothing anymore. Without a knock, the door opened, and it's not like I care about privacy anymore. I didn't look at the door and stared at the distant window. I didn't look at him; in fact, how can I treat him as my father to this day? With everything his second family did, he did nothing but turn a blind eye and pretend to be deaf. Even though I wasn't looking at him, I knew he still wasn't leaving. I heard quiet footsteps approaching me, but I still ignored them and hugged my knees. “Your mother told me you're not feeling well. Is that why you're not coming along?” he asked. I let out a small chuckle. “My mother is already dead. Did you meet her in the afterlife?” I know that was so brave of me, but I still didn't glance at him and rested my head on my arm, which was now on my knees. Father sighed, “I'll let this slide since you're doing something special for the family.” “Rest up,” he added and closed the door. Hearing him say “Family” makes my stomach turn. What right does he have to say that? Where, in fact, this family is not considered one. After pausing for a couple of minutes, I looked out the window and saw their car drive off. I didn't know how I felt. But God knows I’m not bitter… Raphael had been courting me for a long time, but after Catalina arrived, everything changed. It's not like I like him or anything, but I grew attached to our situation... Every day we were together, I couldn't help but develop feelings for him, even though I tried to stop myself. I knew deep down that I wouldn't get into a relationship because of what happened to my parents, especially my father… I might lie and say it didn't affect me when I found out that Raphael had offered Catalina a wedding through business ties instead of me. But who can blame him? Who can blame me? It's not like I'm thrilled about what's going to happen tomorrow. But our company, or my father's company, Apex Tech, was known as the largest company worldwide for supplying design and development components to every sports car in the world; hence, due to strong competitors, the company was struggling to keep up. He concluded that he needed to tie both of his daughters down with a marriage. Catalina was to be engaged to Raphael Carrington, the heir to Advance C Capital, and I was to marry the CEO of Monarch Automotive, famous for producing the highest-quality engines, transmissions, and aerodynamic systems. I knew it sounded great, but every woman would envy me for marrying into a family yet would not choose to marry a man like him. I had heard rumors about the famous CEO D. Bedridden, old, almost decaying... Even so, he never forgot his duties, and only those inside the company knew who he was and rarely saw his face. Online interviews were often filmed in a dark place, or his face was blurry, leading people to conclude that his face was disfigured—all those nasty rumors from people who think they have a better life than others. I sighed and looked at my ceiling as I lay on the floor. I knew I couldn't change anything, but I also knew it was for the best. At least I wouldn't have to experience cruelty anymore, and I could live a normal life until the day I die. But something scares me... How can I deal with someone that even the media hasn't touched? Like he's a living god or something. I was about to head to the bathroom to take a bath when my phone suddenly rang. It was from Isla. I stared at her name for a while, since it had been a long time since I heard from her. “Hello?” I said in an unsure tone. “Seraphina, do you still race?” Isla asked, as if she was out of breath. “What?”