The stranger I was forced to marry
Chapter one
Calliope's pov
Today was my eighteenth birthday. The day I finally became an adult.
I’m the only girl in a family of seven, with four brothers who always get everything grand. My two older brothers both received new cars on their eighteenth birthdays. They had huge parties too—parties I was the one forced to clean up after.
Mother always told me that’s just how life is, though she never explained why. She only reminded me that I owe her a great deal because of something that happened when I was a baby. She never says what it was, but I believe her.
Still, today, I woke up bright and happy, ready for the best day of my life.
I wore my favorite outfit—a light blue sundress that matched my eyes and cream-colored sandals. I stood in front of my mirror, fixing the ribbon in my hair and smoothing the front of my dress even though there were no wrinkles.
Then I heard the front door open downstairs.
Who would be up this early? It was only six in the morning. My brothers sleep in during summer break. My parents work night shifts and had just come home a few hours ago, exhausted and covered in sweat. They should still be asleep until noon.
A smile grew on my face.
They must be planning something for me.
I sat on my bed, trying to calm my excitement. My room wasn’t huge, but it was cozy—my bed, a dresser, a wardrobe, and a desk across from me. My room was the first one by the stairs, which meant I could hear every conversation from downstairs.
My parents always did their best for us, so whatever they had planned today, I knew I’d love it.
Then I heard a voice. A man’s voice. Deep. I didn’t recognize it.
I tiptoed to my door and pressed my ear against it.
“She’s here—”
“Today—”
“Special—”
“Very happy you agreed to—”
The words were too broken to understand. I leaned closer, trying to follow the sound—
A knock made me jump back with a gasp. I ran to my bed and hid under the duvet, pretending to be asleep.
The door opened, and my older brother Luke walked in. He was my closest friend out of all my siblings, so I wasn’t surprised he came straight in without knocking.
I threw the duvet off and glared at him.
“Happy birthday?” he said with a confused smile.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered. If I could hear the people downstairs, they could hear us too.
“I can’t wish you a happy birthday again?” he teased.
I rolled my eyes. “I was listening to the conversation downstairs!” I hopped off my bed, my excitement coming back. “I think Mother and Father are planning something big!”
Luke didn’t smile back. He stepped away from me.
“Calliope… I have to tell you something.”
“Whatever it is, it can wait! I’ve waited my whole life for this day. Maybe I’ll finally get some freedom. Maybe I can go to school again—”
“Calliope, listen to me. It’s important.”
His voice cracked. That’s when I noticed his face. His eyes looked tired. Sad.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered.
“I—”
“Calliope!”
My mother’s voice cut him off. She was already climbing the stairs.
The door opened without a knock. Mother walked in, her eyes moving from me to Luke, then back to him again. She never liked us being too close. She always said being alone builds character.
With one sharp nod, she dismissed him. Luke left without a word. Mother closed the door behind him and turned to me with the warmest smile I knew.
She wasn’t the most beautiful woman, but her smile always made her look like she was. I didn’t look anything like her—brown hair versus her red, blue eyes versus her brown—but she was still the person I admired most.
“Calliope, dear. Happy birthday.”
My eyes stung. “Thank you, Mama.”
“There’s someone very special here to see you,” she said with a wide smile, like I was the most important person in her world.
“Really?”
My heart jumped. Who could it be? I didn’t have friends except one girl in college, and my parents rarely let me leave the house.
“Yes. Now, I want you to behave. Remember your etiquette lessons?”
I straightened my posture, lifted my chin slightly, and folded my hands in front of me like she taught.
“Good girl,” she said proudly. “Come. Let me introduce you to someone dear.”
Introduce?
Confusion twisted inside me.
I followed her downstairs. As we reached the living room, a tall figure came into view.
He was beautiful. Older than me. His eyes—sharp, rare green—moved slowly from my head to my toes. His expression was unreadable, but cold.
“This is her?” he asked. His voice was deep and smooth.
“Yes,” my father replied, looking nervous. He never looked nervous.
I glanced at my mother, silently asking what was happening.
She cleared her throat.
“Calliope, dear… this is Reese Carter.”
My breath caught.
Reese Carter?
The billionaire CEO? The famous twenty-four-year-old prodigy?
Right here?
In my living room?
Looking at me?
Before I could speak, Mother continued:
“Your… soon-to-be husband.”
