Chapter 1: The Proposal
744 Words
My father’s voice cut through the air like a knife. “Evelyn, this isn’t up for discussion. You will marry him.”
I stared at him, my chest tightening. “You want me to marry a stranger? To save the business you gambled away?”
He flinched, guilt flickering across his face, but it quickly hardened. “This is the only way, Evelyn. Lucas Alaric is offering to pay off our debts. Do you understand what that means? We won’t lose the house, the company, or everything your mother worked for!”
“Why me?” I whispered. “Why not ask Andrew?”
“Because Andrew can’t marry Lucas,” he snapped. “This is a business arrangement, and he specifically asked for you.”
I froze. “He asked for me? Why?”
My father shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting away. “Lucas… has his reasons. He’s a private man, but he’s fair. You’ll be taken care of.”
Taken care of. The words felt like a cold chain around my neck. “You’re selling me off to save yourself,” I said, my voice trembling with anger.
“Evelyn, don’t be dramatic,” my father replied, though his voice wavered. “This is about all of us. Your mother, your brother—this family will fall apart without his help.”
I looked around the room, the weight of responsibility settling heavily on my shoulders. The house that had always felt like a safe haven now felt suffocating. Pictures of our once-happy family mocked me from the mantle.
“And what about me?” I demanded. “What kind of life will I have with him? I’ve heard the rumors, Dad. He’s blind. They say he’s ruthless. And why would a man like that want me?”
“He’s a man of his word,” my father said firmly. “He may be… intimidating, but he’ll honor this arrangement. Please, Evelyn. If not for me, do it for your mother.”
The mention of my mother brought tears to my eyes. She was too ill to even come downstairs, her health deteriorating along with our finances.
I clenched my fists, my anger and fear swirling into one chaotic storm. “Fine,” I said finally. “I’ll do it. But don’t expect me to forgive you for this.”
The meeting with Lucas was set for the next day. I barely slept that night, my thoughts a relentless loop of what I was walking into.
The following evening, I found myself in the grand sitting room of a mansion that felt more like a fortress. Dark, imposing, and silent, the house mirrored the man who owned it.
Lucas Alaric entered the room like a storm cloud. He was tall, his suit tailored to perfection, and his face—sharp, chiseled, but devoid of warmth. His sunglasses masked his eyes, a constant reminder of his supposed blindness.
“Miss Evelyn Parker,” he said, his voice smooth but cold. “Sit.”
I swallowed hard and obeyed, the weight of his presence making my knees feel weak.
“I assume your father has explained the arrangement,” he continued, sitting across from me.
“Yes,” I said, my voice barely audible.
“And you agreed?”
I hesitated, meeting his gaze—or where I thought his gaze would be behind those glasses. “I did. But I don’t understand why you want me.”
A ghost of a smile flickered across his lips. “You don’t need to understand. All you need to know is that this marriage will benefit us both. I get what I want, and your family survives. A simple transaction.”
His words stung, but I forced myself to respond. “What do you want, Mr. Alaric?”
He leaned forward, and for the first time, I felt the full force of his intensity. “That, Evelyn, is something you’ll find out in time. But let me make one thing clear—this isn’t a fairytale. I am not a kind man. You will fulfill your role as my wife, and I will handle the rest.”
My chest tightened, but I refused to let him see my fear. “And what if I say no?”
His smile turned dangerous. “You won’t.”
With Lucas signing the marriage contract with an air of finality, sealing her fate; Evelyn realized she has no choice .
- Writer
