The Start Of Us

Chapter 0002

Chapter 0002

“Hal, that’s not who we agreed on. You’re to wed the eldest sister.” One of the guests, an elder woman who came with the groom spoke up.

“It’s impossible to change your choice after a decision has been made or finalized.” Another from the guest, an elder man this time around, also spoke up additionally.

“It’s stands as dishonor, a disgrace, to the kind of person you represent if you would do such.” The last of the three elders that came with the brat husband-to-be were done voicing their disagreement, now waiting for him to yield and further no trouble.

Instead the smirk on his face washed down into a frown as he whipped his displeased expression at his family, “it’s either her or I’m calling this wedding off,” he casually threatened.

“No, no, no need for that. My youngest is also ripe for marriage, she’s twenty years of age,” Mr Tucker quickly countered. He wasn’t about to let go of an alliance he’s pretty much planned a lot on.

Mariel couldn’t believe the words that came out of her father’s mouth. “Father?!” She called, as if there was more to her father’s words than he spoke.

That truly she might be ripe for marriage, but her study is her main priority at the moment and this brat truly can’t suddenly go against his own decision.

She expected her father to back up those that spoke against the brat, not indulge his desire.

“She would be the perfect wife for me. Mister Tucker, allow me to officially request your permission to held your daughter’s hand for marriage?”

“No!” Mariel’s voice thundered a loud response as her rage seeped into her features in vast speed. “No!” She recapped her answer before she stormed forward and close a little distance between where she stood and the brat whose name she doesn’t care to know at the moment was seated.

“What’s this to you, huh? Do you think this is some kind of joke? Or prank for you to pull off?” Mariel began, letting her fury grind words out for her.

“Stop this right now! Whatever you’re trying to gain or achieve from this is not worth it please. Please, just put an end to this nonsense and act right. You can’t marry me, you’ve been promised to my sister and my sister has been promised to you. That’s it and that’s all!”

Halvard Skinsgaard, only son and heir to the Skinsgaard family empire. Ruling as the top symbol of wealth and power in the city, Halvard’s family is well known by most, respected by all with knowledge on who they are, and feared by their haters.

With a diabolical smirk dangling over his face, he rose to his feet and took two strides that covered the distance left between himself and a seething Mariel.

“Mister Tucker it seems your daughter isn’t well pleased with the sudden change of plans,” he said, his smug expression locked in contact with Mariel’s face of anger. “It’s either she gets in line or there won’t be an alliance between our families,” he added before he walked out of her face.

As though his departure sent a message to the elders that came with him, they all stood up without saying a word and went out on his trail.

“Mariel!” Mr Tucker’s fine voice skinned out in anger, a growing rage painted on his facial features.

He strode forward to where Mariel stood, her head bowed and lips pouted grimly.

“I’m not getting married to him, father.” Mariel waited for her father to get close before she spoke up, defiance in her tone as she matched her father’s gaze for the first time in many years.

This reaction had Mr Tucker himself stilled in awe, anger still very much visible in his expression, but now mixed with disbelief that her daughter would dare to talk back at him.

“How dare you?!” The man’s voice went calm, low and astoundingly dangerous. “Mariel?!” His called in a stretched tone.

Mariel knew she’s expected to grovel at once, fall to her knees and plead for her father’s mercy and forgiveness. Then compose herself into the usual obedient girl she’s groomed to always be.

However, not this time. No. Not when she’s finally secured her dream future for herself, she will not be forced into a marriage. A marriage with an entitled brat for that matter. Never!

“Father, I will not get married to him or anyone at the moment,” Mariel rephrased her mind out loud for Tucker to hear.

“I don’t care what you’ll do to me, how angry this will make you. I, don’t, care. But one thing I’m sure of is that, I will not get married to that asshole!” Determination beamed through Mariel’s eyes that were laid adamantly on her father.

Rage coursed through Tucker’s system as he controlled his hand up to snake a hold of his daughter’s neck as he pushed her off her stance. He continued to push her until her spine backed into a wall behind her.

“You dare look me in the eyes? Do you wish for death, Mariel?!” Tucker thundered, his entire features seething with fury.

Mariel coughed, choking against her father’s grip, but remained resilient.

Drisella, Mariel’s sister shook with fear for what their father might do to her if Mariel doesn’t let go of her stubbornness and yield to Tucker’s demands and respects.

And knowing the kind of person Mariel is, that she won’t let go of her stubbornness unless she’s gotten a version of what she wants, she’d continue to defy her father. Drisella knew she had to go get their mother.

Only her at the moment might be able to save Mariel. And so Drisella dashed out of the room to go fetch their mother.

“You dare to defy me?!” Tucker couldn’t care less about his daughter’s need to breathe, even with how quick her eyes were becoming reddish and foaming liquid.

“How dare you?!” Tucker in a fit of anger let go of her neck so he could grab her by her shoulder and push her into the floor.

His stature went over to where Mariel was sprawled helplessly, trying to recover from not only the thud, but also her sore throat.

She’d rather die than comply, there’s no way she’d accept to take away her sister’s happiness and destroy any hope for hers.

It was Drisella’s dream to marry, and hers to become a medical practitioner. Both of them were already on the path to fulfill their respective dreams until this sudden twist of fate.

“Sir!” Mariel’s mother, Elizabeth Tucker yelled out as soon as she stepped into the room.

In time to stop Tucker from lowering the punch he had fisted to slam onto Mariel’s face. Elizabeth quickly rushed over to where Mariel was laid and drew her out of her father’s built.

“Your daughter dares to defy me, to go against me in front of visitors?! Speak to her because she will get marry-“

“I’ll rather die than marry that asshole, father,” Mariel spoke up, abruptly interrupting her father to voice her unwillingness.

“You want to die?!” Tucker quizzed in fury, his eyes blazing as he closed the little space that shielded Mariel away from him.

“You badly want to die huh?” Tucker flung out a hold on Mariel as he jacked her away from Elizabeth and motioned straight out of the room.

“My daughter! Bring me back my daughter!” Elizabeth hollered as she leaped after Tucker. Drisella also followed.

Mariel couldn’t fight against her father’s grip, much worse fight against his anger. All she could do was watch him expense his cruelty to his own satisfaction, and hope later on that he’d flick to her decision.

However, seeing the path her father walked her down gave her an idea of where they approached. Her mother’s yells from behind as they approached the metal bars that gated a dungeon look alike.

With rock as walls, and mere sand as carpet. Mariel is familiar with the space, she remembered vividly the last and her first time ever she was brought down here.

It was first time disobeying her father, and that earned her a three night sleep at the naughty room. Yes, Tucker calls his casually cultivated dungeon a room.

Tucker opened the gate and pushed Mariel into the room. “When you’re ready to act like the daughter I’ve raised, only then will you be released. For now, stay in there and collect your thoughts. No food, no water, nothing for you while you’re in there! Anyone who thinks to pity would join you in there!”

Tucker’s words were sharp and intense, his body blocking the gate to prevent Elizabeth from breaking through as he worked on the lock.

He quickly tucked the key into his pocket when he was gone as he turned around and walked out of the scene.

Elizabeth reeled into wailing as she sank to the floor outside of the gate, her wistful gaze on Mariel who was curled helplessly against a rock.

Drisella moved to the gate, her eyes also watery. “Mariel,” She called out to her sister, “You have to marry him,”

Mariel at the heard of that looked up at Drisella with anger in her eyes, that was the least she expected to hear from her. Drisella knew what she wanted, what she’s chasing, and yet she’s giving an advice like such.

“I know it’s not what you want, but you know father. He’s never going to listen to you until you’ve agree to do by his command. You have to agree to this marriage and get out of here-“

“I can’t steal your life!” Mariel yelled into her sister’s voice. “I can’t steal your dream. This is what you want not me! You’ve always dreamt of today, and just when it’s so close to you, just when you’re about to have it, the tides f*****g turn. No!” With tears and rage, Mariel ranted.

“I’m not angry about it. If you think I’ll hate you or be upset that this became whatever this is, I’m not. Father was never going to let you take that exams, you were never going to go school abroad. I overheard him talking to the matchmaker while you were out at one of your lessons, he was discussing on a capable suitors for you. Don’t suffer yourself on something you’re incapable of changing, Mariel. Accept this marriage, get out of here, and make a life for yourself. One of us has to, and I don’t care who goes first, I’m contented so long as it’s one of us!”

Mariel’s trembled from too much weeping. The sincerity in her sister’s eyes, how she meant everything she said with no sign of hostility got Mariel emotional heavier than she already is.

“But I don’t love him. I hate him!” Mariel spoke up between sobs.

“Life isn’t build on love sweetheart, love is simply the mere part of the growth.” Drisella flashed a painful smile at her sister.

“Mom and I are gonna go out right now to talk to father, tell him that you’ve accepted to wed Halvard Skinsgaard. Have you?”

Mariel’s eyes flapped close. She channeled on her pain, her rage, and the anxiousness flushing through her system into one single exhale, loud like a revival.

“I have,” she answered, calmly as a cold still river.