The Billionaire’s Fated Bride

Chapter one

Lily’s POV

There has to be another way out of this. It can’t just happen like this, I need to resist this somehow. I can’t just give up without even trying.

I wish tomorrow would never come.

I stared aimlessly out the window, barely taking in the dark, gloomy clouds slowly engulfing the city skies. Even the skies seemed to perceive my impending doom. My eyes wandered around now, my mind a mess, I saw nothing, I thought nothing.

Then without warning, I felt my chest tighten, my heartbeat drumming in my ear, drowning out the rain that had begun to fall outside. My fingers anxiously ran through my once perfectly styled hair. I was a complete mess.

I returned to the window I had stepped away from, closed them, and stayed fixated in that same spot as I watched the raindrops slide down the window. It mirrored the tears I’m sure were rolling down my face.

‘I don’t know what to think anymore, what else am I supposed to do?’ I muttered to myself, hardly feeling the dull ache on my lip from biting on it too hard.

I can’t just go down without a fight. There’s got to be another way. I have to defy my Father, if I don’t tomorrow would be the beginning of a different type of prison.

Maybe I’ll wait till everyone’s asleep to escape…I’ll do it even if it means I leave with nothing but the clothes on my back.

‘Lily!’

I was snapped back into reality, away from my escape plan to see my best friend, Tessa, smiling ear to ear. I wondered what she had to be so happy about when my entire world was crashing.

‘Hi Tessa, when did you get here?’ I asked absentmindedly

‘I’ve been knocking at your door and when you didn’t answer I just came in. What’s so interesting to see out the window?

‘Hey, what’s with that look on your face, are you crying?’

I hadn’t noticed that she had moved closer to where I was. I finally pried my eyes from the window and looked at Tessa. She had an eyebrow raised and a hand on her waist.

‘I can’t Tessa, I just…’ I broke into a heavy sob. All the tears I had been holding back came rushing as I collapsed into Tessa's arms.

‘Don’t say that, Lily’ Tessa said, obviously holding back her tears as she gently patted my back.

‘I can’t help it, Tessa. I think…’

‘No thinking,’ Tessa said, lifting my face to look into hers, her face was stern.

‘But…’

‘No buts, Lily. You know you're thinking way too much about this, we already talked about this. We need to enjoy the few moments we have left. You know thinking won’t change your father’s decision.’ Tessa shrugged

‘Tessa,‘ I started slowly getting up from the bed then started pacing back and forth.

“Stop this already Lily, your pacing is making me dizzy.’

‘Well, how can I…’ At this point I’m sure I was hyperventilating, taking each breath like it were my last.

Tessa moved towards me, placing her hand on my shoulder as she made me sit on the edge of the bed.

‘Girl, you need to calm down,’ she said

‘I’m sure you know that worrying won’t change any decisions that have already been made. I wish I could say something, but you know how your father can be.’ She said sitting beside me and resting her head on my shoulder.

‘Not even Mother dares to speak’ I said as I rolled my eyes.

‘He might not be that bad, you know, your future husband.’ Tess said, staring into my eyes.

‘He will… I don’t even know who I’m getting married to.’ I said

This is the twenty-first century who still forces their daughter to marry a stranger?

I have always wished to marry someone that I love, someone who will love me the way I am…

But now I know nothing about him, not even a single thing, other than his name.

‘Well, you do…’ Tessa said, playfully hitting my shoulder and giggling.

‘Well, I do what? ‘ I gave her a death stare

‘You know rumors have it that he is breathtaking and incredibly handsome.’

‘Well Tessa, rumors aren’t always true.’ I said, snapping my fingers as she chuckled.

‘And sometimes rumors can be true. “ she said”.

‘I’m sure you’re just overthinking this… Lily’

He might not be bad… It’stomorrow..

‘It’s tomorrow, Tessa.’ I whispered as I stood up from the bed.

‘It’s Ethan Lockwood … every girl’s dream,’ Tessa said as she clapped her hands smiling. ‘It has always been every girl’s dream to even talk to Ethan; he is like a Greek god.’

‘Ohh Tessa, you haven’t even seen him yet and you have a lot to say about him already. Rumors aren’t everything.’

‘And I don’t want to marry Ethan Lockwood, or whatever he is, Idon’t care if all the girls trip

for him. He should know that I’m not the type of girl and I would never love him.’

‘And since you say all this…’ I said pointing at Tessa” Then why can’t he get all the girls tripping for him, why does it have to be me, what exactly does he want from me, I’m sure he has numerous other women.’

‘This whole marriage is without my consent, getting married to someone I don’t even know. And not to mention, people even say he’s cold-hearted’

‘Also handsome, please don’t forget that part.’ Tessa said.

‘I don’t want all of this, what does he even know about me that he wants to marry me, or does he

just want to use me as a slave?’

‘Enough with all these already… Lily, he might not be as bad as you think he is’ ‘I know he will.’ I said, cutting her off.

‘First, can we change this topic, l’m already tired of convincing you to stop worrying.’

‘Tessa, I have tried to stop thinking about how miserable my life will be, I never planned for this at all, he literally has all the women at his beck and call, what exactly does he want from me? This isn’t what I ever wished for, it just seems like my decision never matters, am sure he doesn’t even know anything about who I am, he just thinks he can get whatever he wants, he just wants to destroy my life.’

‘But to think of it, how did he even get to know you?’ Tessa asked as she looked at me ‘Good question, Tessa. I have no idea. All I know is that Father came back last week, panting as though he’d seen a ghost.

Then from nowhere he says, “Lily, you’re getting married to Ethan Lockwood”

‘But, Father…’ I tried to protest

“No questions Lily.” Then he stormed off to God knows where.

‘That was all he told me, Tessa.’ I said as I widened my eyes in realization.

‘But the way Father was panting, and sweat dripping down his face, was so scary. The father I

know makes all the rules and isn’t afraid of anything.

‘If Ethan Lockwood is such a wonderful man, then why did Father come back with the look on his face as though he escaped death?’

‘Well, that was the least of my concerns at that point. At first, I thought it was all a dream, perhaps a nightmare I would eventually wake up from.’ A sudden shiver ran down my spine.

‘But here I am Tessa.’ I said sitting back on the bed and slapping my thighs.

‘I am in my own nightmare. I thought it was all just a joke, that father would come back and tell me that all he said was a lie.’

‘But look now Tessa, it is my reality.’ resting my chin on my hand.

‘I don’t even know what to do, father didn’t even want to hear anything I had to say. My Father doesn’t love me, Tessa’ I said woefully, shaking my head.

‘I'm sure he does… Lily’

‘He never did, he loves no one but only himself. He’s just aselfish, wicked monster and I hate him

and I always will’ I was sobbing again.

‘Don’t please… Lily. Don’t say things like this, hating your fatherwon’t change anything right now his decision has been made, and we don’t know exactly what made him make the decision

‘He won’t say what made him… he’s a beast.’ I said, rolling my eyes.

Ethan on the other side might not be bad. It’s either him or Father.

Ohh

‘Tomorrow will be the worst day of my life.’ I whispered bitterly.

‘It's getting late, Lily. You need to have some rest, tomorrow is indeed a big day.” With a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, Tessa walked towards the door, bade me good night, and left.

As soon as Tessa left, I waited for some time till the entire mansion was silent. It was already dark. And Father and Mother would be fast asleep.

I grabbed a small bag, packed a few clothes and I slipped on my shoes.

I quietly opened my bedroom door, my heart was pounding as though I had run a marathon.

Poking my head out of the door, I peeked into the hallway, scanning both directions before stepping out.

One step… Two steps …

Till I tiptoed towards the back gate. ‘Finally’, Isighed half a breath of relief

This is freedom.

As I carefully opened the gate, one of my feet was already outside and the other in.

One more step…

I smiled for the first time today.

I’m free

‘Did you really think you could escape, Lily?’