The Arranged Marriage
VANESSA’S POV
“You will have to get out of my house if you're not willing to be of any use!” My dad yelled at me as we both exchanged heated glances.
“I can't stand seeing a useless daughter like you live off my sweat” he added, his voice echoing in the sitting room.
Yesterday evening, he had brought in a picture of an average-looking young man to me, dropping a sudden bombshell on me. That's whom I'm getting married to next month.
“Getting married to a stranger is what will determine my importance as your daughter?” I asked, a gasp of shock slipping out of my mouth.
I stared at my father, a few stashed gray hairs on his head. This wasn't the same dad I grew up attached to. Back then, he was a caring and lovely father who loved his daughter above any other thing.
“You heard him clearly. Prepare yourself for the wedding and don't make a fool out of our family” my elder brother, Greg said.
I looked around at everyone presented, my dad, my stepmom, and her two children, Greg and Mia, whom I sensed a mockery sneer from their eyes.
They don't like me and they also admitted to it, including my stepmom who is good at acting as my mother whenever my dad is present.
Who knows maybe he noticed and he just chose to ignore.
“Darling. But still, she shouldn't be sent off like that, at least arrange a meeting between her and her groom,” my stepmom said, softly patting my dad's shoulder.
What? Is she even making sense? What type of mother would consent to her daughter being sent off to a stranger who's rumored to be horribly ugly? Even if she's putting on a show acting like a caring stepmom, she should at least do it with some ounce of decency.
“He is a very busy man. He can only come down on the wedding day and the day is fixed already” my dad said with a tone of finality.
“Dad” I called softly, setting my gaze at the same level as his.
I wanted to try the only resort I could pull to avoid Dad marrying me off to this ugly stranger – Using our father-daughter emotions to hold him down perhaps he'd remember the lovely time we had spent together while the strong bond hadn't been severed.
“Could mom still be alive and you'll choose to do this?” I asked, piercing my gaze into his wrinkled brow.
I couldn't look right into his eyes, from fear of tearing up his old wound.
“Vanessa! How could you say such to his face? Are you keen on ruining the family ties!” My stepmom yelled, her expression turning red from the visible anger in her eyes.
Look at her shamelessly talk about ruining the family ties when she cut off the ties of a lovely peaceful family.
“Stay out of this, Miss Sandra” I glowered at her, remembering her, her presence in this house.
It has always irritated me that she acts like my mother in public, she should stick to that and not when we're in the house.
“Vanessa! Are you crazy? How dare you call her by her name” Greg shouted, rising from his seat as he attempted to charge at me.
“You shouldn't add an assault to the embezzlement charge” I muttered, adding to his wound.
He was convicted days ago for embezzlement, using the company money as a fund for online trading that turned out to be a scam. This hit the company hard and I guess I'm the only scapegoat they could use to clean off his mess.
For me to marry an ugly stranger who's ready to assist the company with his fund.
Which I will never adhere to!
“Are you any better? You're just a useless child that is of no use to the family and the company!” Dad yelled, making Greg stop on this track.
I grabbed my chest right away, gasping for breath as my dad's words stuck me hard. This is the very first time he would say such a gruesome word to me. I look up to see his glaring eyes shooting at me.
Is this my dad?- whom I had admired a lot right from my little days? I can't believe he said such words to me without blinking an eye or any hint of remorse on his face.
No! No! I can't handle this. I felt so suffocating as I felt their laugh all around me, I turned to look at my stepmom, taking a short glance at them, from her to Greg, to Mai, and my dad. I realized I was not wanted in this household.
And I will grant them their wish, I will disappear away from their sight.
“You're such a drama, sis” I heard Mia say.
“Hey! Stay out of this” Greg warned her.
“Don't you think so too? What's so hard about you getting married for the sake of everyone's peace? Do you want a merit of recognition for that too?” She said, adjusting the eyelid on her brow.
“Mia!” My stepmom cautioned, a smirk at the tip of her lips.
“You’ll benefit more from this, dear sister. You'll get to marry a richer man, our company life stands a chance to be saved by you. Snap out of your stupid ego and dream into the reality!” Greg said, moving toward me from where he stopped earlier.
Wow?
What a family I have! They
are now trying to make a deal for my exchange, like I'm being sold?
I will never succumb to their wishes, not while I'm still alive, will I get married to save their ass from rotting.
“Vanessa, this is all for your sake and also for the growth of the company. For once, do something to save your dad's years of hard work ” Dad said and wanted to reach out to touch me, but I moved back slightly.
He noticed this and stayed back, blinking his eyes as he looked down at his feet.
“He is a nice man. Just the type your mother would have vouchered for” he said, obviously knowing I succumbed to any words involving my Mom.
He's now trying to use mom against me. Dad, Is this how rotten you've turned? I thought to myself.
I want them to all stop. They should please stop forcing me to do things against my wishes.
“Please! Stop!” I screamed, holding my hair in my hands.
I am not doing this! I'm not getting married for anyone's sake.
I would rather disappear from their sight, I thought, and stormed out of the house leaving behind everything.
