Loved By M Father's Enemy

CHAPTER ONE

Eva screamed into the wall, turning her back to her father, who stood a few feet away, looking at her in disgust.

“Eva, stop throwing tantrums, you’re too old for that”. Her father bemused.

“Tantrums, father? You want to marry me off to a total stranger and you expect me to take it in good faith?”. Eva retorted, pacing up and down the plush carpets in the centre of their living room.

Her mother sat in one of the arm chairs by the corner, listening to the exchange between father and daughter, silently praying it doesn't get more heated than it already was. But she knew for sure it would, when Eva found out who Miguel was planning to marry her off to.

“He is not a stranger. I've known Bastian for a long time now and he's a good fellow”. Miguel said casually.

Eva was stunned into silence. She stared blankly at the wall, then at her father in utter shock and disbelief. Surely he couldn't mean… Surely her ears were deceiving her. Bastian? The mafia lord he worked for? Surely he couldn't mean that Bastian. Surely he must mean someone else. Her face must have conveyed the horror in her thoughts, because her mother sprang to her feet and was beside Eva in seconds.

“Eva, darling, come sit and have a glass of cold water “. Her mother crooned as she guided her towards the second arm chair. She waved to the housekeeper who immediately went to get the drink.

Eva followed silently, still too stunned to speak. A turmoil of emotions fought vigorously in her head and her stomach suddenly dropped. What were they talking about? Marriage? Glass of water? Cold blooded drug lord? Did they say Marriage? What were they talking about? Everything mumbled up in her head. She blinked several times and shook her head to focus. And then it came back to her with a force. Bastian?!!!! The drug lord?!!!

Her thoughts travelled to her lips and suddenly she was yelling. “Bastian? Baz The Brute? The same one who puts people six feet below just for sneezing near him?”

“Oh those are just rumours darling, meant to tarnish his image“. Her mother crooned again, genuinely trying to put her daughter's fears to rest..

Mrs Alder came in with a glass of water, some biscuits and jam, and set them on the side stool of the arm chair.

Eva could hardly see anything let alone eat or drink. She was thinking about how her life was potentially over. Bastian the Brute? Why was her father making her marry such a person? Rumours or not, surely he must know how ruthless Baz was? Didn't she overhear him narrating to her mother in the study one day how Bastian shot someone in the face for mixing up his lunch order? Was that just a lie? It didn't sound like it. And now her mother says they're just rumours. Was she lying right now to her face? It wouldn't be the first time she'd lie to her.

“Bastian is a good man”, her father was saying, “and he'll take good care of you. He has many estates and…….”

But she wasn't hearing anything he was saying. Eva was spiralling. Her father's voice faded into the background. Was he being serious? He wants to marry her off to Baz? His words when he first announced the news minutes earlier still echoed in her ears. “It has been decided. You’re getting married”. Getting married, no problem. But to Bastian Crutz? Thoughts of different ways Baz could kill her without her family knowing sprang into her mind. What if he drowned her in the pool one day for not serving him on his favourite china plate? From everything she'd heard about the man, she couldn't put it past him.Or worse still, what if she gets killed by one of his rival mafia gangs? She'd heard that they often targeted each other’s families during feuds. Was that to be her fate? To die at the hands of a merciless mafia rival? And wasn't he old? Almost, if not older than her father? Eva could not believe what was going on. Her father's voice floated back to the surface.

“....and once you two are married, all our debts will be written off.” Miguel concluded.

Eva heard only one thing there. Debts. Oh so that's why he was marrying her off? To settle his gambling debts? He was probably owing Baz a great deal of money for her to be the ransom. Anger rose rapidly within her.

“How can you be so heartless, father? To sacrifice me just to redeem yourself from your gambling debts?” Eva wailed.

“Watch your tone, young woman. I will not have you speak to me in that manner” Her father thundered.

“Eva, dearest, don't upset your father. He only wants what's best for our family.” Isabel interjected.

“Why do I have to be the one to bear the responsibility?” Eva retorted, pointing at her father accusingly. “He's the one who gambled away our future”. Her voice suddenly becoming shaky. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“I am done having this conversation. You are marrying Bastian and that's it”. Her father thundered again.

Eva fell to her knees in front of him, the tears now flowing freely down her cheeks. “Father please, do not marry me off to that beast. I will not survive it”. She begged genuinely.

“Mother, mother please, please talk to father. I cannot marry that man. Please “. She begged, crawling to her mother's side.

“Oh dear, oh dear”, Isabel patted her on the back, tears welling up in her eyes too. “Come now, it'll be fine, okay? I promise it'll be fine“. She added compassionately.

Eva crumpled to the floor in a heap and cried. She was to be married to a beast of a man, and by her own parents too. Were parents generally like this? So nonchalant about their only child and her wellbeing? Did this happen to everyone or was it just her? Eva had never been close with her father. She knew him from afar and they only had interactions during family meals. Yes, he could do this to her. And he was. She knew it was hopeless to try and convince him now. His face was hard as stone. And she could hardly count on her mother for any support. She never had much say in any decision in their family. Her father decided everything and just like all the other times, this was already decided. All she can do now is look forward to the few months she has left before she has to go live with the old monster.

Her father must have heard her thoughts, for he announced casually the next minute. “You will do well to prepare yourself Eva. He is coming for you in two weeks!!!”

Eva's eyes widened in horror!