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Lucy stares at her mother in utter disbelief. But again, Emily McAllister doesn’t flinch. Blue eyes stare into brown as an ominous silence descends upon the room.
Lucy caves first and looks away. The absurdity of this situation is making her reel, but she has to remain calm if there is any hope of getting out of this. Her mother understands composure better than hysterics. She just has to calmly explain how absolutely crazy this is.
Lucy clears her throat slightly. Then she says, as composed as she can, “Mother, there has got to be—”
Emily abruptly cuts her off mid-sentence.
“Enough, Lucy. The decision has been made and it’s final. The wedding will be in three days.”
Lucy frantically searches for the right words whilst trying to remain composed. There is no way she is going to accept this ludicrousness.
“No! This is my life. How can you expect me to marry—”
Again, she is cut off by her mother’s crisp and authoritative voice, sweeping through the room like a whip in the air.
“Lucy Amanda McAllister, that is quite enough. We do not have time for this. You need to stop acting like an entitled brat and stop being so selfish. Your father’s life is on the line. It is time for you to take up your responsibility as a McAllister. It’s not an ideal situation, but we do not have time for your little tantrums now.”
Lucy lowers her head in despair. She forgot about her father… and she would do anything to save him. But there has to be another way.
“There has to be another way,” she whispers softly.
Her mother sighs and blindly looks out of the window before continuing. “I’m afraid there is not.”
Lucy’s mind is racing. This cannot be happening. And then a thought hits her.
Why her?
“Why me?” she asks, reining in her sudden panic.
Her mother silently turns towards her before returning her gaze to the window.
Oh no.
Lucy always knew she wasn’t her parents’ favourite daughter. She was always the rebel, always difficult… but she would never have expected this from them.
“Did you suggest this? Offer me up as a proposal in a business deal?” she asks bitterly.
Her mother sounds affronted when she replies, indignant, “Don’t be ridiculous, Lucy. This was Frank’s proposal.”
Lucy backs down, defeated like a wounded animal that’s cornered, and whispers once more, “But why me?”
“I don’t know…”
Lucy’s chest tightens as she studies her mother’s face.
“You don’t know… but you suspect?” she presses quietly.
Emily hesitates — only for a fraction of a second — but it’s enough.
Lucy sees it.
Her stomach drops.
Her mother turns back toward the window, the afternoon sun spilling across the polished wooden floors, bathing the room in warmth that Lucy suddenly cannot feel.
“It might have something to do with Nico”
Lucy frowns.
“What about him?”
Emily exhales slowly, as if choosing her words with surgical precision.
“A few weeks ago, Luca… involved himself with a woman he should not have.”
Lucy’s confusion deepens.
“And?”
Emily’s jaw tightens ever so slightly.
“She happens to be the wife of a very powerful man.”
The silence that follows is suffocating.
“A rival,” Emily continues. “One who is far less forgiving than Frank.”
Lucy’s pulse begins to pound in her ears.
“He recently found out about his wife’s… indiscretions. He does not yet know who the man is, but he is looking. And when he finds him…” Emily trails off, but she doesn’t need to finish the sentence.
Lucy already knows.
A cold dread begins to coil around her spine.
“What does that have to do with me?” she whispers.
Emily finally turns to face her fully.
“If Luca is identified as a single, unattached man moving freely within the same social circles… he becomes the most likely suspect.”
Lucy feels the blood drain from her face.
“And if suspicion lands on him,” Emily continues evenly, “it will not matter whether it is proven or not. It will be enough.”
Lucy swallows hard.
“So Frank is forcing him to get married?” she asks faintly.
“Yes.”
Lucy lets out a hollow laugh.
“And I suppose I was just the obvious choice?”
Emily doesn’t answer immediately.
Her silence is answer enough.
“Jamie’s public presence makes her unsuitable,” she says at last. “Sandy draws far too much attention to herself. But you…”
Lucy’s hands curl into fists in her lap.
“You are not involved in the business. You are not publicly affiliated with any of our partnerships. You maintain a relatively low social profile.”
The words feel like knives.
“This marriage provides Nico with immediate legitimacy. Stability. It alters his public timeline overnight. And keeps him out of trouble.”
Lucy’s throat tightens painfully.
It makes him look unavailable, respectable, untouchable.
And her?
Expendable.
Lucy lets out a shaky breath.
“So I’m a cover story.”
Emily’s voice is calm when she responds.
“You are saving your father’s life.”
Lucy stares at her.
“And the wedding,” Emily adds quietly, “will take place in three days.”
- Writer
