1
As a feminist, marrying someone you were forced to or being in exchange for money or power was something I swore never to do.
I had set my standards to be one woman that men would crave but never get.
But today, I was going to break them all.
I was going to change everything I had ever built and suffered for years.
I took a deep breath in and released it as I stared at myself in the mirror.
I didn't have a choice.
I had to do this for my father.
My dad was into dirty businesses, and they started backfiring at him, and it's not only affecting him, but he says he feels like his enemies are going to come for me, too.
I tried to convince him that nothing would happen to me, that I'm a strong woman, and that I don't need protection, but he insisted.
A few weeks after my convocation from college, he called me to come home for an emergency, and he said that I must get married immediately.
I laughed and told him that it was not on my list of things to do presently to get married, and he pleaded with me; he told me his enemies were coming for me, and the only way to protect me was for them to get married.
Now things would have been better if he had asked me to find myself a husband, maybe I would have found some guys that used to hit on me back then in college and strike a deal to pretend to be my husband because I seriously do not understand how he thinks a man would save me from My enemies.
But then he dropped the bombshell.
He wants me to get married to one of his notorious gangster friends -Amber Matthew.
Amber Mattew was the most dangerous and feared gangster in the country and even on the continent. He's known as the "Don," and he's as brutal as hell, and everyone fears him.
I haven't actually seen him before, but the rumors have it that he could kill even without breathing and he controls even the government.
He was a rich bastard, and people feared him even more than the president.
And somehow, my father has been able to successfully make this man think of marrying me just so he could protect me from my enemies.
Now, that alone will make him feel like I'm dependent on him, and I don't like it because he'll make it look like I can't live without him.
Disgusting.
Every Gangster...every Don...every Mafian... they all disgust me.
Sometimes, I hate my father for getting involved in all this because this was the same way my mother died; she was poisoned by my father's enemies.
And he begged me to please accept to marry Amber because he doesn't want to lose me too.
And he said he wished he had chosen the right path...but now it's too late.
And that is how I found myself standing in front of this mirror in my wedding dress.
I never spoke to or met Amber even after accepting the proposal.
But my father assured me that he wasn't looking like a troll and he was 3 years older than me.
I felt reassuring hands on my shoulder.
"You look so beautiful" " my best friend Samantha said, standing beside me.
I forced a smile.
"Not actually how I expected my wedding day to be but yeah...I can manage", I said.
She chuckled.
"You should be happy; you're marrying the most influential man in the continent," she said.
I scrunched my face disgusted.
"And who told you I wanted to live by the honor of another man's name or achievements? "I said, not so excited.
She patted my shoulder.
"He's just a rich bastard,l okay? He's a feared and very dangerous man", She said giving me a sad smile.
"I'm not afraid of a mortal like me; he can't do anything to me, and if it gets too bad, I'll just leave and allow myself to get killed by my father's enemies rather than be that woman who died in her. "Husband's" house," I said, unafraid.
She chuckled.
"Okay, her Majesty, "she said, laughing as she finished up with my makeup.
Then, there was a knock on the door.
Seconds after, my father walked in.
I rolled my eyes at him.
He looked sad, really really sad.
"Sam, can I, uhh, have a moment with my daughter," he said nervously.
Sam looked at me and then at him and then patted my shoulder and left.
I still didn't turn to look at him, I continued with my makeup.
"I'm so sorry..... for bringing you into this -", he started.
"Sorry, changes nothing, actually", I said sternly.
"I know...but-"
"Please can you not make this thing any more difficult before I change my mind? my whole life, I've been trapped from one door to another, and just 4 years of being free, you decide to trap me into a marriage with someone I have never seen for the rest of my life, and you come here and tell me sorry!" I yelled.
He swallowed.
"I know... I'm a horrible father; I know I've made a lot of mistakes in the past, and now it's affecting you, but I would rather die than watch anyone kill you, and they know you're my weakness... they know very well that if they get to you, they'll get to me. And I don't want you dying because of my mistake; you're all I have, and I don't want to lose you too.
They fear Amber; the whole nation does, and when I explained things to him, he understood,, and he accepted.
Please, don't throw this away, he's the only one that can save you at the moment.... please just stay with him until at least my enemies are all dead... please ", he was crying now.
I should have been crying now too, but I was too strong for this.
I walked up to him slowly with a frown on my face and hugged him.
No matter what... he's my dad and he's doing all he can to protect me.
"I'm sorry, my angel, I'm really sorry; I'll make it up to you, I promise," He said.
I pulled away and cleaned his tears.
"It's okay, Father, clean your tears", I said.
"I'm so sorry", he said.
I nodded.
