The Bride Who Said No
341 Words
�Chapter 1
Rain poured heavily over Lagos, matching the tears streaming down nineteen-year-old Amara Cole's face.
"You are getting married tomorrow."
Her father's voice was cold and final.
Amara stared at him in disbelief.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"I don't even know the man!"
"You don't need to know him. All you need to know is that he paid our family's debts."
Her mother's eyes stayed fixed on the floor, unable to defend her daughter.
Amara's heart shattered.
"So... you're selling me?"
Her father slammed his hand on the table.
"Enough! Without him, we'd lose this house. Your younger brothers would stop going to school. This marriage saves all of us."
Amara shook her head.
"I won't do it."
"You have no choice."
She ran upstairs, locked the door, and collapsed onto the floor.
Her dreams...
University.
Starting her own business.
Falling in love.
Everything disappeared in a single evening.
Later that night, her best friend, Tessa, climbed through the bedroom window.
"We have to leave," Tessa whispered.
"Right now."
Amara wiped her tears.
"I have nowhere to go."
"You'll figure it out later. Staying means losing your freedom forever."
For the first time that night...
Hope returned.
They quietly slipped out of the house.
Rain soaked their clothes as they hurried toward the bus station.
"I'm free," Amara whispered.
But fate had other plans.
A black Rolls-Royce stopped in front of them.
Several men in black suits stepped out.
One of them opened the back door.
"Miss Amara."
She froze.
"Our boss would like to see you."
"I don't know your boss."
"You will."
Before she could run, they surrounded her.
The back-seat window rolled down.
Inside sat the most handsome man she had ever seen.
Sharp jaw.
Dark eyes.
Perfect suit.
His expression revealed nothing.
"I've been looking for you," he said calmly.
Amara swallowed hard.
"Who are you?"
He smiled—a smile that somehow felt dangerous.
"My name is Damien Black."
"The man you're supposed to marry."
And just like that...
Her world collapsed all over again.
- Writer
