The Marriage My sister Ordered

The first time my sister told me to marry Damian Cross, I thought she was delirious. The second time, I realized she was afraid. The third time, she was dead. “Amara.” Serena's voice was barely a whisper. I leaned closer to her hospital bed, gripping her cold fingers between both of mine. “I'm here.” Her eyes opened. For a second, I saw my sister—the Serena I had known all my life. Beautiful. Confident. Untouchable. Then the fear returned. It didn't belong in her eyes. Serena had always been the strong one. She was the daughter who could walk into a room full of powerful men and make them listen. The daughter who never cried when Dad shouted. The daughter who always knew what to say when I didn't. But tonight, she looked terrified. “Where's Dad?” she whispered. I glanced toward the hospital door. “He went home to get some things. He'll be back.” Serena's fingers suddenly tightened around mine. “No.” Her voice was sharper this time. “Don't call him.” I frowned. “Serena, you're sick. Dad is worried about you.” “He's not worried about me.” The heart monitor beside her bed continued its steady rhythm. Beep. Beep. Beep. I stared at her. “What are you talking about?” She looked toward the door. Then toward the window. Then back at me. It was as if she was checking whether someone was listening. “Amara, you have to listen to me.” “I am listening.” “No matter what Dad tells you tonight, don't believe him.” A chill crawled over my skin. “Why?” She swallowed. “Because I found out what happened.” “What happened?” “The Crosses.” My stomach tightened. Even hearing that name inside our family had always been enough to change the temperature in the room. The Crosses were our family's oldest enemies. For ten years, I'd heard the same story. Damian Cross had destroyed us. His family had taken everything. Our businesses. Our reputation. Our future. And Damian himself? Dad always described him with one word. Monster. “Serena,” I whispered, “what does Damian Cross have to do with this?” Her eyes filled with tears. “Everything.” I shook my head. “I don't understand.” “You will.” She reached beneath her pillow with trembling fingers and pulled out a small black envelope. She pushed it toward me. “Keep this.” I stared at it. “What is it?” “Something I should have given you sooner.” I reached for the envelope. Before I could open it, Serena grabbed my wrist. “Not here.” Her grip was surprisingly strong. “Take it home. Open it when you're alone.” “Okay.” “And Amara…” Her voice broke. I leaned closer. “What?” She looked directly into my eyes. “Marry Damian Cross.” For a moment, I genuinely thought I had heard her wrong. “What?” “Marry him.” I laughed nervously. “Serena, you're not making sense.” “I am.” “You want me to marry Damian Cross?” “Yes.” “The man Dad has spent ten years telling me is a monster?” “Yes.” “The man our family hates?” “Yes.” I stared at her. Then I noticed something that made my smile disappear. She wasn't joking. She wasn't confused. She was terrified. “Why?” I whispered. Serena's lips parted. “Because he's the only man who can protect you.” The heart monitor suddenly began beating faster. Beep. Beep. Beep. “Protect me from what?” She looked toward the door again. Then she whispered something so quietly that I almost didn't hear it. “Dad.” My entire body went cold. “Dad?” Serena nodded. “Don't trust him.” The monitor screamed. Doctors rushed through the door. “Serena?” I jumped to my feet. A nurse pushed me away from the bed. “Miss, you need to step back.” “What's happening?” Serena's eyes found mine one last time. “Remember…” Her voice disappeared beneath the alarms. I couldn't hear the rest. “Serena!” The doctors surrounded her. I stood frozen, watching them fight to keep my sister alive. Three hours later, Serena Vale was dead. And I still hadn't opened the envelope. --- The funeral was four days later. Rain fell over Blackwood City as we lowered Serena's coffin into the ground. I couldn't feel my fingers. I couldn't feel my feet. I couldn't feel anything. People came in black suits and expensive cars. Business partners. Politicians. Friends. Strangers who claimed they had loved my sister. My father stood beside me, looking devastated. His hand rested on my shoulder. “You have to be strong, Amara.” I looked at him. For four days, I'd repeated Serena's final words inside my head. Don't trust him. Dad. I had tried to convince myself she hadn't meant Victor. My father. The man who had raised us. The man who had held me when I was sick. The man who had taught me to ride a bicycle. The man who had told me every night that nothing in this world could hurt me as long as he was alive. I wanted to believe him. I needed to believe him. So when he pulled me into his arms, I closed my eyes. And ignored the fear in my stomach. Until I heard someone whisper behind me. “Is that him?” I turned. The crowd had suddenly gone quiet. A black car had stopped at the cemetery entrance. The rear door opened. A man stepped out. Tall. Broad shoulders. Black suit. Black hair. A face so cold and striking that people instinctively moved out of his way. I knew him immediately. Damian Cross. The Devil of Blackwood. My father's greatest enemy. The man my sister had told me to marry. He walked toward us without an umbrella. Rain soaked his shoulders. His dark eyes never left mine. Then he stopped in front of my father's graveyard-side circle. My father stepped forward. “You're not welcome here.” Damian ignored him. He looked at me. Only me. Then he reached inside his coat. My heart began pounding. He pulled out a phone. “This belonged to Serena.” My breath caught. Dad's face changed. Damian noticed. A faint, humorless smile touched his lips. “Interesting.” He held the phone toward me. “She contacted me the night before she died.” I stared at him. “What?” Damian stepped closer. “She asked me to protect you.” My father's hand tightened around my arm. Damian's eyes dropped to it. Then slowly returned to mine. “And she left me one final instruction.” My mouth went dry. “What instruction?” He leaned closer, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “She told me to marry you.” I stopped breathing. Behind me, my father's grip suddenly tightened. And for the first time since Serena died, I realized something terrifying. Maybe her final warning wasn't about my father. Maybe it was about everyone.