4: FOUR
1112 Words
K I A R A
I sat in the dining room with my family, silently eating my food. My father was busy talking on the phone, while my stepmother, Elizabeth was busy bragging about her latest shopping trip.
I hated this.
Ever since I was a child, I had felt like an outsider in my own home. My father had remarried when I was very young, and Elizabeth had given him one daughter, my younger sister, Harper.
They were everything he had ever wanted, while I was nothing more than a nuisance. He didn’t share his love or affection with me, but for my sister, his feelings were clear.
I knew it was because of the way I looked. I was the spitting image of my late mother, the only difference being my eyes. She was a mere one night stand to him, something that he regretted for the rest of his life.
My mother died during childbirth, leaving me as the only reminder of his greatest mistake. He would often look at me and see her.
"So, Kiara dear. Have you decided on what to do with your life? I hope you know that your father has big plans for you," Elizabeth said, interrupting my thoughts.
Big plans, that's what she called the arranged marriage he had set up for me. A marriage to a stranger they thought was best for me.
"I have no plans. All I know is that I want nothing to do with the marriage you both have planned for me. I am not marrying any man."
"How dare you disrespect your father and his wishes! He is doing this for you! You are his eldest child, and as such, you need to take care of your responsibilities," Elizabeth said, her voice rising with each word.
"Why is it my responsibility to marry a man I don't even love? Why is it that the only way to be a woman in this family is to give birth and produce more children? I never wanted this life. I never wanted to be a princess or the perfect mate. This is not what I dreamed of. Please, just let me be. Let me live my own life," I pleaded.
My father's face turned red with anger and he slammed his fist down on the table, making me jump.
"You will do as I say, Kiara! You will not defy me or disrespect my wishes!" he roared.
"All I want is a chance to make my own decisions. I want a life that's mine, and mine alone. Why can't you understand that?"
"Because you are a part of this family, and we don't have time for your selfish needs. This is what is expected of you, and you will fulfill your duty," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"I won't marry him. If I do, I'll die."
"You're being overdramatic, Kiara," Elizabeth said, rolling her eyes. "You’re our only option. Harper will be married off to him if you don’t agree to this. Your sister is only twenty, she is still young and deserves to experience the world. You wouldn’t want to strip her of that, would you?"
At the mention of Harper, my eyes shot to her. Despite being born of a heartless mother, I loved my sister.
Her mother had severally tried to create a rift between us, but I would never let her. We were close, and I would never allow anyone to use her against me.
"Kiara, please. I'm begging you. I don't want to get married," Harper said, her eyes filling with tears.
This was the first word she had said to me since my arrival back in the palace. She had been ignoring me, and it was clear that her mother's poison had infected her too.
But she was young and naive. I couldn’t let her suffer because of my selfishness.
"Don't cry, Harper. You won't be forced to marry him. Y-you’ll go to college, meet new people and enjoy life, okay?" I said, placing a hand on her shoulder, blinking back my tears.
Harper looked up at me, her face full of relief.
And here we go again, another moment of me sacrificing my happiness for the sake of others. It’s always been like this. When I got new stuff that Harper wanted, I’d be forced to give them to her.
When I was old enough to date, father would set me up on dates with the most horrible people. They would make me do things I wasn’t comfortable with, and all the while, father and Elizabeth would just sit back and watch.
I was tired. Tired of living my life for everyone else.
They would swear it wasn’t favouritism and I was just been sensitive, but deep down, I knew the truth. I knew I would never be enough for them.
No matter how hard I tried, they would always find ways to bring me down.
"Fine. I'll marry him," I said, my heart sinking as the words left my lips.
My father gave me a smug smile, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"I knew you were a smart girl, Kiara. You made the right decision. See how easy it is to just follow the path laid out for you?" he said, patting my head like a child.
"When will the marriage take place?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from trembling.
"In a month's time. We have already sent an invitation. All the preparations are underway. We will have a big wedding, the biggest one in the history of our kingdom. This will unite two powerful kingdoms, and create an alliance that will be unbreakable."
One month. That was all the time I had left before my life would be irrevocably changed.
"Of course, father," I said, my decision settling heavily on my shoulders.
I held back the tears that were threatening to fall. I had made a decision that would change my life forever, and there was no going back.
My life was about to change, and all I could think about was how it was all Nolan’s fault. How if he hadn’t rejected me, I would be free from this marriage.
And now, I was going to be the perfect daughter and princess they always wanted me to be.
But, it would all be an act. I would do what they wanted, and play the part of the perfect bride to be, but inside, I would be dying.
The pain and heartbreak he had caused me was never going to leave. He had ruined me for all men.
And I would never forgive him.
Ever.
- Writer
