Marriage Made for War: The Heiress’s Last Gamble

Elara "Access Denied." The blaring red sign of the extremely stainless doors of what was my mother's company hummed out, causing me to startle in fright. I had been denied access while coming by the bashful securities, one I found strange and now, my fingerprint doesn't seem to do the magic. I stood before the staff entrance passage of Elara Fashion House—or what was left of it, anyway. The towering glass building, once a beacon of elegance, now felt like a tombstone. My heart clenched as I glanced up at the company’s shimmering logo, reflecting the light back at me. Vivian's Luxury. The name screamed in my head, an insult to my mother’s legacy. She had gone as far as changing the company name into hers. I reached into my bag, fumbling for the access card that used to let me in every time I visited. My heart sank when the scanner blinked red. Again. "Access Denied." I tried again, as if somehow the machine had made a mistake. The third denial only made it completely obvious—she had restricted me. "Not authorised, huh?" A familiar, cold voice cut through the silence. I whipped around to find my stepmother, Vivian, standing at the entrance like she owned the world—and unfortunately, she did. “Well, you should know by now that I did.” "What the hell are you doing, Vivian?" I snapped, taking a step toward her. "This is my mother’s company! You can’t just—" "I can, and I have." Her voice was sharp, mocking. She crossed her arms, giving me a slow, disdainful once-over. "You don’t belong here anymore, Elara." I could feel the rage bubbling up inside me. How could she be so calm while ripping apart everything my mother built? “This company is mine. You think you can just steal it from me? You don’t deserve this place!” Mother had renamed the company the moment I was born. Vivian was very much in attendance and full support then. She had been my mother's best friend! Vivian smirked. “Oh, sweetheart, deserve has nothing to do with it. It’s business. And unless you have some magical way of taking it back, it’s mine.” I stepped closer, my voice trembling with barely contained anger. “I’ll fight you for it. I promise you. I won't let you rip this one from me. You and Olivia have taken enough, and I won't sit back and watch you take this one.” The company is almost in ruins. The products produced after Mother's death and under Vivian's supervision are made with weak materials. Our product value is currently dwindling, and there's no way I'll let that happen. Her expression hardened. “Fight me all you want. But you're too late. By next week, the company will be mine—completely. Unless, of course…” Her eyes glinted with amusement. “You find yourself a husband.” “What?” The word barely made it past my lips. What kind of sick game was she playing? “Mr. Lewiston,” she said with a grin, glancing over my shoulder. “Why don’t you explain?” I turned just as Mr. Lewiston, my mother’s lawyer and family friend, approached us. His expression was grim, in contrast to the pretentious smile on Vivian's face. He handed me a sealed letter, the familiar handwriting on the envelope instantly sending a wave of nostalgia through me. *My mother.* “Elara,” he said gently, “your mother wanted you to have this after her passing. It’s her final wish. I'm sorry I'm just letting you have it now...” I tore the envelope open, reading through the words that blurred before my eyes. My mother’s voice echoed in my mind: “If Elara is to inherit the company, she must be married, and if I die before then, she’s to be wedded within a year of my death. Otherwise, full ownership will be transferred to Vivian’s care.” Tears welled up in my eyes as the words sank in. This was my mother’s wish? Marriage as a requirement to save her company? Why am I just getting this when next week will be her one-year death anniversary? Have I been mourning so much that I didn't realise time isn't my best friend? “You have one week,” Vivian said, her voice filled with false sympathy. “Or this place is mine.” One week to get married. I swallowed the lump in my throat, pushing the letter back into Mr. Lewiston’s hands. But then it hit me—I had Ethan. Relief washed over me, with lots of hope. “You should start planning your exit, Vivian,” I shot back, straightening my posture, my lips curving into a smile. “Because in one week, I’ll be married. And this company will be mine.” Vivian laughed, a soft, condescending chuckle. “Oh, I can’t wait to see that. Good luck.” I stormed away before I could throw any more words at her. I didn’t need this confrontation. I had bigger plans. My fingers immediately found my phone, dialling Lexi—my best friend and Mr. Lewiston’s daughter. She picked up after the first ring. “Lex, I need your help. Tonight.” --- Hours passed in a blur as Lexi and I planned the engagement announcement. She was a professional event planner who knew just how to make magic work in a few hours. We rented out one of the most exclusive hotels in the city. One owned by none other than Xender. My mind was whirling, but I kept thinking of Ethan. With him by my side, I could rebuild everything, reclaim everything. I would show Vivian that she couldn’t just erase me, erase my mother’s legacy. I dialled Ethan, the sound of his voice calming me as he picked up. “Hey, babe.” “I hope you’re ready for tonight,” I said, my voice a mix of excitement and relief. “We’re announcing our engagement at the party. It’s time.” Ethan paused, but then his voice warmed. “I’ll be there, Elara. I’m all in.” I smiled, feeling a wave of reassurance. “We’re going to take this company back, Ethan. Together.” *I have Ethan; then the world is a piece of cake.* --- The party was already in full swing by the time I arrived. The hotel’s ballroom glittered with chandeliers, the soft hum of conversations filling the air. I spotted Lexi across the room, already mingling with some of the guests. She gave me a thumbs-up, her bright smile contagious. I marvelled at how extinguished and furnished the whole room was. We had invited every reasonable person I could think of, including distant relatives. My stepmom was at the far end, her eyes staring daggers at me. She had her hands locked in my father's arm as both laughed heartily. Dad didn’t glance, not even a slight acknowledgment. He was on, talking about how perfect Olivia was. I was dressed to perfection, my gown flowing around me like liquid silk, radiating confidence I wasn’t entirely sure I felt. But this was it—tonight I would announce to the world that Ethan and I were engaged, that I was taking my mother’s company back from the clutches of Vivian and Olivia. Lexi walked up to me, her face lit with admiration. "That dude is the luckiest man alive, I can assure you." I gave her my warmest, genuine smile, my eyes scanning the crowd for my soon-to-be husband—and one other person, Olivia. “You did a good job here, Lex,” I replied, finally resting my gaze on her. “I knew I could trust you to do the best.” "I'm honoured, baby." She paused. “Looking for the groom? He was here a bit earlier, and I saw him going upstairs. I bet he thought you were here already.” My lips curved into the widest smile at the mention of Ethan. “Come with me Lex.” We walked out of the crowd, amidst friends and potential enemies, to the elevator. We made our way out to the very floor where I believed Ethan would be, but as I made my way through the corridors of the hotel, something caught my eye—Ethan’s watch. The very same one I had given him for his 26th birthday. It was on the floor, outside a door slightly ajar. Frowning, I motioned to Lexi to go ahead without me. “I’ll catch up,” I muttered, picking up the watch. Why would Ethan’s watch be lying here?I pushed open the door to the suite gently, clenching the watch tightly—and froze the moment I could fully catch a glance of the room. There, in the dim light, was Ethan—his lips locked with Olivia. My stepsister. “Ethan?” My stomach dropped, nausea rising in my throat as they broke apart, staring at me with wide eyes. “Elara—” Ethan began, his voice frantic. Olivia, ever the actress, feigned shock, though beneath her eyes, they glittered with mockery. “This isn’t what it looks like, Elara.” My heart shattered, but the anger that surged through me overpowered the pain. “What the hell are you doing?” I screamed, my voice raw, broken. “You’re my fiancé, Ethan! My f*****g fiancé!” “Calm down, Elara,” Olivia said, her voice sickeningly sweet. “You’re overreacting.” “Overreacting?” I felt like I was about to explode. “You—both of you—are disgusting.” I walked towards Olivia, but before I could do anything, she raised her hands and pushed me hard. I stumbled backwards and almost hit the floor when a firm grip caught me from hitting the ground. His smell filled my nostril and my eyes got a glimpse of his eyes. He had memorising Grey eyes. One that will sink itself to your memory. I was unable to take in his facial features because of the condition I'm currently in. I stood upright, yet with his help while his palm pressed on my shoulder. Olivia saw I was saved by a stranger, stumbled backwards too and made a dramatic show of falling to the floor, crying out as if I had truly hurt her. Ethan rushed to her side, completely ignoring me, his fiancée. “Elara, leave,” he said quietly, his gaze fixed on Olivia as he helped her up. “We’re over.” “What?” I found myself asking in disbelief. Totally forgetting my helper. “What did you just say?” “Was that too hard for you to comprehend? I’ve always wanted to be with Olivia from the start. You’ve always been the tool—not the one I ever wanted to be with!” Tears streamed down my face as I watched Ethan pick her up in a bridal style. “If there’s anyone I’m proposing to tonight, it’s her.” And with that, he walked out of the hallway towards the elevator. “Are you alright Miss?” The voice of the man who had helped me up asked and I nodded watching Ethan stare at me disgustedly before walking away. I was nothing to Ethan. Nothing at all. Finding it hard to breathe, I freed myself from the strangers hold and ran out of the room, my sobs choking me. I had lost my chance to reclaim my mother’s company. I had lost everything.