Chapter- 3
1544 Words
“But not here. Let’s go talk in the living room,” Rosa said as she slowly rose from her seat.
Nyx almost frowned.
Did it matter where they talked?
Would changing rooms somehow soften whatever blow they were preparing to deliver?
Still, she quietly stood up alongside the others.
The moment they began leaving the dining room, her grandmother’s sharp voice rang out behind them.
“Clean the table and kitchen before coming to the living room.”
Nyx paused for half a second.
Then lowered her gaze.
Of course.
Some things never change.
No matter how strangely kind they acted tonight, she was still the one expected to clean up after everyone.
Without a word, Nyx returned to the dining table while the others walked away.
The moment the living room lights disappeared from view, the warmth and fake kindness from dinner vanished along with them.
Only silence remained.
Nyx slowly gathered the dirty plates, stacking them carefully in her arms before carrying them to the sink. The sound of running water filled the kitchen as she scrubbed dishes one after another.
Her thoughts, however, were far louder.
Something serious was happening.
She could feel it.
Her family wasn’t nervous because they pitied her.
They were nervous because whatever they planned to say next would affect her greatly.
And judging by the guilty looks they kept throwing at her—
It wasn’t going to be good.
The uneasy feeling in her chest only deepened as the minutes passed.
Half an hour later, Nyx finally wiped her wet hands against her old pants and turned off the kitchen light.
Then slowly, she walked toward the living room.
The moment she stepped inside, her footsteps faltered slightly.
Everyone was there.
Her grandmother sat stiffly in her rocking chair.
Her father leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees, cigarette forgotten between his fingers.
Rosa sat quietly beside him, nervously twisting her hands together.
Even Karen and Mike were present, busy playing a games on their mobile phones
All of them were waiting for her.
The atmosphere felt unbearably heavy.
Like a courtroom waiting to announce a sentence.
Nyx’s throat tightened.
“Sit down,” her grandmother ordered coldly, pointing toward the single empty chair placed in the center of the room.
Nyx stared at it briefly before slowly sitting down.
The moment she did, silence swallowed the room again.
No one spoke immediately.
No one even looked directly at her.
And somehow, that silence terrified her more than screaming ever could.
Her trembling fingers slowly curled against her lap.
Finally, Rosa inhaled deeply as though gathering courage.
“Nyx…” she started softly.
Then stopped.
Her father suddenly spoke instead.
“You know your brother and sister recently got admission into good colleges.”
Nyx nodded slowly.
Of course, she knew.
She had been the one working extra shifts to help pay for their books while Karen constantly complained about how “cheap” the campus looked compared to richer students’ schools.
“We didn’t have enough money for the admission fees,” her father continued heavily. “So… I borrowed money.”
A cold feeling crept down Nyx’s spine.
“Borrowed? From whom?” she whispered, her voice so faint the heavy silence blanketing the room nearly swallowed it.
“From a loan shark the landlord introduced me to,” her father admitted, his expression tight with anxiety.
“At first, I managed to keep up with the interest payments, but I could never repay the actual debt. Eventually, he started threatening me. He said that if I failed to pay him back, he would take one of the women in this house and sell her to a brothel.” His voice faltered before he continued. “Then I found out he was searching for a wife… so I arranged your marriage with him.”
“…What?”
“You’re getting married next month,” her grandmother repeated impatiently. “The man who lent us money agreed to clear the debt in exchange for marrying you.”
Nyx stared at them blankly.
The room suddenly felt distant.
Muted.
As though she were underwater.
Married?
Her?
To repay a debt?
A shaky laugh almost escaped her lips because surely—
Surely this had to be some sick joke.
But nobody was laughing.
Her eyes slowly moved from one face to another.
Avoidance.
Guilt.
Shame.
Not one of them looked surprised by the announcement.
Because they had all already agreed to it.
They had discussed it.
Planned it.
Decided her future for her without her knowledge.
Nyx’s nails dug painfully into her palms.
“Who?” she whispered.
Another silence.
Then Rosa spoke weakly.
“Mr. Romano.”
Nyx’s blood ran cold.
Everyone in the neighborhood knew who Victor Romano was.
A wealthy businessman in his late fifties with greasy, slicked-back hair, stained yellow teeth, and eyes that lingered far too long on young women.
Nyx remembered the way he looked at waitresses whenever he visited nearby cafés.
Like he was choosing meat from a market.
Revulsion climbed up her throat instantly.
“No.”
The word came out quietly.
But firmly.
“No,” Nyx repeated, lifting her head slowly. “I’m not marrying him.”
Her grandmother immediately slammed her cane against the floor.
“You ungrateful girl!”
“We raised you! Fed you! Put a roof over your head!” she snapped furiously. “Now it’s your turn to help this family! ”
Help?
Nyx almost laughed hysterically.
Help?
After years of being treated like a servant?
A punching bag?
A source of income?
Her chest rose and fell unevenly as panic and disbelief mixed violently inside her.
“You borrowed money for Karen and Mike's stake,” Nyx said shakily, looking toward her parents. “So why do I have to pay for it?”
Karen immediately scoffed.
“Because you’re only our adopted sister. Mom and Dad picked you up from the dumpsters out of kindness. Don’t you think it’s time you repaid this family?”
The words hit Nyx harder than a slap ever could.
“Karen!” Rosa snapped, quickly trying to stop her.
But it was already too late.
It wasn’t as though Nyx didn’t know she was adopted. They had reminded her of it countless times over the years—whenever they wanted something from her, and she hesitated to give in. The moment she refused, they would bring up how they had “taken her in” and “raised her,” using gratitude as chains to bind her into obedience.
And every single time, Nyx had surrendered.
Not because she wanted to, but because a part of her truly believed she owed them for giving her a home.
Still… knowing the truth didn’t make the words hurt any less.
But this time was different.
Before, it had been about sacrificing her education because the family couldn’t afford her tuition. About taking on extra jobs to bring more money into the house. Each time, Nyx had swallowed her disappointment and agreed for their sake.
But this…
This was marriage.
An entire lifetime tied to a stranger.
And not just any stranger—a fifty-year-old loan shark.
There was no way she would agree to this.
“No,” Nyx said, her voice shaking but firm. “There’s no way I’m marrying that man. I refuse.”
“Refuse?” Mike let out a mocking scoff.
“And what exactly gives you the right to refuse?” he demanded. “Where do you think you’ll go after leaving this house? You don’t have money, and you don’t even have a degree to get a decent job.”
“Honestly, Nyx, I don’t understand why you’re making such a big deal out of this,” Karen added with a smirk. “Sure, he’s old enough to be your grandfather, but look at the bright side. Once he dies, all his money could become yours. After that, you’ll be free to do whatever you want.”
Rosa silently nodded beside her, as though Karen’s words made perfect sense.
Yeah, right, Nyx thought bitterly.
Do they really take me for an i***t? That man already has two grown sons, both married and just as greedy and disgusting as their father. There’s no way they’d ever let an outsider inherit his wealth. And even if I somehow managed to get anything, do they honestly think those people would let me keep it?
The thoughts screamed inside her head, but shock stole the words from her mouth.
She could only stare at them, lips parting and closing soundlessly like a fish out of water.
Karen turned her face away, her shoulders trembling slightly as she struggled to hold back her laughter.
“This isn’t a discussion, Nyx,” Rosa said coldly. “We’re not asking for your opinion. We’re informing you.”
Her expression hardened further.
“Call your employers and tell them you won’t be going to work anymore. Starting tomorrow, you’ll begin your bride training.”
But Nyx barely heard the rest of her words.
Her mind was already racing in another direction.
Escape.
She needed to get away from this house… away from all of them.
- Writer
