Contract marriage with the Mafia CEO

Daisy stood still as the splash of dirty water landed on her. She shivered as the water soaked into her clothes, she was on the verge of tears already but she kept it in, crying would only make things worse for her. "I don't care how you do it, but find the money for grandma's treatment, or else you can get out of this house, since you are so useless anyway!" Her stepmother said angrily, her chest heaving up and down as she used all her energy to shout. Daisy stood there quietly with her head bowed as her stepmother shouted at her while her dad and sister watched. She could see her stepsister trying to hide her smile. Her stepmother had always accused her of spending money on herself. That wasn't true at all. She had no money; she worked three jobs just to get money for the family expenses and her grandmother's treatment ever since her father lost his job, it was draining but no one cared. She understood why her stepmother had no love for her; after all, she was an illegitimate child from her father's affair. Her grandma had been the one to bring her home when her mother died and forced her dad to take care of her. "I'm sorry, Mother. I promise to get money as soon as possible. I haven't been paid yet at my jobs," Daisy said, trying to convince her stepmother. "Liar! You think I don't know that you spent the money?" Her stepmother said, her face turning ugly in anger. "You think I don't know you used the money for art school?" she shouted. Daisy's face blanched. How did she know about that? Daisy looked at her stepsister and saw the proud grin on her face; she must have gone through her things again. Even though daisy and her younger sister had finished high school, daisy had been forced to stop schooling and pay for her stepsister's education instead. Her stepmother had insisted it was the least she could do for all the years she had spent raising her. Daisy cried and begged her stepmother to allow her to continue her studies, saying that she would pay for them both, but she refused. But Daisy recently saw that a fashion design school was giving out scholarships, and if she passed the exam, all she needed to pay for was the acceptance fee. Daisy had loved fashion since she was little; she didn't want to lose the opportunity. Her stepsister had almost finished college anyway, they could allow daisy a little break. "I'm sorry, Mum, but it's just an acceptance fee. I didn't pay that much, and I paid it after I had bought all of Grandma's drugs, I promise," she said shakily, trying to convince her. Her stepmother seemed to get more angry at this. "So what? So once you buy your grandma's drugs, it's fine? What about the house expenses and your sister's tuition fee, huh? What about those?" she shouted. "Oh, so you have grown wings, right? After all my years of raising you with my sweat and money, you think you can cheat me?" Her stepmother said with a look of hatred on her face. "No, Mum, I'm sorry. I made a mistake; I didn't mean it like that," she said, exhausted from all the arguing. "I will get the money we need, I promise." "You better do, and make sure you reject that art school scholarship, or else you can forget about coming back to this house," she said angrily. Daisy's heart froze. She couldn't do that; she had worked hard for that scholarship. Resistance welled up in her. Her stepmother seemed to have seen her line of thought because she suddenly slapped Daisy across the face. "What is that rebellion I just saw on your face? Let me tell you, you are going to reject that scholarship and marry the man I arranged for you. Mr. Nick has been asking for your hand for a long time; your father and I have agreed with him yesterday." Fear gripped daisy heart and she looked at her father in desperation, but he just looked away. Pain struck her heart again. "Mum, Mr. Nick is old enough to be my grandfather. He is a very old man," she said desperately. Another slap; her face was probably swollen already. "You should listen to your mother, she knows what's best for you" her father angrily as he walked out. Her stepmother smiled as daisy felt her hear freeze over. She knew he wouldn't take her side but still... "You silly girl," her stepmother continued "Don't you know matured men are better than those silly boys around? He is a rich man and will provide well for us. You should be grateful I found you such a good man. You think you can find a better man?" Her stepmother said arrogantly. Daisy smiled bitterly, if the man was such a good choice why not force him on her own daughter, why her? Her stepmother didn't even know daisy had a boyfriend; she would kill her if she found out, she had forbidden her from any romantic relationship and why, to force a suspected murderer on her? "Mum, Don't you know Mr Nick is under trial for killing his late wife! Do you want me to die? Do you really hate me that much?" she asked with resigned tears in her eyes. "Don't say such rubbish; he said he is innocent," her stepmother said coldly. "The family of the dead wife just wants to get money from him and are trying to frame him because he refused. Don't be so dramatic," her stepmother said with finality as she walked away, her daughter following her. The reality of what was going on dawned on Daisy again. They would never treat her the way they treated her stepsister, Sasha. Daisy wiped her tears and left the house. Daisy decided to call her best friend, Crystal; she would cheer her up. She dialed her number, and Crystal picked up on the first ring. "Hey, soulmate, what's going on?" Crystal asked cheerfully. "Where are you?" "I just left the house," Daisy said downcast, "on my way to the diner now." Crystal must have known from Daisy's tone that she was feeling sad. "What did those bitches do to you now?" Crystal asked angrily. Daisy could already imagine Crystal's face scrunched together in anger. Daisy smiled; Crystal was exactly what she needed. "The usual. I will explain everything later. What about you? Where are you?" Daisy asked. "I was just about to call you. I got a part-time job for us tonight. It's a high-end clubhouse; they need waitresses for tonight, The pay is really good. Let's go together, babe," Crystal said enthusiastically. "Club?" Daisy asked uncomfortably; she didn't like such places. "Don't worry, nothing will happen. We will just serve them drinks and leave. The pay is really good. Don't you need the extra money for your design school and grandma?" Crystal asked worriedly. Daisy hadn't told Crystal what her stepmother said yet, but she decided to try it out. If she felt uncomfortable, she would just leave. "Okay, babe, I will do it. What time tonight? And where?" Daisy asked. Crystal squealed happily. "That's my girl! Don't worry, I will text you the details. See you tonight!" "Okay," Daisy replied, smiling. She would be fine; she had people who loved her. Daisy and her boyfriend worked together at the diner; she needed to tell him what was going on. They would find a solution together. She hurried her steps, she had taken too long on the streets and was already late. Daisy arrived and her co-worker Jade was at the reception; Daisy walked up to her. "Hey, Jade, have you seen Jake?" she asked. Jade pointed to the washroom. "I think I saw him follow a lady in there." Daisy's smile dropped. A woman? But she didn't show it; she said thank you to Jade and went to the washroom. As she moved closer, she could hear sounds; the voices got clearer. "Babe, when are you going to tell my sister about us? I'm tired of hiding," a female voice said. Babe? Sister? Daisy started to get scared. She opened the curtain and saw her stepsister and Jake kissing and groping each other. "I can't just break up with her so suddenly, but I promise to do it soon. Give me a little time, okay? She promised me some money; when she gives it to me, I will dump her, I promise you." "Okay," her stepsister said, smiling. They started to kiss again, almost tearing off each other's clothes. Daisy stared at them, allowing the betrayal to sink in. Finally, she spoke. "Enjoying yourselves?"