The Forced Wedding and a Hazy Night
Megan’s cheek stung. Her dad had just slapped her, hard.
“No, Papa!” she cried, her voice cracking. “Please, not him! Anyone but that old man!”
Her father, Wilfred Giles, looked furious, his face twisted with anger and desperation. He used to be kind, but now he was like a stranger. Their rich family business was gone, bankrupt. Their big house felt empty and sad, just like their lives.
“You will marry him, Megan!” Wilfred yelled, his voice low and angry. “You’ll do this for our family! For me! We’re sinking, child! Sinking!”
Just then, Trixie, Megan’s stepsister, appeared at the door. Her voice was sweet, fake. “Papa, what’s wrong? Megan, are you okay?”
Megan knew Trixie had told her dad everything. She always did. Trixie probably "innocently" mentioned Megan didn’t want to marry, making her dad even angrier. Trixie looked like an angel, but she was a devil inside.
They argued more, but Megan knew she had no choice. She was tired of fighting. She just nodded, a single tear rolling down her face. Her dad’s slap hurt, but his words and the huge debt hurt more.
Later, the fancy ballroom was loud with fake happiness. Glasses clinked, making Megan feel worse. It was her bridal shower, but it felt like a bad joke. The heavy, expensive necklace her old fiancé gave her felt like a chain around her neck.
Trixie was there, wearing a pretty dress, laughing. Megan hated the sound of her laughter. “Oh, Megan, sweet sister, I’m so happy for you!” Trixie hugged her, but it felt like she was squeezing her. “It’s… bittersweet, I know. But I’m here for you.” The words were kind, but Trixie’s eyes, quickly looking away, showed a hint of winning.
Then, Megan saw him. Across the room, under the sparkling lights. Troy. Her Troy. The man she was supposed to marry, the man Trixie stole. He was laughing with Trixie, his hand on her arm. Megan felt sick to her stomach.
Troy saw her. His smile faded, and he looked guilty for a second. But Trixie quickly gasped and pulled him closer. She turned to Megan, her face full of fake sadness. "Megan! Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I… I didn't mean for this to happen. It just… happened." She sounded so innocent, but Megan knew it was all an act.
Megan couldn't breathe. She was so angry she couldn't speak. This was the worst betrayal. Not just Troy, but her dad was part of it too.
Suddenly, her dad, Wilfred, grabbed a microphone. His voice boomed. "Friends, family! Can I have your attention!"
Megan’s heart pounded. What now?
Wilfred beamed, a proud, ugly smile on his face. He put his arm around Trixie, pulling her close to Troy. "I'm so happy to tell you all that my dear stepdaughter, Trixie, and Troy will be getting married! Their engagement, which was put on hold, is now back on!"
Everyone clapped loudly. Megan felt the world spin. She stood there, frozen, watching Troy, Trixie, and her father, all lit up. Troy gave her a quick, sorry look, then turned away as Trixie smiled a bright, winning smile.
There was no way out. No way to leave the party, no way to escape the future her dad had planned. The only escape felt like getting lost in the moment.
Megan grabbed a drink from a tray and drank it fast. Then another. And another. The room started to sway. The lights blurred. Her head felt heavy. A strange, hot feeling spread through her body. It wasn't just the alcohol. This was different. Hotter. Cloudier.
The music pulsed. People danced. But Megan felt like she was floating away. She felt dizzy and stumbled. Her eyes couldn’t focus. Her body was burning. What was happening?
She started to fall. Just before everything went dark, she smelled something. A man’s scent. Strong. Dark. It filled her nose. Then, powerful arms, hard and muscled, lifted her. She felt the strength of him, the firm feel of his skin. It was just a quick feeling, but it stayed with her as she lost consciousness. His cologne, wild and exciting, filled her senses.
After that, everything was hazy. Just heat and touch, and hushed whispers in the dark. A deep, primal connection. When she woke up later, alone, confused, with a pounding headache, only two things remained in her memory: that powerful, unique scent, and the feel of those hard, strong muscles. Nothing else clear. Just a burning question in her mind, forever connected to that night.
