I MARRIED THE MAN I HATE

Ava Bennett had been counting down to her wedding for months. Twenty-one days. Three weeks from tonight, she would walk down the aisle and marry Daniel. At least, that was what she thought. She stood outside his bedroom with one hand on the doorknob. Something felt wrong. Daniel had ignored six of her calls that evening. When she asked where he was, he had simply replied, I’m tired. I’ll see you tomorrow, baby. So Ava had decided to surprise him. She had even stopped at his favorite bakery on the way. Chocolate cake. His favorite. She smiled when she remembered how excited he used to get whenever she bought it for him. She pushed the door open. “Daniel?” No answer. The room was dark. Ava stepped inside. Then she heard a laugh. A woman’s laugh. Her smile disappeared. She knew that voice. She had heard it almost every day of her life. “Elena?” Silence. Ava’s heart began to pound. She reached for the light switch. Before she could touch it, the bedside lamp came on. Daniel sat up in bed. And beside him was Elena. Her younger sister. For several seconds, Ava simply stared. Nobody moved. Nobody spoke. Elena quickly pulled the blanket to her chest. Daniel’s face lost all color. “Ava…” The cake slipped from Ava’s hand. It hit the floor. The box opened, sending chocolate frosting across the carpet. She looked down at it. For some strange reason, that was the moment her heart really broke. She had bought that cake for him. For the man she was supposed to marry. The man she had trusted. The man who was lying in bed with her sister. “How long?” Her voice sounded strange. Daniel swallowed. “Ava, please—” “How long?” Elena lowered her eyes. That was enough. Ava looked at her sister. “You knew he was my fiancé.” Elena’s lips trembled. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.” Ava almost laughed. “You didn’t mean for what to happen?” Elena said nothing. “You slept with him?” Tears rolled down Elena’s cheeks. Daniel quickly spoke. “It was a mistake.” Ava turned toward him. “A mistake?” “I was drunk.” “You were drunk?” “Yes.” Ava stared at him. “You were drunk in your own bedroom?” Daniel opened his mouth. Nothing came out. Ava looked around the room. His watch was on the bedside table. His jacket hung over a chair. Their engagement photograph sat beside the lamp. Everything looked normal. Except it wasn’t. “You were supposed to marry me,” she said. “I still want to marry you.” Ava blinked. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You cheated on me with my sister, and you still want to marry me?” “It happened once.” “Once?” Daniel stood up. “Ava, listen to me. I made a stupid mistake.” “No.” She shook her head. “A mistake is forgetting someone’s birthday. A mistake is missing a meeting.” She pointed at the bed. “That was a choice.” Daniel’s expression changed. “You’re making this bigger than it is.” Ava went quiet. Something inside her broke cleanly. “Bigger than it is?” “You’re overreacting.” She nodded slowly. “Maybe I am.” She picked up her handbag. “But I’m not going to marry you.” “Ava.” She turned toward the door. Daniel followed. “Ava, wait.” She kept walking. He caught her wrist. She pulled away so hard that he stepped back. “Don’t touch me.” “I love you.” Ava looked at him. Then she laughed. There was no happiness in it. “If this is what you call love, I don’t want it.” She walked downstairs. “Ava!” She stopped when she heard Elena behind her. Her sister stood at the top of the stairs, still crying. “There is something you don’t know,” Elena said. Ava turned. “What?” Elena looked frightened. Before she could speak, Daniel grabbed her arm. “Enough.” Ava’s eyes narrowed. “What don’t I know?” Daniel pulled Elena back. “Just go home, Ava.” She stared at them both. There was something they weren’t telling her. She could feel it. But she didn’t have the strength to fight for another answer tonight. Her phone rang. Dad. She wiped her face before answering. “Dad?” There was silence. Then she heard his breathing. “Ava, where are you?” “I’m leaving Daniel’s house.” “You need to come home.” His voice was different. Worried. Almost afraid. “Why? What happened?” “It’s the company.” Ava frowned. “What about it?” Her father was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “We’re in serious trouble.” Her stomach tightened. “How serious?” “We’re bankrupt.” Ava stopped walking. “What?” “And there are debts.” “How much?” Her father didn’t answer. “Dad?” “There’s one man who owns most of what we owe.” Ava already knew she wouldn’t like the answer. “Who?” Her father’s voice dropped. “Damian Blackwood.” Ava’s fingers tightened around the phone. She knew that name. Everyone did. Damian Blackwood was one of the most powerful businessmen in the city. He was young, wealthy, ruthless, and almost impossible to deal with. Her father continued. “He gave us until tomorrow.” “Tomorrow?” “Yes.” “To pay everything?” “Yes.” Ava closed her eyes. “How much?” Her father finally gave her the amount. Her breath caught. It was impossible. Even if she sold everything she owned, she wouldn’t come close. “What happens if we can’t pay?” Her father didn’t answer immediately. Then he whispered, “We lose everything.” Ava leaned against the wall. Her wedding was already gone. Now her family’s home, business, and future were disappearing too. “Dad,” she said softly, “what exactly does Damian Blackwood want?” Silence. Too much silence. “Dad?” When he finally spoke, his voice shook. “He doesn’t want the money anymore.” Ava’s heart stopped. “What do you mean?” “He wants you.” She froze. “What?” “He said if I can’t repay the debt by tomorrow morning, the Bennett family loses everything.” Her father’s voice broke. “Unless you agree to marry him.” Ava couldn’t breathe. Marry a stranger? A man she had never even met? Before she could respond, the call ended. She stared at her phone. Then it vibrated again. An unknown number. A message. Ava opened it. Your father has until midnight. After that, you belong to me. Her hands went cold. She looked toward the dark street. Someone was watching her. Or at least, it felt that way. Ava slowly raised her eyes. And for the first time that night, she wondered— Who was Damian Blackwood, and why had he already decided she would become his wife?