Married to the Wrong Billionaire Brother

“There is no other way!” Ida’s hands paused on the bannister at the sound of her father’s voice. She looked back worriedly, contemplating going to check what was wrong or waiting till they told her themselves. This was becoming the norm of the day, the yelling. Ida wished there was something she could do to help. If there was, she would without question. “I do not think she will agree to this,” her mother’s voice followed. The tired-laced tone of her mother was what finally drove her to her father’s office. She stopped at the slightly opened door, still uncertain if she should intrude. But her mother had said ‘she’. Who could she be referring to if not her? “Ida only needs to obey. It’s as I said, there is no other option. These are the conditions he has set. If we miss this opportunity now, we might never get one again. Do you understand! What choice will be able to give our daughter then if we are left desolate?” She hated the worried lines that had begun to make themselves at home on her parents’ brows. There was hardly any laughter in the household. Only constant worrying about what to do to save the company ever since it fell into debt. “Mr Blackwood has agreed to invest in the company for as long as we need his support. And all he wants is…” She held her breath as the door creaked. She had leaned too much on it. No doubt they knew she had been listening. There was no use hiding out here anymore. “Ida, come in,” her mother called from inside the study. “I heard raised voices, so I was worried. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” Ida said, coming in. She met her father’s eyes, but his could not seem to hold her gaze. Her mother sighed, directing her to a seat. “It’s alright. Sit down. We planned to talk to you in the morning anyway. We only wanted to be sure…” “Talk to me about what?” She sought her father’s gaze again. When he remained silent, she continued. “I heard my name. I would do anything to help. But I need to know what’s going on” “You know the business is sinking. We are in debt” It was her mother who spoke. Ida nodded in response, her eyes noticing a contract on the table, but she could not make out the details. It had been the focus of her father’s attention. Not her who had come in offering help, but the piece of paper on the table, which she noticed was already signed. “The Blackwoods have agreed to help” “The Blackwoods? Help? How?” Her brow furrowed in confusion, already getting antsy from the suspense. She knew the Blackwoods. She was friends with one of the sons, Aiden. She had even harboured some unexpressed feelings for him for some time. But it had gone unrequited, and he seemed to have only noticed her friend Ava in that way. Though nothing ever started between them to the best of her knowledge. Still, his disinterest had quickly sunk that ship. However, she wished otherwise, she would never have gone after someone who never wanted her. Especially if he had eyes for her best friend. “They will clear the debts, keep the business afloat if…” “If you marry him,” her father suddenly interrupted, cutting her mother off. “You are to marry Mr Blackwood, Ida. Ida froze in her seat, stunned. It was difficult to process what her father said, especially with his tone. Her eyes went to the contract on the table again as his word echoed in her head and she came to a daunting realisation. It had been finalised. She had no say in the matter. Vaguely, she registered that her mother had continued speaking. But her mind whirled in confusion, still trying to understand. “We want you to understand, Ida, that we would not force you to this if there was another way…” Ida cut her off. “You plan to sell me off? That’s the only way?!” She shook her head in denial. She stood up, voice shaking with anger and confusion. “How could you ask me to do this? This is my life! This is who I am going to be with for the rest of my life! And you want to do this by selling me off?” “Ida…” “NO! How can this be your only solution?” She paced. “For crying out loud, it is the twenty-first century. Who the hell arranges marriages anymore?!” “Ida!” Her father yelled, shutting her up. Still, she stared him in the eye. All her life, she had done everything they wanted, and she still would do anything for the family. But not this. Never this. This was the one thing she could not agree to. Her parents had given her their word when her sister Clara had been put in a similar situation. For the family and the business, her father had said. She had seen how miserable it had made her sister, but Clara had not been able to do anything about it. Her father had promised that she would not have to go through the same thing. She would have a choice because the business had been saved by her sister’s marriage. What had gone so wrong now? “You said I would have a choice,” she whispered, her eyes stinging with tears. Her father simply scoffed. “You think we can keep pretending that this is temporary? You think the creditors will wait? You will be reduced to nothing! This family will be reduced to nothing!” “So, your word means nothing,” she could not stop the fat drops from falling now. “This is the rest of my life, Father. However, long or short it might be. And if you insist on this, you will be cutting it short.” She let the implication of her words linger until the butler interrupted. “Mr Rowley,” she called. “Mr Blackwood’s lawyer is here.” “Let him in. I will join him in the living room soon.” Her father stood, gathering the files. Her heart skittered at the finality his actions carried. “Will you not consider? Please, father,” She held his arm, stopping him from leaving. She looked at her mother in plea. She was beyond begging, grovelling. All her plans, dreams for the life she would finally have, were now shattered. “Cynthia!” He called the housekeeper back. “Send the lawyer up. I will see him here.” There was no mistaking the dismissal in his voice. Her heart in her throat, Ida left his office, passing the lawyer without offering a greeting. She ran to her room, her sister Clara following. “If there were another way, you would not be asked to do this, Ida. Don’t be selfish.” Ida scoffed. “Selfish? You say that now because you are lucky you are no longer tied down. You know, I never wondered until now. Did you maybe have a hand in speeding up the death of your beloved?” Her question was met with a slap. “I will not let you insult me or the sacrifices I made for this family. If you think death is the only way to escape from this, then go ahead and give it a try”. Clara said and walked out, the sound of her stomping heels expressing what her harsh words did not. She had gone too far, Ida thought. She had no right to disrespect her sister like that. But she was free now. With her husband dead, she could do whatever she wanted now. It would be wrong to put her in these shoes again. Even Ida knew that. She went into the bathroom, fishing out a pocket knife from one of the drawers. One thing was true, though. Death was the only escape she saw now. But could she do it? She was not sure if she could. Maybe she did not have to. Just enough to send her to the hospital. Just enough for the marriage to be called off. Her mother came in just as she put the knife to her wrists. She screamed, slapping the knife away from her hands. “What do you think you are doing, Ida!” “This is the only way you will listen, right? I refuse to get married, Mother. I will not marry a man that I do not know, want or love.” “You cannot get everything your way, dear. Even your sister didn’t…” “Then what will I have my way? I am not my sister! And I have never in my entire life done anything that either you or father did not suggest.” She walked out back to her father’s study, sighing in relief when she heard the voice of the lawyer. She was not too late. “Mr Blackwood is glad all is going well. He has requested not to hesitate in reaching out to him for anything.” She barged into the office. “On the contrary, sir. Nothing is alright. Tell Mr Blackwood that he does not have a bride. I will not be getting married to any Blackwood”