Cursed is the Crown

No Matter the Cost

{Melanie’s POV}

My footsteps echoed in the halls, the laughter and applause from the ballroom fading in the distance. I could hear men congratulating my father, and his business partner Rowan. This couldn’t be happening to me.. I knew that I was only raised to be a tool for my father’s business.. but I thought that meant that he’d force me to run the company, no matter how much I despised it, and him. That he wanted me to be well versed, strong, and capable. Instead, he waited until today, on my 28th birthday, to announce that I would be the wife of his business partner. “A perfect match.” He called it, even though Rowan is 20 years older than me, a twisted, devilish smirk spread across his lips when my father made the announcement. I knew what it meant, it wasn’t a threat, no matter how afraid it made me feel. Not a threat, but a promise, one that I knew he’d keep. He planned to torment me, as was his pleasure in life. He’d been a cynical bas**** ever since I came of age. 10 years of dealing with his monstrous abuse, and now my father had publicly tied me to him. I shook my head, backing out of the ballroom. I needed to hide, no, I needed to escape! This couldn’t be happening, not after everything I’d endured. I refused this engagement.. I refuse this marriage, I refuse to be a participant in this sick game that they were playing.

I felt a strong grip on my arm, turning me to face them as a hand slapped me across the face, knocking me to the ground. “How dare you run away and embarrass me that way!” My father sneered. “Don’t you understand how important this deal is for us?” He pointed down at me, seething.

I glared up at him. “You mean the one where you sold me off to your demented business partner?” I seethed. “I won’t marry him! He’s 48 years old, he’s almost fifty!”

He slapped me hard again, sending my head flying to the side, leaving a loud ringing in my ears. “You will marry him, this isn’t something for you to question, and it’s not up for debate!” He shouted. “We’ve already signed the contract, you will marry him tomorrow, it’s already been arranged, you will sign the papers tonight!”

I shook my head, tears spilling down my cheek. My father was a hot tempered man, his abuse had been gradually getting worse over the years, but this last year, everything took a turn for the worst. He began losing money somewhere within his company, and he couldn’t pinpoint where. When he’d come home, he’d take out his frustrations on me. I was the only one he could use in this way.. my mother passed giving birth to me, and he never remarried, or had any other children. Honestly, it’s a good thing he never did.. he was so monstrous to me, I don’t think I could ever even allow him to be near other children. Being whipped with his leather belt left welts and scars across the backs of my thighs, messing up his dinner left me with multiple burn scars from him throwing the hot soups, drinks, or food at me. His beatings.. when he’d get angry enough to use his fists.. those were the hardest to recover from.. his fists usually bruising and injuring the deep tissue in my body, making it take longer to heal, and of course making it harder for me to do my chores, which in turn only made him more angry.

I won’t marry him.. I refuse.. I won’t do it.. the words kept repeating in my mind but they couldn’t quite leave my lips. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I pulled myself up and turned, rushing to my room, shutting and locking the door behind me. I knew my father’s ego wouldn’t allow him to skip any more of the elaborate party he’d put together. He’d have to go back and make some sort of excuse for my absence. He wouldn’t dare follow me and make things more of a spectacle than they already were. I rushed to my closet, throwing it open and grabbing as many clothes as I could. I tossed them onto my bed, before grabbing my duffel bag and stuffing them inside. I packed as many clothes as would fit, before grabbing my glasses and my glasses case, shoving them into the bag. I grabbed my container of contacts and contact solution tossing them into as well before zipping it up.

I ran to the corner of my room, moving the chair that I had there, and prying open the floor board. This is where I kept my money hidden, any cash that I’d accumulated, from birthdays, to withdrawals when I went shopping, to holiday money from my grandparents. I made sure to save all of it. I stuffed it into the bag and snatched it up. I turned, seeing myself in the mirror, my hair was in loose curls down my back, past my butt. Its pale blonde color made my brown eyes pop. My skin was pale, and I was only 5’0. I scanned over my dress, white, floor length gown, a line, it was sleek, and stunning. It had a deep v neckline, and a scoop back that hung down nearly to my butt. My body was curvy, and womanly.. I had been told that I was beautiful, but only when I took off my glasses, and dressed up for the occasion. The dress was made of silk, with a matching scarf wrapped around my throat to cover the bruising of my father’s hand print that was left from when he choked me two days ago. I stood out like a sore thumb, everyone would see me leaving. I couldn’t wait a moment longer though, if father couldn’t come to check on me, he may send Rowan, and that would surely be worse. I looked into my closet, in the very back, seeing something I had almost forgotten I had taken. Before my mother died, she had a cloak made, it was black, with fur lining on the inside, and a thick wool lining the outside. It would be perfect for me to make my escape in, it would keep me warm while also helping me remain concealed.

I pulled it on, carefully buttoning it around me, before grabbing my duffel bag, and rushing out the door. I went down the back staircase, and snuck out through the maids entrance. Once outside, I ran faster than I ever had before into the thick brush of the forest behind our home. I would escape this fate, no matter the cost!