Bound By Betrayal

Scarlet POV “Tell your future son-in-law to take his filthy hands off me before I break them.” The champagne glass shattered on the marble floor. The conversations around us fell silent. Dominik Lindqvist froze, one of his hands still clasped around my wrist. My father stood beside him, his expression darkening as a hundred guests turned to watch the scene unfolding right in the middle of his party. I looked at Dominik’s hand. Then at him. “Let me go.” He let me go, but not without leaning so close to me that only I could hear him. “You should be careful, Scarlet. You’re embarrassing your father.” I smiled. “Good. At least someone’s enjoying the evening.” His expression hardened. Behind him, my father looked as though he was ready to strangle me with his bare hands. Perfect. At least that's what I wanted. Dominik Lindqvist was used to getting whatever he wanted. Everyone knew it. He was the only son of the richest billionaire family in town, a family whose name alone could make business owners reconsider a decision and powerful men lower their voices. People feared him. They agreed with him even when they knew he was wrong. Nobody wanted to be on the receiving end of his temper. I wasn’t everybody. Dominik was aggressive, insulting, and controlling. He wanted everything done his way, and he had no patience for anyone who dared to disagree with him. I’d seen enough of his behavior to know that marrying him would be a nightmare. And I hated him for it. “Scarlet Hayes!” my father barked. “Have you completely lost your mind?” “No, Father. I think I’m the only one in this room who’s still in their right mind.” A few guests exchanged nervous glances. Someone near the champagne fountain whispered my name. I didn’t care. Twenty minutes ago, I’d discovered that my father had signed a merger agreement that could save Hayes Maritime millions. An agreement that would also give the Lindqvist family unprecedented control over our company. The partnership was expected to triple our income. Business families spent years trying to secure deals like this, and my father was determined not to lose it. But there was a price. And me? Apparently, I was the final item on the contract. A wife for Dominik Lindqvist. Wow. A pretty little signature at the bottom of a business deal. My father grabbed me by the elbow and dragged me into the adjoining study. “Smile,” he hissed. “You’re making a scene” I wrenched my arm free. “You’ve sold my future, and you’re worried about me making a scene? What sort of father are you?” “I’ve secured this family’s future!” “Really? By promising me to a man I barely know?” “You know exactly who Dominik is.” “Yes. The arrogant man. Am I supposed to be impressed by that?” My father glanced at the open doors. “Keep your voice down.” “Why? Are you afraid they’ll hear what you’ve done?” His jaw tensed. “Your wedding to Dominik is part of the agreement. The documents have been signed, and the announcement is being made tonight. There’s no turning back now, girl.” I stared at him. I felt like hitting him so hard, even though he was my father. He couldn’t possibly be serious. “You’re announcing my engagement without my consent?” “We don’t need your permission, daughter.” “I’m not up for grabs.” “Scarlet!” “No, Dad.” You’ve got me right. I’m not the sort of girl you can sell for money. I can’t be married off to that stupid, arrogant guy. What on earth does my father actually think of me? I’m now a pawn in my own family. “You will watch your mouth when you speak to me!” he shouted. “Then stop treating me like something you own!” His hand struck my cheek. For a moment, I heard nothing. My head turned with the force of the slap. I stood still, one hand pressed against my cheek, staring at the man who had just hit me in the middle of an argument about my future. He looked angry enough to do it again. “You will not humiliate me in my own house,” he said. I slowly lowered my hand. “You hit me because I refused to marry him?” “I hit you because you have forgotten who you are and where you come from.” A bitter laugh escaped me. “No, Father. I remember exactly where I come from. That’s the problem.” His eyes narrowed. “You have no idea what you’re risking,” he said. “Then explain to me everything, Father!” For the first time that evening, he hesitated. It was only a brief moment, but I noticed it. And suddenly, the anger in my chest turned into something colder. “What are you hiding from me?” “Don’t start on that. Not here,” he said. “What? Asking questions about a contract that apparently affects my whole life?” His gaze flicked towards the open doors. And that glance gave me a sufficient answer. I held out my hand. “Give me a copy of the agreement.” “No,” he shouted, leaning back. I laughed without humor. “Then I’ll get one myself.” “You won’t do such.” “Watch me. Watch me, Dad,” I said, turning towards the door. But before I could move, my father grabbed my wrist. “I swear to God scarlet, If you leave this room, you might not have a company to return to.” Those words shook me to the core. I stopped in my tracks. For a moment, neither of us moved. Hayes Maritime was more than just a business to me. I’d spent years learning the ropes, fine-tuning shipping forecasts and negotiating contracts, whilst my father reaped the rewards in the boardrooms. I knew exactly how much the company was worth, and I knew how easily a bad contract could destroy it. He knew that too. He was counting on it. “You wouldn’t dare destroy everything we’ve built just to force me into marriage,” I said quietly. The look offered me no comfort. “The agreement stipulates withdrawal penalties. Substantial ones, in fact. If you refuse to cooperate, the company could lose more than you can imagine. And I don’t want that.” There it was. Not a father’s plea. A bloody threat. I looked at the man who’d raised me and wondered since when he’d believed that loving his daughter gave him the right to own her. “You should have thought that through before you used me as a means of payment,” I said and walked out. This time, no one stopped me. I strode across the ballroom with my head held high, ignoring the curious glances and the whispering that followed me. My heels struck the marble floor with such force that anyone who hadn’t already noticed was made aware of my departure. Dominik stood beside the champagne fountain, accepting congratulations as if he won a contract. Obviously. He caught my eye and lifted his glass. Grrrrh!! The nerve of that man. I made it out onto the terrace before my mobile vibrated. It was my lawyer. But I rejected the call. It rang again. I rejected it a second time. On the third attempt, I answered. “Tell me you haven’t seen the agreement yet,” I said. There was a pause. “Scarlet, where are you?” The lawyer asked. “Outside. I’m trying not to commit a crime right now. Tell me how bad it is,” I demanded. “Your father signed the revised merger documents this afternoon.” She continues. “The agreement contains a personal guarantee linked to the marriage contract; the Lindqvist Group can impose financial penalties on Hayes Maritime.” If the conditions weren’t met. My fingers clenched the phone tighter. “I’m still checking the wording. And whatever you do, don’t let your father convince you that this is merely a family arrangement.” I looked through the glass doors. Inside, my father was already chatting with the guests again. Dominik stood beside him, accepting congratulations. “Too late,” I muttered. “He’s already announced it.” “Then we need to act fast.” “Send me everything. Every page. I want to know exactly what my father has signed.” “I’ll send it to you this evening.” The call ended. I stood on the terrace for a moment longer, staring at my reflection in the dark glass. My dress and jewelry were expensive. My hair hadn’t lost its shape. I looked like a woman who had it all. Apparently, I couldn’t even decide who I was allowed to marry. My mobile phone immediately vibrated as an email notification came through. URGENT: EMERGENCY BOARD MEETING HAYES MARITIME I opened the email. Then I read the first paragraph. My dad had already forwarded The Lindqvist agreement to the board. My father hadn’t just arranged a marriage. He’d set a countdown in motion. I locked my phone and headed for the exit. I had to get home, go through the documents, and find a way out before my father turned a private betrayal into a public obligation. I didn’t need a husband. I needed a lawyer, a loophole, and a new family. In that order.