Love Under Contract

The wind flows calmly as I gaze upon the houses and trees ahead of me. I love going for a run whenever I get the chance—it's my solitude, keeping me busy and my thoughts at rest. It's the only time in my life when I feel blissful and free. As I approach home, the feeling of suffocation creeps in, as I huff out a breath. Slowing down to a jog, I pass through the big gates, and the Magnificent Culton's mansion welcomes me. I head straight for my quarters, hoping to avoid being seen. Unfortunately, Mrs. Hildred, my caretaker since childhood and the housekeeper of this household, is waiting at my front door. "Good morning, Mrs. Hildred," I say, forcing a smile. "Good morning, Sabrina," she replies with a knowing look, and I remain silent, waiting for her to speak. "Your Father asked me to inform you to join them for a family dinner this evening." I hum nonchalantly, entering my quarters as she follows behind. "How nice of him, and he couldn't inform me himself?" I ask, a hint of annoyance in my voice. "He left the mansion quite early this morning," she explains, and I nod, pretending to understand, even though I didn't. "Alright, is that all?" "Yes, my dear," she replies, leaving my quarters. I breathe a sigh of relief when she's gone. I dread this dinner; I don't want to be in a place where I'll be uncomfortable, especially anywhere close to my stepmother. I've been staying in these quarters since I was old enough to feed myself. I can't move out to live on my own because apparently, this is a small family and a needlessly large mansion, leaving enough room for everyone. It's not as distant from my stepmother as I would have liked, but my father wouldn't understand. I don't care about my stepmother's opinions, but I go upstairs to look for an appropriate dress for dinner after taking a bath anyway. I'd like to avoid conversations with her as much as possible, which includes not giving her a reason to criticize me, although I know she always has something to say. It's Saturday, and I had planned to stay in all day and work from home. As I sit at my front desk working in my study, I look up through the glass windows and notice that it's getting dark. I check the clock on my desk; it's 6:15. Dinner should be at 7 so I begin to get ready. Stepping through the front door, I'm greeted by my stepmother's face—there she is. Looking like a regal queen as always, standing tall and strong without a care in the world. "Well, hello, stepdaughter," she says, regarding me with a daunting smile that almost makes me sick. I don't smile back; I only nod in acknowledgment. My relationship with my stepmother is complicated. She's loathed me even before I was born. Every time I look at her face and see the disgust in her eyes for me behind her smiling lips, I wish to tell her, 'I am not my mother, I was not the one who ruined your perfect idea of a marriage' I walk past her to my father, who is already seated at the dining table, and I bend low to kiss his cheek. "Hi, Dad," I say. "Rina," he replies, looking exhausted and out of energy. "Were you planning to never come to see your old man ever?" "I've been busy," I say as I sit next to him. "You work too hard for your own good," he tells me without looking up. "You'll inherit the company one day so try to relax, have fun and make a few connected friends, will you?" he adds with a chuckle. I look at him. I've never had a close relationship with my dad. There was a time when I was desperate for his love, desperate for his attention and his wife's acceptance. But now it feels weird watching him smiling and speaking so casually, as if he ever saw me as anything more than the only successor of his legacy and wealth. Then I look to my stepmother and see her sipping her drink from one of her expensive glass cups, as if she's speculating and waiting for something to happen. She doesn't appear smug, just curious. "Sure, Dad," I say with a forced smile. I do not remember what it felt like begging for their affection as a teenager. There's so much on the table when I look around, we all dive into silence eat quietly. My stepmother is completely silent today, which is unusual. "My Love, why don't you tell Sabrina the good news already, hmm?" she speaks immediately after my thought. I begin to feel unsettled. "What good news?" I ask, looking towards my father. The man looks at me apprehensively "You are old enough to get settled, my dear," he begins, clearing his throat. "Okay… so," I keep a calm front, even though I feel exhausted from this conversation already. "Not this again," I groan internally. "Listen to me, Sabrina, just think about it, please. You need support with the business; you cannot handle it alone and time is running out. It's a big empire, and you are my only heir, my only child," he emphasizes, glancing at my stepmother from the corner of his eyes. I almost begin to panic and I try my best to breath and compose myself in front of my Father. I make sure to maintain eye contact trying not to glare at him and grit out. "What exactly are you trying to say?" "I accept accepted a marriage proposal for you with-" I didn't let him finish before screeching and standing up "You what?" "Listen please, he's an old friend of mine and a business partner, my Father hurries to say. I look at him, like he's grown another pair of head, beyond shocked, speechless is an understatement. "You planned my marriage with your friend?" I'm about to go mad just by the thought of it at this point. "No no, sweetheart not my friend, he's son, just please calm down and let's speak calmly." my father says out of breath. I don't usually go on a rampant but I am beyond mad at my Father at this point. My stepmother stares at us amusedly, and I am not surprised that she's having fun with this. So I take a few minutes to relax instead of just walking out the door. "Lucian is a good man. I have seen him, spoken to him. Both companies will merge alongside your marriage. You have no friends that I know of, no allies, you relate with no one, and that is no life suitable for anyone at all," My father speaks after I settle down and sit back down. I see what this about, my father never disappoints me. "you don't give a f**k about me for years and all of a sudden now that you decide to care if I remain alone all my life or not. You are willing to trade my entire future for a business proposal?" I ask him in almost a whisper, not breaking eye contact. "it's not that darling, It's a benefit, I won't lie to you. I know I haven't been the best father to you, and that I may never be able to rectify my mistakes, but you have proven yourself so much worthy of being my daughter more times than I your father. I promise you, if I didn't think he was a man worthy enough to deserve you, I would not have accepted this proposal," he says tiredly trying to explain this madness. "You don't have agree, right in this minute, you don't even have to agree at all, just think about it okay please, I beg you." My father says reaching for my hand across the table getting emotional. "They are the Anderson's, his mother is dying to meet you, you know?" he laughs teary eyed. "if you agree and it's okay with you, you can meet up with him just to talk okay. Let others care for you now, let me care for you, please." my father finishes lightly squeezing my hand. I don't know why he's doing this, why he wants to care now, I don't need him or anybody else. I'm fine by myself. He's Ignored and avoided me all my life and now he wants to play daddy. I don't say anything as I stand, my stepmother looks upset at the curr ent situation when I look to her direction. I hear her snort as I excuse myself from dinner.