Unwanted Marriage

baru 6 baru bgt

“Servant, clear the table, please!” Mr. Spencer commanded the maid who lined up neatly behind us.

The breakfast had passed in silence and it was incredibly awkward for me. Nobody said a word—it was just the forks and knives clinking. Zeke had told me about the unspoken breakfast rules before we ate. Essentially, he said, breakfast starts when Mr. Spencer picks up his fork and wraps up when he puts it down.

I shot up too fast, scraping my chair against the floor, which made everyone look at me in a startled state.

I cleared my throat, mustered a smile, “Mom... Mr. Spencer—I mean, Uncle Gerard,” I corrected nervously.

“Thanks for breakfast, but I gotta head home now. Got something important to do.”

My mom stared at me, looking puzzled. “So soon, darling? You just got here, Thea. Can’t it wait?”

I shook, “I’m sorry, Mom, but I really need to go.”

“Uhmm...I can drive her home, Mom, Dad…” Zeke jumped in, grinning in a way that made my stomach twist.

“No! That's not necessary!” I blurted, sharper than I meant.

“Um, sorry, I mean… I can just call a cab or something—”

“Nonsense!” Mr. Spencer cut in, waving it away.

“Zeke will definitely take you home. It’s fine.” My mom smiled, nodding along.

“Exactly, good plan,” Mr. Spencer added firmly. “You two can hang out more. Chill, Thea—you can think of him as your older brother.”

“It's stepbrother, Dad!” Connie shouted, clearly displeased.

Zeke stood up smoothly. “Alright, then,” he said, his voice flat. “Ready, Thea?” He winked at me.

I swallowed hard, feeling trapped. I wanted to argue or say no, but with Mr. Spencer’s serious glare, my mom, Connie and Lexi's curious looks, I just couldn’t find the right words. My tongue felt like it was frozen.

“Thea, please?” my mother coupled it with her voice so that I could understand her emphasis.

“Alright,” I remarked bitting my inner cheek. Then I went to hugged her, say goodbye to everyone.

"Let's go," Zeke took my hand and walked me out of the dinning room.

In the hallway, when everyone could not watching us anymore, I pulled my hand from his grip, "Let go of my hand!"

"Relax," he released me.

I followed him with heavy steps, as if my legs were weighed down by steel. We walked in silence as I kept my eyes and my expression straight, trying to hide the rapid beating of my heart.

But, all of sudden Zeke made an abrupt halt, which almost caused me to bump to his back.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?!" I shouted, quite harsh. I know it was rude but I just can't help.

He turning around with a sinister smile, and now....were way too close for comfort.

Zeke spoke just less than half inches away, head leaning dangerously close.

“You know,” he chuckled, breaking the quiet, “this is pretty wild… don’t you think? Of all the places in the world, you end up here, at my house, as my stepsister.” His tone was light, but there was no real humor in it.

Instead of reply him I kept my lips sealed even my jaw tense. The situation was shockingly crazy for me.

"Hop in..." He opened the car's door for me.

"Thanks," I could felt my heart drummed in my ribcage as I flopped on my ass on the passenger seat. Honestly, I wanted to run, but I knew that would only make things worse.

And would only make everyone question my action.

"Don't worry about it. I'll keep my mouth shout!" Zeke settled into the driver's seat and all the sudden the car felt claustrophobic to me.

"I should have been the one to say that to you," I felt insulted.

"What would your dad say if he found out you spent money to buy a woman's virginity?" I crossed my arm, pushing away my nerves as I don't want anybody to see my weakness.

He chuckled, "well, let see..." he turned the key, then started the engine.

"Are you threatening me?"

"No...I am not. I will never do that to my stepsister." It sound more like mocked.

"We cannot do that ever again." I declared.

“Okay, so....” he sound doubtful "you don’t need to come over tonight. I know...this is all too damn surprising. There’s no way I’ll sleep with you… again, after I found out that you are my stepsister.”

I turned to him, my eyes wide with surprise. “So, do you agree?” I couldn’t believe it. Had I misjudged him? Was he really going to release me from the bidding contract?

“Yeah,” he said, “But....in one condition."

Okay, I knew, this is not going to sound right.

"You have to give back half the payment.”

“What the....?!” I screeched.

Zeke’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, and he glanced at me with a wicked grin.

What a jackass.

“If you want me to return half of it,” I shot back, matching his tone, “can you return my virginity that you took?”

“Are you out of your f*****g mind, huh?” Zeke snapped.

“Yes, I am, Zeke… I AM!” I retorted, my voice rising.

“Or I wouldn’t have offer my virginity to rich assholes at that place!” I was upset, but it was better to call myself crazy than give back the money.

I’d only received seventy percent of the bid from the auction house. If I had to return half of Zeke’s payment, it meant handing over five hundred thousand dollars. How could I pay off my father’s debt with what was left?

“The terms are clear, Thea,” Zeke said coldly.

"You only spend one night with me, which means I only have to pay according to the bid price.”

“So what’s the fix?!” I demanded.

“You’re left with only two choices, Thea,” he said, his tone leering. “You either come every night until the deal is finished, or you pay half right away.”

He was a jerk. All rich men were the same. I should have seen it coming. It was too good to be true. A rich man would never lose by helping a woman he’d paid for her virginity. I really wanted to hit him.

“But… you’re my stepbrother,” I whispered, my voice low, hesitant, and embarrassed.

“So what?” he boasted. “We’re not related by blood.”