Unwanted Marriage

baru 6

Spencer family's breakfast went in awkward silence. No one talked, just the noise of the cutlery ringing. Prior to breakfast, Zeke secretly told me about the unwritten rules of the Spencer family. He said breakfast would only start when Mr Spencer picked up the fork, and ended when he put it down.

"Servant, clear the table, please!" Mr Spencer said as he just put the fork down a few second ago.

I got up quickly, pushed my chair back too hard, it making noise and get me into everyone's attention.

Nervous, I cleared my throat and forced a smile. "Mom, Mr. Spencer—I mean, Uncle Gerard," I corrected myself, my voice shaky.

"Thank you for breakfast, but I need to go home now. I have something important to do."

My mom was talking to Mr. Spencer, but when I spoke, she looked at me with a confused face.

"So soon, Darling? You just got here, Thea. Can’t it wait?"

I shook my head, looking down as I clenched to hide my shaky hands.

"I'm sorry, Mom, but I need to go."

"I can drive her home, Mom, Dad...." Zeke offered himself with a big smile, a mocking smile, which made my stomach twist even more.

"No, that's not necessary!" I snapped quite rude with high tone.

"So-sorry, I mean... I can call a cab or—"

"Nonsense!" Mr. Spencer said, waving his hand.

"Zeke definitely will drive you home. It’s fine." My mom smiled at me.

"Exactly, that’s great idea...., you two can get to know each other better. Take it easy, you can think of him as your older brother, Thea...." Mr. Spencer said sternly.

"It is stepbrother, Dad!" Connie yelled, looking unhappy reflected in the way she spoke and gazed at me.

But Zeke got up smoothly, "It’s settled then," he said, deadpaned.

"Ready, Thea?" He looked at me, winking.

I gulped, almost choked, felt trapped. Actually, I wanted to argue this hell out, but under Mr. Spencer's look, my mom, Connie, and Lexi's curious eyes, I could not speak. My tongue went numb.

"Thea, please?" My mom pleaded, giving me sign that I should never say no to her husband's command.

"Okay," I nod hesitantly, then hugged my mom and say goodbye to all.

Zeke then led me out of the dining room, I followed him with heavy steps as if my legs weighed down by a load of steel. We strolled through the hallway to the front door in silent. And I kept my eyes and my expression straight, hiding my heart beat in my chest.

****

Zeke stopped abruptly, make me almost bumping to his back.

But he turned around, get us faced each other so close...I mean too close, until I could felt his breath on my face, and smell his cologne which was driving my head to remember about last night, "You know,” he chuckled, breaking the silence.

"This is quite crazy....this coincidence, don’t you think? Out of all the places in the world, you end up here, at my house, as my stepsister.” He jested, but there was no real humor in it.

I stayed silent, my lips pressed tightly together,my jaw tense. This really f*****g awkward and I don't know how to react.

Zeke opened the front door and waited for me to step out. I walked past him and kept my eye on the ground without replying a single word to him.

A black sports car was parked in the driveway, perfectly matching Zeke’s intimidating vibe. He unlocked it with a click of his key fob and opened the passenger door for me.

"After you,” he said politely, but there was something unsettling in his tone.

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. Zeke settled into the driver's seat and all the sudden the car felt claustrophobic to me.

We drove in silence with me staring out the window along my way home.

Finally, Zeke spoke. “So,” he said softly.

"You don’t need to come over tonight. This is all too damn surprising. There's no way I will sleep with you... again after I know you're my stepsister."

I turned to him, my eyes wide open, quite surprise with his decision. "Are you serious?" I couldn't believe it, did I have judged this guy wrong?

Is he really going to free me from the bid's contract?

"Yeah, but you have to give back my half payment." He demanded.

"What?!" I screeched loudly.

Zeke’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, he glanced at me, grinning wickedly. What a jackass.

"If you want me to return half of it, can you return my virginity back that you took?" I asked him with same smile.

"Are you out of your f*****g mind?" Zeke said.

"Yes, I am Zeke...I AM!"

"Or I wouldn't have sold my virginity at that auction!" I said, upset. It was better to call myself crazy than give back the money. I only got seventy percent from the auction house. If I had to return half of Zeke's money, it means I have to give him five hundred thousand dollars.

How could I pay my father's debt with the rest?

"The terms are clear you only spend one night with me which means I only have to pay according to the bid price."

"So what's the fix?!"

"You are left with only two choices, Thea..." He leered.

"You must come every night until the deal is finished, or you have to pay half right away."

He was a jerk. All rich men were the same. I should have seen it. It was too good to be real. A rich man would never lose by helping a woman he paid for her virginity.

I really wanted to hit him.

"But, you are my stepbrother..." I whispered lowly, feeling hesitant and embarrassed at the same time.

"So what? We are not related by blood," he boasted.