Chapter One

"Dad please!" I pleaded on my knees, tears were streaming down my face but the man before me didn't even bat a single eyelash in my direction. 

"The deal is done Kate and there's nothing I can do about it. You will marry Ethan Robinson this Saturday. I suggest you start packing your things." He shrugged my hands off him and went to sit behind his desk. 

"I don't understand why she gets to marry Ethan's dad. Why not me?" Sofia, my step-sister whined out beside me. 

I would happily allow her to take my position anytime, but it had to be me again. 

"I already explained to you princess. Ethan is a cruel man and he is going to make her life a living hell. You don't want that do you?" He asked her and she shook her head. 

"Good. I don't want that for you either Princess. I only want what's best for you and that isn't Ethan Robinson." 

"But he is the hottest billionaire in New York." 

"I'll get someone much better than Ethan for you, I promise you, baby." He assured her and she grinned happily, pleased with what he was offering, and skipped out of the study. 

He turned back to me, "You're still here?" 

"Please, I just want you to reconsider this. I don't want to be married off to some stranger Dad." I begged him again, hoping he would listen. 

"Get out of my study before I throw you out myself Kate and don't you dare mention the details of this marriage to anyone else, you understand me?" He snarled at me. 

I hung my head down in defeat and slowly rose to my feet, leaving his study without a fight. 

I slowly made my way to my room and started to pack my belongings like Dad had told me to.

I looked at the picture sitting on my nightstand. It was a picture of myself, Dad and Mum for my 10th birthday. That was taken years ago. 

Back then, everything was normal and I was still happy. Only if Mum were still here though. Ever since Mum died, things were not the same. 

Dad hated me and made sure I knew it, he said I reminded him of what he lost, Mum, but we had both lost her. 

Things got worse when he remarried Stephanie, that's when I started living in my version of hell. She never liked me and she never hid it.

I was still packing when I suddenly heard a commotion downstairs. I opened my door and stepped into the hallway where I could hear whatever was happening. 

I discovered it was Jake and my dad that was in an argument, and from what I could hear, it was a heated argument. I decided not to eavesdrop and entered back to my room. 

The argument died down after a while and I heard heavy footsteps trudging up the stairs. The door to my room slammed opened a few moments later and Jake came in. He started looking around my room, a crazed look on his face. 

"Jake!" I jumped up from the bed where I was packing and walked towards him. 

"Is it true?" He asked. 

At first, I didn't know what he was talking about, but I later figured out he was referring to the news that had been dumped on me earlier as well. 

"It's true," I mumbled and let out a defeated sigh. 

"So what, you're just going to give in and accept the bullshit he just threw at you?" Jake bellowed at me again. 

"Then what am I supposed to do Jake? I don't have an option here." 

"We can fight it. The option is to fight Kate." 

"I can't Jake, I'm sorry." I pulled back from him and went back to the bed and continued packing my luggage. 

He sighed heavily and came to sit beside me after a minute or two of silence. 

"What can I help you with?" He asked and I smiled softly at him, pointing to my walk-in closet. 

"You can help me pack my shoes," I told him and he groaned out. 

I understood his reaction, I had a lot of shoes. 

We continued to pack till it was time for dinner, by then, I had packed most of my belongings, with just a few more things left.

"Thank you for helping me pack Jake." 

"Of course, anything for you Kate." He told me and pulled me in for a hug. 

Jake was the only one that treated me like family in this house, he was Stephanie's son. We immediately took a liking to each other from the first time we met. He was the only one I could count on to have my back in this house.

We went downstairs for dinner and the whole table was set and everyone was seated except for Jake and I. 

"How kind of you to finally join us, your highness. We thought we'd be waiting forever." Stephanie, Dad's wife, also the mother of Jake and Sofia sneered at me. 

"I'm sorry Stephanie. I didn't know time was far spent." I apologized and immediately took the empty seat at the far end of the table. Jake plopped down beside me too. 

"Don't think that because you're getting married to Ethan Robinson, you're better than us. You're still a tramp and that's what you'll ever be." 

Her words cut me deep like a knife but I didn't do anything. There was nothing I could do.

"Mum, let's just eat in peace and stop insulting her, she didn't do anything," Jake warned her sternly. 

She only huffed and turned in the other direction, continuing with her food. 

"Make sure you're ready to meet Ethan tomorrow. You'll be going to the office with me and that's where we'll meet him." Dad declared from the head of the table. 

"Yes sir," I mumbled, just tossing the food on my plate around. 

I didn't have an appetite but if I refused to eat, God knew I'd never hear the end of it.

"Isn't this all too fast? You tell her she'll get married today and she's supposed to meet her supposed fiancé tomorrow and get married on Saturday, in what world is that normal?" Jack exploded. 

"It's normal in this house and no one questions my decision, especially you." Dad sneered back at Jake. 

He wanted to say something else but I gently placed my hands on his and shook my head. He looked at me and clenched his jaw one more time before storming out of the dining area. 

"That boy should get his shit together. I want to tolerate any more disrespect from him." Dad said pointedly at Stephanie. 

She nodded and the rest of dinner went by without any more glitches, I wasn't allowed to leave the table until they were done. I was the one that always cleared the table and washed the dishes after they were all done eating.

Morning came by faster than I wanted it to. I quickly did my morning routine, got dressed, and hurried downstairs before Dad. 

I had just gotten to the bottom of the stairs when I heard Dad's voice from the top of the stairs as he slowly descended, Stephanie and Sofia right behind him as well. 

When he got to the bottom of the stairs where I was, he looked me up and down in a disapproving manner, "Is that what you're wearing?" 

"It's all I have but I can get changed into something else if this isn't good enough." 

"Just let her wear this, hopefully, Ethan won't get repulsed at the sight of her and change his mind," Stephanie said and like all her other comments about me, she meant it to hurt me and it did. 

"You're right. There's no time to wait around for her to get changed." Dad agreed and we left the house. 

I followed him to the garage and just as I was about to get into the car with him, he stopped me, "What do you think you're doing?" 

"I thought we were going to ride together," I answered without thinking about it.

"You thought wrong. I don't care if you fly, take the bus or get an Uber, make sure you get to that office before me." He told me and from the look on his face, I knew if I got to the office even a second before he did, there would be consequences. 

I immediately ran out of the garage and started running to the street to get a means of transportation. I was still running when Dad's car zoomed off beside me. 

I watched as his car zoomed out of the driveway and I knew he was going to get to the office before me. I ran faster and stumbled in the process.

I fell to the ground face-first. I was still collecting myself when a car stopped beside me and Jake came out and helped me into his car. 

"You don't have to do this Kate." He tried to dissuade me again. 

"I know, but I have to."

We drove to the office in silence, he stopped in front of the office, and I got out of the car immediately, running to Dad's office. 

I took the elevator and by the time I got to Dad's office, there were three new faces I hadn't seen before in the room. 

"Finally. What took you so long? I'm glad you're here now." Dad started. He was always like this whenever we were in public. 

He wore the persona of a caring father outside, but he was a monster in private. 

"Kate! It's nice to meet you." The woman in the room came to greet me. She introduced herself as Mrs. Robinson and engulfed me in a warm hug, "I must say, you're more beautiful than in the pictures." 

"Thank you," I responded politely. 

The other man introduced himself as Mr Robinson and the last person seated was no other than Ethan Robinson himself. I greeted him and he didn't even spare me a glance. 

"Now that we're all present and seated. Let's dive right into business shall we?" 

Dad was about to continue but the opening of the door cut him off and Jake came into the room. No one said anything so Dad continued. 

"The details of the contract have been made very clear to both sides and the wedding day has been fixed for this Saturday." 

This was becoming more real. I was going to get married. 

For the first time since I stepped into this room, Ethan made eye contact with me and spoke, "May we be excused? I'd like to have some time alone with Kate please."

They all agreed and we both stepped outside the office to discuss. I thought he wanted to talk but he was just looking at me. 

I became too uncomfortable with the silence and decided to speak up, "Was this marriage your idea?" 

He scoffed at my question and turned to me. This was the first time I was taking a proper look at his features and I must say, he was very handsome. 

"This wasn't my idea and I don't know what you and your fraudulent father are up to, but whatever it is, it's not going to work." He grabbed my arm harshly and sneered at me.

"Is everything alright here?" Jake suddenly appeared, making Ethan loosen his grip on me.

"Why are you hovering around her? Isn't she supposed to be your sister or something? Don't tell me you're in love with her?" Ethan taunted Jake and Jake's face contorted in anger. 

"You better watch your mouth, Robinson." Jake seethed. 

This only made Ethan smile wider, "Oh my! This is scandalous. How do you think the public will take it when they find out you're in love with your sister?" 

Ethan was about to continue but before he could, Jake raised his hands and punched Ethan right in the jaw. Ethan went down immediately and it felt like time stopped. 

It was at this same moment dad chose to step out of his office and immediately he made eye contact with me, he sneered and I knew I was in trouble.