I grab a tissue and clean my eyes. My eyes dart to the picture of my mom sitting on my nightstand and I pick it up and hug it to my chest.
My mom would never allow this if she were here. If my mom were in my shoes, what would she do?Run?I carefully weigh my options and I let out a breath. If I run, I wouldn't marry anybody, that would be better for me. Mr. Ray will be arrested, at least a worthy punishment for all his crimes but the house? Aunt Stacey and Kelly can find their way. I would leave to another state probably and start a new life there, just me and when I've worked there for a year, I can come back here and apply to college again.I can't sit here and waste my time crying. Nobody can decide my future, nobody should tell me what to do. I'm almost eighteen, I can't be forced to marry someone I don't know, someone I don't love, at least I deserve a near happy ending right?I take out a duffel bag from my closet and I start shoving some of my things inside. I take few clothes and shoes that would be enough for me. I stuff all my mom's pictures and my all my journals too. I bring out my emergency money stash and I calculate the amount inside, 450 dollars, the money I made from taking shifts at a cafe and at a library. At least 450 dollars would do me till I find a job.I look at the beautiful gown I bought for my graduation and I smile. I grab the black gown and neatly fold it before placing it into the bag. As funny as this sounds, I cannot miss my graduation, I will hide away in some place till after my graduation. After my graduation, I'll go somewhere else, probably Seattle or any way close.I pack all my painting tools into the bag. I love painting, it's my hobby and I hope I can do this after I settle down. I have to be quick, Aunt Stacey said Mr. Kriss will be here soon.I open the door of my room and walk across to Kelly's room. I knock twice before flinging the door open."Not in the mood" Kelly announces."Of course, pregnant cat" I mutter under my breath."What did you say?" She asks angrily.I'm so envious already, why am I the one to pay for his debts instead of his daughter, why is life not fair.She glares at me clearly ready to start a silly fight but I don't have time for that."My charger please?" I ask calmly and this surprises her a bit as I'm not matching her energy."It's over there" she points at the socket but she's still glaring at me."Thanks" I hurriedly get it and leave her room.I change into a black sweats and a black hoodie. It's already dark so blending in shouldn't be hard with my outfit.I zip the duffel bag and carry it up to weigh it, it doesn't weigh much, at least I'd be able to jump the window with this. I open the window and look back at my room for the last time.My heart is thumping so loudly and I close my eyes. I don't know how it's going to be from here but I hope for a better life. I would miss Aunt Stacey, I haven't even said my goodbyes but I don't care, I just want to be out of here to safety at least.There's nothing more shattering than hearing that you're signed off as a collateral to marry in order to clear off your uncle's stupid debts. "So this is it" I pull the hoodie over my head and grab my duffel bag that is already stuffed with all my important stuff that I need for survival.Carefully I jump down my window into the bushes below skillfully. I've done this a lot of times that I've mastered the art of jumping down my window. Today is different though, I'm not coming back here, never! I cannot accept marrying some rich ass junkie.I dust the leaves off my clothe and with feathery steps, I make out of the driveway. A bright headlight of a car points at me making me freeze in my tracks, another car stops and the door of the car opens.There's always only one option, Run!And that's exactly what I do. I run as fast as my legs can carry me, if I can just make it to the bus stop which isn't really far from here, I'll be relieved.I look back to see two heavily built men chasing me. I pick up my speed and just as I'm about to make a bend into the next street, I feel tough hands grip my arm and I nearly fall but the grip is strong enough to keep me steady. I struggle against the grip even if I know my efforts are useless.The second man yanks me back and I gasp as I crash into his large chest. My duffel falls down but one of them picks it up and they both drag me back to my doom, back to Aunt Stacey's house.They leave me once we're in the living room making me fall on my knees and my bag is thrown beside me."It's so pathetic that she tried to run" a cold emotionless voice fills the room and a shiver moves down my spine.I look up to see Mr Kriss eyes on mine and fear immediately sweeps through me. This man is a terror with a capital T and I can't believe I'll be marrying this man."Do not ever try that, do you hear me?". He warns authoritatively and I look back at my Aunt who looks apologetically at me."Do you hear me" He barks the second time and my heart sinks in fear."Ye.. yes" I manage to croak out and I blink many times trying to process if this is the man I'm going to be spending my years with."Good. Now where were we?" His tone goes back soft but still emotionless."The documents" Mr. Ray drops a bundle of papers on the table for Mr Kriss."She's now mine, married into my family" he says and stands up. "Bring her along" he orders and immediately the same pair of arms grab me and my duffel bag.I'm taken to the car and shoved into the back seat. What a way to have his wife treated! Goosebumps appear on my skin at the thought of being married to an oldie.One of the men enters the car and sits beside me. A sound clicks signalling that the doors have been locked I lean on the window as the tears freely roll down my face.I am going to be an uncuffed prisoner, that is sure. My eyes are blurry from the tears and I look behind at my Aunt's house as it gets smaller till the car takes a sharp turn. This is it! I look at the road carefully, trying to grab the routes so I can cook up a perfect escape plan even though the only thing my brain can assimilate right now is the tears that cascade down my cheeks. I cry very quietly, I do not even have the freedom to cry the way I want. I look at the guard beside me but his face is straight as he looks ahead. It's already dark and after an almost unending drive, the car stops in front of a huge gate. The gate opens revealing a terribly hu
NATHANMy uncle's call sounded so urgent. He made it clear that he wanted me to be at his place yesterday as he needed to discuss something important but I was too tired to go to his place. I need a long nap, lately I've been too drowned in work to even think about my mental health.I walk into my uncle's living room and his lips curve into a half smile as he looks at me. "You sounded so urgent" I sit on a couch opposite him and one of his maids serves me a cold juice. "And you came today" my uncle scans my appearance coldly as he clears his throat. My uncle is one hell of a character, very mean by face but kind at heart. I know that because he was so kind to me, he saved me and took care of me even when every other person in my family wanted to dispose me, he took me in as his child and currently I'm his son, his nephew, his business partner and friend."I'll just get straight to the point" he pauses and closes the magazine he's reading and tosess it on the table. "I've gotten you
ASHLEYThe kind of temporary relief that swept through me when Mr. kriss told me that wasn't his wife was just so much that it radiated on my face. So here am I standing with my supposed husband on Mr. kriss' driveway. He crosses his legs and leans back on his car. He looks amused and I feel like digging my nails into something just to keep my sanity intact. "And who told you I want to save my family" I snap. He takes a bold step towards me, towering over my slender form and I step back. He holds a similar energy just like his father's but I refuse to be intimidated by him."I don't want to have anything to do with you, clearly you're nothing like the girls I like. You're simply not my type". he smirks as his grey eyes scan me, more like checking me out. Oh I definitely know how to deal with cocky jerks like you! "The feeling is mutual Mr..." I try to remember his name"Nathan" he completes "Nathan" I repeat. You can't be my type, you're too old for me, what are you like, 30?"
The graduation ceremony is over and they're bodies everywhere, everyone is trying to take pictures. I already took dozens of those with Kate and the others before Kate took off somewhere. Mr Kriss agreed to let me come for my graduation, of course he had his driver drop me off and wait for me. "Ash" Aunt Stacey says behind me. I've been avoiding her and Kelly today, I'm still really upset about everything.She holds my arms and turns me around so that I'm facing her. "Happy graduation" she hugs me and I have no other choice but to hug her back. "Your mom would've been proud of you if she were here" A tear escapes from my eyes as she pats my back fondly. "I'm sorry Ash, I'm sorry" I pull away from the hug immediately, as much as I need to hug someone and cry for a full 20 minutes, I can't trust Aunt Stacey with that. Yes, call me a crybaby if you want but sometimes that's the auto reset my brain needs anytime I go through something shitty. I can't trust Aunt Stacey with that, she'
I'm currently dressed in a in a low-neck navy blue gown that stops at my mid thigh. The dress is beautiful but I think I'm better with my normal choice of clothings that I'm used to, baggy pants and jumpsuits. Jessica made it clear that I'll have to get used to this kind of clothes as I'll have to attend parties and events with Nathan. Jessica has done a very minimal makeup which I'm thankful for, I don't hate make-up but considering the fact that tomorrow is my wedding and I'll literally be baked in makeup, I think something minimal will be better today. I have no idea how this dinner thing will work out with his family but I hope I don't embarrass myself. I have no idea why Nathan's uncle picked me for this when they're a thousand and one girls that can meet their standards. Jessica helps me tie the ropes of my strapped heels and she smiles at me, admiring the work she just did on me. "Perfect" she smiles as I look at myself in the mirror. Jessica has really been nice to me and sh
The tension that overtakes my body as I walk down the aisle makes me want to crawl out of the hall immediately. The reason behind this immense tension is the fact that my Aunt's husband is walking me through the empty rows of chairs or it's the look on the face of Nathan and his grand mom or both. I close my eyes and inhale deeply. I can't wait for the next 9 months, I just want to get this over with. I take my stand beside Nathan who looks stunning in his black tux. I'm so happy we that we don't have so much people at our wedding, it's just my Aunt, Kelly and Mr Ray, Nathan's grand mom and uncle and of course his cousin Jess but his grand mom doesn't look so happy to see his cousin. Wierd family!The priest performs all the ceremony and the moment I dreaded is about to happen."You may now kiss the bride" the priest sounds but Nathan signals him that we won't have any kiss. Phew! Better for me. "No, don't skip that, I want to see them kiss" the annoying voice of his grandma sounds
"I thought you were going to come in a dress, not this" Nathan's grandma rake her hawk eyes over the white, silky jumpsuit that I'm wearing. I'm just sick of gowns for now. "Well since you're here and the guests have already seen you, we can manage. Do not embarrass me" she adds sternly before her heels click away. Yes, she hates me, that's no hidden fact and it's a mutual feeling but I really hope she doesn't sprain her ankles on that incredulously high stiletto.I can't find Nathan and my skin is itchy just by standing alone in this room filled with nobs, it's really suffocating. I pick up a glass of champagne and I savour the taste as I gulp it down. Everything in this party is really top-notch, I wonder how Nathan's grandma pulled this off in less than a day, of course you can do anything when you're wealthy."You're Nathan's wife right?" A female voice sounds and I turn around to see two girls. "Well I don't see much" one of them says to the other. "Pardon my manners, I'm Elai
I hug Kate for a while before I take her to the bench at the river bank. "Happy birthday Ash" she hugs me again and I sniff. "Why didn't you tell me about this""I couldn't tell you Kate, it happened so fast. I'm just a pathetic collateral" I scoop a spoon of ice cream from it's plate into my mouth. "This will soon be over. I know". I stop myself from telling her about the contract Nathan signed with me, I feel guilty about not telling her but this is past my control. "Are you happy with this?""Are you kidding me? If I can go back in time to change this, I would" "We'll think of a way out of this. I'll work something out for you Ash""There's a way out of this Kate, I just have to put up with this for 9 months" oops! It slipped, I swear!"9 months?""Nathan doesn't want this too, he'll work this out for me after 9 months" "Oh" she opens the box of pizza and takes a slice. We just sit there for a while, comfortably with each other, eating, enjoying the cool river breeze, my birth