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Chapter 2: You don't deserve the bed!

Loud knocks on her door were what woke Amara out of her slumber. She groaned in her sleep-infused state and climbed out of the bed to open the door.

Her mother’s stoic face welcomed her as soon as she pulled the door open.

She raised her eyebrows at her mother, but getting no response, she just turned around and sat on her bed.

She stared at her mother, who was standing like a statue at her doorstep, neither showing any signs of leaving nor of stepping inside.

“If you have anything to say, then say it,” Amara said in a tired voice.

After what felt like hours but was just several seconds, her mother, Cynthia Wilson, finally stepped her foot inside.

Amara saw her mouth twitch as if wanting to speak, but no words came out of her mouth.

Cynthia hardened her facial features and took a seat on one of the armchairs in Amara’s room.

“It's the day of your wedding, what are you doing this late in bed?” Her mother asked.

Amara stared at her for a moment before replying, “Well, forgive me for not remembering my “wedding” that was decided against my will.” Her sarcastic reply made her mother glare at her.

“You know, it was your grandfather’s decision. No one else had a say in it.”

“Oh, please, dear mother, don't blame this all on Grandpa now. We both know that no one word from you could have prevented this.”

“Not everything is in my hand.”

“It is in your hands. You just decided not to do anything about it because marrying me off meant good riddance for you.” She fumed at her mother, barely containing herself from speaking hurtful words at her.

“You do not get to decide what my intentions are.” Cynthia rose from her chair and looked at Amara. “Get fresh and take a bath; the stylists will be arriving in an hour. We don't have all day”

“Honestly, mom? I'm surprised you even decided to come here. Never thought I'd see a day when you would willingly come to talk to me. Turns out, binding me in the shackles of a marriage that I didn't ask for is what it will take for you to step foot in my room.” Amara wiped her tears, stood up from the bed, and walked to her mother.

“And guess what? That too was to tell me to marry someone I didn't choose for myself,” she harshly wiped her tears away.

“What would it take for you to care for me for once?! Am I not your daughter?” she exclaimed at Cynthia.

“Stop talking rubbish and start preparing for your day,” Cynthia ordered her and started moving towards the door.

“You weren't the only one who lost something, Mom! I did too!” Cynthia’s steps faltered, but she didn't turn around.

As she crossed the bedroom threshold, slamming the door shut behind her, Cynthia heard a muffled scream.

“I don't want to marry him!”

She leaned back on the wall outside her daughter’s bedroom.

Her breathing was heavy as she closed her eyes and looked up to keep the tears from falling from her eyes.

Her daughter’s accusations are raining on her heart like daggers.

And the worst thing was that she couldn't even say she was wrong.

^^

Amara noticed her hands trembling as she handled the bridal bouquet.

To anyone who saw her, it might have looked like an action of nervousness, but no, only she knew she was shaking because of anger and not something else.

She looked at her father, who was standing beside her, adjusting his expensive suit.

One might think he was preparing himself before walking his daughter down the aisle.

But she knew it was nothing but a futile attempt to avoid talking to her. The man couldn't even meet her eyes.

It was all his fault that they were here in this situation.

If he weren't such a coward and greedy man, she wouldn't be standing at the altar with her freedom stripped away, waiting to walk down the aisle to marry a man she neither knew nor wanted to.

The chorus started playing, indicating that they were starting the walk.

She felt her father’s presence beside her and his tentative attempt to reach his arm out for her to hold.

“You're a coward, man,” she whispered, audible enough for only him to hear.

The large wooden doors of the church started to open, and she heard the last thing from him before she walked down the altar with steps that felt so heavy as if they were bound by shackles.

“I'm sorry,”

^^

Joseph Wilson was a greedy man, and his greed resulted in his daughter’s sacrifice to save their family and business.

A few months ago, an investor approached him with a deal that promised him so much return on investment that he could leave working and live the rest of his life in glory and comfort.

He was working in a managerial position in his family’s company, and that too was only because of his father.

Joseph knew that he was neither worthy nor smart enough to handle such a position.

If it wasn't for his father, he would be working as a mere employee.

He was also aware that once his father was out of the picture, his siblings would fight tooth and nail for everything. To prevent that from happening, his father made a will, with his elder brother getting the most out of it.

And he gets the least.

He knew he deserved it, especially after the things he had done in the past,

But he still despised his father’s decision. His elder brother, Stuart, didn't even have a family but was getting the most out of their family’s fortune just because he had the brains.

Joseph couldn't do anything about it so he started thinking of ways he could secure his future.

And the moment the opportunity presented itself, he jumped right in, throwing in all his investments.

He got his hands on some of their company’s funds. As the owner’s son, it was easy to gain access to them.

He planned everything perfectly, rejoicing in his imagination of a wonderful future he had created for himself in his head.

But last month, all his perfect planning went down the drain when he received the news of the bankruptcy of the company he invested in.

Frightened at the thought of his father’s actions once he received the news, he ended up making a couple more mistakes in his haste to hide everything.

His actions resulted in The Wilson's loss of business.

Once his father was made aware of the situation, Joseph was stripped of his position while his father and brother focused on finding a solution to stabilize the business.

This solution came in the form of Arthur Harvey, who proposed a marriage between his grandson and Wilson’s daughter.

The Wison’s were a large family with a total of three daughters. But unlike Amara, the other two daughters of the family didn't have a greedy, cowardly father, and neither did they have a mother who hadn't talked to them in fifteen years.

Amara became the scapegoat, and no one raised any questions.

Joseph was regretful of his mistakes but he felt even more useless when his daughter was chosen to rectify his faults.

He tried to talk to his father but to save his ass, he accepted everything.

On his daughter’s wedding day, he felt like he had lost whatever was left of himself.

^^

A couple of hours later, she found herself sitting in a limousine with her newlywed husband, Luke Harvey.

Claiming to be unwell, he had excused himself from the family reception. They had only given toasts to their families, a few important business associates, and his friends. Appalled by his grandson’s behavior, Arthur Harvey had asked him to leave with her for the family mansion.

As soon as they entered the mansion, he swiftly climbed the stairs to his bedroom, not bothering to guide Amara or even wait for her.

Amara held in the urge to scream in frustration; if he thought he was the only one trapped in this, then it was high time he got a reality check.

A maid approached her and kindly took her to their bedroom.

“Madam, my name is Chloe. If you need anything, please call me.” Chloe said it with a smile.

Amara returned her smile before opening the door.

As she entered the large bedroom, she saw Luke coming out of what seemed like the walk-in closet with a towel and clothes in hand before walking through another door and closing the door behind him.

Amara could hear the faint sounds of water falling from the shower.

She sighed and sat on the bed. He didn't even look at her. Luke was a successful man blessed with a good physique. When she agreed to the marriage, she thought marrying into such an influential family wasn't bad. She thought it would give her the escape she needed to be away from her family. Little did she know that she would be faced with such hardships from day one.

But it wasn't all lost. Maybe she could try warming up to him; if nothing else, they could at least be friends. Amara thought.

The bathroom doors opened, and she stood up, prepared to speak, when Luke interrupted her. “As we both know, this marriage is nothing but a deal. You don't have to act as a wife. In front of outsiders, you can, but within these walls, we are to remain strangers. I'll never look at you as a man, for I have someone else in my heart. We will steer clear of each other's business as much as we can. My secretary will hand over a no-limit credit card to you tomorrow for whatever expenses. I hope we are clear.”

Amara blinks her eyes in astonishment. Intending to try and bridge the gap between them, she had never thought that instead of mutual understanding, she'd receive a confession of an affair from her husband.

Luke brought out a blanket and took a pillow from the bed before walking towards the sofa bed in the corner of the room.

“There's no need to sleep together. I'll take the sofa. You can have the bed to yourself,” he said before planting himself on it.

Amara rolled her eyes and countered, “You don't deserve the bed anyway.”

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