Chapter 2 I won’t get married.
Kalabora mansion.
The ticking clock echoed in the study, matching the pounding in Damien Kalabora’s head.
He sat hunched over his desk, surrounded by piles of debt papers that looked more like his death sentence than documents. His fingers pressed into his temples as he tried to calculate again how long they had left before the mansion, his pride and legacy, would be gone.
He had made a huge terrible mistake, a devastating one. He had met a group of investors who had told him about a deal too good to be true, he ignored all the red flags. He had taken a loan from the bank and had even gone as far as borrowing from loan sharks. Now he was a finished man.
“Damien!!!!”
The door burst open so suddenly that he jumped, his chair scraped loudly against the floor as he attempted to run. His heart pounded as his eyes darted toward the door, half-expecting the loan sharks to finally come for him.
But it was only his wife.
Relief flashed across his face before being replaced by irritation. “What is it, Meredith?” he muttered,
“I found a way… I found a way” she said, gasping hard like she had run a marathon.
He sighed tirelessly “ Meredith If it’s one of those your deals then, I’m not interested. We are already in too much debt.”
He told her. She always brought solutions that only pulled them into more debts.
She shook her head. “ No listen…“The Richards. The most influential military family in the country. They’re looking for a wife for their eldest son, Boyle Richards.”
He blinked. “The Richards?”
“Yes,” she said eagerly, stepping closer. “And they are offering a dowry of Five hundred million dollars, Damien. Five hundred million!”
He Froze. That kind of money could erase everything, every debt, every threat. But then, the rumors hit him. “Isn’t that the one they say is…”
“Impotent?”
she finished for him with a wave of her hand. “It’s a rumor, Damien. Nothing more.”
“I am not selling any of my daughters,” he stated firmly.
Her face hardened instantly. “You think you have a choice right now!? We are about to lose our house and every God damn thing we own all because of your greedy investments.”
Guilt spread across his face as he sighed.
“Our daughters are too young for marriage…”
“Summer is young, Heaven is not.” She stated blatantly. Already implying who she had chosen.
“She’s eighteen,” Damien whispered.
“That’s barely an adult. You’re talking about selling her off.”
“Off to luxury.” She countered as she crossed to where he was and placed her manicured hand on his shoulder.
“Damien, this sets us for life.We will pay off the debts, keep the house and still have enough for the future. Heaven is in safe hands. She's marrying into a military family not like she’s been sent into slavery or something.”
Before Damien could respond, the sound of glass shattering startled them both.
They turned and there she was.
Heaven stood in the doorway, her hazel eyes wide, her already pale petite face paled more. Heaven had come in to give her father tea because he had not been feeling well since their family fell into debt but the words she’d just heard froze her in place.
Her voice shook as she spoke. “Who… who is getting married?”
“You” her mother’s eyes gleamed with cruel certainty. “Tomorrow you will be the bride for the Richard’s Eldest son”
The world seemed to tilt. Heaven’s breath caught in her throat, her heart slammed painfully against her ribs.
“I won’t.. I don’t want…” she began, her voice trembling.
“You will…I don’t think you have a choice right now” her mother snapped, cutting her off before she could speak . “You’ll save this family. Do something right for once in your life!.”
Damien looked at his daughter as tears fell from her eyes, as her lips quivered.
She looked at him desperately, wanting him to counter what her mother had just said and tell her it’s not true but he looked away, not daring to say a word.
A choked laugh escaped her lips. “I have always done what’s right, but you both have chosen not to see it because the only person you care about is Summer…. Why don’t you marry her off then!!!!!!!!!!!”
Heaven had endured the differences in the way her parents showed love to her sister and her. Her sister always got the best while she got her hand-me- down, she dared not complain.
She had strived every day since she was little to do better and better. Maybe one day they would see her and love her the same way. But hearing her mother tell her to do something right for once squeezed her heart.
Because she had done nothing but right. But her mother never saw her.
The sound of a slap echoed through the study.
Heaven’s head whipped to the side, her cheeks burned red.
“You ungrateful brat,” she hissed. “We’ve fed you, clothed you, given you everything and you are refusing to do this little favour? Summer is too young..”
“We’re age mates!” Heaven shouted back, her voice shaking as tears streamed down her cheeks. “We’re the same age, Mother!”
For a moment, no one spoke. The only sound was the clock ticking again, slow and steady.
For a long moment, no one moved. Then Heaven turned and bolted from the study, footsteps pounding up the stairs.
The house fell silent again except for the fading sound of her sobs.
“Meredith,” Damien murmured softly, guilt seeping into his voice, “you didn’t have to hit….”
“Don’t,” she snapped coldly, cutting him off. “All this is happening because of you.”
A soft voice slipped through the doorway.
“Mother?”
Summer stepped in, She had been listening from the other room. She crossed to her mother and clung to her arm like a frightened child. “What happens if Heaven refuses… or runs away?”
Meredith exhaled sharply, Her eyes flashed with a cruel glint.
“She won’t. Because by tomorrow morning,” Meredith said slowly, her lips curling into a thin smile, “We are getting the Five hundred million.”