Trisha was sitting on her bed and sobbing into her palms when she heard the telltale sound of her Father's arrival.

She paused to hear him yell at someone… probably Maverick before the house went quiet again.

Quickly straightening out her disorganized appearance, she hastened to her feet knowing that he was probably on his way up.

And he'd be very mad, because she'd done something she'd never tried in her entire years of existence.

“How dare you?” Mr. Avalon's grating voice sounded behind her.

Trisha turned abruptly with her hands folded in front of her. Her expression was ashen, but she put on a false show of bravery to hide her fear.

“I am sorry for walking out on you, father.” She apologized, calmly.

Mr. Avalon's face was dark as he glared at her. She'd swallowed some balls obviously and he blamed Maverick for that.

If he hadn't brought the foolish idea of treating her with kindness to be able to get her to agree to the marriage alliance, this wouldn't have happened.

He was used to having things done without any chance for domestic insubordination.

“That was another mess I had to clean up alongside your refusal to marry Hendrick. What has gotten into you, girl? How dare you defile me?” He yelled.

Trisha flinched, remembering her late mother's miserable existence in the hands of her father and didn't want to end up like her.

Marrying Hendrick Ravenswood would only serve to thrust her into a more miserable lifestyle, and she didn't want that.

No woman in her right mind would want to marry Hendrick Ravenswood if they knew of his very dark side.

“I apologize once again, but I won't marry Hendrick Ravens—”

A sharp cry escaped her lips as her head whipped to the side following the hefty slap her father gave her.

“You ungrateful bitch! All of your fame, your wealth…everything you own is courtesy of me. And you dare to be so ungrateful?” Mr. Avalon yelled, visibly vibrating in anger as he gave her another slap.

Trisha couldn't hold back her tears anymore, she collapsed to the floor cradling her swollen cheeks and sobbing silently with her hair curtaining her face.

“You will marry Hendrick Ravenswood. Tomorrow morning, you must be prepared to receive your guests and to sign the marriage certificate.” Mr. Avalon concluded, glaring down at his daughter with much hatred as a scene almost similar to this replayed in his mind.

Trisha couldn't reply anymore as she sobbed harder.

“Oh, and before you get any of those childish ideas of running away, I'm locking you up in this room, and stationing guards beneath your windows. I am not letting a repeat of your little unauthorized road trip in Los Angeles happen again.”

He slammed the door behind him and the jingling of keys told that he kept his words.

Left alone in the room to her misery, Trisha sobbed herself to sleep.

***

“Hello, Trisha.” Hendrick's cool voice made her shudder, but she held it in and smiled tightly at him.

“Hi.”

His eyes lingered on the faint imprint of her father's five fingers on her cheeks and she subconsciously moved her head to let her hair curtain the bruise she thought she'd hidden beneath make up.

“I bet that must have smarted badly.” Hendrick grinned at her, his eyes visibly darkening.

Trisha's heart beat raced as she caught a glimpse of the sadist beneath the handsome golden boy mask.

She remembered the grotesque scars on one of her friend’s body and shuddered again.

Two years ago, after the assault on the poor lady, following hardcore trauma and depression, she'd had to leave the country. And it was all courtesy of Hendrick Ravenswood.

“Mind your business.” She muttered and shut the door behind him before leading the way towards the table where the other members of both families were already seated.

Trisha moved to take her usual spot beside Maverick, but Mr. Avalon stopped her with a slight glare.

“No, no. You will sit with your husband-to-be, Trisha.”

Hendrick's smile widened slightly as he pulled out the chair for her.

She felt so uncomfortable sitting beside Hendrick that she couldn't focus enough to touch her dinner. Even though his masculine cologne was very pleasing, she couldn't find any comfort in it.

All she could think about was how to escape this hellhole she was about to be thrown in.

After dinner, Mr. Avalon led her and the Ravenswood’s men to his study and produced a series of documents.

“Sit down, Trisha.” He ordered coldly when she hesitated, and her body mechanically obeyed him.

Hendrick gave her another one of his ever present revolting grins and she shifted slightly on her seat as her father started to speak in a solemn tone.

“This union is to bring both families' business together to ensure that none of the parties involved is cheated by the other…”

Trisha snuck a glance to Hendrick's father who was standing behind them and quickly looked away after he gave her a grin similar to his son's.

Everything happened in a blur. Her father gave some kind of solemn speech with occasional inputs from Hendrick's father, and then came the sighing.

As if she'd been praying for some kind of miracle to happen, Trisha felt her whole world crumble when a pen was finally pushed into her hand.

“The both of you will sign here, and in two days, we will head back to Los Angeles where a proper wedding will be thrown for Trisha.” Mr. Ravenswood said behind her.

Her hands that no longer felt like hers moved to sign, and she had to push down the sudden wave of nausea and tears that sprang up.

In that moment, she felt all hope was lost.

Yet, seeing the greedy look in her father's eyes, made her feel hatred deep within her.

Hendrick chuckled. He was immensely pleased as he'd have his eyes on the elusive socialite for quite a while.

The thoughts of what he could do to her made his groin tighten in expectation. He'd loved the red imprint he found on her cheeks earlier and it made him want to mark her as his the same way.

He would make her luscious, curvy body beg for his touch and would make her serve him with all of…

“Hendrick!”

His father's voice snapped him back to the present and his smile faltered a little before changing into an apologetic one as he realized he'd been staring at Trisha and even had his hands on her arm already.

“Calm down boy, and sign the papers. Then you can do whatever you please with your wife.” Mr. Avalon laughed.

Trisha trembled convulsively as she battled back tears, but none of them noticed.

“Good, I will put this in the mail tomorrow morning.” Mr. Avalon announced, and turned back to Mr. Ravenswood with a big smile.

“Congratulations.”

Both men shook hands and walked out discussing leaving Trisha and Hendrick alone in the room.

Hendrick's smile vanished and was replaced by a needy look as he stared at the wide eyed Trisha beside him and sucked in a deep breath with a hiss.

“Hen… Hendrick?” She whimpered when he started rubbing his hands up her arm.

“Yes, pet?” He mumbled in a whispery voice, his hands continuing their search towards her perky breasts in excitement.

Trisha's mind reeled. This was happening way too fast.

She had to stop this. Fear made her heart pound faster than normal and her hard breathing made the rise and fall of her chest seem even more enticing to Hendrick.

“Please…stop…” she cried out when his hands gently groped her breasts.

Hendrick's eyes were completely dark as he leaned in to breathe in her inviting scent.

“Shut up! You are my wife now, bitch.” He growled.

Trisha trembled and tried to push him off but the door was suddenly slammed open with a bang.

Both of them turned at once to stare at Maverick whose face turned cold when he saw the scene.

“Get your hands off her.” He ordered in an even colder tone.

Hendrick frowned, his breathing slowing down as he let Trisha go.

She scrambled out of her seat and bolted out of the room, already sobbing.

“Why don't you mind your business?” Hendrick snapped at Maverick who only glowered at him before leaving the room.