Zerina's POV

"Zerina, your sister needs your help. You've got to marry in her place."

Father's stern voice rang through my mind.

I woke up with a start, my heart racing, hoping it was just a dream and that Father didn't actually push me to marry a man I know nothing about.

I took in my surroundings. Last I checked, I had cried myself to sleep in my bedroom but why does this not feel like my room. The bed was too vast and comfortable. The room was dark and only a flicker of candle was left on. I could make out the outlines of exquisite furniture, the shapes of what seemed to whisper luxury and opulence. My gaze darted around the room, trying to take in every detail, but it was too dark to see clearly.

"No, no, no, please let it not be what I'm thinking." I said aloud, turning on the bed while gasping.

"What is it that you are thinking?"

A chill ran down my spine. I didn't need to rack my brain to know who that was but I asked anyway. "Who... Who are you and what… How did I end up here?

He was sitting on the sofa. The man sat lazily, his hands crossed behind his head with such a relaxed composure. He looked like a King. He was staring closely at me. He didn't respond to my questions, instead he stood up, his movements fluid. As he approached the bed, I felt a sense of dread wash over me.

"You're my wife," he said in a low voice.

That's when it all came crashing on me. Father had transported me to this house while I was sleeping, and he did it without my consent.

Panicking, I turned to look up at him, the gust blew out the last flicker of the candlelight in the room, enveloping me in a pitch of darkness. I couldn't make out the shape of the man standing over me.

Over dinner, I recalled when Father had stopped eating, cleaning his mouth with a napkin. His gaze rested on me. "Zerina, listen up."

I dropped my fork anticipating what it was father had wanted to say to me that made them bring me out of the trauma room early.

"A man, Lysander Slade. His family is the richest and most prominent in City A and he is equally the next big thing in the country. No one in the world has more potential than him. It's for your own good to be able to marry him."

"Marry??" My hands shook.

His gaze flickered for a moment. "Bianca was supposed to marry him, but you know she already has a fiance and she just told us earlier that she's pregnant with Dave's child. Zerina, you will help your sister and marry him in her place. Plus, we all know that no one knows you exist. And equally, you have a striking resemblance with your sister. Just that your hair colour is not the same but so what, you girls dye your hair, don't you? So no one will notice the difference."

I was so confused at the moment that I didn't know what to say or do. Yes, I rarely go out but that doesn't mean I was oblivious to the world and didn't hear about the rumors of Lysander Slade.

"Sure, it couldn't be the same Lysander I've heard of, right? The man rumoured to have married three wives who didn't live after the night of their wedding? "

I asked, my body shaking from the dilemma I knew I was in if Father actually confirmed what I asked.

"Don't ask such stupid questions. All I do is for your own good. "

I stood up in anger. Something flickered inside me. I would've said I felt a little powerful but that would be me imagining things. "For my own good or for your own good? For more money into your rotten pockets?"

Florence stood up then and landed a harsh slap on my cheeks. "Don't say that about your father. Don't be disrespectful. "

I turned to her, "Oh, and this must be the reason you brought those nurses to check up on me. I knew that your act of "kindness" must be for a purpose."

I glared at them all including my sister who just sat there arrogantly. "I will not marry that so-called 'rich and prominent' man. I will marry who I choose to marry . You have no right whatsoever to decide what or who is good for me."

Saying that, I ran off to my room not letting them see the tears on my face.

Despite my protests and resistance, I didn't know they would go through such lengths to make me do their bid. I never believed in fate or destiny.

So why did Lysander choose to marry me when he could marry more worthy women. Shouldn't he be careful of who he marries?

Besides, we've never met each other and our marriage was arranged if not contracted by him and Father in such an arrogant manner.

The man's footsteps got louder and closer, until he was standing right beside me. My mind went blank for a minute.

I couldn't see his face nor could I discern his expression. However, I could feel this eerie energy that emanated from him. It scared me, and with just one glance I found myself gasping for air.