Chapter 2 I - Sophie

"You're marrying Mr Carter and there's no more arguing, Sophie!" that was Charles' final word.

I should have given up trying to convince him otherwise, but I could not give up so easily, it was my life and they had already destroyed it all these eleven years.

"But I can't marry a man I don't even know! I don't even know who the Carter's are."

"It just shows how ridiculous you are." Magie, my uncle's wife spoke with sheer disregard, throwing her blonde hair back. "They are simply the richest family in the country, their jewelry sells around the world."

"Why would a man like that want to marry me? He can have any woman in the world, you have to have another way to close this deal!" I insisted, I wouldn't let him sell me like that.

Charles walked around the table facing me. I had learned to fear the man over the years, learned to lower my head and swallow the things he spoke, because it meant less beatings and punishments. But in this case it was different.

"Listen here idiot, we raised you these eleven years after those thieving parents of yours escaped and died in the process, we gave you everything, so now it's time for you to reciprocate!" I swallowed hard, wanting to scream that I didn't believe his words about my parents, but I kept quiet. " You're gonna marry Patrick Carter, give him all the heirs he wants, and you're gonna do it smiling!"

Just now when it was only a year before I got my independence this could not happen, just when I would finally be free of that hell, those heartless people. Now I'd be thrown into the arms of a man I didn't even know.

"Yes sir." I answered unwillingly, not wanting to have any more problems.

"Cheer up little cousin." Louis said laughing from the couch as he turned over a glass of whiskey. "I heard he's a deformed, reclusive living in a house in the mountains, I'm sure it'll be like in the silly books you read."

I wanted to punch and swear, or scratch that bastard's face like I did years ago, but just remember the marks on my back that an icy shiver went up my spine, reminding me that keeping my mouth shut there was a matter of survival.

"The wedding is tomorrow, the notary will get here and you will sign the papers, after that me and his father will solve the rest of the details."

"Won't he come? Aren't we getting married in church?" I asked perplexed that even this was taking away from me.

My dream of entering the church with a veil and wearing my mother's dress was really going down the drain and I couldn't even do anything.

"Don't be silly girl! This isn't a wedding full of bullshit, this is a business transaction."

My eyes were filled with tears when I understood that I was an exchange commodity, they took a woman to give heirs to her son and my uncle took a lot of money to the company.

"I hate you, you are petty and unhappy people who love to destroy my life!" I gathered all my anger and threw up the idea of being a good girl, if he was selling me I had no reason to continue with it.

Charles raised his hand ready to hit me, but Magie stopped him.

"The wedding is tomorrow, do you really want to mark her face and risk them giving up the deal?"

"You are right love, well remembered." he looked with burning desire in his eyes, before dismissing me with a wave of his hand. "Go to your room and don't leave until it's time to sign the papers, I don't want to see your face anymore!"

I stepped out of there leaving tears running down my face and locked myself in my room.

I cried for a long time until I fell asleep, I was familiar with spending the days locked inside my room and sleeping hungry, they felt pleasure in giving me that kind of punishment.

A knock on the door woke me up and I took the small knife that left under my pillow, it was always there since the day my cousin attacked me.

"Who is that?"

"It's me girl, Rosa, open up." I sighed relieved when I heard the familiar voice of one of my favorite people in that world. "Quick, close quickly so no one sees me."

The short, chubby woman came in carrying a tray with what should be my dinner.

"You shouldn't have done this Rosa, I don't want you getting in trouble for me." I reminded her, but I sat down to eat without blinking. "What will become of me if they kick you out?"

"I don't think it makes any difference now, does it? Hugo told me everything, he heard the bosses talking." I quickly swallowed the food that was still hot just to answer.

"It's gonna be my end Rosa, I'm trying not to think about it."

She patted my hand and smiled solidarily. Then she stood up and opened the closet, starting to take off the few clothes I had.

"Why don't you try another way, my little one?" I frown in confusion. "You're finally leaving this damn house, you can have your life, do whatever you want..."

"You don't know how things are going, I don't even know what this man is like." but good thing shouldn't be, since he's paying to marry me and won't even show up here to sign the papers.

"You have to try to be happy for the first time in your life, that's all." Rosa closed the suitcase and put it next to the bed, then sat down again and held my hand. "I may not know this man, but I know you, I know you're sweet and capable of touching hearts, I'm sure you won't give up and let him treat you as he pleases. I want you to promise me that you will win that man's heart!"

My eyes filled tears with her words, even knowing that everything could get worse she was cheering me up. She was my only maternal figure since I was ten and my uncles sent Jenny away.

"Rosa, I love you." I clung to her feeling it might be the last time.

I woke up the other day determined to do what she told me, I would conquer my husband, even if this marriage was starting the wrong way I would make it work.

The dress that Magie had chosen was horrible and did not value me, not even in a white tone that woman was able to buy, even so I dressed it not to cause a problem .

They only let me down when the notary arrived, so I was sure that my future husband's parents were also there. I entered the dining room, my uncle, the notary and a tall white-haired man waiting for me at the end of the table.

"You're beautiful!" a woman exclaimed emerging in front of me. "Oh I'm sorry dear, I'm Audrey Carter, your mother-in-law."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Carter." I muttered awkwardly, not expecting such a lively and warm person as the deal with my uncle certainly involved a large amount of money.

"Oh call me Audrey, soon we'll be family."

I opened a bigger smile trying to be polite and understand the whole situation.

"See what I told you, she's a calm, healthy, young girl." Magie spoke up approaching, I wanted to slap her and show that there was nothing calm as she spoke, but I wouldn't spoil my chance to get rid of her. " Sophie will give you many heirs."

"I'm sure we'll get along just fine." Audrey wrapped my shoulder around her arm and took me away from that disgusting one. " This is my husband, James Carter."

The tall white-haired man, with more wrinkles than I could count, opened a wide smile, brown eyes stared at me and he bowed hugging my body surprising me even more.

"Look, they didn't tell me this girl was so beautiful. I am very happy to meet you and even more so with this union, I am sure that you and my son will be very happy together."

I didn't even want to think about what their real son was like, because they were looking too bent on being nice to me.

"I'm looking forward to meeting him. Why didn't Patrick come?"

"Don't mind my niece's curiosity, she'll have time to talk it all over with her husband when they meet!"

Of course, my uncle would step in and try to move the ceremony forward just to sign this agreement. I signed the paper, noting that Patrick's part had already been signed, apparently he did not leave the house anyway.

After that they talked and we had lunch together, but before I could go back to my room my uncle ordered me to get my things, because the car that Patrick sent to pick me up had arrived.

I went without complaining, like a sheep going to the slaughterhouse. It was a three-hour drive until I reached the town and one more to the top of the mountain where his mansion was.

I stopped in front of the house feeling the cold wind creep me all over, the house was beautiful, surrounded by flowers and trees, but there was something sad there and I could see.

I looked up and saw someone in the window, but before I could see better the person moved away.