Esme Calista, a 22-year-old who had just graduated from university, was returning home after years away due to family problems.
She was the only daughter of her parents.
A car pulled up and stopped in front of a mansion.
Esme stepped out, retrieved her luggage from the passenger seat, and closed the door.
Looking around with a smile, she said to herself, “Let me text Eli so he knows I’m home.” She took out her phone and sent him a message: “Baby, I’m home now.
Okay, I love you.” After locking her phone, she opened the entrance door, and what she saw surprised her.
Inside the house, several men in black suits were seated.
Her parents sat opposite a sharply dressed man who was effortlessly charming, with two men standing behind him.
Confused, Esme wondered what was happening.
Her eyes met the man’s, but he looked away slowly.
Her parents turned to see her by the door, and her dad stood up, smiling as he walked over to welcome her.
“Esme, my daughter, welcome home,” he said.
Esme whispered to him, “Dad, who are these people and what’s happening?” “Come sit, come sit,” her dad replied.
A worker came to collect her luggage, and her dad guided her to sit beside the man, who was now on his phone.
She glanced at her dad, then at the man and the two men standing behind him.
Her mother’s face looked unhappy and gloomy.
Her dad said, “Mr.
Rowan, this is my daughter, Esme.” The man looked at her, and she raised her eyebrow in a disapproving manner.
Her dad continued, “Esme, this is Mr.
Rowan Carven, your prospective husband.” Esme’s eyes opened wide in shock.
She stood up and exclaimed, “What?” Her dad urged her, “Esme, sit down.” Esme replied, “Dad, what is this…
husband?” Her dad stood up to calm her down, saying, “Esme, please sit down.” She looked at Rowan with a disgusted expression and pulled her dad’s hands away as she stormed off, leaving her mother to chase after her.
Her dad chuckled nervously and said to Rowan, who was now on a call, “She’s just surprised.
She’ll be back.” Rowan nodded and continued his phone conversation.
Esme went up the stairs and into her room, followed closely by her mom, who closed the door behind her.
With sadness and disappointment in her eyes, Esme asked her mom, “What is Dad saying about a husband, and who is that man?
Is this why you begged me to come back home?” Her mother remained silent.
Esme continued, “So you won’t say anything?
I knew I shouldn’t have returned home.
You guys…” She turned to face her bed, groaning, “Ugh, you all are sickening!
This doesn’t even make sense.” Walking up to her mom, she held her arm tightly with both hands and pleaded, “Tell me this is a prank, Mom, please, I beg you.” Suddenly, tears began rolling down her mother’s cheeks.
Esme stepped back slowly, her own tears flowing as she quietly said, “You guys are selling me off!
What is this, Mom?
I trusted you!” She screamed, “Why?
Why?
Why?” as she dragged her hands through her hair and became frantic.
Downstairs, the guests could hear the commotion.
Mr.
Calista, sweating and nervous, glanced at Rowan, who was still on his phone.
Esme sat down, declaring, “I told you all I don’t want to be involved in anything that concerns your business!
I know this is for business purposes…
what is it, debt?
Are you guys in debt and want me to pay for it by marrying that man sitting there, whom I don’t know and have never met?
Mom, I just graduated!
I have my life, my boyfriend, my friends…
I’ve planned everything for myself!
Why do you have to ruin it all?” She stood up, shouting at her mom, “Why won’t you say anything?
You’re just going to stand there crying!
It’s my life that’s about to be ruined, not yours or Dad’s!
You guys are so selfish!
There is no way I’m marrying that man.
I ran away from this family; I’m not getting involved in something like this and ending up with the same pathetic fate as yours, Mom!” Her mother, looking broken, approached her and slapped her.
Esme turned her head sideways, hands on her face, as she looked up at her mom.
Her mother said, “Do you know what your dad has done for you and this family?
You think he wants you to marry that man?
He tried his hardest; it’s not his fault he got indebted to that man and so many other very dangerous men.
Your dad wants you to stay out of this line of work.
He struggled for you!
We almost went homeless until that man helped us.” Esme staggered back and sat on her bed as tears streamed down her face.
Her mother sniffed and continued, “He helped us pay our debt and got those debtors off our backs.
He’s a powerful mafia boss, a billionaire…
far wealthier than your father.
But in this line of work, no goodwill comes without a catch.
He said he’d collect something from us, and your dad thought it was money, but it wasn’t.
The man insisted he wanted you.
Your dad declined, your dad tried to plead and beg, but the man said he could only pay back the debt if he doubled it.
Your dad gave in, not because he lost hope, but because he knew you’d at least have protection, and he promised nothing would happen to you, Esme.” Her mother sat beside her and said, “Esme, my daughter,” Esme looked at her.
“I know we aren’t the best parents, but just remember that no matter what, we always have your best interests at heart.” Esme cried, saying, “But I have a boyfriend, Mom!
I was going to introduce him!” Her mom shook her head and replied, “You’ll have to end it, Esme.” Esme hugged her mother tightly, crying bitterly.
Downstairs, Mr.
Calista was panicking and sweating profusely.
Suddenly, Rowan stood up, putting his phone in his pocket, followed by the other guests.
Mr.
Calista said, “Mr.
Rowan, you’re leaving?” Rowan replied, “I have other things to attend to, Mr.
Calista.
I can’t wait here.” Mr.
Calista pleaded, “Please just wait a second; I’ll go get her.” Rowan began walking toward the exit, the others following him.
Mr.
Calista was in full panic mode when a voice rang out from the stairs: “I accept.” Esme appeared, looking at Rowan with eyes filled with hatred.
Rowan smirked, while Mr.
Calista smiled at his wife, who smiled faintly in response.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
If you didn’t, that’s okay but still stay with me because it gets better.
Thank you lovliess and have a nice time reading!
God blessss!!