Chapter 1
Chapter 1
ROSALIE
I stood in the corner of my father’s study, my fingers clenched around the strap of my bag as I watched him fawn over Charlotte. He rarely even looked at me, much less with the warmth he reserved for her. She had that effortless grace, a practiced charm that seemed to leave everyone else–especially me–in her shadow.
34%
“You’ve made me proud, sweetheart,” he said to her, smiling as if she were the sun that lit up his world. “The company owes its success to you and the way you represented our family name.”
Charlotte basked in his words, giving a small, pleased smile, her gaze flitting to me with that familiar glint of smugness. “Anything for the success of our company dad. You know since Rosalie can’t do much, I have to step up”
I glared at her.
She didn’t say it outright, but she didn’t need to. We both knew that in his eyes, I was little more than an obligation, a daughter whose existence served as nothing more than a reminder of my mother’s long–past pregnancy complications–the reason she could never have more children after me.
And as always, my mother sat quietly to the side, her hands folded in her lap, her expression a blend of passive acceptance and distant approval. She never did anything to change things, never interfered with my father’s blatant favoritism. Maybe it was easier for her that way.
When my father finally turned his attention to me, his expression hardened, and I braced myself. It was always like this– expectations that I would fall in line, be useful in whatever way he deemed necessary, without question or hesitation.
“Rosalie,” he said, his voice turning sharp and clipped. “We need to discuss something important.”
I felt a shiver of unease creep up my spine, but I managed a nod. “What is it, Dad?”
He cleared his throat, adjusting his tie as he often did when he was about to discuss “family matters.” His eyes settled on me, calculating and cold.
“Our company is struggling,” he began, his tone matter–of–fact. “We’re on the verge of losing everything if we don’t act quickly. But there’s an offer on the table thanks to your elder sister handling of the matter. Her smart thinking and negotiation has offered us a way to save everything.” He paused, and the weight of what he wasn’t saying lingered heavily in the air.
“And…. what does that have to do with me?” I asked slowly, a dreadful sense of foreboding settling over me.
He hesitated for a split second before answering. “You’re going to marry into one of the wealthiest families I know, one with significant influence. It’s the only way to secure the future of the company.”
His words felt like a slap. “You want me to marry a stranger?”
“It’s hardly that dramatic,” he replied dismissively, waving off my shock. “His name is Damien Hale. His family has agreed to this arrangement, and they have the resources to keep us afloat. They’re willing to save us–on one condition.”
“Hale… that name sounds familiar,” I murmured, trying to place it, but the foggy connection eluded me.
He gave me an impatient look, as if the identity of my future husband was a trivial detail. “Yes, well, it doesn’t matter what you know of the family now. What matters is that you agree to this marriage and do what’s expected of you.” His gaze was unyielding, his tone carrying the finality of a decree.
+13
19:29 Mon, 17 Feb Cys
Chapter 1
I shook my head, anger flaring in my chest. “Dad, you can’t just decide my life like this! I have a choice–I have right
Charlotte let out a soft, patronizing chuckle, but my father’s expression hardened.
“Rosalie, this isn’t about your so–called rights,” he said coldly. “This is about family. You may not care about the company, but I expect you to care about the legacy your sister and I have worked so hard to build. Your sister had to pull tooth and nail to finalize this agreement between our families. You can’t let her hardwork be wasted!”
I clenched my fists, my voice trembling with indignation. “But why me? Why not Charlotte? She’s the one you trust with everything anyway.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes, looking thoroughly amused by my outburst, “I’ve been useful enough to this family and to the company Rose. I take care of the company, our income, and even finalize deals. This is the least you can do to show your usefulness”
My father, however, simply looked annoyed. “This isn’t a negotiation, Rosalie. You’ll do this for the family–end of discussion.”
I glanced at my mother, hoping for some sign of support, but she simply averted her gaze, as if ignoring the situation would make it disappear. The silent indifference in her eyes hurt more than anything my father had said. She wasn’t on my side; she never had been.
“So you’re just going to force me into this?” My voice wavered, anger and helplessness bubbling to the surface. “You expect me to marry someone I don’t even know, just because you say so?”
He looked at me with a hint of exasperation. “Don’t be dramatic, Rosalie. This is an opportunity, not a punishment. You’ll adapt, and in time, you’ll understand the importance of loyalty to family. Either you do this or I consider you dead to me and this family.”
The room seemed to close in on me, my father’s words echoing like a prison sentence. It was always the same–my duty, my obligation, the unspoken reminder that my value lay in how useful I could be to him. And now, that use meant sacrificing my own freedom.
“Fine,” I said finally, my voice hollow as the weight of my surrender pressed down on me. “If that’s what it takes to keep the company alive, I’ll do it.”
I hated myself for giving in so easily, but I knew I didn’t really have a choice. Not with the way my father’s eyes glinted with victory, or the way Charlotte’s smirk widened in satisfaction.
As I walked out of the study, the last threads of my old life slipping away, the name “Hale” lingered in my mind. It was familiar, a whisper from my past that I couldn’t quite place. But I shoved it aside, too overwhelmed by the wave of resentment and fear surging within me.
Little did I know that the answer to that mystery was about to change my life forever
