Chapter 3

• I woke up with a splitting headache and I groaned into my pillow. My head literally feels like someone is doing construction work inside it. There is a lot of pulsing and pounding that I don’t even know how I am going to get through the day.
• I forced myself out of bed and into the bathroom and I saw a huge bruise at the side of my head where father hit me with the pillow.
• I quickly took a bath and put on a simple pair of sweats and a hoodie and tied my hair into a high ponytail knowing it would annoy father to have my bruise out in the open.
• I tried to open my door but remembered that father ordered for it to be locked so I sat cross legged on my bed while I waited for someone to open it for breakfast.
• About five minutes later my door opened and I saw Liana. She narrowed her eyes at my bruise and I saw a similar but smaller one hidden by her hair.
• “Father wants you down for breakfast,” she said and she walked away.
• I took a deep breath before following her down the stairs. Father was already seated by the table and he was already eating. I ignored him and everyone else and took my place but then I saw that food had already been piled on my plate; bread, cheese and a few fruits. I reached out to put some chicken on my plate when I was stopped.
• “There will be no meat for you in the days leading up to your wedding,” father said, “You’re already a disgrace so you might as well lose a few pounds to make yourself attractive.”
• “I am not getting married so I do not need to lose any weight.” I said defiantly as I picked up a piece of chicken. If he thinks I am going to give into this marriage so easily then he is very mistaken. I saw father’s jaw tighten and he dropped his fork onto his plate calmly.
• “You will stop this childish tantrum now,” he warned, “I will not have you disgracing this family,” I leaned back into my chair and refused to meet his eyes, “You will do as I say and you will agree to the marriage with Alpha Hunter.”
• “No.” I said simply and I went back to eating my food.
• I knew he was going to retaliate but I did not expect him to throw an actual glass plate at my head. Same with yesterday I didn’t notice it in time and it smashed against the side of my face.
• I heard Carmen gasp as it shattered and the metallic scent of blood filled my nose. I put my hand to the side of my face and it came back bloody. I held it there and rose from my seat but father grabbed my hand and pushed me to the ground and a few shards of glass embedded themselves into my hands and thighs.
• “Listen to me and listen to me clearly little girl,” he spat, “I have been overly lenient with you so far because I thought that you would come back to your senses and agree to it,” he let out a little chuckle before continuing, “I don’t need you to agree; it will happen whether you like it or not.”
• “I will fight it every step of the way.” I muttered and he landed a sharp kick to my mouth and I tasted blood.
• “You are going to get up and make yourself look presentable,” he said as he made his way back to the table and sat down, “You, Carmen and Liana are going shopping for your engagement party.”
• “No.”
• “I think you misunderstood me Charlotte,” he said locking eyes with me, “It was not a question.”
• I know I can’t win this battle so I forced myself up to my feet. I could already see blood staining my sweats and I limped away.”
• “And Charlotte I want you to burn those clothes; we don’t want the help seeing them all bloody,” he said but I didn’t even turn back to acknowledge him, “Liana go clean up that blood it’s disgusting to look at.”
• I briefly heard Liana shuffling around but that wasn’t my concern right now. I should have known better than to oppose father directly. He will always win and if he can’t he will just beat me until I surrender.
• I took out the little glass shards in my hand and legs and grabbed my first aid box. The cuts weren’t that deep so they didn’t need stitches but I grabbed my first aid box that I always keep for emergency purposes and disinfected the wounds.
• I don’t know how father wants me to look presentable after this. They are literally angry red gashes all over my skin and I can cover the ones on my arm and legs but not on my face. I just cleaned it up and placed those skin colored plasters over it and changed into another pair of sweats and a hoodie and I left my hair down.
• I made my way down and saw Carmen and Liana by the door. They were both shooting me scathing looks but I ignored them and walked out of the house and towards the car.
• “You know that you are such a huge bitch,” Liana said, “You don’t think about anyone else when you do stuff do you?”
• “I’m not in the mood for this right now Liana.” I said and I opened the door of the back seat but she slammed it back shut.
• “I am not joking either Charlotte,” she said and I turned to face her while crossing my arms over my chest, ‘Have you never considered that we have to pay the price for father’s shitty moods after you antagonize him?”
• “Just let her be Liana,” Carmen said as she got into the driver’s seat, “She will never listen; it’s in her nature to be like this.”
• “Just like it’s in your nature to be a fake, lying wench?” I asked and she grit her teeth for a second before taking a calming breath and stepping into the car.
• “Just stop acting like it’s the end of the world and marry the damned guy” Liana said, “It’s not like you would have gotten a better match.”
• “I will never agree to this marriage,” I said, 'And if I rile father up so much then stay away from him. I didn't ask you to clean up my messes; I am more than capable of cleaning them up myself ."
• I opened the car door and sat inside making sure to slam the door behind me. After a few seconds she got into the passenger seat and shot me a scathing look which I returned with a saccharine smile.
• “Try not to spend hours picking a dress Charlotte; you won't look pretty anyways.” Carmen said and I gave her a smile in response.
• "Don't worry Carmen I'm not like you who needs to use hours to find a dress that'll fit my Botox filled body," I said with a shrug, "And even if I don't look pretty; I am still going to be a whole lot prettier than you.”