Chapter 1 Completely Trapped

• Usually, the television would be blasting. Marion, her stepmother would be yelling at one maid or the other. Jolie would probably be laughing loudly on a video call with her useless friends.
• But tonight?
• Nothing.
• Amelia stepped in slowly, shutting the door behind her with a tired sigh. Her red boots clicked softly against the marble floor as she pulled her earphones out.
• Then she saw them.
• Her father sat on the couch with both elbows resting on his knees, fingers locked together tightly like the world was ending. Marion sat beside him, eyes swollen and face stiff.
• Amelia already knew this wouldn't end well.
• "Why you both looking like someone died?" she muttered, tossing her keys on the table.
• No answer.
• Her father finally raised his head. "Come and sit down."
• That tone. That fake calm tone Luke Robertson used whenever he wanted something.
• "I'm fine standing."
• "Amelia."
• "God. Fine." She relented.
• She dropped herself lazily into the single couch opposite them, crossing one leg over the other. Her body looked relaxed but inside, she was already irritated.
• Marion sniffed loudly. "Your sister is in the hospital."
• Amelia blinked once.
• "Oh."
• "That's all you have to say?" Marion snapped immediately.
• Amelia shrugged. "What exactly do you want me to say? Congratulations?"
• "Watch your mouth," her father warned sharply.
• She looked away with a scoff.
• Of course, Jolie could destroy lives and still be the precious child. Meanwhile Amelia breathing too loudly in this house was a crime.
• "What happened to her?" she asked flatly.
• Marion dabbed at her eyes dramatically. "Those girls attacked her after school. They beat her badly."
• "And?"
• Marion looked offended. "And?? Amelia, your sister is fighting for her life!"
• "My sister?" Amelia repeated quietly, almost amused. "Interesting."
• "Don't start this rubbish tonight," Luke snapped.
• Amelia pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek and looked away.
• The room suddenly felt smaller. Like something bad was waiting around the corner.
• Her father inhaled deeply before speaking again. "We owe money."
• There it was.
• Amelia closed her eyes briefly. Of course this was about money. It was always about money.
• "How much?"
• "A lot," he answered.
• Marion quickly added, "The surgery alone is expensive and—"
• "So get a loan."
• "We already did."
• Amelia frowned slightly at that.
• Her father looked directly at her now. And something about the way he looked made her stomach tighten.
• "There's a condition attached to it."
• Amelia slowly sat upright. "What condition?"
• Nobody answered immediately.
• Marion looked at Luke. Luke looked irritated already.
• Then finally…
• "You're getting married tomorrow."
• The words landed so heavily that for a second Amelia thought she heard wrongly. "What?"
• "You heard me."
• She stared at him. Then laughed once. Not because it was funny, but because it sounded insane.
• "No."
• Luke's jaw tightened. "It's already arranged."
• "No," Amelia repeated, firmer this time. "You're joking."
• "I'm not."
• She stood up immediately. "You borrowed money and offered me as payment?"
• "No one offered you as payment," he barked. "Watch the way you speak."
• "Then what exactly is this?"
• "It's marriage!"
• "It's selling me!"
• "Amelia!" Marion yelled.
• Amelia turned to her sharply. "You stay out of this."
• "You ungrateful girl—"
• "Ungrateful?" Amelia laughed bitterly. "That's funny coming from you."
• "Enough!" Luke thundered. The room fell silent instantly. "The wedding is tomorrow."
• Tomorrow. Not next month. Not next week. Tomorrow.
• Amelia felt something twist painfully inside her chest. "You can't force me into marrying someone I don't even know."
• "You'll learn to know him."
• "I'm not doing this."
• "You are."
• "I said no!"
• Her voice echoed across the living room.
• Marion shook her head dramatically. "See why nobody can tolerate this girl? Always difficult. Always causing problems."
• Amelia ignored her completely and looked at her father instead. "You care this much about Jolie that you'd ruin my entire life for her?"
• Luke's expression hardened instantly."Watch what you say next."
• "No, answer me!”
• "She is your sister."
• "She's YOUR favorite child," Amelia shot back. "Let's stop pretending."
• "Amelia," Luke warned darkly.
• "No, let's talk tonight. Since we're apparently making life-changing decisions for me."
• Her breathing became uneven now.
• Years. Years of swallowing everything down.
• And now this.
• Marriage?
• To some stranger?
• Because Jolie got herself into trouble again?
• "No," she whispered again, shaking her head slowly. "I won't do it."
• Luke suddenly walked toward the drawer beside the shelf and pulled something out. Amelia froze immediately.
• The small velvet box in his hand made all the anger leave her face instantly.
• "No," she said softly.
• Her mother's heirloom. The only thing she had left from her mother. The gold necklace her mother hid away for her before she died.
• Luke stared at her coldly. "You see this?"
• Amelia's hands curled slowly beside her.
• "Don't," she said quietly.
• "If you try anything stupid tonight, you'll never see this necklace again."
• Her throat tightened painfully. "You wouldn't."
• "Try me."
• Marion folded her arms with satisfaction. Amelia looked at the necklace like she could already feel it slipping away from her forever.
• Her mother's voice flashed briefly in her head. ‘ This belongs to you, baby. No matter what happens.’
• A sharp ache hit her chest. "You're disgusting," she whispered.
• Luke's expression didn't change. "You'll marry him tomorrow."
• Amelia blinked rapidly, refusing to let tears fall in front of them. "You can't keep using my mother against me."
• "I can. And I will."
• That broke something inside her. Like glass cracking slowly. She stared at her father for a long moment like she didn't recognize him anymore.
• Maybe she never did.
• Then suddenly she turned and walked away before they could see her cry.
• "Amelia!" Luke called after her.
• She ignored him and rushed upstairs quickly. By the time she reached her room, her hands were shaking badly.
• She slammed the door shut behind her and pressed both palms against it, breathing hard.
• This had to be a nightmare. It had to be.
• She yanked her coat off angrily and paced around the room.
• There was no way she was getting married to a stranger for Jolie’s sake.
• She'd rather leave.
• That's what she'd do. She'd grab her things tonight and disappear before morning.
• Yes.
• That was the plan.
• Amelia quickly moved toward the window, but stopped. Her brows furrowed. Something looked strange. She stepped closer. Her heartbeat slowed.
• The window had been screwed shut. Completely.
• "What the hell..."
• She grabbed it hard and tried to push it open but it wouldn’t budge.
• Her breathing quickened.
• No.
• No no no.
• She rushed to the door immediately and twisted the knob. Locked.
• Amelia froze. Then banged hard on it.
• "Open the door."
• Silence followed.
• "Dad!"
• Nothing.
• Her chest tightened painfully. "OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!"
• Still nothing.
• Amelia stepped back slowly, staring at the door in disbelief. Then it hit her fully. They had planned this already.
• The marriage. The threats. The locked window. The locked door. Everything.
• And she was trapped. Completely trapped.
• ____