Maria Roberts Sanchez has never imagined getting married through an arranged marriage more or less to the ruthless billionaire Rafael Santino. So when her father. Alexander Roberts Sanchez comes home one day and tells her to get ready to be married off to him due a business he had with Rafael's father, Mr Dante Santino. She is more or less confused, her father then proceeds to tell her about the business he had with Dante Santino a few years ago and how he is in debt to him and the only way is giving her out to marry his only son,Rafeal. Maria is left shocked and worried, marrying Rafael may seem like the only solution to help her father but she has heard rumors about the Santino's and how ruthless they are especially their only son Rafeal and she is reluctant to agree to her father's request but then her father starts getting threat notes which are no doubts from the Santino's. Maria's father begs her to save him from them because marrying Rafael is the only way he can be freed of the debt he owes Dante Santino. Maria is left with no choice but to marry Rafael Santino in order for her to save her father and his reputation. But what will happen when she finally marries him? Will he change ruthless ways and fall in love with her? More importantly what secrets is one of the Santino's hiding?
Chapter 1 The Wedding Bargain
Maria's Pov~
"Dad, what do you mean you want me to marry Rafael Santino?
"You have to listen to what I'm saying,my princess" Dad said
"Listen to the fact you want to sell me off just to save your own reputation" I retorted angrily.
"Why would I wake up.one morning and decide to sell my child?" he replied.
"Twenty years ago when your mother was ill, I borrowed some money from Mr Dante Santino and now he wants you as a replacement for my debts" he explained
I was speechless,why would Mr Dante want me as a replacement for my father's debt or was it because he needed someone to take his ruthless son.I looked at my father and saw how sadness etched his face. I knew that if he had the money he would have paid off the debts since.
I don't really blame him for being worried, the Santino's are known to be ruthless. Anyone who refuses their orders always ends up in a bad way.
I know the only way out of this mess was to agree to marry Rafael Santino, the only child of Dante and Alice Santino.
If only mom was alive we wouldn't be in this situation now. I lost my mom to breast cancer at the age of five (5), it's been pretty much me and dad ever since. And as a single dad I can pretty much say he has raised me well.
A year ago I graduated from college and haven't found a job yet. Though I work part time at a restaurant close to our house.
My best friend Estella also works with me.We have known each other since middle school and I'm grateful for someone like her.
"Dad, did he give you an ultimatum for me to agree to this?"I asked.
"No, he just said we should be ready for when he sends for us" dad replied.
"I really need some time to think over this dad" I said
"No problem my princess, I understand how you feel right now" he replied and left
I went into to my room. My room is very plain prefers because that's how my life has always been. I'm not really a fan of colour hence why I prefer my room to be painted black and most of the items I have are mostly black, white of brown in colour.
I sat on my bed as I pondered with my thoughts running through my mind.Marrying a stranger to save my father seems like a right thing for me to do but then again what of my own feelings.
I decide to take a shower to cool my brain so I would think of situation I am in later.
Rafeal's pov~
"What do you mean you found a wife for me?" I asked dad highly confused
I was at the balcony when my dad came to inform me of an arranged marriage he intended for me.
"Yes, I found a wife for you and mind your tongue near me young man, you seen to forget that I can revoke your inheritance anytime I feel like" dad replied
I groaned in frustration and paced around as I thought of what to say to change his mind.
"But dad you know I'm not ready for marriage yet, I need to take over the business before I can settle down" I said.
"This wedding will guarantee you inheriting the company from me but you do not seem interested. I suppose i can give it to someone else" he said
"No, father I will do as you wish, just tell me when and where" I replied with desperation in my voice
"Good, I will send you further details till then you are dismissed call your mother for me on your way out, we need to start planning the wedding" he said with a firm voice
I left him and went into the house as I thought of how I would explain this to my girlfriend Leticia.
I walked into my lavishly furnished room and laid on my bed staring at the ceiling in despair. My father threatening me with my inheritance doesn't come as a surprise to me cause this isn't the first time he has.
Most of my life has been controlled by him trying to mold me into the perfect son and even though I have tried everything to be a perfect son to him I'm just a failure.
I lost my Mom at the age of 14 and my dad remarried 1 year later. I felt so sad because he even mourn her for a long time. My stepmom Alice Smith now know as Mrs Alice Santino was a former beauty queen. I sometimes wonder why she married my dad who was older than her by 10 years gap. But that isn't my problem now.
My problem is how I would explain to my girlfriend Leticia about the fact I'm getting married soon to someone else all because of my father. I took my phone and dialed her number. She picked up almost immediately.
"Hey baby,I have missed you. Do you want to come over so we could have some fun she said seductively.
I wanted to say I would come over, so i could tell her to face about what my father has in store for me but I didn't want to look into her eyes before I broke her heart..so instead I said.
"Emm I'm not sure I can babe, I have something to tell you" I said then proceeded to tell her about the situation im in and the discussion I had with my father.
After I was done speaking I waited for her to say something. After a painfullly long silence she said
"Why can't you fight for our love, you want to leave me and do as your father said just because of your inheritance?"
"No babe, you don't understand even though I refuse to do as he said he would disown me please try and understand, I proywe would still be together just wait for me" I replied
"Would you still be visiting me even though you get married and what if you fall in love with her"
"Of course I will be visiting you and I wouldn't fall in love with her, you on your the only one I love" I said.
"Ok baby I trust you no bitch is going to come between us. I love you baby"
" I love you too babe and good night, talk to you tomorrow" I said heaving a sigh of relief because it actually went better than I could imagine.
I slept off thinking and dreading of the arranged marriage that was to come.
Chapter 1 The Wedding Bargain
19/03/2024
Chapter 2 The Wedding Day
25/03/2024
Chapter 3 His Rules
25/03/2024
Chapter 4 House Tour
26/03/2024
Chapter 5 The business dinner
31/03/2024
Chapter 6 Best friends
10/04/2024
Chapter 7 Mr Arrogant
18/04/2024
Chapter 8 Breakfast quarrel
21/04/2024
Chapter 9 Girl's day out
24/04/2024
Chapter 10 Clubbing
30/04/2024
Chapter 11 Caught !
05/05/2024
Chapter 12 Confrontation
05/05/2024
Chapter 13 Confusion and worries
07/05/2024
Chapter 14 Job Alert and self realization
11/05/2024
Chapter 15 A perfect facade
16/05/2024
Chapter 16 Surviving the family gathering Part one
17/05/2024
Chapter 17 Surviving the family gathering Part two
17/05/2024
Chapter 18 First day at work
19/05/2024
Chapter 19 Under pressure and Break ups
21/05/2024
Chapter 20 Unraveling Threads
30/05/2024
Chapter 21 Questions at the bar
12/06/2024
Chapter 22 Confronting the shadows
30/06/2024
Chapter 23 A conversation long overdue
30/08/2024
Chapter 24 Breaking the walls
30/08/2024