Pushed into a marriage solely to protect her mother, Sydney was made into nothing but a toy in the hands of her stepmother and step-sister. A cripple, he was and no one wanted to be with someone like him. With the rejection and the repulsion he has gotten from so many ladies, he built a form of resentment against them. To live up to the legacy of the Klein family, Logan had to get married to Sydney against his will. He thought she hated him and even though she was the most beautiful lady he had met, he made sure to downgrade her looks and her capability. Sydney had to live through all that and accept her fate even though her husband despised her. She found solace in speaking to her mother and her medical college classes. But her little peace is taken from her when Ariel re-enters her life wanting to have her husband. Logan was no man to mess with but Ariel did not care. Sydney was met with a task that was to ruin her entire marriage. It was a two-way road; do as Ariel has instructed and lose her husband or don't do it and lose her mother forever. It was a tough decision to make. Both persons she loves and cherishes. Sobs and pleading were not going to cut it so what will she choose? If she did as Ariel instructs, would she stop? Was that the end? Would her life be given back to her? It was hard to tell. Read to find out.
Chapter 1 Forced
Sydney's POV
I yelped in pain as Augusta pushed me into the room, shutting the door behind me. Without any proper footing, I stumbled forward and landed on the floor, my entire body shaking from both pain and tiredness. I tried wiping my tears as I turned to stare at my stepmother who looked at me with disgust.
"Why do you keep making things difficult for me?" She asked
She grabbed my chin harshly. "Answer me!" She yelled
What truly was my offence? I didn't want to get married right now. I had told my father this just a few minutes ago before he left for work. I had so many things I had planned for myself. This marriage will only hinder it. Worse, it was Logan Klein.
The very man was rumoured to not only be a cripple but a dangerous man. One time, I overheard them discussing how he killed someone with his wheelchair by laying them down and rolling over them. They also said he had erectile dysfunction but that was not the issue.
My issue was the fact that I knew he was going to stop me from doing what I wanted. I had a feeling he was controlling. I did not want that for myself. I know Dad needed the multi-billionaire deal but he had to find a way to get it.
A recent foreign deal came up and had been circulating on the entire internet which was only considering the top five companies on the chart for the project. The Cox family is on the number fifty on this list and the Klein family is on the number two. Dad tried reaching out to the unknown CEO who owns the company on the number one position but it was declined and now, he had to settle for the Klein family.
"He is Ariel's fiance" The moment I was done saying those words, a slap followed on my face
My face snapped to the side, as I flung my hand to the spot, sobbing. My stepmother did not care, her eyes were blazing with anger. "You will never say that again, am I understood?" She warned me, a clear threat written all over her tone
I nodded immediately. "That cripple can never get married to my daughter," Augusta told me, with a smirk on her face
"Mother, please. I can't get married to Logan at least not right now. And the rumours-"
"What rumours?" She interrupted me
She knew what I was talking about but chose to act dumb about it. "Mother, you know" she slapped me, causing me to drop my gaze
"Do I hear some kind of attitude?" She asked me and I shook my head, whimpering as more tears flowed down my eyes
"Rumours or not, you will get married to Logan so this family will prosper," she said
"What if he kills me?" I asked her and she paused
I was foolish to misinterpret her freeze and gaze on me as her change of mind and heart. She never cared for me. There was not a time she looked at me and I saw it but I always thought there would be a change. I thought there would be a little remorse when I asked that.
She held my chin, squeezing it tight causing me to wince. "Do you think I've wanted you to live? Your existence is nothing but a burden to my soul. This is the right time to show you can do something tangible" She let go and my head fell
"I can't. I won't get married to him" I said to her
Augusta nodded as she moved back, taking a seat on the couch. I stared at her wide-eyed, trying to understand what was going on. The door opened and Ariel stepped in, eyes dazed in happiness as she saw me in such a state. My step sister has always hated me so it was not always a new thing to find her being excited.
My only problem was Augusta who stared at me without a word for two minutes even after I just blatantly told her I wouldn't marry Logan. "You are sure you want to retain that stance?" Augusta asked me and I glanced from her to Ariel before nodding
"I-"
"Then it means you want your mother to die" Augusta interrupted
I was visibly confused. "What do you mean by that?" I managed to ask
"If you don't agree to get married to Logan, we will take your mother off life support. That will save us some cost"
I quickly got up. "Please, my mother has nothing to do with this. You had told me you would keep treating her so long as I did the chores around the house" I darted my eyes from my stepmother to my step-sister
"This also implies. We have to find a way to recover the money we will lose from not having the deal. So we can take the life support from your mother" Augusta threatened
My mind tried to come up with something, anything I could use to get out of this situation. I didn't have the money to pay for it myself and I could not speak to my father about it. He always believed Augusta and her daughter. The last time I wanted to report to him, I was so close to being thrown on the streets.
"Please, I'll do any other thing" I pleaded but they both laughed at my face
"Marry Logan and your mother lives" Ariel said after having her fill of laughter
I stared at both of them, wondering when I'd be free from them. My gaze dropped to the floor as those hard words came out of my mouth. "I'll get married to him"
"And that's a good girl" Augusta said "Call your father"
I took out my phone from my pocket, sniffling as I dialled his number. On a few rings, he picked up. "I'll get married to Logan" I informed him and he was instantly overjoyed
He ended the call and the next minute Augusta's phone rang. She kept it on loudspeaker so I could hear. "Sydney gets married in two days"
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