A BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Freya's heart pounded in her chest as tears rolled down her eyes. The words of her father echoed through her ears, creating a livid expression on her body.

What her father had just asked her to do was the most terrible and forbidden thing to do. Mr Barriet looked at his daughter in pity; he regretted what he was asking her to do and wished he didn't have to do it.

"My dear daughter, you must understand that this is beyond my will. Mason is not a bad person. He's been married to your sister for years, and now that your sister is dead, you have to take her place as his wife."

Freya shook her head, her dark brown hair falling across her face with a thud. "I can't marry Mason, Father. It's only been one week since Isabella's death." Freya's voice quivered as she spoke, the emotions swirling within her were too overwhelming. "I can't get married to her husband; people will think I killed her just because I wanted Mason."

Mr Barriet rubbed his hand against his forehead. He knew he was putting a lot of pressure on his daughter, and it was taking all of his strength to convince her. "Freya, you don't have to care what people have to say. This is more than you think; this is for our family."

Freya took a shaky breath before responding. "Father, why do I have to do this? I don't love Mason. How can I spend the rest of my life with him?"

A tear escaped from her eye as she let out a shaky sob. She felt so angry that she could barely speak, but her voice still sounded shaky. "Father, this means more to me than to the family."

She wiped her tears away with her fingers before standing up and turning away from her father, who sat on the bed.

Mr Barriet felt bad for his daughter. He wished there was another way he could do things. He wished his first daughter hadn't died. But there wasn't another way for their family.

"I know how this must be for you, but if there were another way, then I would have done it. This family had an agreement with the Wayne's family," Mr Barriet explained.

Freya turned toward her father, her anger dissipating slowly. Her blue eyes now held concern instead of anger. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach when she saw concern in her father's eyes; the last time she had seen them like this was at her sister's funeral.

"What deal, Father?" Freya whispered.

Mr Barriet lowered his gaze. "Before you were born, the Wayne's family and this family made a business deal. The Wayne's family were the first to discover the marketing method behind the creation of new products that can sell more efficiently."

Mr Barriet sighed and continued. "I decided to partner with them to make the production in our company effective and unique. It was the best. Mr Wayne and I became close friends, and because of that, the company is where it is. Mr Wayne was pleased and asked if we could be partners forever, and the only way that could be possible is if we passed it on to our children."

"Mr. Wayne suggested that our agreement for being partners should be something that would last forever, so he put it on the paperwork that our children should get married."

Mr Barriet paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "The deal is sealed, and so are the papers that confirm the agreement. That means no one is permitted to talk about it or even read it until Mr Wayne and I decided to do so."

Mr Barriet paused for a moment and stared into Freya's eyes. "But this agreement is what made the company where it is today. I can't change that agreement or everything we have will be taken away from us."

"This is more than I thought," Freya said quietly.

"Everything was alright until your sister died, and now this family's only hope is you."

Tears rolled down Freya's eyes. She couldn't believe she was about to throw away her hopes and dreams just for her family's sake, plus the fact that she had to live with a man she didn't love.

"I believe Mason is a good man; he'll love you, and Flora will take you as her mother," Mr Barriet said, trying to comfort his daughter.

"But I'm not her mother," Freya stated firmly. She tried to keep her voice strong and steady but failed miserably.

Mr Barriet's facial expression changed from one of guilt and regret to one of joy and gratitude, making Freya smile. "I know she will. All she needs now is a comforting hand."

Freya took in a deep breath, deliberating if she should do what her father asked her to. She knew there was nothing she could do. She was all their family had. She had to do it. She had to marry the man she didn't love.

"Father, this is the toughest decision. My life is at stake. What if the people who killed Isabella come after me? What if they come after Flora?"

Freya pleaded with her father, hoping that he would find some other solution besides marriage. She didn't want to marry Mason, and she was certain that if there were other solutions, things wouldn't be difficult.

Mr Barriet placed his hand on his daughter's shoulder, giving her a gentle smile. "If anything ever happened to either of you, then there would be nothing left to live for. Your mother and I will always be here for you."

Freya gave her father a reassuring smile. "Yes, Father, I know. I believe you, but what if they are really that powerful?" Freya questioned, her fear evident in her voice.

"They're humans; they have weaknesses, and they will always have flaws, and that's their weak point."

Freya nodded in understanding, her eyes glistening as more tears began to fall. She wiped her tears away with the back of her hands and stood up straight, facing her father. "Alright, I'm going to do this."

"Good, I know you can do it." Mr Barriet rose off the bed with an exhausted sigh.