"I'll hate to spoil your makeup." He brushed my hair aside to kiss the delicate skin on my neck. He was my husband, and he was trying to seduce me. The man my father forced me to marry so he could form a political alliance, but also gain access to this enemy family for revenge through me. My name is Racheal, the only legitimate child of one of the world's most influential presidents. As the president's daughter, you would think my life was perfect, but it wasn't. Since my mother's untimely death, my step-mother has maltreated and tortured me relentlessly. My boyfriend betrayed me, and then my father sold me off to be married to a man I did not know, a complete stranger, the billionaire son of a rival president. Now I am forced to make a decision, continue with my father's revenge plan, or let myself fall for my new husband?
"Is it over?" Racheal Rana asked
"Yes." Maxwell responded, and she ran into his arms happily. She hugged him tight, the moment felt surreal.
There had been rumors that the war that had raged the country for five years was coming to an end.
Even Maxwell, a palace guard high up in the presidential palace had told her as much, but it had been almost too much to hope for.
"It feels surreal. Now we can leave and really live" she said softly withdrawing from the embrace.
"That is what I came to talk to you about." Maxwell said.
"Really?" Racheal said, half jumping excitedly. "Would we leave today?" She asked in nervous excitement.
Maxwell led the way to one of the sofas in her luxuriously furnished room and sat down. She hurriedly followed and took a seat beside him.
She returned her gaze to his face expectantly. And for the first time, she had a feeling that something was terribly wrong.
"Maxwell" Racheal said with a little dread. He was avoiding her eyes, and he was sweating despite the cool air conditioning in her room.
"There is no good way to say this. I am calling this quits." He said.
"You are quitting your position." She said expectantly, because that had been the plan. He quits his position and they elope together to another country to start a family.
But the question sounded foolish even to her own ears. Maxwell would not look so uncomfortable if he was sticking to the plan.
"No. I am calling our relationship quits." He said, turning to finally face her. "We cannot go on with the plan."
Racheal felt herself caving in "You promised." She said, the feeling of being betrayed twisting her guts.
"You promised. This was what I had looked forward to for years, this is the only reason I went on living." She added. "You cannot change your mind."
"It's impossible. You will find some other man. You will find happiness." He said standing up.
"You swore you loved me, you promised to continue loving me." She said, feeling the heat of her unshared tears beginning to burn the back of her throat now.
"How can you love me and want to abandon me in this situation? Why give me a will to live and then take it away?" She asked angrily.
Then she paused, and her eyes widened. "Did someone find out about us, are you being threatened?" She asked moving close to him.
"No." He said forcefully, stepping back. He looked offended at her words.
"Then what is it? Why this sudden decision. I saw you two days ago and all was fine." She said in frustration.
"Was it?" He asked with a bitter smile.
"Maxwell, why are you acting this way? Please tell me." She said, and lost control over her tears. They flowed freely, but she felt no shame, this was still Maxwell.
This was Maxwell who knew her darkest thoughts and the depth of her embarrassing reality.
She finally came to the realisation.
"You do not want to be involved in all these anymore right? The presidential family drama is too much for you, and why send yourself to exile over the unwanted daughter of all his children." She said.
From the way he continued watching her silently she realised she was not far from the truth.
He was no longer defensive.
She sat back heavily on the couch. She never knew this day would come. Not even for one minute, in her moments of doubt did she think of this possibility.
She feared their getting caught, she feared an accident killing them on their way, or their being condemned to a life of poverty, and even those were not so terrifying because Maxwell would be with her.
Never did she think he would back out.
"You will find happiness again Racheal." He said, sounding a little sad.
Not sweet Racheal. My sweet Racheal was what he had always called her. He turned to leave.
"Don't go." She said, "Please!" She cried. He did not even break his stride.
She hurriedly got up and crumbled to the floor, clutching his foot.
She could already feel the darkness swallowing her, a shiver went through her body at the thought of her fate if she let him walk out that door.
She clung to his foot desperately.
"Please don't go. I beg you. Please". She cried as he struggled to pull his leg away. "Take pity on me, you know the life you are condemning me to." She pleaded.
He leaned down and forcefully pushed her away, finally setting himself free. He hurried out the door like the devil himself was chasing him.
Racheal remained at that spot and sobbed. Heart wrenching sobs that shook her whole body.
She cried and cried, she cried for her late mother, she cried for the life she could have had, she cried for Maxwell and the life by his side she just lost.
Twice, her personal maids came in and tried to pull her up but she fought them off her.
She finally stood up as the sun began to set outside. She could still hear all the noise from the crowd outside.
Her maid came in with a cup of tea and turned on the television.
Racheal stared at the cup for a long time, remembering her teenage days. When her step-mother would have her confined to her room like she did now, but would strictly order that no food be brought up to her. And Racheal would starve and starve.
And now that she was older, although she was rarely starved, she still faced these confinements.
Whenever her step-mother was angry about something, anything at all she would send out palace guards to go seize her anywhere in the city she was.
They would bring her back to the palace and lock her up in her room while her father pretended to be blind and deaf to the situation.
He did nothing too when his wife blacklisted her from getting a job anywhere in the country.
Light flashes from the TV interrupted her thoughts. She slowly turned to see her father firmly shaking the president of the country they had been at war with.
She read the banner on the screen and went cold.
The both presidents promised to join their son and daughter in marriage to further unite both countries, and assure the countrymen that the war was truly over.
Chapter 1 A broken promise
11/09/2024
Chapter 2 I cannot stand the sight of her
11/09/2024
Chapter 3 Madam First Lady
11/09/2024
Chapter 4 The priest is waiting
11/09/2024
Chapter 5 Stay away from her
11/09/2024
Chapter 6 A common theif
11/09/2024
Chapter 7 What a day!
11/09/2024
Chapter 8 Hypocrite
11/09/2024
Chapter 9 Fair treatment
11/09/2024
Chapter 10 A pretty bird
11/09/2024
Chapter 11 Playing by the rules
11/09/2024
Chapter 12 Wrong route
11/09/2024
Chapter 13 A threat or a nightmare
11/09/2024
Chapter 14 An episode
11/09/2024
Chapter 15 A revelation
11/09/2024
Chapter 16 Glam team
11/09/2024
Chapter 17 A spectacular entrance
11/09/2024
Chapter 18 A discovery
11/09/2024
Chapter 19 The gardens of Xen
11/09/2024
Chapter 20 An odd meeting
11/09/2024
Chapter 21 A mysterious package for Racheal
09/10/2024
Chapter 22 Racheal confronts Steffan
09/10/2024
Chapter 23 A harrowing experience
09/10/2024
Chapter 24 Still a captive
09/10/2024
Chapter 25 A French Knight
09/10/2024
Chapter 26 A fresh start
09/10/2024
Chapter 27 Homecoming
09/10/2024
Chapter 28 A powerful hostess
09/10/2024
Chapter 29 An announcement
09/10/2024
Chapter 30 An arranged marriage
09/10/2024
Chapter 31 You're safe
10/10/2024
Chapter 32 The rooftop
10/10/2024
Chapter 33 A hero
10/10/2024
Chapter 34 Festivity
10/10/2024
Chapter 35 A gift for Racheal
10/10/2024
Chapter 36 At the engagement party
10/10/2024
Chapter 37 What necklace
10/10/2024
Chapter 38 A ploy
10/10/2024
Chapter 39 Racheal rejects Steffan
10/10/2024
Chapter 40 An invitation for Racheal
10/10/2024
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