TAKEN BY THE MERCENARY

"This can't be, Marie. They can't do this to me," she protested when her friend answered the call.

She had immediately called Marie when her parents informed her that she was going to marry a billionaire. She threw her bag onto her bed and sat on the couch.

"Calm down, Amara. What are you talking about? I don't understand," Marie replied on the other end of the line.

Amara sighed loudly and tried to calm herself down. She couldn't believe her parents.

Why were they doing this to her?

"My parents want me to marry the famous and arrogant billionaire, Marie."

"What?!" Even Marie was surprised by what she had heard.

"Uh-huh."

"That's ridiculous! Have you told your parents yet? Tell them that you won't marry that man. You know there have been a lot of news stories about him, right? Do you want to be a victim of that coward?" she said.

Amara wanted to cry for a moment, but she stopped herself. She couldn't just cry about something that could be easily solved. There were many ways her parents' plan might not go through, even if she disobeyed them.

"I'll try to talk to them again later. There won't be any marriage," she said bitterly.

Her friend on the other end laughed. "You really hate him, don't you? I feel your annoyance, girl."

"Who wouldn't be annoyed? I truly despise them for this. I'm their daughter; how could they do this to me?"

Marie was silent for a moment on the other end. "Take your time first, girl. Think carefully and calm yourself before you talk to them. Ask them why they made that decision. Maybe they have a good reason."

"I don't know, Marie. Maybe there is, but I'm sure it's for the business."

The two of them talked for a while until the maid called her for dinner. Amara didn't want to go down, but she wanted to talk to her parents.

She quietly descended the stairs and headed to the dining area. Mr. Liam Courtney and Mrs. Sandra Courtney were sitting there, looking at her intently.

“Amara…” her mother called, "Are you still angry?" Sandra asked.

Amara didn't answer; instead, she took the cutlery and began to serve food onto her plate.

"Amara, your mother is asking. Are you being that disrespectful?” her father asked, his tone furious.

"I heard her, Dad. But I have no answer to that. I'm still furious. I can't believe you're marrying me off to that man. Why? For money and the company?" she asked them sharply.

The couple stopped and stared at her intently.

Liam closed his eyes, attempting to calm himself down.

"Our company needs an investment, Amara. We need someone with expertise to secure it, so we don't lose money or the company. Besides, you have no passion for furniture; your passion lies in fashion. This is the only way to repay the man who pulled us out of hardship."

"I'd rather be poor than marry that man. You know who he is. He's vulnerable and arrogant! I don't want to be subservient to him. I don't want to be like a servant! I hope you two understand!" She was vehemently against it.

Although the couple felt sorry and didn't want their daughter to marry, they felt helpless. They needed to be resolute. They didn't want Amara to suffer, and there was a deeper reason.

"It's final, Amara. You're getting married next week. Everything is already arranged. You must meet him later at the restaurant. He will call you, and you two will discuss your marriage."

"What?! Next week?!" she shouted, her eyes wide.

Amara nearly snapped the fork as she tightened her grip on it. She wanted to lose herself and cry, but she couldn't. She didn't want to show weakness to her parents. If they couldn't persuade the man to reconsider the marriage, she would have to speak to him herself. Perhaps she could convince him.