I will get married

I arrived home with a horrible pain, and in the end, I had to take some painkillers. I always got into trouble for being so impulsive, and this tattoo was proof of that.

I was about to leave the kitchen when my mother appeared with her typical look of horror, I knew she was looking for me.

"Daughter, where were you? You need to try on the wedding dress, tomorrow your new family will come, and you'll have to behave. We don't want your father to make a scene."

I turned to look at her, did she think she could scare me? I had slept with a man I didn't know, marked my body, and lost my dreams in that fire. Whether or not my father made a scene, I didn't give a damn.

"Please, Mom! I'm not afraid. I'll accept this damn marriage because I was irresponsible and didn't read what I was signing, but you, my father, and that new family will regret it. I'll make each tear count, one by one."

"Daughter..."

I sighed tiredly, I didn't want to hurt my mother, she was just a doll who did everything my father ordered her to do. Her only sin was not defending me.

"We'll go get the damn dress, but know that I'll buy any dress. As for the rest, you can take care of it, I don't care. To me, this is not a marriage, it's a death sentence."

After a few minutes in my room, I decided to leave with my mother. We had never gone anywhere together before, it was for the best for both of us.

We entered a quite expensive store, and I tried on about twenty dresses. I was bored.

"I want to leave," I rolled my eyes, annoyed.

"But you haven't chosen a dress."

— "I don't care at all," I said as I took one of the dresses and handed it to the woman in the store. "I want this one. Are you happy, Mom?"

—"Samantha!"

— "I'll wait outside. I want to get some shoes that match the dress."

I didn't wait for a response and left the snobby store. A few blocks away, there was a small boutique and on the display, there was a dress worthy of me, worthy of a funeral. So, following my instincts, I bought it.

I met up with my mother a few minutes later and we went straight home. I didn't tell her anything about my plans, but I was sure she would have a fit when she saw me appear at the church. Just imagining it made me giggle.

The next day, things took a turn for the worse, as my father wouldn't stop lecturing me. He wanted to give me lectures on behavior and I wasn't going to allow it.

—"Enough, Dad! I may not agree with this marriage, but you know I can behave. I speak six languages, do I need to tell you that I can behave in all of them?"

"I will behave like a princess.

Je me comporterai comme une princesse.

Mi comporterò come una principessa.

Bir prenses gibi davranacağım."

—"That's enough!" my father shouted angrily.

—"That's what I'm telling you, don't take me for a fool, father. I'm going to get ready."

I stormed out of the room, speaking to him in multiple languages. I know I can be very childish, but it drives me crazy. I thanked the heavens that I had never fallen in love, at least I wouldn't die of love. Maybe of suffering, though. I bet everything I have that my future husband is a horrible man. Who needs to force a woman to get married these days?

Hours later, laughter and low music could be heard from the hall. It was mostly background noise. I was lying down when my mother knocked on the door.

—"Samantha, you need to come down, they're waiting for you."

—"I'm not ready yet, Mom. Give me ten minutes and I'll be with you." I was lying through my teeth. I hadn't even done my hair, so I had to hurry. Today, my plan would begin.

I chose a two-piece outfit, high-waisted bell-bottom pants and a matching vest, all in black like my soul. I left my hair down and didn't even bother to put on makeup. I didn't need it, there was no one to impress.

I made my way downstairs about twenty minutes later, finding my future husband's family in the living room.

—"Daughter, I'm glad you came down. Come, let me introduce you."

I walked as slowly as I could and didn't smile at any moment, my father looked at me as a warning, but whatever, I wasn't even afraid of him.

"You are much more beautiful than we imagined, dear. This is my husband Rick, my younger son Jordán, and my name is Amelia. We are the Grey family."

"Who am I supposed to marry? Him?" I pointed at the youngest Ferner. "But he's just a kid."

"Samantha!" My father's voice made me tremble, I don't understand why it still had that effect on me.

"Calm down, Maximus, she's right. Dear Sam."

"It's Samantha to you," I interrupted her. The lady was taking too many liberties.

"Then it will be Samantha. Regarding your question, you will marry my eldest son, he couldn't come, that's why we're all here to ask for your hand. I know it might not be the right way, but-"

"Save your excuses, Amelia. You and I are not in the same position. I was never given the opportunity to choose, so whether you ask for my hand or not, I couldn't care less."

With that, I walked out of the room, heading to the dining room. Everything was ready for dinner, so I took my usual seat. A few seconds later, everyone came to sit down. My father's face was worthy of a photograph, he wanted to kill me, I could see it in his eyes. Unlike him, the Grey family seemed to be enjoying the night. They are a tough nut to crack.

They served dinner, luckily it was roast turkey, so I started eating like a pig, chewing like llamas, and drinking like a truck driver.

"Dear, do you think we could talk a little more? I want to talk to you about my son."

"What are you going to tell me?" I looked at her with annoyance.

"He is a good boy, he didn't want things to turn out this way either, but that's how business goes."

My head throbbed when I understood what she was trying to tell me, so my dear mother-in-law had claws.

"Business?"

"Yes, hasn't your father told you? Our companies will merge and save your father's from bankruptcy."

The glass in my hand shattered, I didn't even feel any pain, what I felt was a deep sadness in my heart, my family had sold me in the market like a piece of meat.

"Is that true? Did you sell me?"

"Samantha..."

"Samantha, no, Dad, did you ruin my life for money? For your damn company?"

I didn't know at what point we had arrived at the office, but my father had a tight grip on my arm, he was hurting me, but I was stronger so I let go.

"Shut up! Yes, I sold you to save my life, my company, you owe me, I gave you everything even though you're not my daughter, I gave you my last name."

I opened my eyes wide and placed my hand on my chest, this couldn't be true.

"What are you saying?"

"What you heard, you're going to pay me back every penny I invested in you, you know you're not my daughter, so let's not pretend that I care about you, because I don't."

"I will get married. I'll repay the favor, Maximus, but I swear you'll regret it, you were the one who destroyed my flower shop, but sooner or later, I will make you pay."