Betrayed Bargains

As Aurélien Dumont's father's words echoed in her ears, each syllable cut deeper than the last, her emerald eyes looked straight into the polished wood table.

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Henri Dumont told her, "You'll be marrying Maximilian Rykard." His voice was emotionless, like he was talking about the weather. "That's the only way to keep our history alive."

Rory's jaw got tight, and on her lap, her fingers curled into fists. In the grand dining room of the Dumont family estate, the air felt suffocating, and the weight of her father's betrayal pressed down on her shoulders. Even though she tried hard to keep her voice calm, the shock in her voice showed how angry she was.

"You sold me, Father!" she screamed, her voice shaking with anger and sadness. "For the man who broke us up." How could you?"

Henri leaned back in his chair. His once-bright face was now marked by the marks of bad choices and growing debt. He refused to meet her eyes, staring instead at the untouched wine glass before him.

“It’s not about you, Rory,” he answered, his tone weary. “It’s about the family. The Dumont name. The business your mother and I built from the ground up. Max is… smart. A merger with him is the only way to dodge bankruptcy.”

Her chair screeched against the marble floor as she shot to her feet, her tiny frame vibrating with anger.

“Strategic?” she repeated, her voice rising. “Do you even hear yourself? You’re throwing me to the dogs, Henri! Maximilian Rykard doesn’t save anyone; he devours them. He’s the reason we’re here in the first place! And now you want me to marry him? To… to what? Save your mistakes?”

“Aurélien,” Camille Dumont’s soft, measured voice cut through the stress. Rory’s mother, ever the composed one, reached across the table, her manicured fingers a picture of peace. “This isn’t just about us. It’s about you, too. You’ll have security. Stability. Max can provide that.”

Rory let out a bitter laugh, stepping away from the table as if their fights might infect her.

“Provide?” she repeated, incredulous. “By taking away my freedom? My choice? This isn’t security; it’s a jail sentence!”

Henri’s patience snapped.

“Enough, Rory,” he barked, slapping his hand on the table. The sound echoed, but it didn’t stop the storm brewing in his daughter’s chest. “You’re acting like a child. Do you think I wanted this? That I love watching my empire crumble? Max is our only choice. And you’ll do this for the family.”

“For the family,” she whispered, the words tasting like ash. Her father’s command hung heavy in the air, but all Rory could see was her image in the glossy surface of the table—a pawn, powerless against the chessboard her father had laid out.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out, her steps echoing in the cavernous halls of the estate.

Rory’s mind raced as she paced her bedroom, her refuge now feeling like a gilded cage. The rich, ornate furnishings mocked her, a stark reminder of the legacy she was supposed to preserve. She grabbed her phone, her fingers shaking as she dialed.

“Pick up, pick up,” she mumbled, her voice cracking.

“Aurélien?” a familiar voice answered on the third ring. Elijah Rykard, Max’s younger brother, sounded groggy but aware.

“Did you know?” she demanded, cutting straight to the point. “Did your brother put my father up to this?”

There was a pause, followed by a sigh. “Rory, you know how Max operates. He doesn’t play fair. But this…” Elijah’s tone softened, laced with a sympathy that only fueled her anger. “This isn’t personal. It’s business.”

“Business?” she hissed. “Your brother’s turned my life into a negotiation. Does that mean nothing to you?”

“It means everything,” Elijah admitted softly. “But Max… he won’t stop until he gets what he wants. You need to be careful.”

“Careful?” Her voice cracked, the weight of his words pressing on her chest. “You’re warning me now, after the deal is already done? Thanks, Elijah. Real helpful.”

She ended the call before he could reply, tossing her phone onto the bed as she fought back tears. Her anger burned hotter than her despair, though, and she wasn’t about to crumble. If Max thought she would go easily, he was in for a rude awakening.

The Dumont estate’s study was dimly lit when Rory entered unannounced, her father sitting at his desk with a glass of bourbon in hand. He didn’t look up as she approached, but the tension in his shoulders revealed his unease.

“Is this what it’s come to?” she asked, her voice low and icy. “Sacrificing your own daughter to save face?”

Henri set the glass down, his actions slow and deliberate. “It’s not about saving face, Rory. It’s about survival. You’re young. You don’t understand what it takes to protect an empire.”

“Then teach me,” she shot back, her anger bubbling over. “Show me how to fight. But don’t… don’t do this.”

For a brief moment, vulnerability flickered in Henri’s eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

“The decision is final,” he said, his tone brokering no argument. “You’ll thank me one day.”

Rory’s laugh was hollow, devoid of laughter. “I’ll never forgive you for this.”

She turned to leave but stopped at the door, her voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. “And when this blows up in your face, don’t expect me to pick up the pieces.”

Rory didn’t sleep that night. Instead, she sat by the window, watching as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon. Her mind raced with thoughts of escape, rebellion, and payback. She wouldn’t let Maximilian Rykard control her life. If her father thought this marriage would save their kingdom, she’d find a way to prove him wrong.

A knock on the door shocked her. Camille entered, her face unreadable.

“It’s time to prepare,” she said softly. “Max will be here by noon.”

Rory’s stomach twisted at the thought. But as she met her mother’s eyes, a flicker of determination ignited within her.

“Fine,” she answered, her voice steady. “Let’s play his game. But I’ll be damned if I let him win.”

Rory staring at her image in the mirror, her expression hardening as a plan begins to form. The sound of a car approaching echoes through the estate, marking Maximilian Rykard’s arrival. The tension crackles as Rory clenches her fists, her determination solidified.

Let the games begin.