BLAKELY

My world seemed to spin too fast. It was the first time Dad landed his palm in my face. Never in my twenty-two years of existence did he lay his hand on me.

Even with how much trouble I made, he would only scold me. But he would never hurt me.

“Lucas! That was so out of line!” Mom gasped in horror.

She must be shocked by Dad’s actions.

I immediately found my strength and looked at Dad. He seemed to explode in anger. And I couldn’t understand why.

“What did I do to deserve that slap?” I couldn’t help but ask.

I didn’t want to resent him, but that was the feeling that was starting to build in me when his one hand moved up in the air again. He was going to slap me once more.

I subconsciously stepped back.

What in the world is this? Just what the fck had happened? He had been my spoiler ever since, and Mom was the disciplinarian. But I couldn’t see the same old man I knew.

Mom quickly blocked me against Dad’s furious slap. If she hadn’t done it, I might have flown outside of the library. His anger was enough to beat me into pieces. And I was afraid. I never saw him as furious as how he looked now.

I turned to my Mom, giving her a questioning look. But she seemed exasperated too, though I could see the gentle expression mirroring her eyes.

Dad managed to get away from Mom’s attempt to stop him. He went to his table and threw me a lot of photos. All of it were indecent and vulgar shots of a woman, pleasuring a man. Even though the faces were blurred, I could tell it was me. And the background was familiar.

‘Damn him!’

“You…!” Dad’s anger was overflowing.

If I didn’t manage to step away, he would probably hit me again.

“Did you even know that someone’s blackmailing me because of those obscene pictures of yours?!” His voice thundering through the whole room.

His face reddened in fury. If it was possible, Dad might have blown fire towards me.

And I was breathless. If only I could wish the floor to open and swallow me whole. Those pictures screamed everything. I was too ashamed to even look at my parents.

‘Ashton, you jerk! I thought you were better than this!’

I knew it was too early to trust that a$$hole, but I deeply believe he was nothing like this.

Yet, this showed that I was wrong.

“That son of a whore!” Dad’s voice started to roar again. “He wanted me to arrange your marriage with him, in exchange for those pictures to disappear!”

I gasped in disbelief. Did Ashton really try to blackmail my father?

As per what we agreed, it was clear to both of us that we were just having fun. No strings attached.

Did I infuriate him that much for him to end up blackmailing my parents?

How dare that stupid jerk!

“I wasn’t that insane enough to give in. I knew that kind of man. He only wants your money!”

I was about to say something, but I seemed to choke my tongue when I saw his face hardened.

“Whoever that motherfcking douchebag, he must hide very well. I wasn’t Lucas Green for nothing,” in gritted teeth, he continued. “I didn’t build this company just to hand it to a useless scumbag.”

‘Oh sure. I knew that very well. You’ve been working your ass off just to build your stupid business empire.’

I wanted to shout it in his face. And because of this, my resentment towards them started to grow bigger. Yeah, it was my fault. But did they ever realize what caused me to end up being like this?

“And you, Blakely!” Dad pointed his finger on my face. “When are you going to start living the right way? You would not even try your hand in our business, and this is what you’re going to offer me? Scandalous photos and a blackmailer?!”

I didn’t answer and tried to keep everything to myself.

“Stop it already, Lucas.” Mom gently told Dad. “Let’s just find a solution to this problem, can we?”

I remained standing strongly in front of them. I didn’t even know what to say. All I had in mind was how to approach Ashton and steal all the copies he had.

I was totally ashamed knowing my parents saw all those photos. And I wasn’t sure how I should amend the situation. I couldn’t speak my head out.

Dad was in his worst mood. And if I say something that he would not like, he might do something he would regret later.

“No! I will never stop until your daughter learns her lesson!” Dad kept on roaring. “I gave her everything and this is what I will get in return?! I wasn’t even aware of what she was doing with her fcking life, Louisa!”

‘Of course you didn’t know a thing. Because you didn’t even care at all,’

I wanted to yell back. But then, I couldn't. There was no sense in telling them.

They only care about me when they need to show off their beautiful, sophisticated and educated only daughter, and sole heiress of their fcking stupid company!

I was nothing but a decoration!

“I gave you everything.” Dad’s voice slowly lowered. “Everything more than you needed and wanted. What did I do wrong that you end up being like…” he couldn’t finish.

His voice sliced me. I could feel his disappointment and anger. And pain. It stirred my guilt. But then, my heart quickly countered, rebelling at the thoughts.

“You gave me everything… but I don’t need everything.” I held my emotions. I didn’t want to break in front of them. But I couldn’t. “I don’t need all of it. All I need is you.” Broken, my voice was too low, almost talking to myself.

“You shut up!” he growled at me. “Whatever you say, you still destroyed your life. And you are dragging the whole family in this scandal!” He breathed as his face hardened. “And you have to clean your mess, Blakely!”

I was struck dumbfounded at the next thing he said.

“You’ll not go anywhere, starting now. And so to clean your mess, you're going to get married as soon as possible. I’ll be the one to choose a man for you.” Dad strongly said, hinting a finalization in his words.

Oh God! My father was starting to be like a manipulative freak!

“Dad—”

“You heard it. You’ll stay in this house. Master Wright and his family will come here and talk about your engagement with one of his sons! If I had to bring up the management of Green Corp, I will, just to clean all this mess you made. I couldn’t entrust you and my company to just anyone…”

I couldn’t understand the rest. I was dumbfounded as I slowly slumped down the floor. Fear started to creep on me.

‘I was still young to get married. I can’t get married just yet… not until I already healed myself,’

‘...what would I offer to my future husband if I was a wreck?’

But that was not all.

I didn’t believe in marriage at all. In the life I was living right now, that marriage was nothing but a purely business agreement, how in the world would I believe that marriage was a door to an everlasting happiness?

My mind was scattered around when Thorne’s image suddenly slipped my head–his grim and disgusted handsome face…

‘Oh, damn! Why did I have to think about him in a situation like this? It’s not as if he was the one I am going to marry…’

But what if…?

‘No!’