Chapter 1 I will marry Marimo

"Julia, we provided you everything, yet you cannot do this for us!" Victoria Sanchez asked her youngest daughter, who was seated on the couch of the living room, Julia Sanchez.

"Mom, I am only 20. How can you expect me to marry at this age? I have not even completed my studies," Julia Sanchez complained and glanced at her elder sister, Sofia Sanchez.

"Sister Sofia is supposed to marry. Then, why am I being told to marry in her place?" Julia could not help but question her mother.

"Julia, when there was no one for you, we gave you shelter, we adopted you and provided you with every privilege of being a daughter," Victoria said.

Yes, Julia is the adopted daughter of the Sanchez family. When she was seven, she saved Sofia from an accident when Sofia's father decided to adopt Julia as his second daughter.

Julia looked at her father, Andres Sanchez, who was quiet. She decided to ask him. "Dad, I am a mere 20 year old girl. Do you really want me to get married to this businessman, whom my elder sister is supposed to marry?" She knew that her father would say a complete 'No' to this.

"I would have married him if he was not in a vegetative state," Sofia said nonchalantly when Victoria hit her arm.

Julia was shocked to hear that. Vegetative state!?

That was why they were forcing her to marry this unknown man.

"Julia, does his vegetative state matter to you? No, right? He has the fortune of his forefathers. Vast estates run in his name and he owns the top businesses in our country. You have seen how much your father struggled to raise you both." Victoria started to manipulate Julia, who scrunched her brows.

"Julia, if it was not for your father's business then we would not have asked you to marry him," she finally affirmed.

"What do you mean?" Julia asked and again gazed at her father.

Andres took a deep breath. "Julia, I work in Martinez Corporation as the General Manager. I have known them for over thirty years. The person whom you are supposed to marry is Marimo Martinez, who got into a terrible accident four years ago. That's why he's in a vegetative state. They want their son to get married despite being in that state and asked for the hand of one of my daughters." Andres explained everything to Julia, who was totally dumbfounded.

"You can refuse then. You can tell them that none of us want to marry their son," Julia suggested to her father.

"If it had been this easy, then we would not have asked you to marry Marimo," Victoria said. "This time, your father's job is at risk. We aren't provided any option," she stated.

"Why are you scared, Julia? You only need to marry Marimo. Since he's in a vegetative state, he will die soon. You will inherit a huge estate in your name and also, you can pursue your dreams. You are in a win-win situation," Victoria opined. Sofia agreed with her mother and started to convince Julia.

"Is my life nothing to you?" Julia's eyes filled with tears. "How could you tell me to marry him? It's not about money, mom," she asserted and looked at his father. "Dad, I did not expect this from you." She was disappointed in her father.

Julia stood up to leave when she heard Victoria say,

"It is about money, Julia. We adopted you. We provided you everything." Victoria also rose to her feet. "It is your time to repay us. Everything we did for you. When I told you that your father's job is at risk, you turned a blind eye to it. If we hadn't given you this family name, would you ever be able to reach this level?" Victoria's words seemed to Julia that she was merely a tool for them which they now wanted to use.

"Marry Marimo Martinez, else you are not welcome in this house. Before leaving this house, put every single penny we spent on you if you still refuse to marry Marimo," Victoria put forward a condition before Julia. Tears poured down her cheeks and her jaw clenched.

"Victoria, don't be harsh on her." Andres interrupted in their conversation.

"Honey, you need to stay quiet. I didn't say anything when you brought her home. I let you adopt her. I have told you that blood relationships matter. See, today she refused to help us." Victoria said in a fit of rage.

"Julia, I will not force you to make this decision. However, I have heard from their family doctor that Marimo will wake up soon," Andres stated, forcing a smile on her lips so that Julia would not feel bad.

"Dad, in 99% cases a vegetative person dies in that state. If he had even a 10% chance to survive, then I would have married him with no hesitation. Though, I am ready to marry his younger brother," Sofia said and smiled brightly.

"Shut up, Sofia!" Andres raised his voice at her.

"Honey, don't raise your voice on my daughter. You should scold Julia for not agreeing to us. Even a dog is better. At least, he is faithful to his master," Victoria taunted Julia, whose facial expressions were almost blank now.

Julia gazed at her father, who provided her everything, the same way he did to his first daughter, Sofia. Never once he let her feel low. He truly gave the love of a family to her. She didn't want to become selfish. If he had not adopted her, her life would be different from what it was now!

"I will marry Marimo Martinez," Julia pronounced, shocking three of them.

"Really?" Victoria asked as her eyes grew big.

"Yes. I will marry Marimo. This is the last thing I can do for you all. Since you all gave me everything, I am ready to repay it. If this marriage saves Dad from getting fired, then I am ready to become the sacrificial lamb." Her last words are a taunt to three of them. However, Victoria and Sofia hardly cared about it. The only thing they wanted was to get rid of Julia.

Sofia walked to her and hugged her tightly. "You are such a lovely sister," she said and pulled away.

"Honey, go and tell them that Julia is ready to marry Marimo," Victoria said with a broad smile on her lips and embraced her. She caressed Julia's head and thanked her for saving them.

"When will the marriage be?" Julia asked.

"They have not decided yet. I will talk to them first and let you know," Andres said as he got up from the couch. He excused himself to talk with the elder of the Martinez family.

Julia looked at her so-called mother and sister, who were dancing in happiness. So, she's a sacrificial lamb all these years for them. Julia was furious at her father as well, but because he took care of her, she stayed quiet.

After a while, Andres returned to the living room.

"They said the wedding will be held tomorrow in a private ceremony," Andres informed them. The colors from Julia's face had blown away and she found herself falling into a never-ending pit.