Chapter 4 THE MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE 2.

Clarissa's P.O.V

"Adrian should marry your First daughter Clarissa".

"Excuse me???" I replied in a disdainful manner.

"Dad what are you talking about?" Miguel's son asked his father.

"A wedding has to take place. And this wedding must happen between these two families. I won't be disgraced on a special day as my son's wedding, because the bride disappeared suddenly. Alexander, we've been friends for ages, but, I won't take this. Our children must get married. It doesn't matter who is involved, so long as they are our kids." Miguel said not considering the fact that we were there or that we even existed.

"Miguel, I totally understand, but I need time to speak to my daughter alone, once we've come to a conclusion I'll get back to you. You can all go home and rest" Pàpà replied to end the whole conversation.

Immediately everyone dispatched, Pàpà called me into his room.

"Rissa, am sorry but you have to marry Adrian" Pàpà said without looking at me straight in the eye.

"Pàpà, I am not getting married to that man. I don't even know him, I don't even know his name, apart from the fact that he is a Divit, I don't know anything about him. How do you expect me to marry a man I just met, what am I saying? Someone I just saw few minutes ago. Pàpà it's not happening." I said in an angry tone.

I couldn't imagine myself getting married to someone I didn't know. Getting married to Miguel's son was something that was going to destroy my life forever, and not only that, and this Marriage also meant I would not leave East Delva for a long long time.

"Rissa, the union between this families will build a very strong force in the business world. This is a union many people envy. We can't miss this for anything, we have been friends for years now, we want more. We want to be family" Pàpà said while Holding my hands firmly.

I was so confused at this point. What hurt most was that my Dad was ready to throw me into the Lions den because of some stupid friendship-to-family thing he had with Miguel.

"Pàpà we have more than enough money, we have enough power. What else do you need?. I am tired of being the sacrificial Lamb of this family. Do you remember when I was 12, when you were running for mayor of East Delva? Whenever you wanted to take family pictures for your campaign, you and your so perfect family always threw me under the bus as if I was an illegitimate child, as if I was trash. Pàpà, I , just like Eloise, am your legitimate child, your first child Pàpà, your first child. The only mistake I ever made in this life was to have a wrong mother.Please Pàpà, I beg you Pàpà, I don't want to marry Miguel's son, please Pàpà, please" I said kneeling down and holding his legs, crying out my heart.

"You are Getting married in two days Rissa. If you love me and care for this family as you say, you'll do this for us. Am sorry things have to be this way" that was all he said as he walked out of the room.

I could imagine anything in this world, but getting married through a marriage of convenience was not one of it. How was I going to face Justin, how was I going to break the news to the absolute Love of my life that I was getting married to another person, an absolute stranger, in two days, two freaking days.

I needed to do something about it. I could not seat here and watch my dad sell me off to the Divits like some object or something.

I knew what to do, I knew who to talk to. Pàpà always listens to Grandma Madrina, his mother. Maybe if I could talk to her, she could cancel the wedding. I know me and grandma never saw eye to eye, but she was the most effective option I had right now.

Immediately, I stood up from the ground where I was kneeling in my dad's room, wiped my tears and walked out of the house. As soon as I reached the gate, the security immediately stopped me. They told me that they were give orders not to let me leave the premises for any reason.

At this point, I was perplexed. I couldn't believe to what length Pàpà could go, just to force me into this marriage. I couldn't stress with the security because everything I said and did was all a waste of time, and I didn't have that much time to waste. I had just 2 days to end this wedding or marriage bullshit.

When I went back into the house, I found out that Pàpà had gone out. Was he running from me? I guess not. If I couldn't go out to meet grandma, I could just simply call her.

"Hmmmm, I guess the fire is very hot. I knew it wouldn't be long before you called me"

'Grandma, I really need your help. I can't get married, at least not now. Grandma please help me, I'll do anything, absolutely anything" I pleaded with her on the phone.

"Rissa, there's absolutely nothing you can do for me. All you can do for me right now is to get married to Miguel's son. You are a smart kid at least, am sure you will find your way around in the marriage eventually. I assure you Rissa, one day, you would be glad you got married to Miguel's son. But right now, you have to bear with the family's decision. There's nothing I can do for you. Take care. Whatever you need for the preparations, you can just call me. Ok?" She replied.

I couldn't believe it. My world was crumbling before my eyes. My major hope had failed me. Right now, I had only two options. I either find Eloise in two days or talk Miguel's son out of the marriage.

Before I knew it, it was already late in the evening, Pàpà was back home, and I didn't hesitate to go talk to him again.

"Pàpà please I..."

"Clarissa Jones, YOU ARE GETTING MARRIED, AND THAT IS FINAL. Do you think I am happy doing this? Hmmmm?. But sometimes there are sacrifices we have to make for the sake of everyone. Baby... Please, do this for your Pàpà, please, don't make this harder than it seems" he interrupted.

"Pàpà, but am already in love with someone else, how do you expect me to get married to a total stranger, someone I don't have feelings for" I replied.

"I'll advise you to kill any feelings you have for any other person. You either get married to whom I say you should, or you seize being my daughter from today. I'll cut ties with you in every way, and you know what that means to your business". I couldn't believe my father's words.

I couldn't imagine a world without my father in it. Being abandoned by my mother and disowned by my father, I must have really offended God in my past live for him to punish me in this manner.

"If you no longer have anything to say, get prepared, we'll be meeting with your in-laws and husband-to-be at theirs tomorrow. You can use that opportunity to know each other" my father said as he walked into his room.

I guess the way things were going, I had no option, but to get married. Right now, nothing or no one was coming to save me.