Chapter 4 Troubled Teenage Step-Daughter

Yazmin took in a deep breath, it couldn't possibly be Blaine Sinclair. No way! He probably understood that she had done everything she did because she wanted to save both their reputations so there was no way it was him.

"What? That's... that's impossible," She stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Molly laughed, "Believe me, Yaz, it's true! I've seen the headlines and your wedding pictures, it's all over social media. You're famous now!"

And that moment, reality dawned on her that while she was rushing out of the wedding venue, she had come across a few reporters. Images of her face splashed across magazine covers and news articles flashed before her eyes.

"I always thought I was the crazy but your overexceeded my expectations. I don't know how you bagged a billionaire like Blaine Sinclair but do not let go of him! I repeat, do not let go of him!" and with that the call ended.

After hanging up, Yazmin felt her anger bubble up. She didn't want this, she didn't want any of this. This wasn't supposed to get out of hand, it wasn't supposed to turn to a headline-making scandal and the fact that Blaine Sinclair himself went online to clear their doubts, angered her more.

Yazmin marched out of the hospital, feeling like everyone was staring at her. As she stepped into the parking lot, her steps brisk, she failed to notice the shadowy figures lurking nearby. A sudden rush of cold air sent a shiver down her spine, and she turned, heart racing, to find herself face-to-face with a van's open doors.

Before she could react, strong hands grabbed her, pulling her forcefully into the van. Panic surged within her, her heart pounding as she struggled against her captors. The door slammed shut behind her, as she felt a strong hand hold up a handkerchief to her nose and soon, she fell unconscious.

...

The cold, damp air clung to Yazmin's skin as she groggily regained consciousness. Her head throbbed, and a sense of disorientation settled over her. As her vision adjusted to the dimly lit room, panic surged within her. Where was she? How had she ended up here?

Her heart raced as the pieces of the puzzle slowly fell into place. A chill ran down her spine as a door creaked open, and Blaine Sinclair stepped into the room, his presence casting a shadow across the space.

"Yazmin Collymore," he uttered her name, his voice a mixture of cool detachment and something she couldn't quite place. "I see you've finally awakened."

Fear and anger collided within Yazmin, and she pushed herself to a sitting position, her voice trembling. "What is this? Where am I? Let me go!"

Blaine's gaze remained unwavering as he stepped closer, the dim light casting eerie shadows on his features. "Calm down, Yazmin. There's no need to get hysterical."

Yazmin glared at him, her frustration and fury boiling over. "Calm down? You've kidnapped me!"

A bitter smile played at the corner of his lips, his eyes piercing through the darkness. "Kidnapped is a strong word, don't you think? Let's call it a necessary conversation."

Yazmin's heart raced as his words sank in. What did he mean by a necessary conversation? Her mind raced, thoughts spiraling as she tried to make sense of the situation.

He leaned against the wall, his gaze never leaving Yazmin's. "Here's the deal, Yaz. I need you to be my wife for a year. Live with me, sort out the merger mess, and then you can go back to your ordinary life."

Yazmin voice wavered with a mix of anger and disbelief, "You can't be serious. I'm not a pawn."

A dangerous glint flickered in Blaine's eyes, and his tone grew colder. "Oh, I'm quite serious. And if you refuse, well... I'm Blaine Sinclair, I can make or break you." He began. "I coud start with revealing to the whole world that you pretended to be my bride and kidnapped Freya. Your career as a wedding planner would be ruined in seconds. Then I could add more and more lies. Just one word Yazmin, one word. Think of this as an opportunity to uplift your financial status. I can provide your whole family with a comfort of a lifetime"

Dread coarsed through Yazmin's veins as panic set in. Her mind raced as she tried to think of a way out of this nightmarish situation.

Her voice trembled as she faced the harsh reality before her. "You're blackmailing me?"

He leaned in, his voice a mere whisper. "Let's call it a mutually beneficial arrangement. You get to keep your life and career, and I get the wife I need for the merger."

Tears of frustration welled up in Yazmin's eyes as she weighed her options. This was an impossible choice – her own freedom or stepping on the toes of a man who could make or break her.

With a heavy sigh, she finally relented, "Fine. I'll do it."

A satisfied smile crossed Blaine's lips, his victory apparent. "Good choice, Yazmin. Welcome to your new life. You have until tonight to move in"

As his words hung in the air, Yazmin couldn't help but feel trapped, a pawn in a high-stakes game with no clear way out. As she watched Blaine walk out of the room, she knew that her miserable journey was just beginning.

The night when Yazmin arrived home, she was shrouded in fear of how to explain to her sister and mom who she was sure would her been discharged by now. They would probably have known by now since she was all over the news.

The moon hung low in the sky. As she walked into the house, she could feel Janelle's eyes tailing her. Her mom, an agile woman in her early fifties also sat by on the cushion next to their family photo frame. She could feel her curiosity piqued, as if waiting for an explanation.

Standing before her mother and sister, her heart raced as she prepared to reveal the fabricated truth. She took a deep breath, summoning the courage to spin the tale that would allow her to take this surreal step forward.

"Mum, Janelle," She began, her voice shaky but resolute, "I... I got married to Blaine in a hurry. His family didn't approve of us, and we thought it was the best way to be together."

Their eyes widened with a mix of surprise and concern, their gazes fixed on Yazmin as they processed the unexpected revelation. Yazmin could see the worry etched on their faces, their concern for her well-being overriding any doubts they might have.

Her mother's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, "Yazmin, are you sure about this? Marriage is a big step. I heard he's quite an influential person. Don't you think the pressure won't be too much?"

Yazmin nodded, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. "Yes, Mum. It might sound crazy, but it's what we wanted."

Janelle's eyes narrowed, her skepticism evident. "Yaz, you're known for your wedding planning skills, but marrying someone you barely know?"

Yazmin offered a weak smile, her guilt for weaving this elaborate lie gnawing at her conscience. "I know, I know. It's... complicated. But I promise, I'll make it work."

With their reluctant blessings, Yazmin collected her bag with a sense of trepidation. As her sister and mom walked her out of the door, a car was already outside waiting for her. The driver uploaded her bags into the booth while she exchanged goodbyes with her family promising to be back the next day.

The journey to the Sinclair residence felt surreal, each passing moment a reminder of the life she had willingly stepped into – a life built on lies and necessity.

About thirty minutes later, the car zoomed into the biggest yard Yazmin had ever seen. The grandeur of the mansion left her speechless and as she got out of the car, she dragged her bags behind her, approaching its towering entrance.

The sprawling estate seemed to stretch endlessly, the opulence of it all almost overwhelming. As Yazmin stepped through the threshold, she was greeted by a bustling flurry of activity – maids and staffs moving with purpose, attending to their tasks.

They all suddenly stopped to greet her and for a moment Yazmin felt like a queen. She walked into the big house but before she cited take in the grandeur of the place, a teenage girl, perhaps around thirteen, approached her with an air of disdain.

Her gaze held a mix of defiance and skepticism as she regarded Yazmin. "I guess you're Dad's new wife," she sneered, her words dripping with bitterness. "I hate you already."

Taken aback by her hostility, Yazmin was shocked. Blaine never told her he had a troubled teenage daughter.

She mustered a small smile, attempting to defuse the tension. "Hey, I understand this is all new and unexpected. Let's give it time, okay?"

The teenage girl's eyes remained fixed on Yazmin, her expression unyielding. "Time won't change how I feel. You're not my mom, and you never will be."