Chapter 4 4

Bianca's POV

I awoke to the gentle embrace of another radiant morning, its golden rays piercing through the confines of my modest window. Even the sliver of sunlight that managed to penetrate my sealed window brought an involuntary smile to my lips.

For me, the sun symbolised so much more than just its warmth and light. It embodied peace, the promise of carefree summer days, and the very essence of happiness itself.

"Bianca, are you awake, dear? Breakfast is ready," my mother's voice chimed in through the speaker.

For a mere 13 seconds, I was granted a precious reprieve from my confined reality. In those fleeting moments, I momentarily forgot about my isolation, my life irrevocably tied to a stranger's, and the impending separation from my beloved family and friends, set to occur in just a few months.

Those 13 seconds, though filled with sweet forgetfulness, were tinged with the bitterness of reality.

"Sweetheart, I've been waiting for you! I was starting to worry that you didn't hear me. What kept you?"

My mother's sigh was tinged with concern as she watched me descend the staircase.

"I'm sorry, Mother. It was a particularly tough morning," I admitted.

My younger brother, Gilberto, who was always attuned to my moods, inquired softly, "How long did it last?"

"Thirteen seconds," I replied, offering him a glimpse into my inner world.

Gilberto was the only person I confided in about my morning struggles. Whenever those difficult moments crept in, causing my usual cheerful demeanour to wane, he was there to ask the same question: how long did it take for my morning blues to catch up with me? And I would always give him an honest answer.

"Darling, everything is going to be alright. We can't be certain if it's related to you," my mom whispered soothingly into my ear.

"No offence, but it usually is," Gilberto remarked with a touch of sarcasm.

I struggled to catch my breath, my heart racing at an alarming pace. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, and I could feel the tears welling up, threatening to spill over.

What could Mason possibly be alluding to? Deep down, I knew it had to be about me. To think otherwise would be naive. Throughout the years, I have been careful not to cause any trouble. I had never attempted to escape, even though the idea had crossed my mind countless times.

Could it be that they're sick of me and this stupid, outdated fascist pact? Or maybe my family has done something wrong and broken one of their ridiculous rules? I wanted to know...

No, I needed to know.

Mason eventually came back in, head hanging and shoulders slugging over. He had the face of defeat. As soon as his big brown eyes met mine, I felt the failure he had in his heart.

Oh no,

I didn't have to say the words. No one said any words, but in everyone's heart, we knew. We knew exactly what the conversation was about.This day wasn't supposed to come for months. I marked that day as the saddest day of my life.

I guess I'm changing that day to today.

"I'm sorry, Bianca. I tried. I really tried."

"How much time do I have?" I spoke softly as a single tear escaped my eyes.

"An hour, two tops. He was so demanding. He wasn't supposed to do this!" Mason slammed his fist into the wall.

I was well aware that Mason held me in the same regard as a daughter. Despite his old-fashioned values, he never endorsed this binding agreement. He found it to be senseless but was compelled to follow orders because he had a family to support. He had the admirable quality of sticking to his principles even while performing his duty. I always respected him for this, appreciating that, despite being tasked with a job, he treated me with the dignity and respect of a human being.

Slowly, I rose from my seat, feeling as if the ground was slipping away beneath me. Still firmly holding onto my mother's hand, I ascended the stairs, my entire family, including Mason, following closely behind.

They sat in my room as I packed my bags. No words were spoken. Everyone sat in different corners of the room, heads in hands, as I packed my life into tiny black duffle bags.

Once I was done, I sat on my bed and looked out the tiny window by my bed.

The sun meant happiness, but as I looked out, all I felt was emptiness. I felt the cold, harsh air. I felt fragile and weak.

I felt defeated.

I was supposed to fight. I was a fighter. I shouldn't let this man take me willingly. I needed to fight, but I couldn't. The thought of fighting drained me. I wouldn't win, and my family would suffer in the process.

He won, and I didn't even get the chance to enter the race.

"No...no....NO! We need to fight this! He is breaking all the rules! We have 8 months left! What does he think he's doing?" A roar sprang from my father's gentle lips. He was a gentle soul. Rarely does he get mad.

"You don't think I've tried?" This isn't the old boss. He was reasonable. He knew the rules. A new leader has taken over. Her fiancé to be A real class A jackass."

"So we fight. We are not letting her go without a fight." My brother spoke.

"No fight. We knew this day would come. Whether it's now or later, it's coming. There's nothing to be done."

Yes, there is. There has to be some flaw in the pact. Your father and I have been searching. We know faithfulness is key. If one is considered unfaithful, then the contract is breached. The cheater pays the price, and the cheat gets out free. This is our best hope to catch him and free you."

"So that's what we'll do. We will do whatever it takes to catch Albert cheating."