Chapter 2 The Dark Deal

Amelia's morning began in a hurry, her heart beating like a drum in her chest. The crimson dawn was just beginning to paint the sky in orange and pink hues as she rushed through the dimly lit corridors of her home.

Her mother, Taylor, weak and sick, lay in bed, breathing hard. Her condition became bad and sick a year after her marriage to Richard. Her mother left Jerry Cooper, Amelia's father, after he insulted her, beat her, and treated her and Amelia badly. But after she left her husband, Jerry, Richard appeared before her like an angel who helped her, and she lived with him for a full year like heaven, until she became... Amelia is young and has wonderful curves. Her capabilities exceeded those of her mother, so Richard decided to make Amelia his and enjoy her body only for him. There was only one obstacle in front of him, which was her mother, Taylor, so he sought to make her always sick. Richard, her stepfather, was the worst man.

He was a stern man with a permanent frown etched on his face, and his presence seemed to cast a shadow over the entire house. Amelia rushed to the stove and put a pot of water on to boil. Her mother's illness has stolen her strength, leaving her bedridden and dependent on Amelia.

As Amelia worked, she couldn't help but wonder why her mother's condition was deteriorating so quickly. She suspected it had to do with rising medical bills that had become a constant source of worry, or perhaps Richard was involved, as he had threatened more than once to make her mother's life worse if she was not obedient.

Amelia submitted to Richard's orders and began working and cleaning the house and serving Richard in return to pay for her mother's treatment, especially since her mother relied on artificial respiration, solutions and medicines as a source of food, so she remained with this filthy Richard.

Amelia was about to prepare a simple breakfast of oatmeal, when her stepfather's voice (it was her father-in-law) rang through the phone. "Girl, I want you to come to my office right away. Don't be late," he said in a stern tone. Amelia's heart sank.

She quickly turned off the stove, grabbed a piece of bread, and rushed to her mother's side to give her a quick kiss on the forehead. "I'll be back soon, mom. I promise," she whispered, her voice trembling with worry.

Amelia kept thinking, what plan has Richard prepared this time? She smoothed out her skirt, gathered her courage, and headed straight to her stepfather's office. She felt afraid to meet him in the same place, as she knew him well.

She entered the office to find him waiting for her at the desk, relaxing in the chair behind the desk, with his eyes fixed on her. Dread gathered in her stomach at his serious expression, with a stern look like a judge in a trial. She was sure that something bad was coming, as something worse could happen to her life!

"You," he began without preamble, "Mr. Max Holden has expressed an interest in making you his wife." "The wealthy industrialist?"

Amelia blurted out in disbelief. She hated all men, did not want to marry any man, especially if little was known about the mysterious Pole, except for wild rumors of his secret riches.

Amelia Mule spoke: "What are you saying?"

He answered, his eyes shining with victory. "I will not repeat myself, pig. I know that I tried a lot to make you mine, and for the sake of possession I did a lot, but there is no benefit, so selling you is better, and you must get money for your mother's treatment."

A hot color flooded Amelia's cheeks. "I will thank you for not making a decision about my future without my consent. Arranged marriage is out of the question."

"Amelia, you're not here to decide, girl. You just say yes, and I don't ask you. I tell you about it." Richard shouted, warning her.

He got up from the chair as he walked towards her, held his face with his palm nervously, and repeated warningly: "Holden is the most eligible party. I have already accepted his proposal on your behalf. The wedding is in three days."

Amelia spoke in pain, her voice muffled: "So quickly?! I have to refuse – give me more time."

"Enough of this impudence. You will marry Holden, or you risk having your mother killed," Richard threatened.

He took her hand forcefully and headed towards her sick mother's room.

In a fit of rage, her stepfather approached her mother's bed, his face inches from hers. He grabbed the oxygen mask and pulled it away from her face, making her mother gasp for breath. Amelia's heart stopped when her stepfather turned to her, his eyes cold and wary.

"If you want to save her, you have to do as I say," he whispered. "You will become Max's bride, and you will earn me money. This is the only way." Richard clicked his tongue angrily.

Tears gathered in Amelia's eyes as the weight of his words settled on her like a crushing burden. She had no choice but to agree, her voice barely a whisper. "I'll do it." There was an eerie silence in the room, broken only by her mother's weak breathing.

Richard came towards her forcefully and looked with unexplained looks, then closed the door of the room and under the gaze of her sick mother who was on the bed, he approached her, panting like a dog and said with hot breaths and sternness: "I have debts that must be paid. Holden has agreed to settle my debts in exchange for your hand. This is It is the only way we can avoid financial ruin, otherwise I would not have lost you, O Virgin."

She walked away and he grabbed her arms tightly. "You know, you are beautiful and I want you for myself, but my debts have become many. Even your mother has become older and sick and does not fulfill my requests. If she refuses, you will be mine forever and I will enjoy your small body!"

He kept touching her body in a disgusting and repulsive way, and even his hand moved on her curves with all boldness and insolence, until he almost kissed her. She turned away from him, looking at him with disgust.

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The morning sun woke Amelia from a fitful night's sleep. She turned onto her side with an exhausted sigh, still processing the traumatic events of yesterday. She is eighteen years old.

Her freedom and happiness hang in the balance. She paced around her room thoughtfully. What kind of man was Max Holden? How could she know his personality measure in mere hours? Will she run away from her disgusting stepfather in order to go to a man worse than him? She hates all men and doesn't want to get married!

While she was in her room crying and did not know what to do, her friend entered. Heavy footsteps approached. Her dear friend Sarah.

She told her argument in a loud voice of emotion. "He's demanding that I marry Max Holden within three days or kill my mother and take her oxygen mask off! It's ridiculous." Amelia shouted angrily.

Although Sarah was two years younger, she was wise beyond her years.

Sarah furrowed her brows in thought. "There are rumors of shady dealings in Max Holden's past. You should be careful. It's said in town that Holden gained his fortune through shady business in the Americas. Some say even his rivals have disappeared!"

Amelia's stomach sank, and she sighed wearily. "What a chilling rumour! And yet Richard is going to marry me to him."

Amelia remembered her stepfather's touches on her, and how he held her body tightly and wanted her to be his. She did not know what to do and how to react? She's just lonely and miserable. Either she gets married or her mother dies and Richard makes her his whole..