Chapter 3 MARRIAGE ALLIANCE

Chapter 3: Marriage Alliance

Annabel rolled in bed. Morning light shone through the curtains, casting its warmth softly on her face

She was alone.

She sat up slowly. Her legs felt numb from her sleep position. She stared into empty with her half opened eyes. Just then, memories flashed through her mind.

Her heart thudded.

It all came rushing back.

His lips. His hands. The way he kissed her like she belonged to him. The way touch her softly like she could break if he went to hard.

She had slept with a stranger.

"Oh my God," she whispered. Her head dropped, burying her face within her hand as she shook her head in self blame.

She didn't even know his name.

And yet... the night had been unforgettable.

She couldn't lie to herself.

She had enjoyed it.

More than she wanted to admit.

Her skin still tingled from his touch. Her lips remembered his kiss. Her whole body ached with shame-and something else. Longing.

She stood up, drained, wrapped her robe around her and lazily walked towards her window. The ocean looked calm. Peaceful. Unlike the storm inside her.

"What have I done?" she whispered as she hit her head softly.

Just then she remembered Nathan. "Oh my God! He must have told Samantha about what happened."

With a sigh, Annabel grabbed her phone and quietly left the beach house. No note. No goodbye.

She just wanted to forget everything.

Back home, she walked into her room like a ghost. Her mind felt heavy. Her steps slow. She dropped her bag and collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow.

Then the door flew open.

SLAP!

The sound echoed.

Annabel stumbled, holding her cheeks in pain. Her heart flew. She froze as she saw Samantha standing there. Her eyes filled with rage.

"You shameless girl!" Samantha yelled.

Annabel didn't speak. She just held her cheek, blinking in disbelief.

"I begged you," Samantha voice dropped. She walked slowly closer to Annabel. "I begged you to stay close to Nathan for the family's sake. But no-you had to go and mess it all up!"

"I-" Annabel stammered, still stunned.

"Shut up!" Samantha snapped, jabbing a finger in her face. "You're so selfish. So stupid."

Annabel tried to hold but before she could, Samantha pushed her hard against the wall. Annabel gasp in pain. Her gaze was fixed on Samantha as tears welled up in her eyes.

"You know Dad always gave you everything," Samantha continued bitterly. "Even when Mom died, he still favored you. And now when he needs you, when this family needs you, what do you do? You throw it all away."

Annabel's lips trembled. "That's not true-"

"You ruined everything!" Samantha shouted. "It's all your fault. Just pray nothing bad happens to Dad or the company because you will only have yourself to blame."

she stormed out and then slammed the door behind her.

Annabel trembled, collapsing on the bed, weak and drained. Tears dropped from her eyes.

She couldn't breathe.

It was past noon when Annabel left the house, to clear her head.

She had gone to the hospital. The only place she found peace. She sat quietly by her father's hospital bed. The machines beeped softly. He looked so weak, so pale. Tubes ran from his arms. He couldn't speak,but breathe slowly.

She adjusted the blanket over him. A soft smile appeared on her lips though her vision was blurred with tears. "I miss you, Dad," she whispered.

Her mind drifted far back-years ago.

She remembered a field full of flowers. Laughter. Sunshine.

Samantha and Caroline ran through the field, chasing each other. She stood aside with her favorite doll, watching them. She wanted to join the fun.

She ran to them, excited. "You can have the doll if you catch me!" she shouted, giggling.

But their faces darkened.

Caroline grabbed her roughly while Samantha pushed her to the ground. The doll flew from her hands.

"Give it back!" Annabel cried.

Caroline just laughed and held the doll up. "It's mine now!"

Annabel's knee was bleeding. She cried harder. "I just wanted to play..."

"You killed your mother," Samantha sneered. "You're bad luck."

"No, I'm not!" Annabel screamed, running with tears to her father.

He dropped his book and caught her instantly.

"What's wrong, my princess?" he asked gently.

"I lost my doll," she sobbed.

He laughed softly as he carried her into his arms. "Is that why you are crying so hard, I have something for you," he whispered.

He took her into his room, pulled a gift box out of his drawers.

Annabel stared excitedly as she patiently wait for him to unbox it.

He brought out a pink doll.

"Wow!" Annabel grinned and then hugged her father tightly.

Back in the present. She stared at her father's weak hand, gripping it tightly.

"You always said my happiness matters, Dad," she whispered. "But how can I be happy... when you're like this?"

Tears dropped on the back of his hand as she lowered her head and cried silently.

Days passed.

One morning, she woke to loud screaming downstairs.

Panic rushed through her as she ran down in her nightwear.

"What happened?" she shouted.

But it wasn't fear.

It was laughter.

Samantha and Caroline were screaming with joy, holding hands, jumping up and down like children.

"Are you serious?" Samantha grinned.

"I'm so serious!" Caroline squealed. "The Emersons want a marriage alliance!"

"The Emersons?" Samantha gasped. "The most powerful family in the country?! Oh my God, Caroline! This changes everything!"

They hugged, screamed, and laughed again.

Annabel stood awkwardly, trying to smile. "What's going on?"

Samantha turned to her. "Well, since you've decided to be useless," she said sweetly, "Caroline has secured a marriage with the richest family in the country."

"Oh," Annabel smiled gently. "That's... great news."

But the joy vanished from their faces.

Caroline stepped closer, her voice sharp and cold. "Don't pretend to be happy for me. Once I marry into the Emersons, I'll cut you off completely. You won't be family anymore."

Annabel blinked, stunned.

"You bring bad luck," Caroline continued, eyes narrow. "And I won't let you ruin this new beginning for us."

Samantha laughed loudly. "Caroline Emerson... I love it!"

Just then, a phone beeped.

Samantha read the message, and her smile dropped.

Caroline's eyes widened as Samantha read aloud:

"We will be arranging the marriage for Annabel Willow."

Caroline froze.

"What?" she whispered.

Samantha looked confused. "What does that mean?"

Caroline grabbed the phone, reread it, and screamed, "WHAT?!"