Chapter 1 The day everything fell apart

Celia

My heart sank in my chest as I blinked in disbelief at my father, clutching my purse tightly in my hand as my entire body trembled.

"W-what did you just say, dad?" I stuttered, unable to hide the tremors which seeped into my voice.

I watched my father get up from his desk before making his way over to me, a somber expression on his face.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but that's the only way to save our company. You have to marry Shane Reynolds. Our business is going under and without his help, we would be wiped out in no time."

My entire body froze as my heart sank deeper in my chest. He wanted me to marry Shane Reynolds. The Shane Reynolds. The man who was known for his brutality and violence.

The billionaire madman. That was who my father wanted me to marry for the sake of the company?

I had never seen Shane in person. I didn't know who he was, but the news about him on the tabloids every now and then was enough to tell me he was bad news.

"Really, dad? You're asking me to marry a mentally deranged man for the sake of the company?!" I exclaimed, simply baffled by what I was hearing.

I had a feeling that someone was probably listening in on us at the door, but I simply didn't give a shit who it was. I was too distressed by what I had just heard to care.

Dad's expression turned frantic as he walked towards me, a pleading look in his eyes as he held my hands, his hands trembling slightly.

"Please, Celia. You have to do this for the company. For me. Without Shane Reynolds' help, everything I have worked for all these years will be taken away from me. If you don't marry him, I will lose everything."

"But dad! How can you tell me to do this? What about Ian? We have been dating for two years! How can I just break up with him and marry someone else?! This isn't right! And what about Nora?! Why can't she marry him instead? Why do I have to sacrifice myself for this family over and over again?!" My lips quivered as tears streamed down my eyes.

Just then, the door opened and the banes of my existence walked in. My step-sister and step-mother. A terrified gasp escaped my lips as I instantly took a step back, my skin turning pale.

Nora, my step-sister looked at me with nothing but disdain which quickly disappeared as soon as it appeared. It only disappeared for one reason. Because my father was there.

Victoria, my step-mother walked towards me, her face neutral as she placed her hand on my shoulder. Her hand was pressed so hard on my shoulder that it was painful enough to shatter my bone, but I couldn't dare cry out.

Her blood red lips broke into a smile which was clearly fake and her blue eyes screamed nothing but malice which I knew my father would never notice.

"Celia, dear. Don't be like that. Don't act like you are the only one making sacrifices around here. Your father asked Nora first and you know she would have dropped everything to help the company like the good girl that she is,"

Nora nodded in agreement, her eyes wide with false innocence which made my skin crawl as Victoria continued speaking.

"But we both know that she would be better off helping us at home. You are the first daughter of the West family.

It is your duty to help elevate this family no matter what. Are you going to just sit back and watch the company your father toiled so hard to build crumble before his very eyes? Are you so selfish and callous that you would simply watch that happen?"

Tears trickled down my eyes as my entire body trembled. Victoria was not saying all these because she cared about my father or the company.

She was just trying to manipulate me to leave and it was so sad because there was nothing I could do about it. No matter how much I tried to fight, she would get her way.

"But I don't want to marry Shane. Isn't there any other way to save the company?" I protested feebly, my lips quivering as I tasted my tears.

"What is wrong with you, Celia?!" Victoria said firmly, placing her hands on my shoulders and I flinched as she pressed way more than it was necessary.

"This isn't something you should even be thinking about. Look at your father! He needs you! The company needs you. Why are you so selfish?! Can't you think about someone else but yourself for once in your damn life?!" Victoria raised her voice as she shook me violently by the shoulders.

Dad had no choice but to intervene at this point. He gently placed his hand on her arm. "It's okay, Victoria. Let go. If the company crumbles to the ground, I'll have no choice but to rebuild no matter what even if I die trying."

"No, sweetheart. Don't say things like that!" Victoria exclaimed and I could instantly sense the fake concern which dad seemed so blind to.

"Let me talk to her. We should be able to figure something out."

Without waiting for my reply, my step-mother grabbed me by the arm, dragging me out of the office and slamming the door shut.

Once we were in the doorway, she turned to me, her expression murderous as always and I instantly braced myself for what was coming next.

"Now, listen here, you little shit. I have had enough of your excuses and your bullshit. You really don't expect my Nora to marry that psychopath now, do you? Do you have any idea what he could do to her?"

"What about me? What about what he could do to me?!" I cried, my eyes shining with tears and Victoria's curled down in a sneer as disdain shone in the depths of her eyes.

"No one gives a shit about you, Celia. You're a nobody. You're nothing," She sneered, her expression turning malicious.

"You're going to do what I say or face the consequences. You know what happens when you disobey me, don't you?" The corners of her blood red lips lifted in a wicked smile which made my insides churn as my body trembled violently.

"I–I'll do it. I'll marry Shane Reynolds." I said, unable to stop my lips from quivering.

Victoria's wicked smile grew even wider as she patted me on the head in a condescending manner. "Good. I'll let your father know."

With tears in my eyes, I made my way to my boyfriend's house to break the news that I was going to marry another man.