Chapter 2 What choice

Adeline Pov

I exhale, the breath stuttering from my throat, a knot of worry curling in my gut, "What choice mom?" I questioned.

She kept quiet and glanced at me. I stepped closer, my voice trembling, "What did you use the money for, Mom? I thought you promised me you'd stop spending money so lavishly. You lied to me-borrowed that huge amount of money..."

I didn't even know if I should be shocked. This was the woman who worshipped money, who made sure her skin always glowed. My mom cares more about her beauty than anything else. Even when people started comparing our looks, she would snap at them while I was pretending not to care.

I should have noticed. The moment she started changing skin-care routine, I knew it was expensive. But I didn't dare ask where she got the money. I trusted her, I never imagined she would risk borrowing money for something so petty.

I stared at her now, waiting for her to prove me wrong-for her to tell me she borrowed the money for a noble reason. But she said nothing. And that silence sealed my doubt.

She lowered her eyes, "You're right Adeline. I did this, I know I'm the reason we're drowning now. I kept telling myself it was just a little here, a little there, a new dress, a new cream, until the bills swallowed me while. I couldn't stop, I love the way people looked at me, and I hated the way they compared me to you."

"You can't blame me, You don't know what it's like to be me," she snapped. "All my life people judged me by how I looked, I built everything with my face and my presence, I know I caused this mess, I know my spending pushed us over the edge. But I couldn't just stop. Do you understand? This is all I have. My beauty is all I know," she added.

My hand drifts to my throat, where my pulse thrums heavily.

I shook my head slowly and walked away from her. I got into my room and slammed the door. I'd accepted that my mom made mistakes; I was used to it. She was addicted to her beauty.

But how could someone, in his right state of mind, decide to arrange a marriage with a lady you'd never even met? From what Mom said he must be filthy rich, so why couldn't he just pick one of those rich girls and leave me alone? If he isn't a psycho, then the pot is definitely calling the kettle black.

I grabbed up my phone and typed his name, Alex Moretti.

The images and articles that filled the screen knocked the breath right out of me. Suddenly I understood why it's important to always be on social media. I'm not a social media person, and now I felt embarrassed for not even knowing who the hell he was.

I dropped my phone immediately, my heart hammering. I was just glad my aunt had declined him and his filthy money.

There was a knock on my door before it opened. My mom stepped inside, "Adeline we need to talk."

I sat down slowly on the edge of my bed, and my bottom lips trembled a bit.

She took a deep breath, "About the money...it's a huge amount, Adeline. If you marry him, you'll have all the riches you need. You won't lack anything, and I won't have to bother you about doing some job that could fetch us a huge amount of money."

I stared at her, my fingers digging into the blanket.

"Do you even hear yourself right now?" I whispered, my voice trembling. "You're telling me to marry a stranger like I'm some bargain you are trying to trade off. Money isn't everything, Mom. I don't care how rich he is, I'm not a price tag you can hand over."

A lump formed in my throat but I forced my words out, "You're supposed to protect me, not sell me."

She crossed her arms, glaring at me, "Stop making this hard, Adeline. I'm not selling you off. It's simple: get married and enjoy. You're not getting any younger you will eventually get married anyway, and he's rich."

I felt something snap inside me, "Rich?" I repeated, my voice snapping. "You think money makes everything okay? You want me to marry a man I don't even know, a man I don't love. What's in a marriage if there's no love, Mom? Just two strangers sharing a roof."

I stood up, my hands trembling, "Marriage isn't a business deal; it's supposed to be a choice. It's supposed to be trust, respect, companionship. You can't just trade me for money. I might not be your real daughter, but you brought me up like one."

She rolled her eyes and gave a little laugh that didn't reach her face, "Adeline, you' re just talking like a child. You've never had to fight for anything in your life. You don't understand what real hardship is, or how much this kind of money could change everything for us."

I shot to my feet, my fist clenched, "Coming from someone who doesn't even know the value of money, someone who doesn't even know the value of love!" I yelled.

Before I could take another breath, she sprang to her feet, her face reddened, and her hand came down across my cheek.

I staggered back, I instantly held my face. The sting burned, my heart pounded as I realised how far this argument had gone.

"You're so selfish, Adeline!" she spat. "After everything I've done for you, everything I've sacrificed to raise you, you can't even do this one little thing I'm asking?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but she didn't give me a chance.

"If you don't sign that contract," she hissed, stepping closer, "I swear...you'll be burying my dead body yourself I promise you!" and then she stormed out.

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, an Adrenaline burn has settled low in my stomach, something I haven't experienced in years.

I paced until my feet ached, the same scenarios running through my head over and over again.

A few minutes passed, and I was still pacing around. I told myself I needed to talk to her calmly-she would listen.

I walked out of my room and knocked on the door. No answer, and my hand trembled as I slowly pushed it open.

"Mom...I'm-" my eyes widened, and for the first time, I understood some truths are unbearable.

I couldn't move, the room felt impossibly still, my breath caught as my spine snapped straight.