Arranged Deception

I woke with a start, my heart pounding as my stepmother's voice echoed through the house.

"Amelia! Get down here this instant, or so help me..." Her tone was laced with venom, a sound I knew all too well. I scrambled out of bed and hurried downstairs, forcing myself to keep calm.

"Yes, Mom?" I answered cautiously, trying to keep the peace.

"Oh, don't 'Mom' me. I'm not a mother to a tramp like you," she sneered. "Where were you last night? Sneaking around, I'm sure, with that friend of yours." Her words stung. "I bet you were out, parading yourself around like... like some cheap little-"

"No, I was at Sophia's house," I stammered, trying to explain. "She invited me for a sleepover, and I was home early, I swear-"

Before I could finish, her hand came down hard on my cheek, sending a shock through me. I looked up, blinking back tears at the woman who was once a mother figure to me, someone I'd trusted.

"How dare you go out without my permission? You're grounded. Don't even think about leaving this house." She leaned close, her voice softening into something almost mocking. "If you do, Amelia, you won't like the consequences. Now, get back to your room."

I rushed upstairs, barely holding back my tears. Once in the safety of my room, I let them fall. How had it come to this? She'd once been kind, even caring, someone I'd encouraged my dad to marry. But now...

My real mom had left when I was just a baby, according to my dad. He said she wasn't ready to take care of a child, that she still wanted to live life and have fun.

That's when my stepmom entered the picture. She and my dad started dating when I was 18, and I thought she was lovely. She bought me nice things and treated me with kindness. I even urged my dad to marry her, thinking she would make a great mom. But I was wrong.

As soon as they got married, her attitude towards me changed. She became rude and dismissive, and whenever I tried to talk to my dad about it, he would take her side. He loved her so much that he wouldn't listen to my perspective, and she would manipulate him into thinking I was stubborn and disobedient.

I realized too late that she had married him for his money. My dad was wealthy, and I suspected that was the only reason she was interested in him. Now, I felt like I was losing the only father I had ever known to her manipulations.

"My name is Amelia , and I'm 25 years old, I'm from russia . I recently graduated from university, where I was quite popular. I was known for being the life of the party, and I have a passion for fashion and shopping. However, despite my confident exterior, I've always been intimidated by my stepmother, Lara, who was from the USA.

I bear a striking resemblance to my father viktor petrov ,His 45 years old , having inherited his eyes and nose, among other features. Unfortunately, this hasn't spared me from Lara's wrath, and I've often been shouted at and reduced to tears. Nevertheless, I've always done what I wanted, thanks to the support of my best friend , sophia . We met in high school and have been inseparable ever since. I trust her with my deepest secrets, and she's been a constant source of comfort and encouragement. We share a love for all things beautiful, and I'm grateful to have her by my side."

"I unlocked my phone and opened Instagram, only to be greeted by a flood of over 200 messages! I had gained a sizable following, and I felt obligated to respond to each one, as ignoring them would be impolite. It took me nearly the entire day to reply to all the messages.

As I scrolled through my Instagram feed, I came across a picture of Lisa and V, two K-pop idols, posing together for the brand Celine. Being a fan of K-pop and Korean dramas, as well as Chinese dramas, I couldn't resist commenting on their photo. However, as I scrolled down to read the comments from other fans, I was dismayed to see some really hurtful and mean remarks.

"Hey Amelia what's up?" sophia asked, her voice cheerful as always.

"Hey, girl! I'm so glad you called. I'm having the worst day ever," I replied, sighing.

"What happened? Tell me everything!" sophia demanded, her curiosity piqued.

"Mom grounded me, and it's all because I went to your place without her permission. And to make matters worse, she slapped me when I tried to explain myself," I said, still fuming.

"WHAT?! Oh my god, Amelia , I'm so sorry! That's ridiculous! Your mom can be so unfair sometimes. I'm going to give her a piece of my mind next time I see her," sophia said, her voice rising in anger.

"Girl, I know, right? I was so shocked when she slapped me. And then she had the nerve to act like I was the one who did something wrong," I said, still feeling the sting of my mom's hand.

"Ugh, don't even get me started! Your mom is going to be so surprised when I give her a piece of my mind. She's going to be so angry, and I'm going to curse her out," sophia said, her voice full of determination.

"Girl, please don't do that. I don't want things to escalate," I said, laughing.

"Okay, fine. So, what's the plan? Want to go out and forget about all this drama?" Sophia asked.

"Actually, I can't go out today because I'm grounded, but let's go out tomorrow? My treat!" I suggested.

"Yessss, tomorrow sounds perfect! I'll pick you up at 10 am. And oh, by the way, i saw this guy at the mall today He's so cute! I'm totally crushing on him," sophia said, her voice squealing with excitement.

"Oh girl, you're obsessed with boys! Get a life, stop bringing me into it!" I teased, laughing.

"Shut up Amy ! You re just jealous because you don't have a crush on anyone right now " sophia joked

"After talking to her for an hour, I hung up the phone and felt a bit bored. Since I was grounded, I was stuck in my room, so I decided to find something to do. I searched for a Chinese drama to watch and found "Back from the Brink". I loved it from the very first episode! The story was so interesting, and the characters were easy to relate to.

As I watched, my stomach started to rumble, and I realized I was hungry. I got up and went to the kitchen to make some noodles, my favorite food. I cooked them just right and grabbed a cold drink from the fridge. Then, I went back to my room to keep watching.

I ate my noodles while watching episode 24. The story was so good that I lost track of time. Before I knew it, it was already 9:00 pm! I couldn't believe how fast the time went by.

I was so tired but I had to wash my plate, so I got up and did it. . After washing and putting away my plate, I went back to my room.

I took a bath to relax. The warm water felt good, and I stayed in there for a while. Then, I put on my comfiest pajamas - they had cute cartoon characters on them , I did my skincare routine washing and moisturizing my face.

After that, I went back to bed and kept watching my drama. Three hours went by fast, and my eyes started to feel heavy. The drama was so good, but I was getting sleepy. Eventually, I fell asleep, dreaming about the next episode.

As I fell asleep, I thought about how much I loved Chinese dramas. They were so good at telling stories and making me care about the characters. I wanted to tell Sophia about "Back from the Brink" - I knew she would love it too.

I slept well, dreaming about the drama and what would happen next. I was excited to watch more episodes the next day .

The next morning, I woke up to my alarm blaring in my ear. Oh no, it's already 9:30 am! I was supposed to meet sophia by 10:00 am. I quickly checked my phone and saw 12 missed calls from her. She's going to kill me! I woke up late because I was watching that drama until late last night.

I texted her, "So sorry, sophy! My shorthand name for her. I'll be there, just give me a few minutes to freshen up. Love you." I sent the text and quickly got ready. I freshened up, put on a good outfit - black rugged trousers, a white top, and a blue sweater. I added my accessories and sprayed some perfume on my body.

Just as I was about to leave, I heard a knock on my door. I opened it to find sophy standing there, looking gorgeous as always. "Heyyy, Amelia! You're looking so hot!" she exclaimed. "You too, sophy, like you always do," I replied with a smile.

"I saw your parents downstairs, watching TV. I greeted them when I passed by, but your mom looked at me with a scowl. I didn't care, though," sophy said, rolling her eyes. "Come on, let's get going!"

We left together and reached downstairs. I greeted my parents, "Mom, Dad, good morning! I'm going out with sophy, and we'll be back late." My mom couldn't ask me to stay back since my dad was with her. "Okay, sweetie, don't come back too late," my dad said.

We entered my car and zoomed off. We went to so many places - the cafe, for a drive... We had a blast! At one point, while walking, I mistakenly bumped into a guy. I looked up to meet his eyes, and oh my god, I was flabbergasted! He was incredibly handsome! I immediately apologized, and he smiled, saying, "It's okay."

sophy, who was walking beside me, whispered, "Oh my god, Amelia that guy is hot! You should have collected his number!" I laughed and replied, "Are you sick in the head? We just met, and you want me to collect his number?" sophy just chuckled and said, "You have a big problem, come on, let's go!"

We continued our day, laughing and joking around. As we were walking, sophy started telling me about her crush on a guy . I listened patiently, offering advice and support. After a while, we decided to grab some lunch at a nearby restaurant. We sat down at a cozy table by the window and ordered our food.

As we waited for our food to arrive, sophy started teasing me about the guy I bumped into earlier. "Amelia, you should have gotten his number! He was so cute!" I playfully rolled my eyes and said, "Sophia, focus! Let's talk about your crush instead."

Our food arrived, and we dug in, savoring the delicious flavors. We spent the rest of the day together, enjoying each other's company and making memories that would last a lifetime .

As the day went on, we took so many pictures together - selfies, group photos, and even some silly poses. I couldn't wait to get home and upload them on Instagram. I knew my followers would love them!

Finally, it was time to say goodbye. We hugged each other tightly, promising to meet up again soon. I drove home, feeling happy and content after a wonderful day with my best friend.

When I got home, I immediately started uploading our photos on Instagram. I captioned them "Best day ever with my favorite person! #besties #friendshipgoals #fun" and waited for the likes and comments to roll in.

I sat back waiting for the comments to roll in, I couldn't help but think about the guy I bumped into. I found myself wondering about his name, if I would ever see him again. Shaking my head, I dismissed the thought, reminding myself it was just a brief encounter. I was bored, and it was already late, so I decided to go out for a walk.

As I strolled through the quiet streets, two boys started harassing me. "Hey, beautiful, what's your name?" one of them asked, blocking my path. I ignored them and kept walking, but they kept pestering me.

"Come on, just talk to us," the other boy said, grabbing my arm. I tried to shake him off, but he held tight.

I was starting to feel uncomfortable when a familiar voice intervened. "Hey, leave her alone." It was the guy I had bumped into earlier!

The boys backed off, and the guy turned to me. "Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes filled with concern. I nodded, still shaken.

"Thanks for helping me," I said, grateful.

"No problem," he replied, smiling. "I'm Max, by the way."

"I'm Amelia" I said, smiling back.

Max collected my number, and we parted ways. I went home, my heart still racing from the encounter.

The next morning, I got ready for work, I'm a fashion designer, which means I design and sell clothes. As I arrived at my shop, a customer came in.

"Hi, I'm looking for a custom-made dress," she said, browsing through the racks. "I want something elegant and sophisticated, with a touch of modern flair."

I listened attentively, taking notes. "What's the occasion?" I asked.

"It's for my sister's wedding," she replied. "I want to make a statement."

I showed her some designs, and we discussed fabrics, colors, and styles. She wanted a floor-length gown with a high neckline and a flowing train.

"I love it!" she exclaimed, as I sketched out the design. "Can you make it in time for the wedding next week?"

"I'll try my best," I promised, smiling .

I was working at my shop when a bunch of people, maybe bodyguards, came in and told me that my shop had been sold off and I was no longer the owner. I was shocked and surprised. I didn't know what to do.

I got into my car and called my dad, initiating a conversation about what had just happened. My dad told me to go home, that he had something to tell me.

When I got home, I was pacing up and down, not even sparing my mom a glance as she looked at me . My dad walked through the door, sat down, and initiated a conversation.

"You have to marry Mr Chen's son ."

"What? Why?!"

"To help my business. It's collapsing, and he's the only one who can help us build it up again."

" But Dad, I don't even know him! And I'm not going to marry someone just to save your business!"

"You don't have a choice. This is the only way to secure the future of our company."

" But what about my happiness? My future? My dreams?!"

" Your happiness will come from seeing the business thrive. Now, let's discuss the wedding arrangements..."

" No, Dad! I refuse! I won't do it!"

" You will do what's best for this family, even if it means sacrificing your own desires. You will marry Mr Chen's son , and that's final."

"What? I'm not going to do such a thing! Why would I marry someone I don't know? I haven't even seen him before!"

My stepmom interfered, saying, "Don't be so ruthless, Amelia. Help your dad. His business is falling. As an understanding daughter, you should marry him and help your dad's business grow." She hugged me, crying, but I knew she was pretending.

I pushed her away from me, and she pretended to fall, grabbing her waist and screaming in pain. My dad slapped me, saying, "How could you? She was just trying to comfort you. Whether you like it or not, you're going to marry him. You're now showing your true colors!"

He took his wife inside, and I went to my room, crying. How did this become my life? I didn't want to marry someone I didn't know or love.

As I lay in bed, feeling helpless and trapped.

I couldn't shake of ththe feeling of unease as I lay in bed, tears streaming down my face. My mind raced with thoughts of the arranged marriage and the future that lay ahead. I felt trapped and helpless, like my life was being decided for me without my consent. My own father was willing to sacrifice my happiness for the sake of his business. Anger surged through me. How could he do this?

The next morning, I woke up feeling numb and detached. I knew I had to face my father again. As I went downstairs, I saw him at the breakfast table with his wife, lara. "Amelia, we need to talk," he said, his voice firm.

"I won't do it," I said, my voice shaking but firm. "I won't marry someone I don't know or love."

His face turned red with anger. "You're being selfish, Amelia. This is about family, loyalty, and duty."

"I'm being selfish?" I snapped back. "You're willing to sacrifice my happiness just to get ahead."

"Enough!" Lara cut in, her voice shrill. "Your father has given you everything, and this is how you repay him?"

My father's face hardened. "I've always been there for you, Amelia. And this is how you repay me? By refusing to do one simple thing?"

"It's not simple, Dad," I shouted back. "It's my life. My future."

His eyes were cold. "If that's how you want it, maybe you're not my daughter after all."

"Maybe you were wrong," I retorted, but his determination was clear. I knew I had no choice. "Fine," I whispered. "I'll do it. I'll marry him."

Leaving the house, I was overwhelmed with anger, hurt, and frustration. I couldn't believe my father was being so unreasonable. I found myself at Sophie's door, and as soon as she opened it, I collapsed into her arms.

"Oh my God, Amy, what happened?" Sophie exclaimed, concern etched on her face.

I sniffed and sobbed, unable to speak. Sophie pulled me inside, and we sat on the couch as I poured out the whole story.

"My dad wants me to marry some stranger to further his business," I said, my voice shaking. "And when I refused, he threatened to disown me."

"That's horrible!" Sophie exclaimed. "You have every right to choose who you want to marry."

We talked for hours, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders as I shared my feelings with her. That night, we ordered pizza and watched movies, trying to forget my troubles, but as I lay in bed, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. I knew I had to face my father eventually, and I had no idea what would happen next.

The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed. I thanked Sophie for the sleepover and promised to return the favor soon. Once home, I booted up my laptop and started researching Ryu Chen. My eyes widened in shock as I realized he was the biggest mafia boss in the country, one of the richest men in the world. How could my father do this to me?

As I scrolled through the photos of Ryu, I couldn't help but notice how handsome he was, with his tattoos and piercing eyes. My father called me then. "Amelia, I've arranged for you to meet Ryu Chen tomorrow," he said.

"Tomorrow? But Dad, I don't know if I'm ready," I protested.

"You have to be ready, Amelia. This is a great opportunity for our family. Marrying Chen will secure our future."

"You're forcing me to marry a mafia boss I've never met! What if he's dangerous?"

"This is for the best," my father said firmly. "Ryu Chen is a powerful man, and marrying him will secure our family's future."

I stormed out of the room, feeling like I was living in some medieval nightmare where daughters were pawns in their father's business deals. Back in my room, I buried my face in the pillows, shaking with anger and fear.

A text came through on my phone. "Hey, it's Max. Remember me?" It was the guy I'd bumped into, the one who had saved me from those harassers.

"Hey, I'm good. What about you? Yeah, I remember you."

"I'm good, thanks! Want to grab coffee sometime?"

"Sure, that sounds great!" I agreed, and we made plans to meet at a cozy coffee shop.

When I arrived, Max was already there, sipping on a latte. As we chatted, I found myself opening up to him easily, feeling comfortable and at ease. After a while, Max offered to drop me off somewhere, and I hesitated but eventually agreed.

As he dropped me off at home, he asked, "Can we grab coffee again sometime?"

I hesitated. "I'm getting engaged soon."

"Oh, I see. Well, I wish you all the best," Max said awkwardly.

The day had arrived. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my heart pounding. I knew I had no choice; my father's ultimatum had made that clear. I picked up the address my father had sent me. This was it. The moment I would meet the man who would soon become my husband-Ryu Chen.

When I arrived at the address, a sleek, towering building, I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. The lobby was cold, all glass and marble. The receptionist barely glanced at me before gesturing toward a private elevator. My heart thudded louder with each passing second as the elevator ascended.

When the doors opened, I found myself in a spacious, luxurious office. But it was the man standing by the window, his back turned to me, that drew my attention. Ryu Chen. He was tall, his broad shoulders encased in a perfectly tailored suit. As if sensing my presence, he turned around, his sharp, dark eyes locking onto mine.

"Miss Petrov," he greeted me, his voice smooth but devoid of warmth. "You're late."

"I-I'm sorry. The traffic..."

He cut me off with a dismissive wave of his hand, moving closer. "Spare me the excuses. You're here now, that's what matters."

I stiffened, feeling my temper flare despite my fear. "I'm only here because I have no choice."

"Good," he said, his lips curving into a cold smile. "Then this arrangement will work just fine."

His words stung, but I lifted my chin. "Well, I want you to call off this marriage."

Ryu's eyes narrowed. "You're not here to barter words, Miss Petrov. You're here because your father made a deal. A deal you will honor."

My heart sank. "I'm only here because I have no choice."

"Then this arrangement will work just fine," he repeated, stepping closer. "Let me make one thing clear. This marriage is a business transaction, nothing more. You will play your part, and I will play mine. But don't ever mistake this for something it isn't."

"Believe me, Mr. Chen, the feeling is mutual."

Ryu stepped back. "You'll be given everything you need to prepare for the wedding. Make the most of it."

Without another word, I turned and walked out of the office, my head held high. But inside, I felt like crumbling. How had my life come to this?

I got into my car, my hands shaking as I gripped the steering wheel. I started driving aimlessly through the city, my thoughts a chaotic mess. I needed to clear my head, to figure out how I was going to survive the days, weeks, and years to come. But every time I thought about the future, all I could see were Ryu's cold eyes, staring at me with that emotionless gaze.

As the sun began to set, I found myself parked near a small park. I hadn't even realized where I was headed, my mind too preoccupied with the encounter. I walked over to a bench and sat down, staring at the children playing nearby, their laughter a sharp contrast to the darkness clouding my thoughts.

What was I supposed to do now? How was I supposed to face a future with a man who clearly despised me? The thought of spending the rest of my life with someone like Ryu made my stomach churn, but what choice did I have? My father had made sure there was no way out.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them away. I wouldn't cry, not over him. I made a silent vow to myself. No matter what happened, I wouldn't let him break me. I might be forced into this marriage, but I wouldn't lose myself in the process.

With renewed resolve, I got up and walked back to my car. I decided to go to Sophy's place instead of going home. I needed to talk to someone, and Sophy was the only person who could truly understand what I was going through.

As I pulled up to Sophy's building, she opened the door before I could even knock. "Amelia, what happened? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"I met him ,i met ryu chen .sophy's eyes widened with concern. "What happened?"

Taking a deep breath, I tried to steady myself. "He's exactly what I feared-cold, ruthless, and completely emotionless. He looked at me like I was nothing, just another item on his checklist."

Sophy's expression darkened as she guided me to the couch. "I knew he was bad, but hearing it from you makes it worse. What did he say?"

"Barely anything. He gave me instructions, told me we'd meet again to finalize wedding details, and dismissed me like I was an inconvenience."

Sophy shook her head in disbelief. "How can someone be so heartless? And to treat you like this, when you're the one being forced into marriage... it's disgusting."

Tears welled up in my eyes. "I don't know how I'm going to do this, Sophy. I don't know if I'm strong enough."

Sophy took my hands firmly. "You are strong enough, Amy. You've been through so much already, and you'll get through this too. I'm here for you, every step of the way."

I managed a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Sophy I don't know what I'd do without you."

She hugged me tightly. "We'll find a way through this, even if it seems impossible now. And no matter what, I'm right here with you."

We sat together for a while, her arms around me as I let myself cry. Eventually, Sophy pulled back and smiled. "How about we order takeout, watch a movie, and pretend this whole mess doesn't exist for a few hours?"

I nodded, grateful for the distraction. "That sounds perfect."

Sophy gave me a playful nudge. "Then let's do it. We'll eat too much, watch some K-dramas, and forget about Ryu Chen-just for tonight."