Chapter 3

                                    

                                          
Lilian Carson POV
"It's an arranged union, and I'll stand by my choice." My father demands; his face is stoic. 
I vehemently disagree with him and want to go after my own goals and interests. He gives me a stern, unwavering look with his eyes. I flinch under his scrutiny and wonder what he is contemplating. Is he upset or just evaluating me? He seems to be trying to intimidate me, but I'm not going to give in. Instead, I stand my ground and meet his gaze directly. As I try to come up with a way to relax, my heart beats quickly.
"It's crucial for both your future and our reputation that you marry into a reputable family." 
I'm not ready to wed someone I don't adore or see a future with. Why doesn't he make an effort to understand me?
I blink quickly and picture a sunny beach with gently lapping waves. My toes are in the warm sand, and I can smell the sharp aroma of pine trees. I began to breathe deeply, both inhaling and exhaling. I felt normal and could breathe again after a brief period of time. My father's face was expressionless. If I had died, he wouldn't have cared. He only considers money. To him, everything is just a game, and my life is merely a pawn. 
In his eyes, I feel unimportant and used. I struggle to perceive any real worth or connection between us that goes beyond items of a material kind. I wish he could look beyond his own self-centeredness and recognise how his actions affect other people. Having the constant sense that his own gain comes before mine is irritating and painful. 
I stated, "I'm not getting married," while simultaneously feeling angry and disappointed. 
I began to nip at my bottom lip. The atmosphere seemed dreary to me. My mind was fogged up. I can't love someone; therefore, being married isn't an option for me. He cannot compel me; if he did, I would flee. I would live with Sam if I had to. Dad must respect my independence and refrain from attempting to dominate me. If he keeps trying, I'll do whatever it takes to keep myself safe and free, even if it means remaining with someone else like Sam.
Suddenly it dawned on me: I don't have a job; I can't just quit. My father pays for everything, and he might quit paying for my college. He had everything well prepared. I wish I had the money to pay for my own education. I'm willing to put in a lot of effort; I could work a couple of part-time jobs and perhaps rent an apartment, but I'm not getting married to someone I don't even know. 
My father gave me a serious look and stated, "This is an order, Lilian Elizabeth Carson." 
While I was astonished by my father's decision, I understood there was no use in challenging him. I questioned with whom I would be compelled to wed. I also couldn't believe that my father was directing my romantic life. He's never appeared so furious before, so he must be in a bad situation. He never even use my entire name to address me. 
"You can't compel me or I would go to the cops." 
I won't allow him to ruin my life. Nothing like this would have occurred if Mom had been present. She would have kept this egotistical man away from me. I know she would have made sure I wasn't harmed in any way since she was the one who always placed my safety first.
My father's avarice is what I guess caused my mother's accident. He murdered my mother, and now he wants to kill me too. I've always held myself responsible for my mother's passing, but perhaps I've been too hard on myself. 
I am aware of my father's motivation, which is to expand his company and achieve more success. He's willing to give a stranger his own daughter. My eyes were watering, and I was on the edge of tears. I felt sick to my stomach at the notion of such a horrific deed. I could not fathom how someone could be so callous. I made an effort to hold back my tears, but they started to fall down my cheeks without my control. It was difficult to grasp how serious the situation was.