Sophia’s POV
*He is going to be your husband, we’ve discussed and made the arrangements.*
His words rang in my ears like they came from afar.
Dad had said that proudly like he didn’t just make a big decision about my life without letting me know. Without asking my opinion on this. Why can’t he respect me for once? I didn’t want to get married so soon, even if I wanted to get married. I have the right to choose my husband.
“You can’t do this,” I said firmly, turning to pin Dad with a glare.
“What do you mean? We’ve already discussed this, and the duke and his son already agreed to this union,” Dad gritted out.
I facepalmed and inhaled sharply. I turned to Harry, “So your dad says, ‘marry this random girl’ and you happily agreed? What are you, a child?-”
“What is going on here Mr Smith?”
“Watch your mouth, young woman!”
Dad and the Duke, Prince Philip said at the same time.
I was furious and didn’t care how my outburst made me or Dad look. I’ve had enough of his nonsense.
“Smith, you told me this was a done deal. Why is she behaving this way?” Prince Philip asked angrily.
“Please ignore her, you know how women behave. She’s just too sensitive and dramatic. When she-”
I stood up abruptly, knocking a cup and cutleries off the table in the process. I glared at Dad and left. I ordered Uber to take me back since I’d come here in Dad’s car.
My Uber came a few minutes later and I went straight to Daisy’s.
“Okay, but at least he’s hot and royalty,” Nick said. And honestly, I’m about to punch him in the face for that. I don’t care if Harry was hot or not. I’m not getting married on a whim, not marrying someone I barely know.
“Why are you even here? What happened to your place?” I snapped.
“Brandon hasn’t moved out of his house yet, he’s insisting Nick talks to him. So Nick is camping here with me.” Daisy jumped in.
“She wasn’t asking you, blabbermouth,” Nick retorted.
“You might be sleeping outside tonight with that attitude of yours.” Daisy countered.
“Ha! I’d like to see you try.”
“I dare you to talk shit one more time, Nick”
“Oh, please-”
“Guys!” I shouted. “You are no longer teenagers, for fuck’s sake! Besides I have a big issue going on with me and you both just seem more interested in your banter.”
“Sorry, baby.”
“Sorry, Soph.”
They said at the same time.
“It is fine actually,” I said, waving them off. “I was just thinking you could help me out or something. Maybe an idea? Or a plan?”
“Hey,” Daisy started. “Have you actually spoken to your dad? Like, ask him why this sudden marriage arrangement. Look I know he’s the biggest arsehole but I feel like you both can talk things out or something?” She said calmly.
Nick snorted. “Naaa, I don’t think that would work. You’re forgetting one crucial thing, he already made this decision whether she liked it or not. He didn’t care enough to actually inform her before said lunch meeting. I’m sorry girls, but once a dick, always a dick, merely speaking to him wouldn’t change a thing.”
To an extent, they were both right. I haven’t discussed it with dad. I was so angry back there and there is a possibility he would disagree.
Wait, why am I overthinking this? I’ll just reject the offer and go on with my life. Problem solved.
“Or you could get Harry to reject this marriage arrangement too,” Nick said.
“Yeah! That could work,” Daisy added.
“True, but I won’t be doing that. I’ll just go home and discuss it with Dad maturely. I’ll tell him where I stand. That could work, maybe my outburst was a tad too much.”
“Yea… that’s not gonna work,” Nick muttered under his breath.
“Shut up,” Daisy said as she tossed a throw pillow at him.
“You exhaust me, young lady…” Just as Nick had predicted, this wasn’t working. I had come home to discuss that and he’d done nothing but express his displeasure at my outburst. Well, calling his reaction ‘displeasure’ was mildly putting it.
“…you didn’t care about my reputation when you acted like you were mad in front of the duke and his son! A man who would be your husband soon. Who would want a wife like you?”
“For god’s sake, Dad. You’re not listening to me now, are you?” I took a deep breath. “I will not be marrying Harry, I will not be marrying against my will. You had no right to-”
I’m taken off guard as Dad’s palm connects with my cheek. Hard. The force of it made me stumble a bit as my vision blurred and my cheek stung.
“Why… why would you do that?”
“You’re my daughter and I’m in charge of you! I’m the head of this household, the man in charge here! Don’t you dare say I don’t have the right to do anything, in my household,” he barked, turning red with rage. He looked like he was holding himself from giving me another slap.
“And that’s enough reason to hit me? Fuck it! I don’t want to marry him! Or anyone who isn’t my choice,” I retorted.
“Why? So you can let that Russian bastard turn you into one of his worthless mistresses? No daughter of mine will be a whore, not while I’m alive, not right under my nose!”
This was my future, marriage is a serious commitment, it’s for a lifetime, I’m not about to hop on it because Dad wants it.”The only thing you care about is yourself, Dad. Call me a whore or any other degrading name under the sun. I will not be marrying against my will, not to Harry and not to anyone else,” I said firmly.
“You can say goodbye to your inheritance, including inheriting my businesses then. I’ll change my will and everything. If you don’t get married. You’ll be out on the street in two months,” he said smugly. “Trust me, I can ruin your life in seconds.”
“What? No, you can’t do this to me!” I yelled.
“Of course, I can. The moment you decided to spread your legs and be a whore for that Russian was the day I knew I had to fix things. A woman needs a head. If you get married to someone like Harry, I’ll be sure that my wealth and legacy will be in good hands when I retire even after I die,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Dad…” I croaked out as my throat clogged up, tears streaming down my cheeks.
“The choice is yours, it’s up to you,” he said as he turned to leave.
I can’t lose everything, that’s what I’ve wanted my whole life. I’ve always wanted to be seen, to feel seen by him. To show him I could be as good as a son. I could work hard and improve the business. That was why I gave up on my passion in high school and opted for business.
“Fine,” I gritted out, stopping him in his tracks. I wiped the tears from my face. “You win, I’ll marry Harry.”
You win Dad, you always do.
“You made the right choice.” That was all he said and he left.
I stormed upstairs to my room and flopped on the bed. My life has been planned out by someone else and I’d just let it happen. For some reason, I felt like I was betraying Ivan. Perhaps cheating on him, which was silly. We meant nothing to each other.
But I couldn’t stop feeling the way I was feeling right now. I knew it was time to say goodbye forever. Time to let go of something that was really nothing.
And for the first time since I came home, I let myself actively search for Ivan Kozlov online. I had been retraining myself, I didn’t want to think of him all the time.
I glanced at my screen at the search result. My heart dropped to my stomach. “Ivan Kozlov’s Mother loses battle to cancer.”
I felt guilty like I should have been there for him and not escaped. I knew he’d need someone to rely on.
You also need someone to rely on the voice in my head said.
A text notification entered my phone just then. Like a reminder that what I was feeling wasn’t normal.
Daisy: I just shared the therapist’s number with you. Check her out soon. Also, I need an update on how the talk with your dad went. Love ya.
So this is it, I was getting married soon.