Chapter Seven

"You'll do as I say young lady!" Diego barked.

Iris scoffed and threw him a dirty look.

"I will do no such thing father!" Iris retorted.

Diego clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers.

"Can you hear that? You've grown wings and suddenly think you can disobey me? I have given you everything you ever wanted and I will not do all that just to have you disobey me, you hear me?" Diego yelled.

"How can you hear to just marry off your daughter to some outsider in two days time? Are you that tired of me? If you wish to get rid of me, do so father but not like this, I'm barely done with college!" Iris cried.

"I don't care if you're done with college or not, who said you can't be married and go to school at the same time, are you trying to bring shame to my name? I have given my world already and the boy will be ready in two days!" Marco insisted.

"Then he'll have to get married to my corpse! I'll kill myself before morning or run away!" Iris threatened.

Marco laughed.

"You wouldn't even get the chance, I'll kill you myself before you bring dishonor to my name, we are an honorable family that is feared by all, you think I'll let you ruin that?" Marco asked sarcastically.

"Little sister, why don't you just agree to what Father said? You'll be married to some handsome rich dude and you don't have to school anymore, you'll live the rest of your life going on vacations, shopping and having just few children, it's a dream lifestyle for every woman out there, I tell you!" Talia said convincingly.

Iris hissed.

"If you think it's that great why don't you get married to him yourself! This is unacceptable, you're all hypocrites. He wants me to marry the son of a debtor so they'll repay their debts, is that how useless I am? How will I face my friends when they find out that I'm married to some debtor?" Iris asked.

"You don't have to tell them that, you can always lie to them!" Talia replied.

"Away with you two, I do not consent to this, why do you have to insist on ruining my life? I'd rather die!" Iris said firmly.

Talia was about to speak when Diego stopped her.

"You'll change your mind by nightfall after being locked up in here, if you don't, you'll have to marry him whether you consent to it or not, you know I always keep my words and I won't spare even my own flesh and blood!" Marco said.

"You'll lock me up in my own room?" Iris asked, shocked.

"Yes, I will, let's give her some time Talia to think about my words carefully." Marco said menacingly.

Talia shook her head pitifully and walked out of the room after her father, the door was then locked from the outside and several guards positioned by the door, Iris who thought it was just a threat was shocked by this and banged her hands loudly on the door.

"Let me out! You can't do this to me!" Iris cried.

No one listened hence she continued to protest just after almost an hour no one paid attention to her and she retreated back into her room, she curled herself into a corner and began to sob. What would become of her if she gets married to a stranger, she had no idea. Iris always wanted to become a business mogul and get married to whomever she loves, her dreams were that simple hence she lived her entire life been obedient to her father.

Nothing Diego ever suggested or wanted that she didn't consent to, her whole life was going on perfectly well until he suddenly brought up the preposterous idea of marriage. The thought of going off to some man's house and becoming his bride scared her, several times; she had caught her father hitting her mother and she concluded that it was because there was no love between them and swore to get married to someone who loves her.

Iris cried all day and when night came her father visited her to see if she had changed her mind but she stood on her decision. He was frustrated by her stubbornness and demanded that she be locked up in the room and will only step out for the wedding. Iris broke down completely and contemplated suicide.

The next day, Iris refused to have any food and when the maids brought in her supposed wedding gown; she threw a tantrum and Esperanza decided to pay her a visit.

"Until when do you intend to starve yourself?" Esperanza asked calmly as she dropped the tray of food she was carrying on the table.

"Leave me alone." Iris said weakly.

Esperanza chuckled.

"I can't do that, I'm your mother and I love you." She said.

Iris shot her a death glare and almost hissed.

"You're my mother and your husband is marrying me off to some debtor yet you support it? I'm basking in your love Mom, what a wonderful love you have there." Iris said sarcastically.

Esperanza chuckled and sat near her, she tried to hug Iris but Iris moved away from her.

"There's nothing I, you, or anyone in the world can do to change your father's mind Iris, he'll rather kill than have anyone taint his name or disobey him and you know that." Esperanza explained.

"Why does it have to be my own life that gets ruined? I'll be stuck with the bastard forever!" Iris cried.

"You're getting it wrong, your father wants a male child from the Davidson bastard, the moment you conceive one; you'll throw him out on the streets and if he doesn't pay his debt by then; he'll pay with his entire family's live, can't you see what your father is giving to you on a platter of Gold? Your temporary husband will become your plaything, he'll live here with us to guarantee that he dares not harm you, you'll be the husband not him." Esperanza said coyly.

Iris eye lit up hearing the mouthwatering offer but she wasn't convinced fully.

"The wedding is a secret one, you'll be married to him in a court tomorrow with just us in attendance, you'll be free from him whenever you want, think about it darling."