The Betrayed Billionaire

The Agreement

"Rewinding time is not possible, but 'do-over' is, sometimes we get another chance to do something right the second time that we got it wrong the first time."

FIVE YEARS AGO

"You're not supposed to sell your daughter! How could you do this to me, Dad?!" I screamed at him, throwing the vase that was placed on the nightstand. The veins in my head were palpating because of the rage that I was feeling and was seconds away from killing someone.

"Please Eve, just listen to me for once." He tried to calm me by rubbing my arm, but my rage didn't fade away.

"Listen to you? I'm not listening to your bullshit! And keep me the hell away from your business." I almost growled, trying my best to keep my demeanor in check.

"Evelyn!" Marcus, my elder brother yelled at me as he stood at the entrance of my room, looking at me with disappointment.

He never raised his voice at me, and today was the first time in the eighteen years of my life that he has ever yelled at me.

"Dad, leave. I'll talk to her." Marcus said to Dad.

Dad left the room after glancing at me, his eyes told me the desperation that he had right now as if my whole future wasn't at stake. I wouldn't going to be emotionally blackmailed by him.

Collapsing on my bed, I hid my face in the pillow. If Marcus thought that he could convince me, he could try. Because no matter how hard they try to persuade me, I would never marry a stranger.

"Eve, look at me." Marcus dashed towards me and sat in front of me in the bed.

He could never watch me cry, and when I lifted my head to look at him, his eyes immediately softened.

My elder brother immediately wiped the tears off of my face, "Why are you crying?" He asked.

"B-Because Dad wants me to marry a... stranger." I hiccupped as he gave me a small smile, but I could see the sadness hidden in his smile.

"Correction, he wants you to meet him, just for once." He said while tucking the strands of my hair behind my ear.

"Meet him? And then what? We'll eventually get married to each other." I spoke.

"Eve, your elder brother is here. And I'll not allow you to marry someone that you don't like."

"I know, Marc. I know. But it wasn't supposed to go like this, I was supposed to finish high school, graduate college, get a job, find love, and then get married, not the other way around." I said, my voice laced with grief.

"I know, baby. But trust me, Xavier is a very good friend of mine. He'll take good care of you." Marc explained.

"But, why did I have to marry him? Why not someone else? And I'm not even an adult yet." I questioned.

Before he could explain anything further, I asked, "Tell me the truth, Marcus. The truth, please?"

"Our grandfather, Andrew Williams, and his grandfather Steven Knight had an agreement signed between them." He mumbled.

"What agreement?" I asked in concern.

"Ten years ago, our company was in huge debt and our grandfather couldn't do anything to save it. But Steven Knight offered to pay our debt on one condition that you need to marry his grandson for that. At that time, you were only eight and he was twelve years old." He said and his eyes lowered to the ground as guilt covered his face.

Tears pricked the back of my eyes as I hid my face in between my hands, "What kind of twisted psychology is it? And what if I don't marry his grandson?"