Bound by Deception

Chapter 1

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on my room as I brushed my hair. A persistent knock on the door broke the tranquility, but I dismissed it, thinking it was just another trivial interruption. When the knocking continued, I finally shouted, "Come in."

My mother entered, and though we weren't close, I held no animosity toward her. She was a fragile figure, bound in a marriage to a man I could only describe as a monster. Yet, somehow, she seemed to be in good spirits today, smiling and laughing in a way that made my skin crawl.

"Mom? You okay?" I asked, unease creeping in.

She wiped a tear from her eye, still chuckling. "Oh, I'm fine, dear. You know you're meeting the son of-"

I interrupted, irritated. "The son of the Kim family. Yes, Mom, I know. You've mentioned it five times already. I'll be ready by seven, wearing that dress Dad bought. I know the drill: be elegant, pretty, and mind my manners."

She nodded, her smile fading. "Your father insisted I remind you," she said softly.

I smiled back, telling her to rest and leave me to my preparations. As she left, I faced my reflection, confronting the bruises that had become a part of me. Layers of foundation couldn't quite hide them, a stark reminder of the past five years.

The dress, a sleek black number, hugged my figure like it was made for a model. It should have made me feel beautiful, but all I saw was the reflection of someone who seemed ready to devour me whole. My blonde hair framed my face, complementing my blue eyes-features I'd grown weary of. Beneath the beauty were scars that had never faded, and with them, my feelings.

I adorned myself with jewelry, careful not to smudge the foundation, and finished my look with a touch of lipstick and blush. Ready by 6:45, I distracted myself with my phone until my brother burst into the room, breathless and wide-eyed.

"Hey, hey," he panted.

"What's up?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at his frantic state.

"I might've...accidentally spilled coffee on someone important, and our dog might've bitten him."

"Seriously?" I sighed, "And what do you want me to do about it?"

"I just...I think he might be someone important. He gave me a death stare when I ran off without checking if he was okay."

I finally looked at him, giving my full attention. "Okay, let's go apologize before he causes trouble."

As we headed downstairs, our father intercepted us. "Where do you think you're going, Linda?"

"Uh, Alex dropped his ball outside. I'm just helping him find it," I improvised.

Father's eyes narrowed. "He'll be here in five minutes, Linda."

Alex tried his luck. "Dad, can she come with me? Please? I'm scared."

Father softened for a moment. "You're not scared, Alex. You're not a coward. Find the ball yourself."

Alex sighed, defeated. Father approached me, raising my chin with a menacing smile. "I'll be glad to have you out of my life soon, you good-for-nothing idiot."

"Yes, Father. Thank you," I replied, my tone flat. His words, designed to wound, no longer had the power to hurt me.

Back in my room, I considered escaping, but the cameras and lack of a plan kept me prisoner. My phone buzzed-Stacy calling.

"Hey, Linda!" she chirped, her excitement palpable.

"Hi, Stacy," I replied, barely masking my irritation.

She babbled on about my impending meeting with the Kim family's son, as if it were the pinnacle of human achievement. When she shifted to talking about her new boyfriend, I let her words wash over me, offering the occasional "mhm" and drifting into my own thoughts.

Engagement to a stranger loomed, and I despised it. The one time I voiced my objections, Father throttled me and threatened disownment. Despite the allure of freedom, I couldn't abandon my brother, nor did I have anywhere else to go.

As I sat there, my heart heavy with the weight of unwanted expectations, I knew one thing for certain: tonight would change everything. Whether for better or worse, I had yet to find out.