Arranged Marriage: The Lost Bet

Chapter Three

Lucas's face darkened, his anger clashing with a flicker of guilt as he absorbed her words. The slap still stung on his cheek, a stark reminder that he had pushed her too far. "You don't understand what I've sacrificed for this," he spat, his voice low and dangerous.

Arianna shook her head, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. "No, Lucas. You didn't sacrifice anything. You lost sight of what really mattered. You thought money could replace love, and it didn't. It never will."

The club's music pulsed around them, but the world had narrowed to just the two of them, their emotions colliding like waves crashing against the shore. "You think you can just throw money at me and expect me to be grateful? That's not how it works! You've made me feel worthless, like I'm nothing but an accessory to your lavish lifestyle."

He stepped closer, his voice more measured now. "And what about you? You've been so wrapped up in your own bitterness that you can't even see the sacrifices I've made. Every time you complain about your life, it's like you forget the comfort I've provided."

"Comfort?" she laughed bitterly, the sound echoing through the dimly lit space. "You think a big house and fancy cars mean anything when I'm alone in that house, crying myself to sleep? You've taken everything from me—my dignity, my joy, my father, my childhood home and now you want to take my voice too?"

Lucas's expression softened for a moment, and he glanced away, as if wrestling with the reality of her words. "I didn't ask for this! Any of it Yet here we are! "

"You've never cared to understand my pain. I'm not just some trophy for you to show off. I'm a person, with dreams, with feelings, and you've trampled all over them."

Lucas opened his mouth to respond, but the realization hit him hard: she was right. The anger that had fueled his defenses began to crumble, leaving vulnerability in its wake. "What do you want from me?"

As the sleek black limo door swung open, Lucas's grip on her arm tightened, forcing her to step inside before he followed her in, the air thick with tension. The driver, sensing the charged atmosphere, remained silent as he pulled away from the venue, the city lights blurring past the windows.

Arianna turned to face Lucas, her heart racing with a mix of fear and anger. "You can't just drag me around like this," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm not a possession for you to control. I'm a human being with my own choices."

He leaned back against the plush leather seat, his jaw clenched. "You think I want this? You think I enjoy being at odds with you? I'm trying to protect what's mine."

"Protect? Is that what you call this?" she shot back, waving her hand between them. "You're suffocating me, Lucas. You're holding me hostage in a marriage that's a prison."

The silence that followed was heavy, punctuated only by the hum of the engine. Lucas looked out the window, his expression unreadable. "You don't understand what it means to be tied to someone like this. When you marry, it's supposed to be forever. I can't just let you walk away."

Arianna wiped her tears angrily, the frustration boiling over. "You don't get to decide what's forever for me. You've made it clear that you see me as nothing more than a trophy, a means to your end. I refuse to be a pawn in your twisted game."

"Twisted game?" he repeated, his voice rising. "You think I want this? I don't want to be this person! I didn't choose this life or its burdens."

Taking a deep breath, she replied, "I could marry without love, but I can't stay in an emotionally abusive marriage, Lucas. I know you don't care about my past, but let me explain. My ex abused me physically and emotionally. Do you really think I want this? Whatever this is? I don't know what happened to you to make you so cold, but this isn't a way to live. I'm done. This is between you and my father. Just divorce me and let me live my life." Unbeknownst to her, tears streamed down her face.