The Blackmail Bride

Chapter 5

Helpless

"You're all mad," it was the only thing to come out of my mouth, forgetting all the decorum classes I had to take. Shaking fingers pushed my hair out of my face. Jace Black raised an eyebrow at me challengingly.

It was like a fire started in my chest and it was burning every feeling at that moment, "I'm not getting married... I'm not getting married to him!"

At my outburst, Mom jumped up. She grabbed my elbow, shaking me once. "You don't get a say! Not after what you did last night!" She hissed.

If I heard another word about the incident last night, I just knew I would completely lose it.

"I keep telling you I didn't know anything about what Anyna was planning! She did that on her own!" I shouted back brokenly. "I swear I didn't!"

The grip she had on me only tightened, "And you expect us to believe you?! You gave her you staff pass!"

I shook my head wildly, "I didn't!"

"Stop this! We have visitors!" Grandma scolded us like dogs, "Sit down! The both of you!"

With a push, my mom released me and went back to her chair. I did too, but my emotions were all on the surface and I was breathing hard.

"Isla, child, do you know the extent of damage last night caused?" I didn't know and I didn't answer so she continued, "the Ruiz and Ramirez families are threatening to sue. And since you're still a minor, they're suing the hotel and your mother who put you in the committee."

"W-What?" Horrified eyes widened as I glanced at my fuming mother. I turned back to my grandma who seemed satisfied with my reaction.

"All evidences are pointing to your guilt," but then she waved a hand at the pictures in front of us, "but we have strong evidence that you were not with Anyna last night. Don't you agree?"

I kept silent, pleading with my eyes to her.

"Even if we decide to let the issue die down on its own, if they sue we have no choice but publicize those photos. That's why our family has been gracious enough to inform the Blacks of this matter... But if we take the first step, and announce your engagement to the Nero Hotels heir, they'd think twice to clash horns with two prominent families. And these pictures no longer have to be publicized."

So they were blackmailing another to family to save our image. It was wrong! But I had no other solution to offer at this time. So anything I saw would only be met with deaf ears.

"That's why I'm already agreeing to the marriage. Why are we prolonging this conversation?" Mikhael sneered at me, "I was stupid enough to get involved with the Porter family and I'm paying for that. Aren't we done here yet?"

"That's a good decision, boy." My grandmother sounded pleased.

"Jace..." Rosalie looked at her child in discomfort as if she wanted him to retract his words.

"Well, if that's that then I see we have a contract to negotiate, should we start discussing the concessions from both families?" Michael Black said.

"Michael!" Rosalie turned to her husband.

My grandma jubilantly got up, followed by my parents.

"Should we head to the study then? I believe both our family lawyers are waiting in there at this moment."

And like that, Jace's parents stood up from their seats to follow my Grandma. The mention of the lawyers proved to me one thing: this was already a done deal. I think the Black's already knew of that from the start.