"You're getting married."
Valerie Dawson stared at her father.
For a moment, she thought she had heard him wrong.
"What?"
Her father didn't repeat himself.
He simply sat behind his large wooden desk, his face serious as he looked at her.
Her mother sat beside him, her hands folded tightly in her lap.
Valerie looked from one parent to the other.
"What did you just say?"
"You're getting married," her mother repeated.
Valerie gave a nervous laugh.
"Mom, that's not funny."
"Nobody is joking."
The smile disappeared from Valerie's face.
She slowly stepped farther into the study.
"Who am I getting married to?"
Her father leaned back in his chair.
"His name is Richard."
"Richard who?"
"Richard Blackwell."
The name meant nothing to her.
Valerie frowned.
"Who is that?"
Her father exchanged a quick look with her mother.
"He's a businessman."
"How old is he?"
Her mother looked away.
Valerie's stomach tightened.
"How old is he?"
"He's older," her father said.
"How much older?"
Neither of them answered.
Valerie stared at them.
"How much older?"
"He's sixty-eight."
Her mouth fell open.
"What?"
"Valerie..."
"No."
She took a step backward.
"No. Absolutely not."
Her father sighed.
"Listen to us before you make a decision."
"I don't need to listen to anything!"
Her voice shook.
"I'm eighteen!"
"And that's old enough to get married."
"To a sixty-eight-year-old man?"
"Richard is a respectable man."
"I don't care!"
Valerie's eyes began to burn.
"Who even is he? Why would I marry someone I've never met?"
Her mother finally looked at her.
"Because he can help this family."
Valerie stared at her.
"What does that mean?"
Her father rubbed his forehead.
"The businesses are having problems."
"I know."
"No, you don't."
His voice became sharper.
"You know we're having difficulties. You don't know how serious they are."
Valerie stood silently.
Her father continued.
"We're carrying debts. Suppliers are demanding payments. The bank has been putting pressure on us. If things continue this way, we could lose some of our businesses."
Valerie's heart sank.
"Then sell something."
"It's not that simple."
"Get another investor."
"We've tried."
"Then figure something out!"
"We have."
Her father looked directly at her.
"Richard."
Valerie's face went blank.
"What does Richard have to do with your business?"
"He has enough money to solve the problem."
She understood before he said the next words.
"No."
Her father didn't speak.
Valerie shook her head.
"No, Dad."
"He has agreed to invest."
"No."
"He will clear the most urgent debts."
"No."
"He will help us stabilize the companies."
"Stop saying that!"
Valerie's voice cracked.
She looked at her mother.
"Why are you both always treating me this way?"
Her mother lowered her eyes.
Valerie's breathing became heavier.
"Why?"
Her father finally answered.
"Because Richard wants something in return."
Valerie already knew.
Still, she asked.
"What?"
Her father hesitated.
"Marriage."
The room became completely silent.
Valerie stared at him.
Then she laughed.
It wasn't because anything was funny.
She simply didn't know what else to do.
"You want me to marry him?"
"Yes."
"You're serious."
"Yes."
"You're actually serious."
"Valerie..."
"No!"
She turned toward the door.
Her father stood.
"Valerie."
She spun around.
"You want to sell me!"
"Don't use that word."
"What other word should I use?"
Her tears finally spilled over.
"You need money, and this old man has money, so you're giving him me!"
"Watch your language."
"You watch yours!"
She had never shouted at her father before.
Her voice echoed through the study.
"You are my parents! You're supposed to protect me!"
Her mother couldn't look at her.
"Valerie, we're doing this for the family."
"For the family?"
Valerie pointed at herself.
"Am I not part of the family?"
"Of course you are."
"Then why am I the one being sacrificed?"
Nobody answered.
Valerie's chest hurt.
She looked at her mother.
"Why can't Victoria marry him?"
Her mother's eyes widened.
"Don't say that."
"Why?"
"Victoria is not part of this."
"Why isn't she?"
Valerie laughed bitterly.
"Because she's beautiful?"
Her mother said nothing.
Valerie wiped her tears.
"What about Isabella?"
"She's too young."
"Exactly."
Valerie looked at both of them.
"So I'm the perfect choice because I'm eighteen and nobody cares what happens to me."
"That's not true," her father said.
"Then tell me I'm wrong."
Silence.
Valerie waited.
Nothing.
She shook her head.
"I hate this."
Her mother stood and walked toward her.
"Please, Valerie."
"Don't touch me."
Her mother stopped.
"We don't want you to be unhappy."
"Then don't make me marry him."
"We don't have another choice."
"There is always a choice."
"Not when our entire family is at risk."
Valerie stared at her.
"So my life is the price of your business?"
Her father looked away.
That hurt more than anything.
Before Valerie could say another word, the study door opened.
Victoria walked in.
She was holding her phone, dressed in a beautiful cream-colored outfit that looked like it belonged in a fashion magazine.
She looked at their faces.
"What happened?"
Nobody answered.
Victoria looked at Valerie.
"Why are you crying?"
Valerie turned away.
"Nothing."
Victoria glanced at their parents.
Then her expression changed.
"Did you tell her?"
Valerie slowly looked back.
"Tell me what?"
Victoria pressed her lips together.
Her father sighed.
"Your sister knows about the arrangement."
Valerie's eyes widened.
"You knew?"
Victoria shrugged.
"Mom told me."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"What was I supposed to say?"
"You could have warned me!"
Victoria looked uncomfortable for a moment.
Then she gave a small smile.
"Honestly, Valerie, I don't see why you're making such a big deal about it."
Valerie stared at her.
"I'm being forced to marry an old man."
"He's rich."
"I don't care!"
"You should."
Victoria crossed her arms.
"Do you know how many girls would do anything to marry a wealthy man?"
Valerie couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Then you marry him."
Victoria's smile disappeared.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"So you wouldn't marry him?"
"Of course not."
"Why?"
Victoria looked at her as though the answer was obvious.
"Because I have other options."
The words landed like a slap.
Valerie looked at her sister.
Victoria didn't even seem ashamed.
She continued.
"You know what, Valerie? Maybe this isn't completely bad for you."
"What does that mean?"
"You've always wanted people to notice you."
Valerie's face tightened.
"I never said that."
"Well, now they will."
Victoria smiled.
"You're going to be married to a billionaire."
Valerie stared at her.
"I don't want his money."
Victoria laughed.
"That's easy to say when you've never had it."
Valerie's hands curled into fists.
Her father interrupted.
"Enough."
But nobody was listening anymore.
Valerie turned toward the door.
"I'm not doing it."
Her father stepped in front of her.
"You don't understand."
"I understand perfectly."
"You have no idea what will happen if we lose everything."
"I don't care."
"You should."
"I care about my life!"
Her father stared at her.
Then his expression hardened.
"The decision has been made."
Valerie froze.
"What?"
"You are going to marry Richard."
"No."
"Valerie."
"No!"
She tried to walk around him.
He caught her arm.
"Listen to me."
She pulled away.
"I said no!"
Her father released her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then he said quietly,
"You don't have a choice."
Valerie stared at him.
Her heart was breaking.
She looked at her mother, hopin begging silently for her to say something.
Her mother didn't flinch.
Valerie felt completely alone.
She left the study and hurried upstairs.
She entered her bedroom and slammed the door behind her.
Her knees became weak.
She sat on the edge of her bed and covered her face.
She was eighteen.
She had barely begun living.
She had dreams.
She wanted to go to college.
She wanted to travel.
She wanted to fall in love someday.
She wanted someone to look at her and choose her because they wanted her not because she was useful.
Now her parents were asking her to give everything away.
For money.
For a business.
For a family that had never made her feel like she belonged.
A soft knock came at her door.
Valerie didn't answer.
The door opened.
Her mother stepped inside.
Valerie refused to look at her.
"Please leave."
"Valerie."
"Please."
Her mother sat beside her.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she reached for Valerie's hand.
Valerie pulled it away.
"I know you're angry."
"I'm not angry."
Her mother looked at her.
"I'm terrified."
Valerie finally looked up.
"We're doing this because we have no choice."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
Valerie shook her head.
"No. It's because you chose your businesses over me."
Her mother couldn't answer.
Valerie turned toward the window.
"I won't marry him."
Her mother took a deep breath.
Then she said something that made Valerie turn around.
"You don't need to worry about the engagement."
Valerie frowned.
"What engagement?"
Her mother froze.
Valerie's heart began pounding.
"What engagement?"
Her mother looked down at her hands.
"Mom?"
Silence.
"Tell me."
Her mother whispered,
"The engagement has already been announced."
Valerie stared at her.
"What?"
"Your father and Richard agreed to everything yesterday."
Valerie couldn't breathe.
"What are you saying?"
Her mother slowly lifted her eyes.
"You are already engaged to Richard."
Valerie's entire world went silent.
Her mother continued softly.
"The only thing left..."
She swallowed.
"is your wedding."
