Rose, dressed in a washed-out floral dress, sat in an utterly luxurious villa across from her, her mother, whom she had not seen in twenty years, adorned in opulence, grasped her hand, pleadingly, "Rose, you've lived in the countryside for the better part of your life. You can enjoy wealth and luxury if you marry into the Salvatore family."
A stab of pain seared through Rose's heart, her hope to feel whatever motherly love she desperately wanted evaporating. Expressionlessly, she stared at Mary-Louise and said, "I'm your biological daughter, yet you want me to pretend Echo's fiancé to be her, all for what? Money? A man who is in a comatose state after a car accident and is basically half-dead?"
The Hamilton family craved to enjoy the Salvatore's fortune. hence, their quick acceptance to their offer. However, they didn't want Echo to suffer after getting married.
She was the sacrificial lamb. Mary-Louise had brought her back from the countryside for her selfish reasons.
Mary-Louise, shedding crocodile tears, dramatically fell onto her knees before her, "I had no other choice. It may appear as though I live a comfortable and luxurious life, but I'm faced with a lot of difficulties. I'm your mother, you have to help me, please, marry him in place of your stepsister."
Rose took a deep breath, her eyes filled with rage. Mary-Louise abandoned her as a baby, and remarried into the Hamilton family. She loved her stepdaughter Echo as if she were her most precious jewel, and for twenty years, she had neglected her own daughter in the countryside.
Rose thought Mary-Louise had brought her back because she missed her dearly and felt guilty for abandoning her. Alas, it was just a ploy to exploit her.
"Alright, I will marry him. But make no mistakes, consider this my payment to you for giving birth to me."
Mary-Louise stopped crying immediately. She quickly wiped her tears and rose to her fee, holding Rose, "The Salvatore family has picked out your wedding dress. Get changed, quickly."
She was consumed with the need to exact her plan flawlessly, shuffling about energetically. Rose pulled her hand away, her beautiful face blanketed with a cold look, "Remember, after this, we're through."
Mary-Louise was momentarily taken aback, but quickly composed herself and motioned for her maids to assist Rose in changing into her wedding dress.
Stationed in place like a puppet, Rose was ushered into the dress, her naturally attractive features stood out more as a result.
The corner of her eye caught a graceful figure at the top of the stairs, her step-sister, Echo, stood there with a satisfied smirk on her lips as she silently mouthed the words, "Poor Orphan."
Rose's hands hung limply at her side, tightly grasping the medical box she had brought back from the countryside. A maid spoke up, "Ma'am, the Salvatore's family car has arrived."
Mary-Louise quickly urged, "Rose, do not keep the Salvatore family waiting. Leave this---piece of crap here so you do not make a fool of yourself at the Salvatore residence," she then attempted to take the box from Rose, giving her a forceful shove out the door. However, Rose evaded her causing Mary-Louise to lose her balance, nearly toppling over.
"This is mine, you have no right to touch it or do with it as you please," Rose coldly retorted, her eyes filled with contempt. That box was her life, aiding her to provide medical assistance to the sick and injured.
Behind her, Echo helped Mary-Louise up, sneering, "Mother, it seems Rose is...reluctant. Is it cruel to have her go in my stead for the wedding?"
To this, Mary-Louise haughtily replied, " She has no idea how fortunate she is. Even though the Salvatore family's second son is---half dead, he isn't someone she can strive to match up to. She wouldn't be this fortunate living in the countryside." Rose had completely given up hope. Bang!
She closed the car door, cutting off the voices and noise. The car ride all the way to the Salvatore's residence was silent. The Salvatore family was among the crème de la crème in New York City, the Hamilton family had been fortunate enough to secure a wedding alliance with them. The Salvatore family was comprised of two households.
Salvatore Ethan, the younger son of the second Salvatore household, was exceptionally capable and fit to lead the Salvatore family. However, he had met with a ghastly car accident a month ago and had been comatose ever since, reducing him to a state of immobility. He was all but condemned to death by the hospital. The most-sought-after bachelor in New York City turned into an entity that the socialites would strive to steer clear of. It was said that he had also lost his capacity to father a child. How absolutely pitiful. Faced in a dire situation, the second household of Salvatore family chose to resort to an arranged marriage.
Rose couldn’t look around as her wedding veil blocked her view. With Sofia, an elderly maid at the Salvatore household supporting her, she walked into the villa. Her wedding crown weighed heavily on her head. She was escorted into a large bedroom and made to sit at the edge of a bed. Sofia tied her right hand with a red rope, the other end of which was tied to the left hand of the man lying on the bed.
"You must not untie it. It's a rule," Sofia admonished. "If this goes sideways, the consequences will be severe."
Rose merely nodded in acknowledgment, her neck felt so heavy that she couldn't sit up straight. Seeing her compliance, Sofia spoke softly, "Apologies for the inconvenience, but you need to stay with Sir Ethan tonight. You can call me if you need anything." And with that, she left the room, shutting the door behind her.
The room was terrifyingly quiet, the only sounds being heard were the steady beeping sounds of the machinery and the faint breathing of the strange man.
Rose gently placed the medicine box near her feet, the faint scent of the medicine bringing her a sense of comfort. As long as the medicine box was there, she felt more at ease.
Her whole body was stiff and aching as she unconsciously squeezed her neck with her cramped fingers, momentarily forgetting about the red string attached to her hand when she was roughly pulled.
The string of jewels on her wedding crown clinked as she fell onto the bed, the wedding veil flying off her head. She fell onto a warm body, her red lips lightly grazing the man's cheek. His face was cold and pale, eyes tightly shut. His eyelashes were so long they cast a small shadow on his face. The dazzling appeal of his handsome features appealed to her, the lip stain she accidentally left on his cheek being the only misfit.
Her cheeks heated up in embarrassment as she hastily tried to erase the lip stain on his face, but her hair got tangled up with the buttons on the man's pyjamas, proving hard to be untangled.
"Ah!"
Rose let out a cry of pain, her scalp felt like it was on fire, the corners of her eyes blurred with tears. The more she struggled, the tighter the knot became. Her lips pressed against the his cold thin lips, kissing him.
If the Salvatore family walked in on this, they would definitely think she was promiscuous, trying to make a move on a comatose patient.
"Fucking hell," Rose swore under her breath, staring at the man who had his eyes tightly shut.
She spread her legs, wincing in pain as she straddled him, her hands pulling at the collar of his pyjamas, a tearing sound could be heard.
The cotton nightwear was ripped open, leaving a large hole through which the buttons tumbled off. 'Finally', she thought to herself, having managed to untangle it.
Rose lowered her gaze. The man laying on the bed slowly opened his eyes. His piercing stare observing her, his sensual broad chest exposed as a result of his ripped clothes, he was gorgeous.
Stunned by what she saw, Rose pulled her legs towards her, still straddling him.
"Mmm…"
The man let out a muffled groan.
