Chapter 1

• The silence that eroded the dining room even as the maid served the food on the table was alarming. Each one of them seated watched the maid’s action even in that silence. Although their minds were filled with different thoughts.
• It took about half an hour before they dived into their meal for the night just after the maid had left.
• Alexia let her eyes fly around while she took a spoonful each of her food. Just as her stares traveled from her father to her mother, so did the thoughts of what she had been told before hand. And the possibilities of it coming to pass.
• Alexia couldn't help but keep praying inwardly that whatever played in her head did not turn out to be real.
• Just a few days ago, her father had brought up an issue Alexia had rebuked.
• “Alexia,” she suddenly heard in the middle of her thoughts and raised to see who it was amongst her parents. His usual stoic expression caused her heart to beat faster this time.
• She didn't provide a response to his call, rather, she just stared at him. He wiped off the invisible crumbs of food around his lips before letting the cat out of the bag.
• “Your wedding with Dane Belmont has been fixed.” His words caused Alexa to choke on her food. She helped herself with a glass of water immediately.
• “Father, what - what wedding are you talking about? What do you mean by marriage!We never concluded on that.” She finally found the courage to say.
• “Don't act like you were never informed from the onset.” Mr Tamas said to her.
• Alexia let out a scoff as she adjusted herself properly on her chair.
• I'm not acting like I was not informed. But you sound like it was a decision that was made whereas it wasn’t.”
• “It actually is. And I hope that you understand why we did that.” Mr Tamas went on, his stares fixated on her while his voice drove out an authoritative tone.
• “Father,” Alexia tried to talk, but the words were too heavy to spill. “Mother,” she looked from her father back to her mother.
• “You need to understand why we're doing this. It is one of the sacrifice we have to make for the family.” Her mother said. However, her eyes were never on Alexia, but at a direction she couldn't even tell.
• “You want me to understand? What on earth do I have to understand? And when did I become a sacrificial lamb?” Alexia shot out, a sting of pain and anger dancing around her voice.
• “Alexia,” her mother tried to speak.
• “No mother, stop.” She was quick to say.
• “This marriage has to hold in order to save the company from going bankrupt.” Her father said immediately. “Do you even know what that means?*
• Alexia quickly turned towards her father, anger flashing through her eyes.
• “I am your daughter father. Not your company's scapegoat. And I believe you should treat me as such.” Alexia was courageous again to speak.
• “Watch your tongue, young woman.” Mr Tamas warned sternly, anger flashing through his eyes.
• “Tamas,” Alexia's mother called the attention of her husband, but he only glared back at her.
• “Have you no sense of belonging?” He questioned his daughter. “Or, tell me. Are you ready to start feeding like a pauper? Like a beggar on the streets?” He went on. “Do you know how much of our reputation will be ruined once we go bankrupt? Have the you thought of that? What life then do you have to plan when you've not got a good reputation?l
• “There are other solutions we can find for this. We don't necessarily have to turn it into a sacrifice. I've got my life ro live.” Alexia said adamantly.
• “Your life begins from this company. Everything you've got, you got them all from this company, which is why you have to do everything to revive it.” Mr Tamas was just as adamant as his daughter.
• The both of them stared at each other for quite some time in a reign of silence. Alexia couldn't help but question her existence. This was the time in her life where she believed and dreamt of taking charge of her future. Yet, her father had his own plans for her.
• “You will do it even if it is against whatever law you have over yourself.” Mr. Tamas voice came on again.
• “Why can't you listen to your daughter for once in your existence father? I'm not too young to take care of myself.” Alexia shot at him, trying so much to hold back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.
• “How many times do I have to spell it out to you that you're only doing this to save your company? Our company, our home! Can't you make a sacrifice for your family?” Mr Tamas yelled out as he stood up to his feet.
• “Well, I'm sorry dad. But this kind of sacrifice requires a whole lot of my existence. And I've got my life to live, my future to plan.” Alexia just couldn't give in to her father. “Don't you know I have dreams of my own? There's no way I can get married, or live with a man I've got no business with.”
• “You have no excuse Alexia. The wedding has been fixed for tomorrow, and the arrangements have been made. Prepare yourself.” And with that, he walked out, leaving Alexia dumbfounded.
• “What!” Alexia stood up quickly. “That can't be. I haven't decided yet.” She went on saying, but her father was already out of the living room to pay much attention to her.
• She furiously turned to her mother.
• “You have no other choice here, Alexia. And we can't go back on our words. It has been arranged.” Her mother said, and left just like her father did.
• It was beyond Alexia's power when the tears began to trickle down her cheeks. Then, she realized she was about to start the journey of an unknown destination.