Chapter 1

• SANDRA'S POV
• “Someone from this family will be getting married soon”. All eyes raised to focus on my grandfather who has just made the announcement.
• We were all seated on the breakfast table, silently eating our meals when grandfather suddenly broke the silence by his news.
• I wondered who will be getting married soon and I could see similar questions in everybody’s eyes.
• “A contract was signed long ago with the Anthony's family that one of my granddaughters will get married to Levy Anthony”.
• There was a collective gasp and everyone stared at grandfather.
• “Isn't Levy Anthony the useless son of the Anthony's family that doesn't even have a penny to his name?” My cousin, Stellah asked out loud.
• “Who among us will marry such a useless and poor man?” Stacey asked and no sooner had she asked the question that I felt all eyes turned towards me.
• I have a feeling where this conversation was heading to and my calm gaze met my grandfather’s.
• “Don't even think about it because my answer is no”. My eyes narrowed on him.
• “As if you have a choice”. My grandfather snorted.
• “Of course I do and I am not going to get married to anyone”. I replied hotly.
• “Of course you are going to get married to him, who else will get married to him if not you?” My grandmother, Lucy Smith sneered and my calm gaze fixed on hers without blinking.
• “I do not want to get married, I still have my dreams to pursue” I bit out and glared at them coldly.
• “What dreams?” Stellah snickered.
• “Perhaps, the dream of warming the beds of Every man in the city”, my other cousin, Stacey chipped in and they all laughed.
• I clenched my fist in anger and my chilly gaze met theirs.
• “I am not…”
• “Father, mother, please…why does she have to get married now? She is just twenty”.
• My father tried to intervene but I knew it was useless as no one ever listens to him in the family. My father is hated in the family because he married my mother, someone that his family does not like because no one knew her family lineage.
• “Enough!” My grandfather shouted, banging his hand on the table, his cold gaze pierced me.
• “You are getting married to Levy Anthony and that decision is final”.
• I returned his gaze coldly, my hands tightly clenched in a fist under the table.
• “I am not going to get married, especially not to Levy Anthony”.
• A slap met my cheek and my head reeled backwards from the force of it, “You are in no position to bargain, you do not have a choice here. You are getting married to Levy whether you like it or not”. My grandmother, Lucy Smith angrily pointed a finger at me.
• I could see the glee on both Stellah and Stacey's face.
• My insides clenched and I gritted my teeth. I am already used to their constant abuse and it does not affect me.
• I did not need to ask why I have to be the one to get married to Levy Anthony.
• Everyone knew that the Anthony’s family is as poor and impoverished as a church rat. Especially after Levy Anthony took over. He was known as a good-for-nothing man with no assets to his name. The idea of such a marriage alliance, particularly with Levy, was unimaginable to them and since a contract has been signed, a marriage between our families has to take place and of course my grandfather would not want his favorite granddaughters to marry such a man, so, I have to be the sacrificial lamb.
• “Father, please, does she have to get married?” My father tried again, his voice pleading and I stared at him with pity, I wish he does not have to beg everytime because all he will ever get from this ruthless family of his are insults and curses being rained down on him.
• “Who do you think will get married to him if not her? It cannot be Stellah because she is already engaged to Mark Jackson who is from one of the wealthy families in City A Neither can it be Stacey because She is currently in her second year of university, working as an actress, and she is currently in a relationship with the boss of Eza Entertainment Company”. My grandmother said her eyes were filled with hatred as she stared at my father. I could see their eagerness to get rid of me and I almost sneered.
• “Moreover, this arrangement has been made a long time ago, when she was just a baby and there is no going back”. My grandfather said with a finality in his voice.
• My father stared at me with a sad look on his face and I shook my head at him and even offered him a small smile. It was my way of telling him not to worry about me because I can handle myself.
• I sat there, staring at my family who do not treat me as one and for the first time, an intensed wave of hatred ran through me.
• My father was the least favorite and he had little say in the family and my mother had absolutely no say in the family and lives more like a maid.
• I had vowed to finish school and liberate them from this hateful family.
• “You and Levy should get married, you fit each other”, Stacey smirked.
• “Both poverty stricken beings” Stellah added with a laugh.
• I stared at each and everyone of them before my gaze focused on my grandfather
• “I still have my future in front of me and I do not plan on getting married now” I replied with a finality in my voice.
• “If you do not get married, your father will be sent out to the street like the dogs”. My grandmother warned.
• “Is that a threat?” I asked, my voice brisk and devoid of emotions.
• “It is not a threat but a promise”. She replied me.
• “He is your son, if you do that, I will make sure that I tell the world the kind of mother that you are. A mother that hates her son enough to throw him out of the street”. I leered and her gaze was suddenly filled with anger.
• “How dare you?” She asked, her lips compressed in an angry line.
• I sat unflinching in the face of her anger.
• My smile was chilly and my voice crisp, “What? It is no secret that you all hated my mother and hated me even more. We were never allowed to sit on the dining table with the rest of the family, we were never allowed to attend any function with the rest of the family and I had been shocked when I was invited to breakfast table with the high and mighty Smiths and was even a little bit hopeful but now I know better, the reason I was invited was to be sold off but this time around, it will not just be within the family but I will make sure that the world know how despicable you all are”.
• “How bold of you Sandra, to talk back to your elders in such a manner”, My grandfather thundered.
• “The truth hurts huh?” My laughter was toneless and loud.
• When I first came to live with them two years ago, I would have kept calm in the face of his anger because I had wanted him to accept me in the family but I was done caring.I had done everything for the family to like and accept me since my return two years ago but it seems that it was not going to happen.
• “You have gone mad”, Stellah said with indignation.
• “Oh yes I have gone mad”, I conceded, “I have gone crazy because I am living with hypocrites who call themselves my family”.
• My grandfather banged his hand on the table and yelled, “Sandra!”
• Before he could control himself, he whipped me across the face with the back of his hand and my hand flew to my cheek. I could taste blood on my lips as I used my tongue to taste the blood on my lip. I slowly wiped it off with my index finger as I glared at my grandfather who looked not the least bit remorseful or guilty.
• “Sandra…” My father said and reached out to me.
• “You cannot force me to marry him and when I say that I won't get married, I mean it”. I clenched out as icily as I could. Ignoring my father's attempt to comfort me, I started to walk out of the dining room.
• As I was leaving, their voices still reached me.
• “Look at her, so impudent and disappointing”, My grandmother gritted out.
• “How dare she defy you like that grandfather, she is such an ingrate”, Stellah chipped in.
• “She is so spoiled, how disrespectful”, Stacey backed up her cousin.
• “If Andrew hadn't spoiled her, she would not be this stubborn”, My grandfather said, his voice filled with anger. I paused at the entrance of my room and turned to study them, and idea slowly forming in my head.
• Grandfather was pointing a finger at my dad, “You have to make sure that she agrees to this marriage”.
• “But father, she does not want to get married, why force her?” My father muttered. I knew he was feeling bad for me.
• “Are you rebelling also?” I heard grandfather ask and saw my father took a deep breath and quickly responded, "No, Dad! But please don't ruin my daughter's life like this. She has so much ahead of her, and besides, she is my only child. You can't let her life end like this. She is still young, only twenty, and she has just returned." Andrew begged but his plea was met by a cold look from his father.
• I hate seeing him beg this way when the result is always negative because his family has never regarded him as someone important.
• I silently left and entered my room, still thinking about the plan forming in my head as I got dressed.
• I had been raised by a close friend of the late former head of the Smith family for more than eighteen years. I had only returned two years ago, following the friend's death under mysterious circumstances. Since my return, the Smiths had never shown me any respect or regard. However, I endured their mistreatment because I had nowhere to go and also I did not want to cause trouble for my beloved parents who adored me despite not raising me themselves.
• They were still at the table when I came out from my room, I could hear my father's voice clearly, still trying to convince his parents not to marry me off.
• “Mom, please, talk to Dad, I do not want my daughter to…”
• "What does your useless daughter do for the family? Lucy Smith abruptly cuts him off. She's not studying, she's stupid and ugly, or do you want Levy to marry your nieces who are in a relationship? Aside from that, this is an agreement left by your grandfather before he died, and it must be fulfilled!”
• "That was your grandfather's final desire, so stop being self-centered and envious of your eldest brothers, nephew, and niece," His mother hissed at him and I narrowed my eyes at her. She can be so hateful.
• "If you don't let your daughter marry into the Anthony family, you can pack your belongings with your worthless wife and daughter and leave this place," Edward Smith said and made to leave the table.
• At that moment, I re-entered. I wore a long black dress and had my hair tied back in a ponytail. I knew I was beautiful and I like to show it off because I know how envious my cousins can get over my ethereal beauty that seemed otherworldly. I made my way to my parents and grandparents. I cast cold, piercing eyes at the Smith family, as if capable of murder,”
• "I will get married to Levy Anthony, but I have a condition," I announced and stood there staring at everyone.
• Everyone turned and stared at me.
• “Now she dares to give us conditions”, Lucy snarled.
• “How dare she?” my uncles, nephews, and cousins sneered.
• “She wants to ask for money”. Stella said, looking as if she had just unraveled a huge secret.
• There was a collective gasp around the table before Lucy spoke up.
• “And who told you that you have a share in our fortune?”
• I met my grandmother’s gaze coldly, “I am the granddaughter of this family, whether you like it or not and I know each member of this family is entitled to a share in the family Treasury”.
• Although that was not what I wanted to ask them, their reaction made me so angry and I felt tempted to demand exactly that from them.
• “How dare you!” My Uncle George said.
• “You are so greedy”, Uncle Richard seconded pointing accusing fingers at me.
• “She is just trying to take advantage of the situation to claim the family fortune” Stellah accused.
• “Such a gold digger”, Stacey said and spat in my face.
• “You are a good-for-nothing and I must applaud your pretentious act, but you will receive nothing from us”. Edward Smith, my grandfather spoke with all the contempt he felt.
• “She is just like her father, so stupid and greedy like her bastard mother. You should be grateful that we allowed you all to freeload from this family for so long and this is how you repay us? You are such an ingrate. You and your damn parents”. Lucy Smith grounded out.
• “Enough with all the insults because if you all don’t stop insulting her, I am going to leave this house with my wife and daughter”. My father threatened, trying once again to defend me but once again, no one regarded him.
• Edward Smith laughed heartily, “ Should I remind you that you signed an agreement to work exclusively for the Smith family?” He snarled.
• I could see my father battling with the dilemma of supporting his family without any external employment.
• My stomach clenched with anger and I glared at my grandfather. "Enough!" I yelled .
• "Not another word against my parents. The deal clearly states that this marriage must happen, or the Smith family's properties will be given to charities. If I don't agree to marry, it means either your favorite granddaughters must marry or you will have to bid farewell to your luxurious life." I clenched out.
• My words caused a sudden silence as everyone in the room stared at each other, they clearly remembered the agreement. It explicitly stated that either one of the granddaughters had to marry, or the family would lose their comfortable lifestyle.