ge pieces of furniture, and expensive paintings-as a museum, beautiful yet distant. Now, it appeared to be shackling her like a jail. She could hear every singl

ed to ask, her voice scarce

e to her, as though they

st Side grace in her tailored Chanel suit, nervous

toria looked between her parents and said something. H

king of anxiety was obvious. He looked from her to the artwork that hung on the other wall. "It's not a joke, Victoria," was his almos

. In this age, a contract marriage? And to Louis Sebastian, of all people? The arrogant

ts expressed all the determination and commitment she had culti

m make in boardrooms, but it was never directed at her. "You don't have a choice," he said in a voice that

bodily level. "So you're selling me to pay your debt?" S

's touch. She raised her voice and asked, "Understand what?

yelled, losing his own cool. "The b

arry!" Victoria fired back,

r clock in the corner, breaking the silence in the room. Her

e voice she had been training to scare her opponents with during the tr

ns will repayment of the debts we owe. Everything will be gone, inclu

wondered if her hard-earned law degree and her dreams of making a difference

, her voice sudd

h," Margaret said calmly, as if showing

as her head sprang up. "A month? In a month,

me to marry a complete stranger?" Victoria said, her expression becomes defensive.

flashed through her mind - Louis Sebastian at a gala, barely acknowledging her existence as she tried

parents' guilty expressions t

ully coiffed hair, "Unbelievable." "So I'm th

the living room with her parents, Vic

argaret called out, a no

ack, she snapped, "To get some air before I suffocate in

have taken advantage of her? How could they have been allowed to take her future for nothing? And what role was Loui

uch a well-organised life. Her feet on the pavement seemed to be

le park and sat down on a

ould she talk to about this? Her friends wouldn't understand; finding a perfect apartme

iend even though she had moved on to focus on her career. Barry, with his

her phone and g

it unease. Of course, he wouldn't recognise her phone number. After their br

d as the weight of the situation hit her once more. How

the only sound to break the pro

oked at the phone she was holding. She couldn't

r. But she refused to allow a contract sh