Chapter 3

JANICE

Morning came with a heaviness in my chest, the kind that made breathing feel like a chore. I sat on my bed, staring at the pale morning light filtering through the curtains. Everything about this day felt wrong. My father’s cold announcement echoed in my mind like a haunting bell.

You’re to be married to Diego Rodrigues in a week.

Diego Rodrigues. A stranger. A man I knew nothing about except for his reputation as a ruthless businessman. My fingers tightened around the bedsheet. Was I some kind of pawn to be traded off for their business interests?

And then there was Jason. My chest clenched painfully at the memory of Maddison’s smug face, the ultrasound photos she flaunted. How could he betray me like that?

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. My father’s voice boomed from the other side.

“Janice, come downstairs. I need to speak with you.”

I didn’t answer. My throat felt tight, and tears stung my eyes.

“Janice! You have just five minutes!” His tone sharpened, leaving no room for delay.

I dragged myself out of bed, splashed cold water on my face, and pulled on a simple dress. When I made my way downstairs, I found my father seated in his usual chair, flanked by my stepmother and Maddison. Their faces were a picture of smug satisfaction.

“Sit,” my father said curtly.

I sank into the edge of the nearest chair, keeping my gaze on the floor.

“We’re attending a function tonight,” he began. “It’s hosted by Diego Rodrigues. You’ll be there.”

“What?” My head shot up. “Why do I have to go?”

Anne, my stepmother, clicked her tongue. “Don’t be so difficult, Janice. It’s your engagement. Of course, you have to attend.”

My chest tightened. “I’m not engaged to him yet,” I said, my voice trembling with defiance. “And I won’t marry him. You can’t force me—”

My father’s palm slammed against the table, cutting me off. “Enough!” His tone was icy, his gaze piercing. “You’ll do as you’re told. This is not up for debate.”

“But I—”

“Your existence alone is already enough embarrassment to this family,” Anne interjected, her lips curling into a sneer. “Don’t make it worse by throwing another tantrum.”

Tears burned the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Why are you doing this to me? Why can’t you just let me live my life?”

My father stood, towering over me with an expression so cold it sent a shiver down my spine. “Because your life isn’t yours anymore. It belongs to this family, and you’ll do what’s best for us.”

***********

The evening arrived far too quickly. My nerves felt raw as I stepped out of the car and into the grand venue. The glittering chandeliers and polished marble floors only heightened my sense of dread.

Anne nudged me forward. “Smile, Janice. Try to look like you belong here.”

I plastered on a thin smile, though my stomach churned. My eyes scanned the crowd, and my heart sank when I spotted Maddison and Jason. They stood near the center of the room, laughing together as though they hadn’t destroyed my world just hours ago. Jason’s hand rested possessively on Maddison’s waist, and she leaned into him with a satisfied smirk.

The knot in my chest tightened. I couldn’t stand it. Before I could stop myself, I stormed across the room toward them.

“Jason,” I said, my voice trembling with anger.

He turned to face me, his expression shifting from surprise to discomfort. “Janice, not here—”

“No,” I snapped, cutting him off. “Here is perfect. I want an explanation. How could you do this to me?”

Maddison rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, Janice. Don’t make a scene. It’s embarrassing.”

“Stay out of this!” I hissed, glaring at her before turning back to Jason. “I trusted you. I loved you. And this is how you repay me? By getting my stepsister pregnant?”

Jason glanced nervously around the room, clearly uncomfortable with the attention we were drawing. “Look, Janice, it just… happened, okay? I didn’t mean for you to find out like this.”

“You didn’t mean for me to find out?” I said, my voice shaking with fury. “That’s your excuse? I deserve better than that, Jason!”

Maddison stepped closer, her voice laced with venom. “Oh, grow up, Janice. You weren’t enough for him, and that’s not his fault. Maybe if you weren’t so… boring, he wouldn’t have needed me.”

My hands balled into fists. “You’re unbelievable,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

Jason raised a hand as if to calm me. “Janice, don’t do this here. I’m sorry, okay? But Maddison is pregnant, and I have to take responsibility. You have to understand—”

“I don’t have to understand anything!” I shot back, my vision blurring with tears.

Unable to stand another second in their presence, I turned and walked away, my heart pounding. I wasn’t watching where I was going, and I collided with someone.

“Watch where you’re going,” I muttered, stepping back to steady myself.

The man I had bumped into glanced down at his suit, now stained with red wine. His sharp features were shadowed by a cold, unreadable expression.

“Perhaps you should watch where you’re going,” he said, his voice deep and controlled.

I looked up at him, ready to snap back, but the intensity in his eyes made the words catch in my throat. He was tall, commanding, and exuded a quiet authority that sent a chill down my spine.

“I—” I started, then shook my head. “Whatever. I don’t have time for this.”

I turned and hurried to the ladies’ room, my face burning with embarrassment.

Once inside, I leaned against the sink, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. My reflection stared back at me, pale and shaken.

The door creaked open, and I glanced up, expecting another guest. Instead, it was him.

At first, I didn’t recognize him, but there was something about his presence that commanded attention. Then I realised he was the man I bumped into in the hall.

Now, in closer proximity, I could fully notice his features.

He was tall, with broad shoulders that filled the doorway, and a suit tailored so perfectly it looked like it was stitched onto him, even though it was now tainted by my red wine.

His sharp jawline and high cheekbones were framed by dark, neatly combed hair, and his piercing gray eyes locked onto me with unsettling precision. He exuded a quiet authority, the kind that made the air in the room heavier.

“You,” I blurted out, my voice unsteady. “What are you doing here in the ladies room?”

The man stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him with deliberate slowness. “I thought it was time we introduced ourselves properly,” he said, his deep voice smooth yet edged with cold steel. “I’m Diego Rodrigues. Your fiancé.”

My heart stopped. “You’re… Diego?”

“Yes.” He moved closer, his movements measured, predatory. “And you’re Janice.”

The air between us seemed to crackle as my mind raced. “You have to call this off,” I said, my voice trembling with desperation. “I can’t marry you. I don’t even know you.”

His expression didn’t waver, remaining cold and calculating. “It’s not up to you.”

“Please,” I tried again, my tone cracking. “This isn’t right. You don’t want this, and neither do I. We can fix this before it’s too late.”

Diego tilted his head slightly, studying me as if I were an insolent child. “Do you think this is a request?” he asked, his voice dripping with disdain. He stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over me. “This marriage will happen, Janice. Whether you cry, scream, or beg, it changes nothing.”

I backed up instinctively, my heart pounding in my chest. “You can’t force me to love you,” I whispered, my voice shaking with a mix of fear and defiance.

He let out a low, humorless chuckle. “Love?” he repeated, his lips curling into a faint, cruel smirk. “This isn’t about love. You’re mine, Janice. And I don’t tolerate disobedience.”

Before I could respond, his hand shot out, gripping my chin with just enough force to keep me from turning away. His thumb brushed over my jawline, and I felt my breath hitch.

“That defiance in your eyes…” he murmured, his voice low and intimate, yet as threatening as a blade. “I’ll break it.”

Then, without warning, his lips crashed down on mine. The kiss was hard, commanding, and devoid of tenderness. His grip on my chin kept me in place as I tried to push him away, my hands braced against his chest. But it was like fighting a wall of stone.

It wasn’t just a kiss—it was a statement, an assertion of power. When he finally pulled back, his gray eyes bored into mine, as cold and unyielding as ever.

“Get used to this,” he said, his voice calm yet laced with menace. “You belong to me now.”

Straightening his suit with practiced ease, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me trembling and breathless, my mind spinning with fear and anger at the man who would soon become my husband.