Chapter 3

/-Riley-/

“I want that dirty little whore out of my house this minute” Dad yells and the bottle drops from my hand.

“Please, honey, calm down….”

“Don't you dare give me that crap? What'd I tell you 'bout giving her everything she asks for, huh? You said she's just a child, Francis. Let her have whatever she wants......”

“I didn't know it'd come to this, okay? Stop yelling” Mom interrupts.

“She's leaving my house, Sarah. I won't harbor a goddamn hoe” he snaps, and I hear his heavy footsteps on the stairs.

Tears roll down my cheeks as I stay rooted to the spot, shivering.

The door kicks open, and I tremble at his fuming figure.

“I believe that you heard me, Riley. Get your bags right now” he orders.

“Please, Dad, listen to me. I was raped. I had nothing to do with that man. He forced himself on me” I sob.

“Oh, I believe you. He broke in and raped you, didn't he?”. His sarcasm is evident, and he was damn right.

Dean didn't break in. I went to him.

“Daddy please.....”

“What were you doing in a club that dangerous?” He asks. I swallow and glance at Diane, who doesn't seem to care.

“Diane took me there. I didn't go on my own. She lured me along with her friends and…"

“Christ! How many more lies do you intend to tell? Diane was studying with her friends, and I made sure to confirm it. Go on…what more do you have to say? Maybe Sarah took you there, or perhaps I did” he scoffs.

Mom glares at me and warns me to stay shut as she stands before Dad.

“Please let her stay. She's our daughter. My daughter no matter what. I can't leave, knowing she's out there by herself. Please let her stay” she pleads and he stomps off.

“Get your sorry self out of my way” she scowls when I try to talk to her. She walks out of the room in anger.

Diane laughs and leaves as well.

I lie on the floor crying and feeling so sorry for myself.

*

*

The past three weeks have been hell, with my parents reminding me constantly of how much of a whore I am.

I couldn't eat or sleep. I just stayed in my room, feeling miserable.

I sigh and step into the shower. It's shocking how one incident could turn my life around.

Tears stream down my cheeks along with the cold water. Soon, I step out and get dressed.

I contemplate going down or staying back in my room with no one to taunt me or make me feel like a disappointment.

I finally decided to down. Running will do me no good.

I open the door and drag my feet downstairs. I meet everyone having dinner.

“Great! Your daughter's here. Who knows where she'll be sneaking to tonight?” Dad says.

“She's your daughter as well. My mom was a religious extremist. I believe you can tell who she got the trait from now” Mom states.

“I didn't sleep around with women way older than me,” he says.

I sit picking my food. Why did I come down again?

“Who knows where's she sneaking off to tonight? She's all dressed to fit his taste” Dad says.

It's hard to pretend not to hear them when the words are piercing right through my heart.

I need to get some air before I lose my mind. I stand and head to the door.

“Now she's rushing to meet some old man with a fleet of cars," Dad says loud enough for me to hear.

“I just need some air. I'll be right back” I tell him.

“Just get this into your head. I can house a whore but not a pregnant one” he says, and I rush to get out only to come face to face with the demon that put me in this emotional torture.

The bastard that stole my innocence.

A smirk crawls on his lips as he takes in my appearance.

“What are you doing here?” I snap with undisguised spite.

He doesn't reply, instead, he continues checking me out. I don't just hate him, but the fact that he looks so intimidating.

“For a high schooler, you're pretty hot,” he says, and I boil in anger.

He's not even I apologize for ruining my life.

“Why are you here, Dean?” I asked again.

“I figured you live here” he shrugged.

“Have you been stalking me?”.

“Maybe. Anyway, I'm here to take what's rightfully mine” he says, letting himself in.

Mom and Dad rise in shock, while Diane sits, mouth-opened.

“We have nothing of yours,” I say, and he turns to me.

“Of course you do,” he says, stepping closer, and I step back in fear. He smirks.

“I'm here to marry you”.

My eyes meet with his immediately. Is this some joke or something?

“You're kidding, right?” I blurt, but he doesn't look like it.

“Sadly, I'm not. I came to make you mine” he shrugs, taking a sit.

“You're absolutely welcome. Honey, get him a drink. What would you like, Sir?” Dad asks, and I pinch myself to make sure it's real.

I've never heard Dad sound so humble. Mom walks over to the bar, eager to take his order.

“I'll settle for red wine,” he says, crossing his legs like he's in some paradise where everyone's his servant.

I glance at Diane and frown deeply. She's drooling and doesn't even try to hide it. I think everyone's going crazy.

Mom serves him and waits for him to sip like he's some god.

I see absolutely nothing godlike of a man who raped me without remorse.

“Good wine. Have a seat, please. We've got lots to discuss. You too, wifey” he says, and I wish my glare could snap the life out of him.

“There's nothing to talk about. I'm not marrying a man who stole my innocence” I say. He chuckles, and I hate the fact that his dimples are so attractive.

Taking a proper look at him now, he looks different from the man who raped me.

His jet-black hair is braided into two, and he's got piercings too.

Both on his eyebrows and ears.

His lips are redder than I remember. Maybe he's been kissing some stripper and boom he remembers Riley lives in San Francisco.

Did I mention his jawline? Damn, I need to stop right now. We're dealing with a rapist here.

I should be thinking of ways to murder him, not admiring the asshole. I snap out of it to find him staring right at me with a lopsided smile.

I gulp hard-looking away from those dark eyes. Why is everything about him so dark?

“Riley sit,” Mom says. Before I can reply, Diane dashes from her seat and forces herself right beside him.

I scoff. She can have him if she likes. Maybe then I will finally have peace.

Dean seems uneasy.

“Hey, can you move over? It's hard to breathe here” he says, and I bite my lip to keep from laughing. The look on her face is priceless.

She grumpily stands and sits beside Mom.

“You were saying something about not marrying me, wifey,” he says with a half smile.

“My name's Riley, not wifey. And yes, I'd rather die than marry you” I growl.

It's hard to believe he's the same guy I was checking out a while ago, with the way my voice drips hate.

“I think I have just enough for a funeral,” he shrugs, and I feel like smacking him.

“What's your relationship with my daughter?” Dad asks. Wow! I'm finally someone's daughter.

“It's quite a rough one,” he says and I arch a brow. Mom glances at me.

“Thing is, I raped her” he confesses.

“That's crazy. Why would you rape her? She's plain and ugly. I mean, there are many sophisticated women out there. Why a high school nerd?” Diane says, and I seethe inwardly.

“I love your comment. You've got a big point. Why a high school nerd?” He says, staring at me. My jaw drops.

I can't believe he just said that. His eyes sweep through me, and, for some reason, I pull my jacket to hide my chest. He smirks and my cheeks burn.

How dare he look at me like that.

“I find her quite interesting.” He says and Diane rolls her eyes.

Deal with that bitch!

“So why do you want to marry her?” Mom asks.

Hold on…. I hope they aren't considering marrying me off to him.

“I don't owe you any explanations. I want her, that's it” he says.

“I'm not marrying you” I half yell.

“Isn't she underage?” Diane says. Though she's doing this for herself, I'm glad she said something that could get me off the hook.

“I don't give a shit what some fucking law says” he states, refilling his glass.

I looked desperately from mom to dad. They're not going to give in, are they?

“Mom, you're not going to give me away to him, right?” I ask. She doesn't reply. My heart started racing.

“We can't give her to you. You raped her and…"

“Fine. Don't give her to me. I'll buy her and pay for damages" he says shocking us all.

If there's anything dad loves, it's money. He's greedy and will do anything to get it.

"How much are we talking about?" He asks. My eyes widen. Though I knew it was likely to happen, I didn't think he would actually trade me for money.

"200 million," he says and everyone rises. My heart stops for a second.

"She's yours". That single statement sends my world crashing down.