Chapter 1 FAILED MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENT

Since the day I could read and write my papa and mama gave me three simple rules to be followed.

There was no such thing as not listening to these rules, or it would be followed by a punishment. A punishment I've had to already experience enough for me to even fathom breaking the rules.

Number 1

Always keep your mouth shut and your face to the floor since that's where your worth is at.

Number 2

Never take the attention away from jasmine.

Number 3

Never leave the mansion unless told to.

Those three rules have been controlling my life since I could walk. Fortunately for me I've gotten so used to it that it hasn't become too much for me to handle.

Just follow mama and papas rules and I wouldn't get a punishment. Easy right?

Sighing I look out of my window trying to distract myself from my useless thoughts. I was told to wear no makeup and dress as average as I could today since jasmine’s supposed soon to be husband would be coming over and me dressed up would take away her attention. Well, at least that's what she told me last night.

I don't think I could ever take attention away from her anyways, no one could. Jasmine was probably the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen and anyone who'd think otherwise was probably insane.

She could speak multiple languages, play multiple instruments, was smart in every subject, and was as elegant as a girl could be.

Jasmine got the best education and childhood growing up.

I was always jealous of how she got new dresses, she got hugs from mama and papa, she got all the love. Ever since I was a child all I got was nasty words and hits.

It all started after my oldest brother Nikolai died trying to save me from an attack by the Spanish mafia when I was four years old.

His birthdays terrified me the most. Every year I was thrown into a small dark room and punished by my father for the death of his son. And every year it got worse, his punches would get harder and the punishment would last longer.

This year I had bruises for weeks, the most I'd had in a while.

A sudden loud knock on my bedroom door made me jump in surprise and I quickly walk over to the door, opening it to find my mama who walked in with an angry expression on her face.

I drop my head to the floor and wait until she fully walks in before turning to her.

I wonder what it is this time.

"Fred Conner , the new Italian mafia leader, will be coming over in a couple of hours to choose who he would like to take his hand in marriage for our alliance deal. Although we all know who he will choose I need you to make yourself as invisible as you can." Mama says, and I nod my head not daring to look into her eyes. They always get mad when I speak, saying It was a shame I was even given a mouth to speak with.

Suddenly I'm grabbed by the collar and forced to look at my mama who had eyes filled with too much hatred to be looking at her own child with, a gasp leaving my mouth.

" And you little slut better not say a thing when he comes over or god forbid I'll have you locked up in a dungeon." She snarls, letting go of my collar harshly and pushing me down on the floor.

I push my hands on the floor before me to soften my landing while my mama storms out of my room, slamming the door shut.

Tears fall down my face as much as I try holding them back and I push myself back up, dreading having to meet this guy with jasmine .

If he was going to pick her anyways why did I have to be forced to come?

I was stood next to jasmine who was fixing her dyed blonde hair. She was dressed in a beautiful light purple dress and white heels.

My father figured Mr.Conner would find it suspicious if I looked dirty so I was told to wear jeans, a white shirt, and to leave my long, dark brown hair down and brushed out.

" Mama do I look okay?"Jasmine says, a worried look in her face as she stands still for mama to look at her.

She was gorgeous, if anything Mr.conner should be worried about his looks even though I haven't seen him before. All I knew was that the Italian mafia was not to be messed with and far more worse than the Russian mafia.

"Of course you do my sweetheart don't you worry, soon enough you will be the Princess to the Italian Mafia." My mama says, smiling at jasmine while holding her small face in her hands.

My papa was checking his watch now and then, getting frustrated by Mr.Conner being almost 20 minutes late now.

Suddenly the doorbell rings and my papa walks up to the door opening it to a tall man who was at least 6'7 with dark hair that was slightly messy and dark cold eyes. He was wearing a black button up with three buttons open revealing his chest and black dress pants with a belt, a tattoo of a cross behind his ear comes into my view when his head slightly turns. There was an older man also standing next to him which I presumed to be his father.

I couldn't help but be attracted to his looks and when his cold eyes lock with mine I'm pulled out of my trance and quickly look back down at the floor.

"Ah Mr.Conner, good to see you again and your son how much he's grown!" My papa exclaims.

"And you to Mr.Black, it seems your daughters have grown into beautiful young ladies!" He says, looking straight towards jasmine with a huge smile as everyone takes a seat at the dining table.

Jasmine was sat right next to Conner and I was sat straight across from him and next to my mama.

"Yes, jasmine has grown into such a beautiful young woman, she'll be 23 in a couple days the perfect age for your son." Mama says while looking at my sister with glimmering eyes.

I move in my seat uncomfortably as I feel a pair of dark eyes staring at me. I dared not to look up or else I'd get in trouble so I just quietly cut my steak hoping for all of this to be over already.

" I've heard quite the stories on jasmine.

She seems like the perfect wife don't you think so Connor?" His father says but no answer comes from his son.

"What is your name?" I hear a deep voice say from across the table and my eyes widen as I freeze in my spot, catching a glimpse of jasmine who also looked between us wide eyed.

My papa looked furious.

Why was he asking for my name?

" Her name? Why that's absurd why would her name matter-" my mama starts but is cut off by the cold man.

" Lets not drag this on any longer then it should be." He says with a scowl.

I look over to my mama who was glaring daggers into me and jasmine who was doing the same.

"Now, answer my question." He says again, looking back at me with emotionless eyes.

"S...Sophie is my name." I say quietly, trying to avoid his gaze. I didn't mean to stutter but I knew that this wouldn't end good for me. I'd have to feel more pain than my body can endure again by my papa.

I'd be terribly punished after they left.

" She is who I'll be marrying." He says soon after I say my name and the whole table is silent in shock after what he's announced.

Even the maids had their hands covering their mouth in surprise.

"But she's useless and too young! Jasmine is perfect in everything there's no reason you shouldn't pick her over-!" My papa yells slamming his fist on the table.

" My son has chosen. Either you take the alliance or not”.

My eyes look up to jasmine who had tears rolling down her face and my mama trying to comfort her.

I couldn't really process anything after that.

All the conversation sounded like was mumbles.

Why would he choose me? Even though he was given a choice to marry the most beautiful girl he had to choose me and I'd be terribly punished for it.

As soon as the conners left jasmine got up from her chair and slapped me straight across the face leaving a burning sting.

"What the fuck did you do you slut! Did you fuck him already?!" She screamed at me, tears still flowing down her face from earlier.

I hold onto my cheek and look down, quickly shaking my head no.

"Papa, she had to have done something why would he choose her over me!" She screeched and my mama tried calming her down while my papa finished off the rest of his alcohol.

" It’s okay jas, we'll find someone better for you.

That Italian mother fucker can take this bitch." My mama sneers as I stay sat quietly in my chair still looking down at the floor.

"We can't do anything about it. If we hadn't made that deal the Russian mafia would be destroyed in seconds, they already have issues with us in the first place." My papa sighs downing another drink.

Please don't get drunk

"That bastard only picked you because he knows you wouldn't complain when he fucks other women during your marriage." My papa sneers while grabbing a fistful of my hair and pushing me down to the floor.

" Now get the fuck out of my face!" He yells kicking me on my side, a groan of pain coming from my mouth.

For reference Sophie is 18 and Conner is 23