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Summary
“Diego marriage is about love but you don’t own my heart,” I snapped. “You don’t own my love. And you never will. I don’t love you, Diego, and I never will!” “Is that so?” he murmured. His voice dropped lower, rougher. “You think I’ll let that little defiance of yours stand? Think again.” Before I could protest, he abruptly cut me short. “Let me make something clear, wife,” he growled. “You are mine. The only name your lips will ever call out is mine. The only man you’ll ever think about is me. I’ll break that little ego of yours until you understand that you belong to me and no one else.” *********** Janice never imagined her life would be turned upside down by her father when she is forced into marriage with Diego Rodrigues, a cold and powerful businessman, who wants nothing but revenge for the pain Janice’s father caused his family years ago. He swears to destroy Janice and her entire family still Janice is determined to fight back and escape, but Diego won’t let her go. His dominance is relentless, his possessiveness suffocating—and yet, every fight between them sparks a fire she can’t deny. She’s determined to escape. He’s determined to bring her to ruins. What happens when the fire between them burns too hot to put out?
Chapter 1
JANICE
I woke up to the pale light of morning streaming through the curtains, the quiet stillness of the house a deceptive calm. After freshening up, I sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the cracked mirror across the room. My reflection looked as lost as I felt—tired eyes, shoulders slumped, and a hollow ache in my chest that had become a permanent part of me.
A sharp knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.
“Miss Janice?” The familiar, grating voice of Sarah, the maid, reached me. “Your father wants to see you.”
My stomach tightened. Whenever my father summoned me, it never ended well. I swallowed hard, trying to calm the rising tide of anxiety. The black sheep of the family—that’s what they called me, though never to my face. A burden, a disappointment. My existence felt like a stain on their perfect image.
“I’ll be down in a minute,” I called out, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
“Open the door now,” Sarah snapped, her tone laced with disdain. “Don’t keep him waiting.”
Even the servants felt free to order me around. My father had granted them that authority, making it clear I was beneath them too. The humiliation stung, but I knew better than to argue. I stood, walked to the door, and opened it to find Sarah glaring at me.
“Let’s go,” she said curtly, spinning on her heel and marching off without waiting for me.
Reluctantly, I followed her, my heart pounding with every step. The grand staircase loomed before me, the polished banister gleaming under the chandelier’s light. The knot in my stomach tightened as I descended, each step heavier than the last.
In the living room, my father sat in his usual armchair, regal and imposing. Beside him was my stepmother, Anne, her perfectly coiffed hair and cold, calculating eyes as familiar as the ache in my chest. My stepsister, Maddison, lounged on the sofa, her face a perfect mask of faux innocence as she complained to my father about something trivial.
“…it’s just not fair, Daddy,” Maddison whined, her voice syrupy sweet. “I can’t manage on that allowance. It’s humiliating. What will my friends think?”
I lingered near the doorway, unnoticed as always, watching the way my father’s face softened for her. His tone, warm and reassuring, was a sharp contrast to the curt indifference he reserved for me.
Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back. Why can’t he love me like that? The question echoed in my mind, familiar and futile. Ever since my mother died and Anne and Maddison entered our lives, my father had changed. He barely looked at me anymore, his affection completely absorbed by his new wife and her daughter.
Finally, my father turned to me, his gaze cold and impersonal.
“Janice,” he said, his tone making it clear this wasn’t a friendly summons. “We have something important to discuss.”
I stepped closer, my nerves frayed. “Yes, Father?”
“You are to be married to Diego Rodrigues next week,” he said bluntly.
The words hit me like a blow. “What?” I managed to whisper, my voice trembling.
“You heard him,” Anne interjected, her tone sharp. “Diego Rodrigues has agreed to the arrangement. It’s final.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief. “You can’t just— I can’t marry a stranger! I already have a boyfriend!”
Anne’s eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a smirk. “This isn’t a discussion, Janice. It’s been decided. Your marriage to Mr. Rodrigues will secure this family’s future. Your feelings are irrelevant.”
I clenched my fists, anger bubbling to the surface. “You’ve taken everything from me! My home, my father’s love—now you want to take my future too? I won’t do it!”
“Enough!” my father bellowed, standing abruptly. His glare was so sharp it made my breath hitch. “You will do as you’re told. Your defiance is an embarrassment to this family.”
I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. “Embarrassment? That’s all I am to you, isn’t it? Do you even remember that I’m your daughter? Or am I just some pawn in your plans to save the company?”
“You watch your tone,” he snapped. “Everything I’ve done is for this family, and you have the audacity to question me?”
I laughed bitterly through my tears. “This family? You mean them,” I said, gesturing to Anne and Maddison. “When was the last time you even looked at me, Father? When was the last time you cared about what I wanted, what I felt?”
“You’re selfish,” Anne interjected, her voice icy. “You’ve always been ungrateful, Janice. It’s no wonder your father has to make these decisions for you. You don’t know how to be responsible.”
I turned to her, my voice rising. “You don’t get to talk about responsibility, Anne. You’ve done nothing but take from me. My mother’s house, her memories, her husband—everything! And now you want to take my life too?”
My father’s hand lashed out before I could say more. The slap echoed in the room, and I stumbled back, clutching my cheek. The pain was sharp, but the betrayal cut deeper.
“You will marry Diego,” he said, his voice colder than ever. “This conversation is over.”
I broke down, my knees threatening to give way. “I can’t,” I choked out. “I love Jason—”
At the mention of his name, Maddison let out a laugh that sent chills down my spine. She rose from the sofa, a cruel smile playing on her lips.
“Oh, Jason?” she said, her voice dripping with mockery. “You won’t be marrying him.”
I froze. “What are you talking about?”
Maddison reached into her bag and pulled out a series of photos and a medical scan, shoving them in my face. My heart sank as I recognized the images.
“I’m pregnant with Jason’s child,” she said, her words like knives. “He’s mine, Janice. He’s always been mine.”
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “You’re lying.”
“See for yourself,” she taunted, thrusting the scan closer. “He doesn’t love you. He never did.”
I turned to my father, desperate for some semblance of support. “Father, please—are you really going to let them do this to me? To sell me off while they destroy my life?”
But he looked away, his expression unreadable. “You will marry Diego. That is final.”
I took a step back, shaking my head in disbelief. “So that’s it? You’re just going to stand there and watch as they ruin me? As they take everything from me?”
My father didn’t respond, his silence louder than any words.
Maddison smirked, leaning in closer. “Face it, Janice. You were never meant to have him. Jason was mine all along. Now, do us all a favor and stop pretending you matter.”
The walls seemed to close in around me. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Maddison’s triumphant smirk, Anne’s cold satisfaction, and my father’s indifference were too much to bear.
Without another word, I turned and fled, racing up the stairs to the sanctuary of my room. I slammed the door shut and collapsed onto the bed, sobbing into my hands. The betrayal, the heartbreak—it was unbearable.
I sat up, my tears blurring my vision.
If they were determined to take everything from me, then I had to find a way out.
If I can get across to Mr Rodrigues, I’d explain to him why I don’t want this marriage and maybe just maybe, he might have pity on me and find another way to help my family’s business that doesn’t involve selling me off.
They can’t take my future from me, I vowed silently, my hand trembling. I won’t let them.