3

After I had dropped Sandy off at her house, the driver drove off to the Addams' mansion. When we got there, I got down from the car while the servants around rushed to help me carry the things I bought into my room.

I made sure they were extra careful because there were a lot of expensive things there before I went to look for my Grandma and parents. We still needed to have that talk.

After searching around the huge mansion for a while and still not finding them, I decided to ask a maid I saw.

"Hey.. you!!" I called to her. Immediately she heard my voice, she ran to meet me.

"You called for me miss." She said as she bowed in respect.

"Where are my parents?" I asked.

"They are in the garden. They even asked me to call you." She answered.

"Then why didn't you do that? You just had to wait to me to call you??" I asked as I eyed her in anger while she shivered in fear.

"I wanted to but you..." I didn't even wait for her to complete whatever she was saying when I left her standing alone there, snubbing her.

What a nuisance.

After walking for a while, I finally got to the garden. I saw them seated and discussing with a very serious expression like the world was about to end. I was about to announce my presence when I heard mom say something that made me stop dead on my tracks. So, I decided to listen more.

"Why can't we just tell them no? It's been ages since we made that deal. I'm not sure they even remeber it." What deal?

"We can't just break off a deal because we made it long ago. Besides, you were there when they agreed to come for their end of the bargain when Ariel turns eighteen." Grandma answered.

When I turn eighteen? What exactly are they talking about? Why am I the centre of their discussion?

"Why don't we just pay them back all the money we owe them. I can't give my daughter out all because of some measly amount of money." Dad was the one who said this why mom nodded in support. It made me wonder what they are talking about.

"Why didn’t you think of that when you borrowed money from them years ago. Besides, we signed a contract and they made it clear that they don't want any refunds." Grandma said.

Borrowed money? Dad has always been financially buoyant so why would he ever need to borrow money from someone? Wait.. I hope it isn't actually what I'm thinking it is. I hope not.

"Ariel won't be happy if she finds out about this. How about we look for a way around?" Mom asked.

"There's no way around. Getting Ariel married to their first son was the deal and we have to fulfill our end or there might be consequences. You know how powerful that family is. Besides, the marriage is another way to grow our power." I almost screamed out when I heard what Grandma said.

Finally, the pieces were coming together. They sold me out for marriage at this age. All because of money!!

"Ariel!" Mom called when she finally saw me standing at the entrance of the garden.

They looked startled to see me like they weren't expecting me there. I really didn't care. All that was in my mind was how my own family sold me out for money.

"It isn't true. Right?" I asked when I had finally found my voice but they didn't reply me. Their silence infuriated me because I was at the verge of going crazy while they kept staring at me like I was acting some drama.

"Mom, Dad, Grandma.. Tell me it isn't true. Tell me you didn't actually sell me out for money." I said.. really hoping that all I had just heard was just in my head or some dream.

"I really wish we could say that baby." Dad said.

What?? They actually did that to me??

"You sold me out... all for money??" I asked in shock.

"It wasn't like that Ariel. Our conpany was at the verge of bankruptcy and the only people we could turn to for help wanted you to get married to their first son. We had no choice but to agree to it." Mom explained but I wasn't hearing any of it.

"What's the difference between what I said and what you just said?? You obviously sold my future all because you wanted to save your conpany..."

"Are you not benefitting from it now?" Grandma who had been quiet suddenly asked me.

"Huh??"

"All the wealth that your parents and I were able to attain, are you not enjoying it now?" She asked again.

"The expensive clothes you wear, the cars you drive, the servants at your beck and call.. the expensive life you are enjoying right now was from that sacrifice we made. We did it for you and your brother."

What the helll??

"Don't give me that bullshit that you did it for me."

"Ariel. Watch your language." Grandma warned.

"You know I'm right. You all did it for yourself. You didn't want to go back to that poor life you were in and the only thing you could do was marry me off and you guys never for once bother to tell me." The betrayal and hurt was so evident.

"We wanted to. We were always going to..."

"When?? When I turned eighteen and it's finally time for me to be sold off? Come to think of it, I'm already eighteen. So when would you have told me? When I was finally in my 'husband's' house?" I asked agrily.

"Ariel baby...."

"Don't Ariel baby me." I said cutting Dad off. He seemed really shocked. I have never for once talked to him in that manner but today was different.

"There's no way I'll ever get married to anyone at this age talk more of someone I don't even know." I stated.

"You are and you will. There's nothing you can do about it." Grandma answered.

"Why do I have to put my life into a full stop all because I have to save this family??"

"You don't need to because you'll still be attending high-school and you'll still go to college. The only thing they want is a daughter in law by name. You don't have to even have children for him until you are ready." Mom explained.

"And what if he wants children? You know how rich families are. They only get married for heirs and I am not ready for that."

"You don't have to if you don't want to."

"And I don't have to get married if I don't want to."

"Ariel. We've been through this already.."

"Don't I have a say in my own life? I have a future for crying out loud and a boyfriend that I love."

"You mean that boy Lucas that's only with you for your affluence??" Grandma asked with a disgusted look on her face.

I don't know why but Grandma had never liked Lucas ever since she found out we were dating. She had always said that he was only with me for my fame and wealth and that was very funny because his family is also loaded too..

"Lucas loves me and I love him too." I said.

"In this type of lifestyle that we live, there's nothing like love. Just fame, wealth and power so you have to break up with him if he isn't adding any of those to you." Grandma said.

"There's no way I'm breaking up with him. I love him!!" I screamed out at the top of my lungs.

"And I don't care!!!!" Grandma screamed louder.

"Break up with him now because you'll be moving into the Montgomery's home with your husband next week!!" Grandma said, leaving no room for any arguments before she left the garden.

It was like a whole bucket of cold water had been poured on me the moment I realised that this was the family I was born into.

I thought they loved me dearly with the way they took care of me but instead, I found out that they were just nurturing me for their business partners. What did I ever do to them that they had to treat me this way??

Mom and Dad walked up to me with remorse and sadness in their eyes but I didn't let them touch me. Before they could say anything, I rushed out of they garden with them calling my name. I didn't answer them and walked into my room and locked the door behind me so they won't be able to enter.

"Ariel baby. Come on, open the door. Let's talk." I heard dad's gentle voice behind my door but I didn't listen.

Mom and dad called and knocked on my door for a while. Whem they saw that I wasn't going go open it nor answer them, they stopped knocking and left. Finally.

I plopped down on the bed and started crying like I have never done before. I never knew my life would turn out this way. I never knew that the people I had come to love would betray me like this. They were my own family.

I picked up my phone. I needed to talk to someone because this sadness and sense of betrayal was eating me up from within. I decided not to call my elder brother, Hillary because I knew that he would be very busy right now.

I dialed Sandy's number first but she wasn't picking. It would ring for sometime before it heads straight to voice-mail. It was the same thing with Lucas too. Having no one to talk to, I could only cru myself to sleep.

**********************************

*AT LUCAS' PRIVATE HOME*

Lucas was seated in his room when he heard the doorbell ring. He stood up and went to see who it was. He smiled happily when he saw her and opened the door for her.

"Baby!!" She called as she wrapped her hands around him and engulfed him in a tight hug.

Lucas chuckled as he locked the door and hugged her back.

"I missed you so much." She said as she placed a small kiss on his lips.

"How so?? You saw me at school today." Lucas answered.

"But I wasn't even able to talk to you because your girlfriend was always around you." She said, anger and jealousy evident in her tone.

"Don't tell me you're jealous." Lucas teased but she wasn't smiling.

"You know it's all a facade. I already explained everything to you." Said Lucas.

"But it's still really annoying to see you around her. I can't wait for you to finally become mine fully."

"Me niether but you just have to be patient for now. I promise with time, I'll be yours." Lucas said as he kissed her passionately making her giggle.

After kissing for a while, he finally broke it off so they would both catch their breath.

"Now that you are here, how about we continued from where we stopped yesterday?" Lucas asked with a lustful look on his face.

"Sure." She smiled as she wrapped her arms around him again and they engaged in another passionate kiss.

Lucas wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up while she wrapped her legs around his torso. They kept on kissing as Lucas carried her into the room.