Chapter 2

Maximilian's Point of View

The door slams behind me, and I lean against the cold wall, running a hand through my hair. My chest tightens with frustration, my anger was swirling like a huge storm and I can’t control it. I am supposed to be married to Sara not her sister, not that slut Eva.

Every time I look at Eva, I see my grandfather’s betrayal, my family’s manipulation, and the lies they spun to trap me in this marriage. And the worst part Is that she just stands there, acting like she didn’t want this. Like she didn’t know exactly what my grandfather and her father planned. I know everything about Eva to know better than to fall for that innocent act of hers. Sara and I were the victims here not her.

But even as I try to harden my heart against her, something kept drawing me to her, those brown wide eyes of her kept pushing me towards her, the way her hands trembled when she said her vows. Was that fear real? Could she really be a pawn in this, just like me or was she acting like the victim like she always does?

I shake my head, dismissing the thought. No. She’s just a manipulator who does anything to get whatever she wants. She had always knew that i loved Sara but she manipulated my grandfather into choosing her over Sara. She used the love my grandfather have for her to manipulate him, she had always been an angel in the eyes of my grandfather.

I walked down to the sitting, needing to get away from the noise of this house, this night, this suffocating feeling of being trapped. I can still hear my grandfather’s words ringing in my head.

" You need Eva, Maximilian. She’s strong, intelligent, and she’ll do what’s necessary to protect this family. Sara is a liability. You’ll thank me one day."

I grit my teeth. *Thank him?* For forcing me into a marriage I didn’t want? For choosing the wrong sister?

My footsteps made a loud noise in the empty hall way, my body moving on like a wounded lion. I need air, space anything to escape the huge load of the family name that’s been forced onto me, along with the expectations and responsibilities I never asked for.

I find myself on the terrace, the cool night air doing little to calm the anger burning inside me. I lean on the railing, staring out at the large, empty garden. The moon casts a pale light over the grounds, but it does nothing to get rid of the darkness and anger I feel growing inside.

For years, I have lived in the shadow of my grandfather doing what he likes. I thought he approved of Sara but when I prepared to marry Sara he came up with the idea of me marrying Eva.

Sara is the woman who i had have soft spot for and I knew how to handle her. But Eva? Eva is a manipulator and wild girl. She’s not like her sister Sara who is calm and reserve, the idea of living with someone like Eva bothers me a lot.

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

Inside the house, the party continues family, friends, business associates all celebrating a union built on lies and manipulation. I hate it. I hate the way they smile, pretending like this marriage is something to celebrate. No one in that sitting room gives a damn about Eva or me. All they care about is the business alliance this marriage represents.

I clench my fists. My mind races back to the moment I saw her walking down the aisle, her eyes wide with what looked like fear. There was no joy, no happiness. Just resignation. For a second, I thought she might turn around and run. And a small part of me wished she had.

But she didn’t. And now we’re bound together, for better or worse.

I hear footsteps approaching from behind, the footsteps were soft..

“Max,” Sara's voice breaks through the silent, It was filled with sweetness but deep inside that voice was filled with tenderness and sweetness was a broken one. She always knows how to find me when I need space.

I stay silent, not in the mood for her games. She steps closer, her perfume wafting in the air a scent I used to love, but now it only reminds me of all the ways things have gone wrong.

“You don’t have to pretend, you know,” she says, her voice low. “This whole marriage is a joke. Everyone knows it.”

I turn to face her, my eyes narrowing. “What do you want, Sara?”

She smirks, taking a step closer, her eyes gleaming with a hint of satisfaction. “You know what I want, Max. You don’t have to stay loyal to Eva. This marriage is just a formality a business deal. You and I... we can still be together. No one has to know.”

I laugh, the sound bitter. “You think I’m going to keep sneaking around with you? After everything that’s happened?”

Her smile falters, but she recovers quickly. “Come on, Max. We both know Eva is nothing to you. She’s nothing to this family. You don’t owe her anything.”

I feel a spark of anger flare up in my chest. I don’t owe Eva anything, but the idea of betraying her, making this sham of a marriage even worse, twists something in me that I can't quite explain.

“I don’t owe you anything either,” I say, my voice colder than I intended.

Sara's eyes narrow, and she takes a step closer, her gaze sharp. “Have you forgotten, Max? I saved you when you nearly fell off that bridge. We were teenagers. You owe me”

Her words cut through me. I remember that day vividly. Sara had saved me, and I had always seen it as a sign of something deeper, something more. Guilt clouds my mind as I struggle with my feelings.

I open my mouth to respond, but before I can, she turns and walks away sobbing, I felt her back shaking . “You’re ungrateful,” she throws her shoulder.

I reach out, but she doesn’t look back. The guilt and frustration build up chocking me. I watch her leave, I regretted my actions, I shouldn't have said that to her.

I left the mansion as I headed to the bar, I need to drown myself in alcohol to forget about this sham of a marriage, to forget my grandfather's betrayal. I need to forget, to numb the ache inside. As I drink, the hot liquid offers a good escape from the mess my life has become. The more I drink, the more I forget about my miserable life and my sham marriage. The alcohol gave me peace even for a moment.

After hours of drinking myself to stupor, I staggered to my feet. My blurred vision protested the alcohol as I stumbled back home. By now, everyone had already left. The effects of the liquor was taking effect on me. I was expecting the same cold emptiness I had left behind, but when I pushed open the door, Eva was still there, curled up on the edge of the bed, her back to me. Her dress was crumpled around her, and the veil lay discarded on the floor.

The sight of her dress being raised to her tight was almost too tempting. My mind was losing control, my desire burning hotter. I couldn't restrain myself any longer. After all, we were married now even if it was against her will. It wasn’t my fault, she was the one who had ruined my life and manipulated my grandfather.

" Max, you are drunk." Eva said to me the moment she saw me, she walked close to me.

I looked at Eva, there was something about her that was drawing me close to her, I placed my lips on her lips as i savoured the taste of her lip, her lip was unlike what i have ever tasted, it was soft and sweet, it tasted more like strawberry.

Eva pulled away from the kiss looking at me with those fright that was always plastered on her eyes.

I pushed her on the bed, tearing off her gown as he climbed on top of her.

" Max, please don't do this...." Eva cried out but the alcohol in me was already taking effect, i ignored her pleading as i thrusted into her.

" Please... please, I'm a virgin." She pleaded but i turned deaf ear to her plead as i rode her roughly.

"Aren't you a slut? Better to be treated like one." I breathed into her ear as I kept thrusting into her.