Prologue
Opal watched, happy that Tony had stood up and stopped the fiasco. What she didn’t expect was her brother’s instant reaction. Richard got up from his seat, walked over to his friend and slammed his fist in Tony’s face. She screamed as blood came out of his nose. He didn’t defend himself.
“Have you been touching my fucking sister?” Richard snarled. The whole church erupted.
She took a quick glance around at everyone staring. Her parents rushed to her brother.
“Could you stop making a scene and take this conversation somewhere private?” her mother said.
Biting her lip, Opal went with them into the private chambers of the priest.
Charles stood behind her, and she felt his presence, which made her shiver with revulsion. Why had she allowed herself to be convinced marrying him would be a good idea?
Her life would be so much easier if she could stick up for herself and not worry about the thoughts of other people.
Richard looked like he was going to kill someone. Tony used his shirt to clean the blood off his face. She hoped his nose wasn’t broken.
“What the fuck is going on?” Richard asked.
“Nothing.”
“Everything.” They both spoke at the same time. Opal blushed as Tony glared at her. “Could I speak with your sister alone?”
“No.”
“I’ve just taken a punch in the face. The least you can do is give me a few minutes alone with Opal.”
After a few seconds, Richard left, taking her parents and Charles with him.
The moment the door shut she turned to Tony. “I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t be, Opal. We haven’t got much time. The safest solution is you marrying me,” he said.
His words took her by surprise. She didn’t want to marry him, and, from the look on his face, he didn’t want to marry her either.
“I don’t want to marry you,” she said.
“Tough luck, sweetheart. Do you really think your parents and Charles are going to let you walk out of here scot-free? If I don’t make a claim to you right now, by the end of the day you’ll be married to that fucker.” Tony looked livid. Tears sprang to her eyes as the predicament she was in became apparent. Her parents wanted the marriage to take place to solidify their own future in the business industry. She didn’t know a lot about the business. Her training had consisted of learning to keep her mouth shut and look as pretty as possible. The diet she’d been forced on to fit into the wedding dress had been awful. Another aspect of control in her life.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t cry. Now, I’ll marry you and get you away from him, but that’s it. Do you hear me? You’re too young, and when you’re ready you can divorce me.”
“What happens in between?”
“We live our lives the way we want. I’ve been a single man for some time, Opal. I don’t want to stop being the man I am because of you.”
“I understand.”
They called her family in, and Tony took over with the discussions. She kept her tears at bay. Their argument washed over her and made her feel less than a foot tall. Every person in the room treated her like a child in their own way. She didn’t know how to break free from it.
“I’m not leaving here without a wife,” Charles said. The first real sign of possession.
“You’re not having what’s mine. You have been spoon fed, pretty boy, and I bet you’ve never fought your own battles,” Tony said.
She ignored everything.
****