Chapter 2: The Marriage he never want.
Anneliese Rowan's POV
“No!” Mom rushed to grab my hand. “It wasn’t like that. We just want the best for you, we don't want you to go through any kind of suffering. That is why we accepted the deal and the contract’s real. If we break it… they’ll ruin everything, sue us, our reputation will be ruined and I don't want such for you.” Tears were running down her cheeks as she finished
“And did I look like I was ever gonna complain? Why didn't you tell me before now?” I shouted, hot tears filled my eyes. I turned to look at dad and I can’t recognize him. This isn’t the man who made me pancakes shaped like bunnies. Who picked out my prom dress. Who called me princess like it meant something.
“Because I didn’t want to see this look on your face,” he whispered
His breathing turns shallow and he started gaspung for air……My whole-body system froze; I felt sight getting blurry
“Nurse!” Mom called out; her voice thick with panic.
People rushed in, a thousand of them—or maybe it's just me. Machines were beeping so loud that they hurt my ears.
I was pushed to the side, back against the wall, my body was shaking beyond control
“Anne! Are you okay!” Was the last thing I heard before everything went dark.
★★★
My eyes opened slowly and I found myself in my bed. How did I get here? What happened?
Is everything a dream?
I prayed so hard in my mind for the incident before should be a mere dream but my prayer wasn't answered.
I’m curled up on the bed, numb. I managed to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My makeup’s ruined, my shoes are gone. My whole body ached like I’ve been thrown from somewhere high to the ground.
The door cracked open and Belinda came in, she sat beside me silently, holding my hand in her
“I’m sorry,” she said finally.
“You don’t need to be.” I retorted shaking my head
“I do. I know it doesn’t fix anything, but I’m still sorry. You didn’t deserve that…..any of it”
I looked at her, eyes burning. “I hate them for doing this to me.”
“I know.”
“And I hate myself too…..I'm going to loose everything in that damn marriage….”
“You won't lose me, I promise, I will always be here for you.” Her words brought warmth to me.
I fell into her arms, letting out all the tears in my eyes, while she held me and rocked me like a child.
I would never forgive them for this, especially dad, I would never talk to him again, I swore to myself.
My buzzed, Belinda walked to my bag and brought it out.
“Ohh it's your Aunt….Hello?” I rolled my eyes, turning to the other side of my bed
“WHAT!” She shouted making me jump out of my bed, I rushed to her, my whole body shaking like a leaf in wind.
“W…what's that?” I asked in fear, then she turned to me and I can swear I've never seen her look this way before.
The next words that fell from her lips made me loose my mind.
Damien Madox’s POV
From the top floor of the Maddox tower, I can see the whole city glitter beneath me. The glass walls give me everything—power, silence, control. My office smells like leather and coffee. My desk is neat, my suit perfect, my schedule tighter than a drum.
Everything in my life works because I make it work. I built myself around precision, around purpose.
So, when I ignore the fifth call from my father, it’s not out of being rude, It’s just habit. He knows I’m busy—meetings, emails, board projections. I’ll call him later, maybe tonight, maybe over our usual whiskey.
I was about texting him when he walked in, not with security, not with warning—he just opened the damn door and walked into my office like it’s still his.
“Dad?” I stand, more surprised than annoyed. “What are you doing here?”
He looks tired. His suit is wrinkled, his grey hair undone, this is so much unlike him at all.
“I needed to see you in person.” His voice was low, but serious. “We need to talk.”
I gestured to the couch. “Sure. Is everything okay?”
He didn’t sit, he wasn't returning my smile too, Instead, he dropped a thick envelope on my desk.
I stared at it. “What’s this?” my question got no reply
I picked it up, opened it and for a second I couldn't understand what was written there ……Legal file…. Dates. …..My name……. Another name—Anneliese Rowan.
Marriage contract.
“What the hell is this?” I shouted.
He exhaled, ”A decision we made with the Rowan family when you were a boy”
“You arranged a marriage for me? “I asked…something rising in me.
“We secured your future, their daughter is extremely beautiful and well trained…even as a baby”
“Dad, tell me this is some kind of joke. “I said letting out s bitter short laughter, he's definitely pulling a prank on me.
“It’s not.”, I searched his face for a moment and all I found was coldness and extreme seriousness.
“You think I’m just going to marry some random girl because of a damn contract from twenty years ago? “I growled, my heart beating very fast.
“She’s not random my boy, she’s the Rowan heiress….beautiful, brilliant, well mannered and polished.”
“I don’t care if she’s the Virgin Mary with a high finance degree…..Father this is so fucking insane.”
He raises a hand. “Listen to me, Damien. This isn’t just about marriage. This is about saving what we built, the Maddox-Rowan deal was our foundation, I invested so much in their company…..in that girl's life too. Moreover, most of our investors belong to them…. if you don't marry her we may….”
“Yes, we will lose a few investors? We’ll fix it…..and I never sent you to invest in her life, I never did. I guess you just had too much money “I interrupted, rage growing wild in me.
He finally sat down, our eyes connected for a second or two.
“If you don’t marry her by your 23rd birthday, you will lose everything, I promise. The board, the trust, the empire. It all reverts…. I promise you that.”
My body went numb.
What?
Everything I’ve worked for, everything I’ve earned... gone?
“You’re bluffing Charles, you're clearly out of your mind.”, I blurted out with no regret, I was shaking furiously, “Your stupid threat makes no sense to me ….I'm never marrying anybody and nobody not even mum in heaven can change my mind.”
He sighed, I can see the look of shock and sadness that flashed his face for a second,” Well….I expected this, I know you too well my son. I expected the stubbornness, so I came prepared.” He said with a grin
“What do you mean” I asked sternly
“Check your bank accounts…” He picked up a magazine on my table before crossing his legs.