Engagement Day

JOSIE

I stared at the blue dress lying on my bed, and blood drained from my face. It resembled a party costume rather than an elegant gown for me to wear at my engagement ball. Its puffed sleeves, a tight corset, and a skirt with multiple layers and frills looked as if it had been designed to turn me into a laughing stock.

“What's this?” I choked out, turning to Matilda and Jane, my stepmother's maids who'd delivered the dress to my room.

“Your gown for tonight's event… Princess.” Matilda gave me a mocking bow.

Of course, calling me a Princess was their way to mock me, too. My family might have been rich, but I had no true access to the money or anything my family owned.

I looked at the gown again, and shivers skidded down my spine. I was supposed to look beautiful tonight. But how was I supposed to look anything but ridiculous wearing this?

And yet, I kept my mouth shut. I couldn't protest or talk back. I would have been punished had I done that, and Jane and Matilda obviously waited for a reason to beat me. So I did the only thing I was allowed to do: I smiled and politely inclined my head. “Thank you for delivering it to me. I'll… start preparing now.”

Matilda held my stare for a moment, then huffed and pivoted to the door. I closed the door behind them and sighed. “This is your final day in this cage, Josie,” I reminded myself. “You will soon be engaged to the man you love, and you'll finally be free.”

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach at the thought of what would happen in a few hours. Today was my twentieth birthday, the day when I would officially become Ronan Weston's fiancée.

An arranged marriage could have been a blessing or a curse, and in more than a few ways, it meant the latter to me. After my mother had died, my life had been redesigned for that one purpose. I had been groomed to become a perfect wife for Ronan. I had to become the most feminine and delicate version of myself while carefully studying everything my future husband liked. I was like a living doll, and my education and interests had been carefully scripted.

Each mistake or failure had resulted in severe punishment. I had been beaten, insulted, and humiliated for the tiniest disobedience, and knowing it wouldn't last forever was the only thing that hadn't let me fall apart. I'd known that one day I would leave this house and finally be free because, despite everything, this marriage was also my salvation.

I loved Ronan. I wanted to become his wife. Then again, who wouldn't? Ronan was kind, intelligent, and had the looks of a sex god. Not that I knew much about sex as a virgin, but my imagination gave me more than a few ideas in that matter…

Sucking in a deep breath, I pulled the chair against the door, blocking the handle. My door had no lock, and this was the only way I could have a bit of privacy. Then I knelt on the floor by my bed and lifted two loose boards, opening my hiding spot.

It was one of many secret spots I had created over the years. The one under the wooden boards was the largest. Big enough to hide the gown I'd bought six months ago, suspecting my stepmother would find another way to humiliate me. Normally, I wouldn't have dared to wear it, but tonight was different. As Ronan's fiancée, I would become untouchable. All he had to do was say my name tonight, and I would be free. Should he claim me as his, my nightmare would be over.

Perhaps everything would have been different if our family's company, Sinclair Holdings, hadn't been on the verge of bankruptcy. According to my father, the only way to save it was to merge with Weston Prime Enterprises. The merger was a part of the marriage agreement and the true reason why I was forced to marry Ronan Weston. Now, the fate of the company and thousands of its workers relied solely on me…

Heaving a deep sigh, I carefully unfolded my gown. It was blue since that was Ronan's favorite color, but I had chosen the design, and I loved the confidence it gave me. It was made of delicate silk. The dress had a fitted front and left the back bare. The skirt had slits on both sides, exposing my legs with every step. For the first time in my life, I was going to wear something sexy instead of girlish and modest, and honestly, I couldn't wait until Ronan saw this new me.

Giggling as I thought about it, I sat in front of the mirror of my old, half-broken vanity table and started pulling out the makeup cosmetics from the drawer. I needed to look perfect. Flaws were unacceptable.

I curled my hands into fists, forcing them to stop shaking. Then I put a thin liner to emphasize my green eyes before elongating my lashes with mascara. I wasn't ugly, but couldn't call myself beautiful either. I had a slightly perky nose, round cheeks, and heart-shaped lips, which made me look a little childish. The only thing I couldn't stand was my hair color, which was somewhere between dark blond and ginger, yet dying my hair was not an option.

Then again, none of it mattered tonight. Not even those awful maids, my hateful stepmother, or my cold father could ruin my mood. Like never before, I was full of energy and confident. “Only one more hour,” I whispered. “One hour and I will be free.”

A knock on the door sounded, and I rushed to open it. “Come in, Rosaline,” I sang, seeing my favorite maid, my friend, and the only one I could trust.

Rosaline should have retired long ago, but I knew she'd stayed in this house because of me, because she had promised my mother she would take care of me. And for years she had. She'd patched my wounds and taken me to a hospital when I'd been ill. And today, she'd been the only person who had wished me a happy birthday. Well, I certainly hoped that this would be the happiest birthday I'd ever had.

Rosaline looked at me, carefully scanning my hair, makeup, and the dress before smiling and clasping her hands together. “You look beautiful, Josie. I'm sure that Ronan will find you stunning, too.”

A faint blush coated my cheeks. “You think so?”

She nodded. “I know so.”

Tears filled my eyes as I grabbed her hands and leaned closer. “Thank you. Thank you for everything,” I whispered.

She shook her head. “Don't thank me. It was an honor to watch you grow and become an incredible young lady.”

I drew a shaky breath, then cleared my throat. “It's almost time.”

“I'll lead you to the ballroom,” she said, opening the door.

I snorted. “You think I'll get lost on the way?”

“No.” She gave me a wry smile. “I want to make sure you're safe. After all, it's Luciana's final chance to bully you.”

“Right.” I slipped my feet into a pair of silver stilettos, then turned to Rosaline. “The last chance she'll ever have.”

***

“What the hell are you wearing?!” I was certain that more than half of the neighborhood could have heard my stepmother's roar.

I flinched and lowered my head, but then fisted my hands. She would not force me to wear that thing she'd given me. Not tonight.

“I think she looks amazing,” Rosaline muttered.

Luciana's head snapped to her. “Nobody asked you!”

Digging my nails into the skin of my palms, I slowly lifted my gaze. “Ronan liked that dress, so I bought it,” I lied.

“If Ronan liked it, then I think it was a wise decision,” my father interjected. Certainly, he didn't care about the dress or how I looked in it. He'd barely even looked at me. All he cared about was the merger between the companies, and I was his pawn to achieve his goal.

Luciana fixed her hazel eyes on mine. “You'd better pray everything goes smoothly tonight. If not, it'll be your fault!”

I knew she'd say that. I had always been the one to blame, and she had blamed me for everything. The bad weather, the wrong temperature, and even her migraines had always been “my fault.”

“Time for us to enter,” Rosaline reminded. “I'm sure that Mr. and Mrs. Weston are already inside.”

My father corrected his bowtie, then cleared his throat. “Let's go there then,” his cold tone sounded, and my chest tightened.

A tiny part of me hoped I'd see a kinder side of him tonight, but I guessed I expected too much. Painting a bright smile on my face, I passed the golden-carved door and entered the crowded ballroom. Everyone's eyes turned in my direction, and the murmurs started.

People critiqued my dress, my makeup, my hair, and even the way I walked, but I had gotten used to their mockery and insults. To them, I was a spoiled rich girl living in luxury and spending her days doing absolutely nothing. If only they knew the truth…

I moved to the center of the ballroom and turned to the main doors. My heart fluttered faster than a hummingbird's wings. I pressed my hands to the sides of my gown, hoping that no one saw they were shaking. Finally, the doors opened, and the man I loved entered the ballroom. I slowly took in his thick black hair, his beautiful blue eyes, and all the perfectly sharp and seductive lines of his face. Then my eyes drifted lower to his large frame, clad in a black tuxedo, and his hand holding… another woman's hand.

My heart stopped. Ronan walked closer, and the crowd of people surrounded him. “Who's that beautiful lady by your side?” someone asked.

His lips curled up, forming a gorgeous smile before he answered, “This is Coraline Faron, my fiancée.”