I look away. From my peripheral vision, I see that Robert passes the brown file to Zach. Zach opens it curiously.

The next fifteen minutes are spent in silence except when Zach lets out grunts of surprise every now and then as he skims through the papers.

"Ten million dollars?" Zach lets out a laugh and looks at Robert in what I think is disgust. Not knowing what is happening, I look at Robert and find him smiling crookedly.

"She isn't worth it, eh?" Robert says in his croaky voice. His eyes momentarily look at me before moving back to Zach.

One thing is crystal clear- they are talking about me. Are they selling me or something? I sink back into the couch, ignoring my burning back.

"She's worth more, Robert. Like father, like daughter, I see. One hell of a money-hungry family you have, Ellen," Zach says and chuckles in disgust while looking at Robert though I know it's directed to me.

"What do you say, Mr Kane? Deal?" Robert asks hopefully.

Zach turns to look at me. His brown hair that is falling over his forehead is messed up. His green eyes look tired than ever, dark circle under his eyes show he didn't get his sleep. His striking face looks more drained than ever and it's just ten in the morning.

Could it be because- no. Couldn't be.

"Deal."

Robert laughs loudly, the kind of laugh that makes my spine tingle in fear. I look at Zach and glare at the paper, what is going on?

Ten million dollars for what?

Zach calls someone and a minute later, a guy dressed in black enter with a briefcase in his hand. He passes it to Robert and Robert opens it in glee.

"Holy-" Robert looks inside and his eyes have that dollar sign. I take a look inside and freeze at the amount.

Ten million dollars for what, again?

"So, about the marriage," Zach starts. The other guy walks outside and closes the door.

About.. what?

Marriage?

"That's on you, Mr Kane. You can do as you wish. Pleasure dealing with you." Robert stands with the briefcase in his hand and motions for me to follow him. With a smirk, he walks outside.

"I want to have a word with Ellen, in private." Robert halts and turns to look at me. With a silent warning, he leaves me behind. The door shuts.

I remain standing in front of the couch and Zach stands up before unbuttoning his tux and removing it. He walks to me with a predatory look in his eyes and I feel my stomach clenching.

The white dress I am wearing is again full-sleeved, Robert didn't want the fresh cuts to be seen by Zach. It reaches my knees and is fitting at the waist which only hurts my back. My long hair is pulled into a ponytail. I have make-up on to hide my swollen face and bruised cheeks.

"Ella, Ella Ella," he tuts and stands in front of me. I suck in a breath and look at him.

"You know what it says in the contract, right?" Zach asks looking at me intently. I don't, but I know Robert wouldn't like it if I said that. So instead, I nod my head curtly.

"Interesting," Zach hums and takes a step closer, leaving an inch between us. I breathe in his cologne.

"That's low, even for you, Ella. Selling yourself like that," he growls lowly before snaking his hand over my waist and pulling me close to his chest. It hurts so bad, I stifle a sob. My hands remain limp by my side.

I wince and whimper loudly when his hold tightens, the lashes have torn the skin of my back. Zach looks at me in confusion.

I'm taken back.

Selling myself for money?

Everything makes sense now. Ten million dollars for me. I feel my eyes watering but I blink the tears away. I don't do anything, because there is nothing I can do.

"I wonder how you got back to your sweet family. I thought you lived in the streets? I don't really care, though."

He bites his lips before looking at me.

"I give you one last chance. You can still back out," he bends down to whispers in my ear and I shiver slightly. His breath hits my neck.

Thinking about it, I'd rather be with Zach than Robert.

He takes the silence as a 'no'. He nuzzles his head on my neck and sucks the skin there making me hold his shoulders tightly.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Ella," Zach whispers before licking the skin there.

His threats are empty. He doesn't even have the heart to do any of these, I'm sure.

"You'll be mine. Mine to hate, mine to torture, mine to use."

He's making it so easy to hate him now.

Zach licks my ear and I bite back a moan, hating how I was acting. I nod my head slightly. He looks into my eyes and his other hand caresses my cheek lightly.

"You'll still be my personal assistant. For the world, you'll be seen as my beloved wife but in reality, you'll be anything but that. I will still bring other women home. Also, you will cook for me, both breakfast and dinner. And, you'll be my little bed warmer."

Empty threats.

I nod my head. Not that bad, he is making it easier for me to start hating him. But it hurts. The words cut deep than he knows.

"The wedding's tomorrow, I can't wait to break you further, my sweet Ella. My parents will be there too, so act well," he says bitterly before leaving a chaste kiss in my lips and his lips linger a little longer.

"Leave."

I walk outside with wobbly legs and wild heart. With my euphoric adoptive dad, we ride back home.

Once we're 'home', I walk to my room and pack some of my necessary belongings. My eyes fall on the blue diary, something I had with me all the time.

The same blue diary that Zach gifted me some days before, on my birthday. Thankfully, I had it in my clutch that day when Robert found me. It has been my best friend ever since I got it.

It's small and handy.

And it's really important, I have written my heart out in it. So, leaving it behind isn't an option. I grab it and throw it in my bag along with my other necessities.

Once I've packed everything, I flop down on the bed and look at the ceiling. It still hasn't sunk, though.

I am marrying Zach tomorrow.

The same Zach who once was the love of my life.

In a day, though? He must be desperate. If he were anyone else, I'd be thinking how he's going to be able to manage it in a single day. The wedding preparations, dresses and rings, invitation cards and whatnot.

But it's Zach and I remember how he always managed to do the impossible.

Life is full of surprises, isn't it?

unedited.