Forced to Marry 2

“Your father is thinking about your future. Don’t you want more than a life stuck in the countryside? If you marry the mafia boss, you’ll live in a luxurious mansion with servants to tend to your every need,” Hazel said, her tone dripping with feigned concern as she attempted to coax Minerva. Hearing Minerva praise her daughters, Hazel felt a surge of satisfaction. She and Clifford were blessed with two exceptional daughters. But precisely because they were so outstanding, the mere thought of marrying them off to a brutal mafia boss was unthinkable. However, when Minerva suggested sending her daughters in her place, Hazel’s expression twisted with fury. Her anger flared, and she fought the sudden urge to slap Minerva across the face. The current mafia boss of Hepham remained a figure shrouded in mystery. Despite countless investigations, all they ever unearthed were chilling rumors—tales of an aging, unattractive man with a ruthless, cold-blooded nature. Most disturbing of all was his alleged penchant for abusing women. Though it was merely hearsay, neither Clifford nor Hazel was willing to risk sending their beloved daughters into such peril. “No! I won’t marry a stranger — much less a mafia boss!” Minerva cried out, feigning fear. She shook her head vehemently, her expression one of defiance and alarm, making it clear she had no intention of complying with the arrangement. “What did you just say?” Hazel’s voice cut through the air, sharp and laced with tension. Her gaze locked fiercely onto Minerva, eyes narrowing with a mix of disbelief and fury. In that moment, one thought consumed her mind. If Minerva refuses, it will be my daughter who’s forced into this marriage! There was no way she would allow her precious daughter to marry a man shrouded in fear and mystery. The rumors alone were enough to horrify her—a cruel, abusive mafia boss whose family upheld rigid traditions, forbidding widows from ever remarrying. If that man died, his wife would be condemned to a lifetime of widowhood. “Listen carefully! You don’t have the right to refuse,” Clifford snapped, his patience wearing thin. “For the sake of our family’s future, you will go through with this marriage. All these years, your expenses in the countryside have been covered by my money. Now, it’s time for you to repay me.” If Minerva persisted in her defiance, he might have no choice but to send her directly into the arms of the mafia boss, whether she liked it or not. “But…” Minerva, however, scoffed inwardly. She was unfazed by the prospect of a marriage to a mafia boss. She had the means to protect herself, whether it be firearms, knives, or even drugs—skills she had acquired over the years. In fact, she was almost curious to see if the infamous mafia boss was truly as terrifying as the rumors suggested. If the rumors were true, Minerva would kill the mafia boss, throwing the entire mafia family into disarray. But if the rumors proved false, she had no qualms about continuing to play the role of the innocent, helpless girl. “Enough! There’s nothing more to discuss!” Clifford cut her off, his tone sharp and impatient. Minerva, seemingly resigned to her fate, allowed her eyes to redden, her expression teetering on the verge of tears. She knew this display of vulnerability was the perfect ruse. Watching her act so helpless, Hazel felt a surge of satisfaction, believing that Minerva was finally submitting to the family’s will. See? Whether it was that deceased ex-wife or the daughter left behind by her, I know how to make their lives a living hell. Minerva had successfully played the part of the fragile, vulnerable daughter, deceiving both Clifford and Hazel. Had she immediately agreed to the arranged marriage, Hazel would have surely grown suspicious. Minerva was assigned to live in the log cabin behind the mansion, far enough from the main house where Clifford and his wife resided. Late at night, as Minerva lay in bed, she suddenly heard a faint noise from outside. Soon, the unmistakable scent of blood began to permeate the air. Instinctively, Minerva rose from her bed, moving quietly toward the door to peer outside with caution. Is Hazel trying to have me killed? No, that’s unlikely. Hazel is fixated on having me marry that sick pervert from Twilight Villa. She wouldn’t be plotting my death—at least not yet. Driven by a mixture of curiosity and caution, she silently opened the door to see what was unfolding outside. Minerva’s eyes caught sight of a man sprawled in the flower bed in the moonlight, the smell of blood growing stronger with each passing moment. “Who’s there?” The man’s voice was weak but urgent, his injury apparent. His hands moved swiftly, and Minerva heard the unmistakable click of a bullet being chambered. “This is my home! Who are you?” Minerva whispered, careful not to raise her voice and alert the servants. “Save me, or I’ll shoot you!” the man threatened, his voice laced with desperation. “I’m as good as dead already, so I don’t mind taking someone else down to hell with me.”