"P-Please… I'll repay my parents' debt. But don't force me into this marriage, I beg you."
Eric didn't reply. He pushed her into the car and drove silently until they arrived at the destination...It was a graveyard.
He pulled her out forcefully.
"Stop," she begged, but he didn't stop and continued to walk until they were in front of one particular grave.
"This," he pointed toward it "Is the debt. Can you repay it? Your father murdered my mother."
Liana fell to her knees, tears pouring down her face. "No… my father would never do such a thing. He can't even harm a soul, let alone kill someone."
Eric's voice turned darker. "If you don't marry me, I'll kill your brother. The choice is yours."
Liana looked up at him, trembling. "P-Please… Let me see my father just once. Let me ask him myself what happened. After that, I'll do whatever you say. Just once—please… take me to him.
"No. You're never going to see your family again."
He looked at the guard and ordered, "Take her back and lock her up."
Liana stared at him in shock, her eyes full of tears and fear. She couldn't believe someone could treat her like this. "Don't do this." She stuttered, but all her pleadings were in vain.
It was a long, heavy night for everyone. Each of them lay awake in their rooms, haunted by memories and harsh words.
Liana sat alone in a cold, dark, rotten abandoned room in a stable. She had been crying nonstop from evening till now. Her mind wouldn't stop replaying Eric's words.
"My father can't kill anyone… he wouldn't even hurt a fly."
She covered her face, sobbing. "How can I marry a man like Eric? Someone who hates me so much… someone who treats me like a prisoner?"
Meanwhile, Eric didn't leave his office either. His mind was filled with thoughts of Caleb, the one he swore to protect. He was continuously thinking about how he would explain this whole situation to Caleb.
Caleb lay on his bed, tears streaming down his face.
"When I was a kid," he whispered to himself, "Other children's mothers would come to pick them up from school… they hugged them, kissed them. Their fathers came to parent-teacher meetings. But I… I had no one."
"All of that… because of her father. And now my brother wants to marry that man's daughter?"
"I'll never forgive him. Never." He swore.
The next morning, the door of the rotten room cracked open, and someone walked inside. Sensing someone's presence inside the room. Liana slowly opened her eyes and was met by the enraged face of Margaret.
Liana wanted to move, but she couldn't as she was tied up, and even her mouth was covered. Margaret looked at the guard and instructed, "Untie her."
As soon as Liana was free, she begged, "P-please… help me… save me."
Margaret leaned closer and whispered slowly in her ear, "Run away now and never come back."
Without giving her another look, Margaret left the room. As soon as she was out, she called Richard and told him, "Go kill her. She'll be leaving the stable soon."
Richard came up with a new plan. He told Caleb everything and even gave him a gun "Go find that girl and end it."
At the same time, Eric got a phone call. "Ma'am Margaret, let her go."
A second call came: "Sir, Caleb just left the mansion. We're tracking him."
Eric quickly left the mansion.
Meanwhile, Liana escaped and made it back home. Her family was so happy to see her.
Daniel ran up to her and said, "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" But then Helen showed up, angry. "Why did you come back? Don't you know they'll kill Daniel if you're here?"
Liana tried to explain happily, but before she could finish, Helen slapped her hard and grabbed her hand.
"Get out! Leave this house right now! You're not part of this family anymore!" Helen yelled and pushed her out the door.
Liana stood outside shocked, She started begging, "Please, Dad, tell me you didn't kill anyone. Don't treat me like this. Where will I go?"
While she was busy begging, she didn't sense anyone's presence behind her till a cold barrel was pressed on the back of her head. It was Caleb.
Without giving a second thought, he fired the gun.
BOOM! A loud bang was heard.
Liana closed her eyes, a smile crept on her face, ready to accept her destiny but the bullet didn't hit her.
She opened her eyes and looked around, and found Eric grabbing Caleb.
Eric shouted, "She's mine now!"
The guards came and nearly pushed Caleb to get in the car. They took him away.
Angry, Eric grabbed Liana's hand ready to go into her house.
Liana begged, "P-please don't go inside. Not my house."
Thud!!! Eric kicked open the gate. He pulled out his gun and pointed it at Daniel.
"Go ahead, shoot me if you want. Just don't touch my sister." Daniel proposed.
Liana cried, "Please don't hurt my brother! I'll marry you today—I swear I won't run away again! I promise."
Silence fell.
A few hours later!
Liana made her way to the poolside, dragging her feet a little. The sun was going down, and its light hit the water in a pretty way, but she didn't care. It was all meaningless now. This spot, right here, was where her whole life was about to change. And not in a way she wanted.
The dreams she held close, going abroad to study and building her own life, were slipping away. After today, after this marriage, those dreams would be gone for good.
Eric sat calmly on the chair, dressed immaculately, as if this day were just another business deal. The entire family stood around in silence—no smiles, no blessings, just a heavy tension in the air. Liana, draped in a white bridal dress that felt more like a shroud than a gown, slowly approached the chair placed in front of the table.
She sat down, her hands trembling as she picked up the pen. Without looking up, without a word, she signed the papers. That was it. It was done. She was Eric's wife now.
Her world had changed in a matter of seconds.
Eric glanced at Emma and said coldly, "Take her to my room."
Liana didn't react. She couldn't. It felt like her heart had stopped beating. Her chest felt tight, as if she couldn't breathe. Her eyes didn't meet anyone else's. But she could feel them—her family. Standing quietly. Not out of joy, not out of support. They were silent because of fear. Because of the monster Eric.
They were all enduring this, just like she was.
Hours had passed since the wedding. Liana sat on the edge of the bed, her white dress wrinkled, her hands clutching her mother's old bracelet.
"Mom... I'm scared," she whispered.
"Dad would've never let this happen."
Tears welled up in her eyes, her voice trembling.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps outside, getting closer. She held her breath.
The door opened slowly.
It was Eric.
His face was full of anger. Liana stood up quickly, scared.
Eric walked toward her. Liana moved back until she hit the wall behind her.
He came closer and grabbed her hand. Liana pulled away, her voice shaking. "Please… stay away from me. I only married you to save my brother. I didn't have any other reason."
Eric's face turned cold. "You still have to pay for what you did," he said.
"I said don't come close!" Liana cried. Tears ran down her cheeks. She was very scared.
Eric stepped back. His voice was sharp and cold " You're not even worth standing in front of me."
Just as those cruel words left his mouth, a loud voice echoed from outside.
"Brother! Come down, I need to talk to you—now!" Caleb shouted from near the pool.
Margaret came out first. "Caleb, stop shouting. It's too late at night. This isn't the time for this. If your brother hears you, he'll get angry."
Just then, Eric came out behind her.
Caleb's face was red. He pointed at Eric and shouted, "How can you live in the same house with the daughter of our mother's killer? Tell me, brother—what's right and what's wrong now?"
Eric's jaw tightened. "Enough. Go back to your room. We'll talk in the morning. That's an order."
No!" Caleb shouted. "I'm not going anywhere! I won't stay silent anymore. Mother died again... and this time, it's because of you!"
Eric stood still. Caleb's words felt like a sharp blow to his heart. Overcome with anger, he raised his hand and slapped Caleb—for the first time.
The whole place went silent.
Liana saw everything from her window, shocked too like everyone else.
Caleb touched his cheek, breathing heavily. He looked up at Liana with anger, then turned around and left the mansion.
"Where are you going, son?" Margaret cried.
"Come back!"
But Caleb didn't stop.
Eric went back to his room, full of rage. He couldn't stop thinking about his mother lying in blood. Caleb's words kept repeating in his mind.
He lost control. He turned to Liana. Without thinking, he grabbed her and shoved her hard against the wall. She hit it and collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Eric stood still, staring at her in silence. After a moment, he turned away and walked down the hall to his office
The next morning,
Everyone sat quietly at the breakfast table. Caleb and Eric didn't even look at each other. Breakfast was being served in silence.
Liana woke up that morning feeling very weak. She had not eaten or drunk anything for four days. Her body was getting weaker, and she felt sick. After some time, Liana came downstairs slowly. Her face looked pale.
As soon as Caleb saw her, he stood up, angry.
"You're not even allowed to breathe in this house! Don't ever show me your face again!"
Eric also stood up, "Emma! Take Liana to the store room. Don't let her come out again." Emma walked over quietly, held Liana's arm, and took her away to the cold, dark store room.
The door creaked open. Emma stepped in with a tray in her hands. Liana had spent the entire day locked inside the storeroom.
"It's freezing in here," Emma muttered under her breath. "I was told not to bring you anything. Margaret Ma'am said no food, no blanket. But… I couldn't let you go hungry. You haven't eaten since morning."
Liana turned her tear-streaked face toward her. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Thank you... But I'm not hungry. Please… take it away."
Emma nodded and left quietly.
Moments later,
The door opened again. This time, it was Margaret.
"Come with me. I need to speak with you."
Liana wiped her tears and stood up slowly.
She followed Margaret down the long corridor, through the back door, and into the garden. The night was biting cold, and the fog clung low to the ground.
As they walked past the wilted roses, Liana noticed something odd—a large hole in the ground. She was about to say something, but before she could, Margaret suddenly pushed her hard.
Liana stumbled and lost her balance and fell.
Then, everything went dark.
"Help me! P-Please!" she screamed, panic rising in her voice. But Margaret didn't look back. She walked away quietly as if nothing had happened.