Chapter 1
Sarah Stone POV
Money. Power. Status. That's what I have always been surrounded by. My father, Richard Stone, a cold and ruthless man would do anything even if it means destroying others to get it and my mother, Vanessa Stone, a kind soul with compassion for others around her but there is a side that she doesn't entertain and that would be the way she sees me, she wants me to be just like her with everything that a girl should love but I don't. I have three older brothers, Cole, William and Brian Stone, all cold and ruthless as our father, they are Juniors at Stoneheart University and soon I'll be attending as well in just a few weeks. I have always been told stories about this University, how the rich and worthy would be enough to fill the halls. Being spoiled all my life, I was always a quiet and keep to myself, making sure that I would never be one of those girls that thinks just because I have money, I should be showing it off and become entitled. I may have money and power just because of my family's name and the empire that my grandfather has built over the decades, the Stone Industry, I just want a normal life, a life that I would be able to do what I want and have my own choices but that is impossible, especially in my situation. Ever since I was born, my life was already decided for me, go to Stoneheart, get a degree in business, marry a wealthy man and have kids but that's not what I wanted for my future, I wanted to travel, try exotic foods and become a doctor that would help people around the world but to my family, what I wanted would just be a disappointment.
Being a perfect and graceful daughter that they wanted me to be is just a nightmare in my opinion because I'm what most people call a nerd, I'm quite and study all day long, having my head stuck in textbooks and that's what I truly enjoy. My mother would always tell me "Sarah your of a noble blood and your should act like it" which means that I should be wearing make up, dresses and heels all day long just to please her guests that she invites on a daily basis. Sometimes I think that I'm just a prop for their entertainment, someone that they could try and control, I mostly stay in my bedroom and ignore my mother whenever she demands that I dress up and join her guest downstairs but I refuse and I believe that has been causing a rift between the relationship that I had with my mother. I was always close with her when I was younger, she never demanded that I dress like a lady of nobility but when I started high school, something has shifted because all of a sudden she has been demanding that a lady should look and act like a noble with grace and everything perfection. As I just said, it's a nightmare!!
"Sarah are you ready, we're going to be meeting the Snow Family in about 5 minutes", came my brother Brian, interrupting my train of thought, "yeah, I'm coming", I stood up from the couch I was sitting on in my bedroom and walking to the door and opened it. Brian is standing there in a tuxedo that may have costed millions "you couldn't have put on a dress, fuck Sarah, mother will be rambling on and on about your outfit, you look like your homeless", I looked at my outfit seeing as I'm just wearing dark blue jeans, a T-shirt with a heart in the middle, "wants wrong with what I'm wearing, it's fine", I looked up at him with a raised eyebrow and all he does is roll his eyes "whatever, come on, we're going to be late". He grabbed my arm and dragged me to the stairs, I could hardly keep up and I was hoping that I didn't fall face first down the stairs. As we got to the bottom of the staircase, we were greeted my a couple, one looks scary looking tall, with blue eyes and black hair, and the other had a softer appearance with green eyes and brown eyes, Mrs. Valerie Snow and Mr. William Snow, beside them is a man tall, brown and black hair with green eyes but they hold a cold stare, Jesse Snow; "Brian, Sarah, finally you showed your faces", came the voice of our father, but my eyes found my mother as she looks at me with disdain on what I'm wearing but she doesn't say anything as she smiled her plastic smile at these guests. "Sarah, sweetheart, come", I walking forward towards my father, "sweetheart, this young man is going to be your future husband and you both will be married once you complete Bloomington University", he smiled and I was shocked, I looked at this man that I have heard my stories about, that he's ruthless and has no respect for women in general.
This man, Jesse, looked at me with a sinister smile plastered on his stupid face which gives me the chills. "Sarah, it's a pleasure to finally meet you", his voice has an edge to it that has brought disgust to me core, he grabbed my hand with that sinister smile while kissing the back of my hand but I pulled it back as quickly as I could. "You can't be serious", I yelled at my parents but now I see that was a mistakes that now I can't take back, my parents faces went stern and so did my brothers, fear has now creeped up my spine has I looked at their faces "you will marry him weather you like it or not young lady", my mother hissed at me with a demand that I couldn't refuse. My head hung low, looking at the floor "yes, mother", whispering those words my mother smiled "good", them they started their conversation with the Snow Family, talking about wedding plans, my brothers staying quiet and Jesse just keeps looking at me with a heat in his eyes that I had to take a step back away from him. After everything was completed, I just walking upstairs without say goodbye to the Snow Family and just locked myself in my bedroom, crying that I'm being forced into a loveless marriage, demanded around like I don't have feelings of my own, eventually I cried myself to sleep, hoping and dreaming that I could have a life of my own without consistent demands and forcefulness.
3 Weeks Later
These weeks have gone by, especially after the meeting with the Snow Family and my arrange marriage to Jesse. Now I'm packing to attend Stoneheart University, staying in the dorms, as I packed the last of my necessities, I heard a knock at my door so I went to open it and it was my mother "Sarah, you are to show proper manners of a young lady and not embarrass the family when attending Stoneheart, do I make myself clear", she looked at me with a look of coldness, "yes, mother, I understand", as I said those words, she just nodded and walked off, I let out a heavy sigh that I didn't think I was holding. I got my suitcases of the bed and started walking down the stairs and to the limo that's waiting for me; I looked back at the mansion I grew up in and my parents watching without an ounce of emotion one last time and got in.
The drive didn't take long, the next thing I knew I was right in front of the University, I got out and with the help of the driver, I was able to get all my suitcases to me room and the good thing is that I don't have a roommate. I thanked the driver, he nodded and walked off, I started to unpacking everything before having to go to orientation. Once finished, I rushed out the dorm building and started fast walking, practical running to get to orientation on time, I rounded the corner of the hall way but I bumped into something that felt like a brick wall, falling on my ass, I looked up and saw a very handsome man with black hair, black eyes and he's wearing a leather jacket, I looked down quickly with blushing cheeks, "watch were your going", came his deep, sexy voice and it had a growl to it "s-sorry", I whispered, still looking down, all he did was 'tsk' and walked around me without giving me a second glance.
I looked back once and saw him round a corner, I got up, dusted myself off and continued to the orientation room seeing that I'm 3 minutes late, I took a seat next to a female with black hair with gold highlights and with brown eyes. As we all sat and waited the girl next to me, smiled and extended her hand for me to shake "hi, I'm Victoria Blackwood", she was very energetic, I shook her hand "I'm Sarah Stone", I said quietly and she just looked at me with her mouth wide open "Stone, you mean to tell me that your family is owners to the Stone Industry, a multibillion dollar company that makes many weapons that could make everyone jealous", she practically screams and many people looked at us, "yes, but please, I don't want everyone to know of my family when I'm here, I have just my first name on the registry", she just looked at me and just gave me a nod and continued looking forward.
As I was paying attention, I saw that same guy I bumped into earlier up against the wall looking bored but what got my attention was that he's looked straight at me and he's smirking, seeing that I was checking him out openly. I looked down, with red cheeks and Victoria looked at me strangely "you okay", she whispered "yeah, but I do have one question, who's he", I started looking at the guy again and she followed my line of sight "oh, that's my big brother, Damian Blackwood", I looked at her shocked "but I must warn you, please stay away from him, he's a play boy, a bad boy and not someone to be messed with", I just nodded and try to pay attention to the instructor, even though I feel his eyes burning a hole on the side of my head.
After the orientation, I practically ran out of there, making sure that I don't run into Damian "SARAH", I turned around and saw Victoria running after me while waving her hand with a smile, I stopped so that she can catch up with me. "Hey, since we have no classes for today, do you want to come to a party with me and my friends", she has a hopeful look looking at me and I just stared back "um, sure, why not", I gave her a soft smile as she started jumping up and down, looping her arm around me she started guiding me through the packed hall ways all the way to the dorm building but I felt like I was being watched.
Unknown POV
Well, well, well, keep your distance little lamb because I have just found my next target, I started smirking as my sweet little sister dragged who I came to know as Sarah Stone after the outburst of Victoria, to the dorm buildings. I know Victoria told her about me, more so a warning, but that little warning will be the first little mistake that this little lamb will make because I could tell that she finds me handsome so I will use that to my advantage, I'll make sure to make her fall for me. Sarah, just you wait, I have just found my sweet little prey and I would do anything to have you in my grasp. I started walking away, with a smirk on my face, just thinking of my little lamb and what I would do to her when I have her to myself, now I have a party to get ready for because this party is just a starting point to my plan.
