The Peace Offering

Hailey Carter is given off to Seth Romano as a peace offering. He's everything she's afraid of and planned to avoid in her life. But she can't help when her father thrusts her into this nightmare so as to save his life and reputation. After a long while, the couple finally get along, but not everyone is delighted that the Seth Romano is smitten and happy.

A new threat comes to light and it's by far the most dangerous and shocking. It threatens to not only tear them apart, but end them as well. How will this unlikely couple overcome this? Most importantly, is their love strong enough to challenge the obstacles this threat presents?

Hailey

" I can't do this father, Please. There must be another -" I begged but the loud bang of his fist against the wooden table cut me off.

" There is no other way Hailey! If there was do you think I would have done it? You're my only child for goodness sake!" He yelled, making me flinch.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, blinking back the tears that were threatening to escape. How could he do this? How could he have just decided to give me away to the most dangerous man in the world? I am his daughter. The apple of his eyes, but he married me off to a cruel man.

I don't even know his name or what he looks like. But I've heard rumors. No one dares to cross his path but my father did. And now he has to pay for it, well, I have to pay for it.

I felt his gentle hands on mine but I refused to look at him, the tears in my eyes wouldn't let me.

" I love you, Hailey. You know I do. But if I don't give you to him he'll kill me. He'll kill all of us." My father whispered. His right hand caressed my hair and the other cupped my hands in a soothing manner.

"Please do it for us. I'll not let anything happen to you, I promise." He said, tilting my chin with his finger so I could meet his gaze.

Upon meeting his pleading eyes, I let the tears slide down my cheek. I hated this. I hated being forced to do what I didn't want to. I hated that I had no choice, but there was nothing I could do. This was my family and I had to save them, even if it meant losing my life.

I nodded my head shakily, unable to form words. My father smiled sadly, if only he knew what I felt deep down. I wondered how he couldn't hear my heart thundering inside my chest.

In less than two days, I would be married off to the man I've been praying to never cross paths with. The man that could kill my whole family within a single heartbeat. He was merciless, and my husband.

My father wrapped his arms around me, embracing me warmly. But for the sound of my racing heart filling my ears, I could have sworn I heard him sniffling. I felt nothing but fear and anger towards my father at the moment. Did he not realize the depth of his mistake?!

My father pulled away and wiped my tears with the pad of his thumb. He planted a kiss on my forehead before dismissing me without a word. I left my father's office, hoping that my trembling legs would be able to carry me all the way to my room without me collapsing.

I rushed down the hallway, not sparing anyone a glance and locked myself in. Since I was alone, I let the tears fall and sobbed for my life. In two days I'd lose my freedom to a brute, and there was nothing I could do about it.

I would meet him tonight and leave with him the next day to sign the marriage certificate. Terrible questions filled my mind as I thought of my married life. Would he want me to consummate our marriage on the first night? Would he force me if I disagreed? What would he do if I made a mistake like father did? He would kill me instantly and it would soon be forgotten, because he was invincible.

When I heard my father informing my mother of his plan to give me away, I knew there was no escape. But after he told me about it in his office, it felt like my whole world was crashing before my very eyes. I thought I could hold myself together since I already overheard, but after the little I heard about him, I couldn't.

I stayed in my room for what felt like forever, though it was only a few hours. My mother came in soon after, her face as stoic as always. Instead of asking for my permission, she took the extra key to my room and let herself in.

" You need to get ready. He's going to be here in an hour. Follow me." Her dark eyes remained on my teary ones as she spoke in the cold tone she always used on me.

I stood up immediately. My mother was the last person I wanted to disobey. She was mean, manipulative and hated when I wasted her time. I always wondered whether she hated me, whether my birth was a mistake to her. Ever since childhood she'd leave me in the care of our oldest maid or even my father.

She never smiled at me or praised me whenever I went out of my comfort zone to please her. She was just like that towards me. Cold and Mean. It hurt that my own mother didn't care that I was being forced to marry a cruel man but a big part of me wasn't surprised. That tiny part however....

I followed her obediently down the hall, my head low as I tried my best to stop my hiccups. She always hated them. She took me downstairs, into our garden where her makeup artist awaited me.

"Hailey. Come sit." The young lady smiled at me.

My mother turned to her heels and left, shutting the door behind her. I wiped the tear stains on my cheeks and sat on the stool in front of her. At least I could enjoy the view of our beautiful garden while she was at it.

"This won't take long, I promise." Adrianna, the makeup artist promised.

She knew I hated makeup. I always scowled when she did because it meant my mother was dragging me to one of the numerous events she attended so I could catch the eye of a young, more importantly rich bachelor. So now that I thought of it, she was pro overjoyed that I was getting married because this man was apparently a billionaire.

I sighed in response. Unlike the other times, I hoped this would take forever.