Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption by Lilyheart

Chapter 5: 5 If this is about tradition

~The Brown Family~

George's deep voice broke the silence of the lavish living room. "Risa, as the eldest daughter of the Brown family, you will marry Davis Allen of the Allen family."

Risa froze mid-step, her breath hitched and her hands clenched as she slowly turned to face her father with her eyes wide with disbelief. "Dad, is this a joke", she asked tentatively.

George's expression remained firm, his tone unrelenting "I signed a business deal with them and that is one of the requirements needed to facilitate it."

"An alliance?" Risa's voice rose sharply. "With a cripple? Davis Allen is finished, Dad. His family doesn't even want him anymore. How does this benefit us?"

George sighed, " They may not want him but then he is still an Allen and The Allens are still powerful, Risa. Their name alone carries weight, even if Davis is no longer at his peak. This marriage—"

"This marriage will be my destruction, dad!" Risa cut him off, her heels clicking furiously as she paced. "Have ever paused to think of what people will tell me and what they will think of me?"

"You'll learn to adapt," George interrupted, his voice firm. "The marriage isn't about personal feelings. It's about the bigger picture."

"The bigger picture indeed?" Risa scoffed, turning to face him. Her eyes blazed with anger. "When you're asking me to throw my future away for someone who can't even stand on his own two feet. What about my dreams, Dad? My ambitions? My goals dad?"

Clara, who had been sitting quietly on the sofa, finally spoke, her tone calm. "Risa, sacrifices are necessary for the greater good. You're part of this family, and your role is to ensure its success."

Risa whirled toward her mother, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, of course, but family success shouldn't be achieved by shackling your daughter to a ruined man."

Clara's eyes narrowed slightly. "Watch your tone, Risa. You're not a child. You understand how these things work. Besides, Davis might be crippled but he is still an Allen"

Risa let out a bitter laugh. "No, Mom, I don't think I do. What I understand is that I'm being used as a bargaining chip. And I won't stand for it. Besides he is a worthless and useless Allen"

The phone on George's desk rang, cutting through the tension in the room. He hesitated for only a moment before reaching for it, his brows furrowing as he glanced at the caller ID.

"I'll be right back," George muttered curtly, his voice stiff as he turned toward the hallway. His footsteps faded as he answered the phone, leaving Risa and Clara alone in the room.

Risa shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her fingers tapping restlessly on the armrest. The silence in the living room apparent between her and her mother Clara.

for her reaction. "So,

she leaned back against the sofa. "I feel nothing." Her voice indifferent but her eyes betrayed her frustration. "It's all a game, isn't it, Mom? A strategy

a soft laugh, her fingers gently tracing the rim of her glass. "It's not just a game, darling. It's an opportunity. One you'll learn to make the most of if you

no interest in?" She clenched her fists, her voice rising with frustration. "A crippled man, who's lost everything. Who's nothing

not about Davis Allen. It's about the family's reputation and glory. Being an in-laws with the Allen family is

I'm supposed to marry Davis Allen and throw away

narrowing as she studied her daughter. "That's one way to look at it. But there's another, a

and looked at her mother, her curiosity

an alternate solution." She spoke slowly, her voice filled with a dark amusement.

her mom, holding her hand anxiously. "What are you saying? Is there a

her face as her lips curled into a sly smile. "What

froze, her mind whirling as she processed the suggestion. She let out a sharp laugh, her face contorting with a mixture of disbelief and triumph. "You want Jessica to marry him? Are

the idea though it was colder, more venomous. "Exactly. She's the perfect pawn. She'll do whatever we say, without questioning. All she's ever

me. The look of horror when she has to face the reality of being

have to do." Clara said with a

that?" She

be the one to suggest that to your father when he returns now

she wanted

it, Risa—Jessica marrying in your place as the

fists, her satisfaction palpable. "She won't have a choice. Once she's back, she'll be too far gone to fight it. The Allens

they won't. And when it's all said and

her hands now trembling with

silent agreement hung in the air as they both envisioned the better

"I believe I have made this clear. The is not up for

silence hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Then Risa's lips curled into a cold smile, a glint of cunning entering her eyes. "Fine, Dad. If this is about tradition,

brow furrowed. "What are you

the real eldest daughter of this family, isn't she? The rightful one, why not let her

George never corrected her, dismissing Jessica as a worthless burden incapable of contributing anything to the family's name while Risa usually poses as