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,

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 to put me

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

irritation as she shot her mother a sharp look. "Opportunities? You mean to manipulate me into marrying someone I have no interest in?" She clenched her fists, her voice rising with frustration. "A crippled man, who's lost everything. Who's nothing now

bigger picture. It's not about Davis Allen.

" I'm supposed to marry Davis Allen and

as she studied her daughter. "That's one way to

her mother,

expression turning calculating. "I'm thinking of an alternate solution." She spoke slowly, her voice filled with a dark amusement. "What if we didn't need you to marry Davis at

ran over to her mom, holding her hand anxiously.

she caressed her face as her lips curled into a sly smile. "What if we let

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

venomous. "Exactly. She's the perfect pawn. She'll do whatever

can already imagine her face when she finds out she's been traded in place of me. The look of horror

to do." Clara

She

that to your father when he

mom—" she wanted to

about it, Risa—Jessica marrying in your place as the eldest daughter will not only relieve

into fists, her satisfaction palpable. "She won't have a choice. Once

all said and done, you'll be free to pursue your own ambitions, unburdened by

widened as she stared at her mother, her hands now trembling

to arouse her father's suspicion while their silent agreement hung in the air as they both

seat again, glanced at Risa briefly "I believe I

a

"What are you

real eldest daughter of this family, isn't

role she arrogantly assumed at every upper-class function. George never corrected her, dismissing Jessica as a worthless burden incapable of contributing anything to