Sentenced to Marriage by MadlainQ

Callan 

The man standing in front of me was my ex–boyfriend, Callan Garrod, He barely changed during those three years I hadn‘t seen him, but at that moment, I finally saw him without his fake mask of modesty, dressed in an expensive dark navy suit and black shirt. Aside from his rich – boy attire, he had the same sleekly combed pale–blond hair and icy–blue eyes that gave a disturbing stare. One corner of his thin lips was curled into a vicious smirk, as his eyes went through my length. “I have to admit that I‘m impressed. You used to swear that you hated money, and now you are here, in the crown of Manhattan‘s richest... Isn‘t that a hypocrisy?” He chuckled, his eyes lustfully measuring my curves. I hated his eyes on me. I felt as if my body was being evaluated by him. I could see he enjoyed the view, while I found the view of him nauseating. 

“I was invited here,” I squeezed through my clenched throat. “Oh, really? Now, that‘s interesting. Care to say who invited you?” Callan‘s amusement grew by the second 

His voice carried a strange command, one I had known from the time we were together. Chills ran down my spine. The love I‘d had for him turned into hatred a long time ago, but even now I could feel the leash he once placed on my neck. 

I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. “I was invited here by Mr. Augustus Winton,” I replied confidently. 

Callan stepped back, looking at me in shock. “That‘s impossible...” he muttered. “I‘m telling the truth,” I said, clenching my fist. “Now, would you excuse me, I need to find 

“You‘re not going anywhere!” Callen forcefully grabbed my wrist. “Tell me, how did you get in here?!” 

“I came here with my fiancé!” I spat. “Now, let go of me, or I won‘t mind causing a big scene at this party.” I glared at him, struggling to release my wrist. 

“Fiancé?!” He burst out into cold laughter before looking me up and down again. “Oh... Now I get it. You sneaked in here to look for a rich husband, one that could take care of your petty financial problems!” 

I stared into his eyes filled with mockery and wondered how I could ever love someone like him. He knew everything about my Grandma and my situation, and yet he dared to call it ” petty financial problems“?! 

“Screw you, Callan!” I hissed, still fighting against his grip on my hand. He leaned over me. “You belong to me, Cora. I don‘t know how you got here, but since you are here, I have a proposition for you: you still look quite fuckable, so entertain me for a month, and if you do well, I will give you the money you wanted for your grandmother‘s treatment.” 

Callan 

His voice felt like a sword piercing my chest. My blood boiled while my eyes filled with tears. The mix of emotions I felt was too hard to contain. He wanted me to sell my body to him as if I was a money–lusting slut. It might have been the lowest move he made, but then this bastard even mentioned my grandmother! That threw me off the edge. I closed my watery eyes, fisted my free hand, and swung it, aiming at Callan‘s face. Just when I was expecting to feel a hard impact, I felt someone‘s palm tightly wrapping my fist. I opened my eyes and saw Aren, blocking me an inch away from Callan‘s jaw. 

“Don‘t hurt yourself, honey,” Aren said firmly, forcing me to lower my hand. 

him, startled as he turned toward Callan with blazing eyes. “Let her go.” His icy words carried an undeniable threat. Callan clenched his teeth and nonchalantly uncurled his fingers from

My ex–boyfriend‘s

Aren, shaking my head and praying that he would tell

before shooting Callan

Still, I looked at him, hoping to get some logical explanation while I slowly acknowledged the

my waist.

if someone‘s hand was crushing my heart. “Callan is your step ?–brother... and you knew...” I muttered,

and falling erratically. I felt betrayed, bared of any confidence I had just a few minutes ago. “So you really ended up with my brother? Congratulations, Cora!” Callan sneered, looking at my painful expression. “But I need to warn you... I know that you thought that I was

words. I took another step back, clenching my fists as if I was trying to hold

played me... again...” I muttered, trembling

it wasn‘t like that.” Aren reached out his

only one thing I need to know: did you or did you not know that when your

his face. “Not

Callan 

it before we came here tonight, right?” I

his eyes on me. “Yes, I

in a rush, and as I did, tears started flowing from my eyes. “Bastard.” I turned around and started walking towards

wait!” I heard him calling after me, his

get away from this devilish family. I couldn‘t stand another second around any of them. I couldn‘t breathe. I passed the ballroom door and rushed to the hotel‘s revolving doors. Aren caught

me away from the people still crowding outside the hotel, leading me to a more private side alley. “I was about to tell you, but I wanted to do it later. He was never supposed to show up in here. That was

wanted to make sure that I would grant you access to the Wintons‘ mansion first, isn‘t that right? Were

as tears drew lines down my cheeks. “I would never do anything that could make

I didn‘t think that meeting the guy who dumped you three years ago would become such

humorlessly. “Wow... I didn‘t think that was possible, but you might even be worse