Sentenced to Marriage by MadlainQ

Facing the enemy 

Callan stood in front of me, his eyes looking at me with an odd sadness and pain. He had no jacket on. His shirt was half–unbuttoned, and its sleeves were rolled up. The sleekly combed hair he had before was now ruffled. As he stepped toward me, I could smell alcohol in his breath. 

“Why are you with him, Cora?” he asked softly. 

“W–what?” His painful tone caught me off–guard more than his words. “Is it because I have never told you that I’m a Winton?” He stepped closer, his eyes tightly locked on mine. 

“What are you talking about?!” I stepped back, desperately trying to keep my distance. 

He sighed heavily and sat on the bed. “It was my Grandfather‘s idea. He forced me to use my Mother‘s name, scared that I would somehow dishonor the Winton name by involving myself in scandals while away from home. Only the professors knew that my name wasn‘t Garrod.” 

“Why are you telling me this? Why now?” I took another step back and found myself leaning against the wall. 

“I should have told you who I am...” he mumbled. “Would it change anything? You dumped me, remember?” I huffed. He pulled himself back up to his heels and lurched to grab me by my arms. “I had to! Grandpa would have disinherited me if I wanted to marry someone who… who...” 

“Someone like me?” I scoffed. “Someone without money or connections?” 

He lowered his head, stroking down my arms‘ length with his fingers, making me flinch. 

need to leave,” I said, his touch nauseating me

Cora,” he whispered. “My family has already

back to you?!” How could he talk about getting back together, let alone marrying?! There were days when I wished he had proposed, but it was long before I realized how abusive this person might be; before he crushed my confidence,

need to leave,” I squeezed

was more than aware of what Callan was capable of. He had always been unpredictable and cruel, and I could only imagine what could come to his sick head at the moment he was drunk, frustrated, and angry. I was in his

weaker by the

in a silk nightgown. “Does he know what you like? Does he know

folding my arms and rubbing them to get rid of the shivering” Don‘t go there, Callan, please...” “Admit it, you loved the way I fucked you. It did feel good, didn‘t it?” He stepped closer, his lustful gaze examining my every curve. “I don‘t want to remember anything about you!” I screamed, my

he

head away and trying to slap him, but he

to play rough as always.” His icy laugh brought back the worst memories I

him. 

groaned, trying to release myself, but his grip only tightened. A moment later, I found myself withering and helplessly fighting against his strength. “Let go, you psychopath!” “Cora?!” I heard Aren‘s

ounce of remaining strength within me. “Aren!” I shouted before Callan clamped my mouth with his hand to silence me. I used a moment of his distraction and stomped on his foot. As he loosened his grip on me, I bit his hand. “Aren! Help!” Aren rattled the door handle violently, but it was locked. Callan smirked mischievously, his cold,

he threw himself at me, pinning

of my gown, touching my thighs and trying to slide between them. Suddenly, the door broke, and Aren barged into the room, his eyes blazing in fury. Callen jumped away from the bed, a wicked grin curving his lips. “She let me in herself. She was the one who seduced me,” he said, pointing at me while I lay on the bed trembling.. Aren glanced at me, his jaw clenched. His icy stare at me sent shivers down my spine. He wouldn‘t believe Callan‘s words, would he? I shook my head, tears flowing from my eyes.

Faring the party 

Callan down to the ground. Callan jumped back to his feet with an enraged growl as he lurched at Aren, trying to rain him down. Aren punched his ribs, and a split second later, threw Callan over his shoulder. I gasped, barely registering his movements. Once Callan hit the floor, Aren started punching him again and again, turning his face into a bloody pulp. As I observed his rage–soaked movements,