Chapter 4

When I heard that, I was so furious I could have died.

"Mrs. Whitney, you don't get to decide my marriage. You want to trade me for a dowry? Not a chance!"

Marlene stared at me like a wolf. "Son, go shut the door."

Blake hurried over and shut the door.

I tensed up instantly.

"What's this supposed to mean? Are you trying to lock me up illegally?"

"Don't make it sound so ugly. We're family. Marriage is a big deal—it's a matter of the parents' word and the matchmaker's arrangement. Your father passed early, and your mother doesn't look after you, so it falls to your uncle and me to worry about your marriage."

"Marrying you off to Douglas Gray is for your own good. The Gray family is rich. Go to them and you'll live in comfort. You won't even have to work anymore—you can lie around at home all day if you want."

"Once your marriage is settled, your father will thank us from up in heaven."

I glanced at the phone Marlene had thrown on the ground, calculating how to grab it fast and call the police.

Marlene saw right through me and kicked my phone far out of reach.

"Son, watch your cousin. I'm calling Douglas over. Rosalie's grown prettier over the years we haven't seen her—Douglas is sure to take a liking to her."

"You got it!"

Blake planted his hands on his hips and stood in front of me.

He was over six feet tall and weighed well over two hundred pounds, like a wall.

"Behave yourself, or don't blame me for getting rough."

"I will never agree to marry Douglas Gray!"

"That's not up to you!"

I tried to run out, but Blake grabbed me in his arms and flung me back.

"Don't throw dignity in your face and refuse it—don't make me slap you!"

Leslie held Blake back. "Don't hit her yet. If you rough her up and Douglas doesn't like the look of her when he gets here, then what?"

"Dad, I've got a way. She won't behave unless I knock her around!"

I snatched up the chair beside me. "You touch me and see what happens!"

"You little brat, you're just asking to be dealt with!"

Blake rolled up his sleeves and charged at me, so I raised the chair and swung it right at him.

But he caught the chair and wrenched it out of my hands with ease.

He tossed the chair aside and grabbed a fistful of my hair.

He clamped down on my chin so hard I felt like he was going to crush the bone.

"When Douglas gets here, you'd better put on a good show—you hear me!"

Just then, Marlene came in with Douglas.

"Come on in, Douglas, this is Rosalie."

"Oh, son, stop scuffling with your cousin—hurry up and let her meet Douglas."

Only then did Blake let go of me. He seized me by the collar and shoved me forward.

Douglas's eyes lit up the moment he saw me, his grin nearly splitting his face.

"Mrs. Whitney, this niece of yours is a real beauty! How old is she this year? I like her!"

"She just turned twenty-five, and she's a college student too. Marry her and you've gotten yourself a real bargain!"

"Three hundred thousand at the very least. My niece is a maiden. Without that number, you're not taking her anywhere!"

Douglas gritted his teeth. "Three hundred thousand it is!"

"Don't even dream about it. There's no way I'll marry you!"

Douglas curled his lip. "Mrs. Whitney, you never said your girl wasn't willing."

"Marriage is a big matter decided by the parents. Her father passed early and her mother doesn't look after her—her uncle and I are her second set of parents! Her marriage is ours to decide. You just hand over the money!"

"But what if she calls the police? I don't want to end up in a lawsuit."

"If you keep her locked down, where's she going to call the police from? Besides, the village head is my in-law. Even if she does call the police, you think they'd doubt a whole bunch of respectable folks like us and take her word instead?"

Leslie let out a sneer. "Douglas, no wonder you've made it to your age without ever landing a wife—you're way too much of a coward. I'll tell you this: if you can't marry my niece, then you can look forward to being a bachelor for the rest of your life."

Douglas steeled himself. "Fine, I'll marry her!"

Marlene held out her hand, and Douglas pulled out an old bankbook and placed it in her palm.

Then he came at me, rubbing his hands together. "Come home with big brother, little sister."

"Don't come near me—get lost!"

I struggled with everything I had, but Douglas lunged and grabbed me, puckering his foul lips to kiss me.

I fought him off desperately, gagging at the stench coming off him.

Right then, the house suddenly gave a violent lurch, and with a booming crash the windows shattered.

Marlene screamed, "Oh God, it's an earthquake!"

Then came another huge boom and another violent shudder.

Everyone in the house was scared stiff. Douglas forgot all about me and scrambled outside.

I seized the chance to break free and ran out after them.

Once we were all outside, we realized there was no earthquake at all. The huge noise and shaking just now were someone taking a hydraulic breaker to Leslie's house.

Leslie was so furious his nose nearly twisted off his face. "Who the hell is trying to tear down my house?!"

"I am."