Page 3 of A Sinner's Truth

“Find the truth.”Shelli’s words echo in my mind. I need to figure out what it is she wants me to know.

Chapter Two

“What’s wrong? Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” my best friend Drew asks me.

“I was summoned to Father Dear’s office,” I explain, trying to keep the wobble out of my voice. My hands are shaking. I don’t know if it’s fear or anger that’s causing it.

“Whoa, come here. Sit down.” Drew leads me over to the sofa. His apartment is, well, a bachelor pad. Right down tothe matching black sofas flanking the huge big-screen television that’s affixed to the wall in front of us.

Slumping onto the plush leather, I tilt my head back, attempting to keep the tears at bay. I hate him. I’ve always had a somewhat strained relationship with my father, but I’ve never full-on hated the man. Until today.

“What happened?” Drew presses, handing me a glass of amber liquid.

With trembling fingers, I lift the glass to my lips and gulp down a mouthful. I’m not usually a whiskey drinker. But right now, I’ll take anything that can numb me.

“Slow down there, champ. That’s Cinque, real top-shelf shit.” Drew smirks as he pulls the cup away from my lips. I don’t release it. I need something else to focus on, and right now it’s alcohol.

“He…” I stop. It’s so bad I can’t even say the words.

“He what?” Drew’s back noticeably straightens.

“He’s marrying me off,” I spit out.

“What do you meanhe’s marrying you off?”

“Exactly that. He signed a deal right in front of me. With George Densper. I’m to marry the Densper heir in exactly twelve months.” Even as I say the words, I can’t believe them myself. It’s as if I’ve gone back in time to an era where women were nothing but property that was used for men to bargain with.

“He can’t force you to marry someone, Aria. Especially that prick Oliver Densper,” Drew seethes.

“He’s Ronald Swan. He can and will do whatever he wants,” I remind Drew, not that I have to. He already knows who my father is.

“Fuck off. This isn’t funny, Aria. This is marriage. You’re not marrying a psychopath. I won’t allow it.” Drew starts pacing the length of his living room.

I bring the crystal glass to my mouth again and finish off the contents. “I don’t have much choice.”

“Yes, you do,” he says. “There’s always a choice. We will find a way to get you out of this.”

“We have twelve months,” I tell him. “I will figure something out.”

“We could just get married now. You can’t legally marry someone else if you’re already married,” Drew says.

My nose scrunches up. It’s not that my best friend isn’t good looking. He is. It’s just that I know how much of a man whore he is and how marrying him would be like marrying my brother.Sick.

“That would never work. Dad would never believe it was real. Also, you’d never be able to stay faithful and I’d end up having to cut your most-favoured body parts off.” I wave a finger at his junk, and Drew winces.

What can I say? I have a bit of a jealous streak when someone else touches what’s mine. It comes with being an only child.

“Okay, so marriage is off the cards for us. We can find someone else,” he offers.

If marrying someone else was the answer, I’d do it. It’s not the solution, though. I don’t want to be married. Ever. I’ve seen my father’s marriages. All six of them, not counting my mother, and I want no part of any kind of relationship like that.

“Let’s go out.” I jump up from my seat. “Screw him. If I’m going to be shackled down with the likes of Oliver, then I’m going to make the next twelve months count.”

“You’re not marrying Oliver. We will get you out of this,” Drew says, determination evident in his voice.

“It’s not like marriages are forever. I think Dad’s longest marriage after mum died lastedmaybetwo years. If I can get to the one-year mark, I’ll have grounds for divorce.” I shrug like it’s not a big deal. It is. Being married to Oliver Densper for even asecond is too long. The guy is a certified psychopath. He gives me the creeps. Always has.

I wouldn’t put it past him to have orchestrated this whole deal. He’s always wanted to date me. I’ve declined every time he’s asked. Like I said, he creeps me out. He’s also the stereotypical trust-fund brat. An entitled, rich asshole.

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