Chapter 3 - Jenna
I rested my head against the car seat, looking out the window at the passing landscape. Rain streaked down the window, mirroring the tears blurring my vision.
I couldn’t get my mother’s fragile state out of my mind. She was all I had, and I couldn’t imagine what I would do if this illness managed to take her away from me. I didn’t think I’d be able to survive it.
I could see my father’s mansion lurking ahead; its grandeur mocked my misery. The building was only a tiny fraction of my father’s affluence. Yet, my mother was in the hospital, desperately fighting for her life because we couldn’t afford the treatment she needed—a treatment that he could afford to pay for a hundred times over, but yet, here we were.
The cab pulled to a stop in front of the gate, and I paid the driver and got out, looking at the tall gates looming in front of me with disgust. I knew the security inside could already see me from the cameras mounted outside the gates, and it reminded me of how much I hated coming here.
Every step taken on these grounds was monitored, and every word that was spoken was recorded. I was constantly on edge every time I came here, but there was no going back; I was here for a reason, and nothing else mattered until I achieved it.
The last thing I wanted right now was to deal with my prickly stepmother and bitchy stepsister. They both took a sadistic joy in seeing me utterly miserable, and the thought that they were right inside this house and were likely to poke their nose into my business almost had me booking an Uber to leave again. Still, I reminded myself of the reason I was here, and it made me press forward. If there was anyone that could help me pay for my mother’s treatment, it was my father. He was the only option I had.
The gates opened as I approached, and I politely said hello to the guards as I walked toward the estate. I struggled not to gulp at the beautiful elegance of my father’s home. No matter how many times I visited this mansion, the beauty and details around it never failed to take my breath away. Everything was made to catch the eye, from the spring flowerbeds to the fountains, elaborate statues, and architecture.
The serene environment seemed more pleasant than it was, though. It was as if I was looking at everything through rose-tinted glasses, and for a second, I imagined what my life would be like if I lived inside this beautiful home every day.
Pushing open the heavy oak doors to the living area, I was greeted not by the usual sterile silence but by loud, ugly sobs, which piqued my curiosity as I moved further into the house.
Veronica, my picture-perfect stepsister, sat on the plush couch, her designer mascara running down her cheeks as she sobbed like her life was coming to an end. Her mother, Laura, had the same dreary emotion on her face as she watched her daughter sob from across where she sat with my father.
What in the theatrics was happening here again? It was always one thing or another with these two; I couldn’t have picked a worse day to come. Veronica was famous for her tantrums, and I bet all my money that this was one of them, but I didn’t have the time nor the patience to wait till it was over; her melodramatic episodes often proved to last a long time.
For a moment, though, I wondered what could have gone wrong to cause Veronica to bawl her eyes out like this. She sounded distressed like her life was coming to an end.
Did someone die?
Laura was the first to spot me, and the air crackled with even more tension as I entered the space. Laura’s thin lips pursed, her dislike for me evident as her eyes sparkled with hatred at the sight of me.
“Well, well,” Laura drawled, “I should have known that there was worse luck hanging around us for this misfortune to happen. Look who decided to show up today of all days! Don’t you and your worthless mother get tired of spreading such bad and negative energy everywhere you go?”
I pursed my lips, forcing myself to remain calm and not give in to her taunting. Instead, I focused on my father, intending to be in and out of the house as quickly as possible—without further drama.
“Dad, Can I talk to you, please? It’s urgent.”
My father sighed; his weariness evident. “Why are you here? Jenna, if this is another attempt to ask for an increase in your allowance, now is not the time. We’ll have to talk later. Besides, we’ve discussed this. You don’t need—”
I cut him off, my voice tight. “It’s not about money for me . Can we talk for a moment, please? I won’t take too much of your time, but it’s really important.”
I could see Laura and Veronica perk up with interest as I spoke, and even Veronica, who’d been crying like she was about to die just a minute ago, fell silent, watching me with renewed interest. They looked intrigued, and it was obvious that they were eager to hear whatever I had to say. The last thing I wanted was to give these two another opportunity to laugh about myself and my mother.
“Jenna, as you can see, I’m in the middle of something. I don’t have the time or energy for back and forth. If you have something to say, spit it out and be done with it.” Irritation colored my father’s voice, and I knew it was now or never.
“It’s Mom. Her condition has gotten a lot worse.” Tears pricked my eyes, blurring the image of my father’s face. “She needs a new treatment, Dad. It’s costly, but if she doesn’t get it...” I trailed off, the rest of the words refusing to come out of my mouth.
My father flinched. “The family just took a huge financial hit recently, Jenna. I can’t be of much help to you right now, as we are struggling to hold together what we ha—”
“Please, Dad!” My voice cracked. “There has to be something you can do! I’ll work to pay for it, even if it takes me the rest of my life. She’ll die if you don’t help her! Please, I’m begging you.” As I spoke, a smirk painted Veronica’s lips at my misery.
I couldn’t bring myself to care much about her.
“Jenna, don’t be difficult. I’m not trying to be the villain here. I don’t have the resources to help you right now. It’s a bad time.”
Just as I was about to respond, Laura held out a hand to stop me, her eyes shining with calculation that sent a shudder up my spine.
“Wait a minute,” she said, her face breaking into a sly smile.
“Yes, you can help her with the money for her mother’s treatment.” The excitement in her voice immediately scared me.
“Are you crazy? What are you talking ab—” my father began but was quickly cut off by Laura.
“You help Jenna with the funds she needs, and in return, Jenna marries Feliks Sharov instead of Veronica.”
My heart dropped to my stomach; I forgot how to breathe for a second.
Veronica’s tears had completely dried up by this point, and she was watching her mother closely. My father mirrored her look.
“The Sharovs want your daughter, Daniel—they don’t know you have another one, and I really don’t think it would matter to them, anyway. It won't be wrong if you marry off Jenna instead of Veronica because, technically, Jenna is your daughter too.”
My ears began ringing, and it suddenly felt like my legs wouldn’t have been able to keep me up, so I was glad that I was already sitting down. I knew about the Sharov Bratva; their name alone was enough to send a shudder down my spine. They were powerful, ruthless people who killed for fun. There was no way I was marrying into that family in place of Veronica. That would practically be signing my death warrant.
Veronica stood up and began pacing through the center of the room.
“Mom is right, Dad. The Sharovs are a dangerous family. They’re murderers underneath those designer suits and smoke pipes, and Feliks Sharov has been said to be one ruthless old man. I heard they call him ‘Sinister’ because of how evil he can get. He’s ugly, and there’s no telling the temper the man has on him. I would never survive a marriage with him, Dad!” Veronica stopped in front of my father, falling to her knees and clutching at him.
My blood ran cold at her words. I already had an idea of the Sharov’s cruelty, but Veronica was more well-versed in that world than I was. She’d experienced more of this kind of life, so her description was enough to force the tears stinging behind my eyes to start flowing.
“It’ll work out, honey. We have nothing to lose from Jenna doing this—and everything to gain. Being officially associated with these people is a big deal, even for us, and now we have the perfect solution right here. It’s almost like a miracle.” Laura’s eyes strayed to me as she spoke.
My father didn’t say anything for a long time; his gaze focused on the space before him, just above Veronica’s kneeling frame. There was a cunning glint in his eyes.
I knew the answer before it came. He’d always favored Veronica. She was his golden child, while my mother and I were mistakes —as he’d called us on several occasions. This would be an easy choice if he had to sacrifice one daughter to save another.
“This marriage,” he said finally, his voice devoid of warmth, “could solve all our problems—financial stability for everyone. We can’t refuse it—they wouldn’t hesitate to wipe us all out, and you wouldn’t want that, would you? Considering the current situation, especially since your mother will be the easiest target. So, you’ll do this, Jenna, for your mother, for your family.”
My father’s voice held no room for argument. He wasn’t giving me an opportunity, he was making a trade, and that was final. His words felt like a hammer blow. Tears streamed down my face, blurring the room around me.
I knew why I’d come here, and I understood that it would mean some sacrifice from the moment I decided to do so. A part of me just knew that my father wouldn’t part with such a considerable sum of money, especially for my mother and me, without wanting something to balance out, but I’d hoped for something less scary. Something that didn’t have to take my life at the end of it.
Maybe taking away our allowance for a while or forcing me to work more jobs so I could pay him. These were the kind of consequences I’d prepared for.
Not this!
A marriage to Feliks Sharov? It was a death sentence, and there was no way I was coming out of this unharmed.
But . . .
Better my life than my mother’s. If this was the price for her life and good health, I was willing to pay.
So, even with my heart shattering into a million pieces, I knew the answer. I had no choice. With a choked sob, I whispered, “I’ll do it.”
I could hear my father telling me I’d made the right decision and Veronica and her mother cheering around the house, but they all faded as my mind reeled with only one thought: I was going to marry a Bratva man.