Chapter 3

KIMBERLY'S POV I stepped out of the cab, my heart pounding up the pristine stone path curving up to the Harrington estate. It still felt so alien to me-this house, this family. A perfectly constructed façade with absolutely no warmth inside. I opened the big doors, my chest tight, and stepped into the living room where the family waited. My father, Victor Harrington, sat erect and commanding at the head of the table. Finally, his eyes caught my presence, and his face twisted in anger. My mother, Catherine Harrington, sat beside him, furrowing her brow in eternal disapproval of my actions. Across the couch sat my two older brothers, Ethan and Michael Harrington, both folding their arms to signal they had better see a show-and-tell here. Then there was her. Madison. My adopted-sister, her features delicately set in a perfect mask of sweet innocence. It was stiflingly taut inside the room, and yet I held my chin up. I wasn't that Kimberly anymore who shrank at the sight of them. "Kimberly!" my father thundered, his hand slamming onto the table. "You still have the audacity to walk back in here? Daniel Reynolds just called me, he said you broke up with him. Who gave you the right?" I clenched my fists tight. Of course, this was about Daniel. It was never about me. "I ended things with him because I refuse to marry a man like him." “Refuse?” Victor’s voice grew louder. “You don’t get to refuse. Call him. Right now. Apologize and make it right!” My mother’s gaze hardened as she stepped forward, her voice measured but cold. “Listen to your father, Kimberly. You’ll call Daniel and mend this mess. The Harringtons and Reynolds have finalized the partnership. Your marriage to him is not a suggestion—it’s an obligation.” Marriage? My stomach curdled. I stared at my mother, my voice shaking in defiance: "You want me to marry a man who views women as nothing but trophies just so some business deal will go well? Is that all I am to you?" "Don't be so naive," Ethan cut in, a smirk curling across his lips. "You're the real Harrington daughter, but for one second don't you think this makes you untouchable. You probably ended it with Daniel because you have feelings for Xavier Ravenwood. Don't think that we don't know all about that." I froze upon mentioning Xavier. My heart clenched, but I refused to let them see a crack in my armor. "Exactly," Michael added coldly. "You are making it more difficult for Madison to seal her engagement to Xavier. Maybe it is high time we got you off our backs for good.” Silent till then, Madison spoke in a voice honeyed and soft as the molasses, "Kimberly, I told them it was all right. You are the one who should fulfill the engagement with Xavier. After all, you're the real daughter." The mock modesty infuriated my blood. Every word seemed to have slipped pre-calculated into those lips, every syllable into doe-eyes serving protection needs. Victor softened instantly, his anger dissolving as he looked at Madison. “Don’t say that, Madison. You’ve always been our daughter, blood or not. You’re the one who belongs with Xavier.” “Cultured, polished, well-mannered-everything a Ravenwood would aspire for as a wife. Kimberly can never pull it off and give such respect to your title," added Catherine with a soothing expression, catching Madison's hand on her own. I laughed. There was a bitter taint to my voice, mixed with incredulity. “I can't believe you want me to be stuck with that excuse of a man for the rest of my life. What kind of family is this?” "Enough!" Victor roared. His finger pointed at me, his voice low and venomous. "You're not a child anymore, Kimberly. Stop acting like one. Call Daniel now. Apologize. You'll marry him, and that's final." The room was silent. My eyes met his, the only sound was my pulse thudding in my ears. Years of manipulation, all those sacrifices I made for their approval to resurface in my mind, the way I came into this family full of hope just to finally belong, and these people treated me like chess pieces in their games. "No." Victor's face contorted in anger. "What did you just say?” "I said no." My voice was firm now, icy and final. "For years I have done whatever you wanted. I gave up my dreams. I sacrificed my happiness. I took care of Madison when she was sick, missed a year of school, and tolerated your scorn. I kept hoping, stupidly, that eventually I'd win your love. But now, I see the truth. You don't care about me. You never have.” Victor stepped forward, his hand up to strike me, and I caught his wrist before it could connect. The room gasped as one. "You ungrateful— I cut him off, my grip firm. "Don't you dare call me ungrateful. You tore up my college acceptance letter because I outperformed Madison. My so-called brothers mixed pineapple juice in my drink on my first day here, knowing I was allergic, and nearly killed me. And still, I stayed. But not anymore." Catherine's face went pale. "Kimberly, we were just trying to protect Madison's feelings. You've always been stronger than her." “Stronger?" I replied with a bitter laugh. "You mean disposable. You're trying to marry me off to Daniel because you're afraid I'll overshadow her, just like I did before." Michael sneered at me. "Don't play the martyr, Kimberly. You have always been jealous of Madison.” “Jealous?" I whipped towards him, my eyes ablaze. "Of what, exactly? The false love you lavish on her while treating me like an outsider? No, Michael. I'm fighting for the leftovers of love from any of you." Madison's voice shook, her wide eyes brimming with tears. "Kimberly, I never meant for things to be like this. I just wanted us to be a family.” Otherwise, this would have been Oscar material-if I hadn't seen the exact same thing a hundred times before. "A family?" I said, my tone not containing anything inside. "A family doesn't betray one of their own. A family doesn't force their daughter to marry a man like Daniel Reynolds. You are not my family. You never were." Victor is colored red. "Kimberly, don't. Consider exactly what you're saying here.” "I've thought about it for years," I said, meeting his gaze. "And now I'm done." I took another step back, my voice unwavering. "From this moment on, I sever all ties with the Harrington family. We're strangers now. Don't contact me. Don't look for me. As far as I'm concerned, you no longer exist." I walked up the stairs and packed my stuff. On getting back to the living room, my father boomed across the room. “Call Xavier Ravenwood,” he snapped. “Offer him whatever he wants—dowry, shares in the company. Tell him we’re ready to move forward with Madison’s engagement immediately.” Her voice small, uncertain, "Father, maybe Kimberly—" “She's done enough damage," Victor snarled. "Xavier will marry you. I'll make sure of it". I stood stock-still on the spot, my heartbeat rising to pound against my chest as a very real truth dawned; now they were forcing Xavier onto Madison in some last ditch attempt to cling to an unsure future in case I screwed up their plans. A few seconds later, I heard Victor's voice again-soft this time, speaking into the phone. "Yes, Mr. Ravenwood. We're ready to conclude the arrangement with Madison. Whatever you want we are ready to— My body turned ice cold as abruptly I heard Xavier's calm, firm voice through the speaker phone. "I'm already married." The room fell dead silent. Victor Harrington colored with suppressed anger, the rare display of emotion a sure sign he'd caught him off guard. "Married? What sort of rubbish is this?" I dragged my luggage downstairs and left Harrington Manor without waiting for them to stop me. It started to rain heavily and my tears flowed. From then on, I was alone again. But an umbrella suddenly stretched out and covered my head. I looked up and saw Xavier's distressed eyes.