"What about school?" I spit out. "I still have a year and a half to go, and I wanted to go to college after."
"Nonsense." He waves his hand dismissively. "Oakes girls don't need an education. All you need to do is give me and your husband heir after heir after heir."
"You're sick," I hiss. "You're using me for your own gain yet again. When does this all stop? When are you going to realize what a tyrant you are, you sick bastard?"
"Brazen," Father speaks up through gritted teeth. "Hit her."
A tense silence lays upon the table. I stare at my brother, waiting for him to get up and do Father's dirty work yet again. But he doesn't. He stays glued to the chair, fighting a silent battle with Father as they stare one another down.
"No," Brazen says.
"Excuse me?" Father looks furious, and Brazen smirks, getting up and throwing his napkin engraved with the Oakes' family crest on the dining table. "You do as you're told, Brazen. Or else."
"Or else what?" My brother laughs freely. "You don't tell me what to do anymore. Hit her yourself, you old fuck. Maybe she'll have the mercy not to hit you the fuck back."
With those words, he strides out of the room. I feel proud of him for standing up to Father, but I'm still terrified. Father's words are ringing in my head. The auction. A new husband. A new life. A chance to get away from this hell - or a chance to be stuck in a fate even worse than this one.
"Who gets to win, then?" I ask Father icily.
"The highest bidder, of course." He smiles. It looks painful, and I hope it fucking is. "You know, there are men in Eden Falls who'll pay good money for an obedient fuckslut like you."
My stomach falls and I cringe. "You're sick."
"Maybe so," he says, toasting me with a flute of orange juice. "But I'm the only one in charge of your fate, daughter dearest... And I fully intend to make it as miserable as possible."
11
Pandora
I get ready for the auction with Belle's help. Father must really hate me, because he arranged for it to happen only days after our conversation. He must be eager to get me out of the house, but I'm just as eager to get away - hopefully with someone who can protect me, not hurt me.
I've told Dex about the auction through texts. He still hasn't been at school, and I've skipped the last few days as well in preparation. Nobody even gives a shit. Prep if just another excuse for our rich parents to keep an eye on us and control us like unwilling puppets.
Belle brushes my curls away, smoothing my hair into a long, flowing curtain of silk. I'm supposed to wear some ridiculous, revealing outfit, and I've tried to convince the maid to let me choose something myself, but I think she's too afraid of Father to let me. So I'm stuck in the horrible, cherry red dress that leaves nothing to the imagination, and a pair of sky-high, barely there black leather heels. I look like a million bucks, but I feel like a fraud. That feeling hasn't left me once since I set foot in Eden Falls.
"Are you almost ready?" Belle asks, and I swallow, nodding. She brushes some glittery powder over my chest, accentuating my collarbone, and takes a step back, admiring her handiwork. "You look beautiful, Miss Pandora."
"Great," I get out through gritted teeth. "At least I'll be pretty for my fucking funeral."
She ignores me and opens the door, motioning for me to follow her. I can hear the commotion as I exit the room, and my stomach ties in uncomfortable, unbearable knots. I don't want to do this. I don't want to be sold. Yet I have no choice. The only hope I have left is that Dexter will be the one to bid for me. That he wants me enough to keep me as his property. I scoff. High chance of that fucking happening. He's done nothing but push me away since I got to town.
I follow Belle down the stairs, passing groups of people who go quiet when I walk past them. I keep my head held high and ignore the comments and snickers coming from the guests. I don't care what they think of me. I'm going to run soon enough, and then the opinion of the inhabitants of Eden Falls won't matter at all.
"Right through here, Miss." Belle guides me behind a red velvet curtain an
d offers me a glass of water with an apologetic smile. "Drink, Miss. It will calm your nerves."
The water doesn't taste like water and I make a face at the glass. "This is disgusting. What is it?"
"Vodka. To calm your nerves," she repeats. I hand the glass back, scrutinizing her with my gaze.
"How can you stand this, Belle?" I finally ask. "How can you allow your daughter to stay here? How can you stay here? When will it be enough?"
She doesn't reply, instead beginning to tidy the room we're in, but I'm not giving up that easily.
My fingers wrap around her wrist, and I jerk her forward. When her eyes meet mine, there's no emotion in them whatsoever. She's numb. Completely numb. And with that, I don't even need her to answer. Her lack of emotion has said it all.
I let go of her, feeling disgusted as I shake my head. Belle flushes, refusing to meet my eyes as she says, "They'll call you onto the stage in a few minutes."