Facing her fears

Elena darted out of her room, rushing down the staircase, hoping and praying her step-parents weren't nearby. If they saw her, it would cause a more problems than there already was.

Reaching the gate, she stopped abruptly, shocked to see a no vehicle parked nearby. Brushing her already disheveled hair with her fingers, she turned around, scanning her left and right for any sign of movement or another car approaching—but there was nothing.

"Damn it! He tricked me," she muttered under her breath. Gradually, the aftermath of her hurried escape began to take a toll on her. Fatigue and exhaustion crept over her, making it harder to stand upright.

Just as she decided to return to her room, her phone rang. Glancing at the screen, she saw the caller ID: Ford. With a deep sigh, she answered.

"Hey, baby girl. Did I keep you waiting?" Ford's calm, masculine voice carried through the phone, his tone laced with amusement.

Before Elena could reply, the sound of a vehicle pulling up behind her caught her attention. She turned to see none other than Ford Lugard, the son of John Lugard, one of the most highly respected men in the state, seated with a smiles plastered on his face.

Lowering the phone, Elena felt a wave of irritation rise within her. At that moment, she wanted to lash out at him, to curse him for toying with her emotions. But the innocent and amused smile on Ford's face was enough to soften her anger, even though she fought to keep her composure.

Rubbing her temples in an attempt to alleviate the throbbing headache caused by stress and fatigue, she glared at him.

Folding her arms, she said nothing, waiting for him to speak. Ford, still smiling, gently gestured toward the car. "Get in. Let's talk," he requested calmly.

"And why should I?" Elena snapped, her voice rising in frustration. "Why don't you get down yourself and come here?" Her anger grew with every word, her irritation fueled by the exhaustion that had already drained her energy.

Ford gave a smirk, unable to hide his admiration for how bold and daring she was. Stepping out of his car with a confident stride, he positioned himself in front of her.

Standing tall, he looked down at her frowning face, the sharp contrast between his composed demeanor and her fiery glare only making the moment more intense. "I'm down," he said calmly, meeting her gaze. "Now, let's talk. Why did you—" Ford's sentence was cut short as Elena interrupted him.

"Yes, let's talk, Mr. Ford," she snapped, her voice sharp with frustration. "Why would you act like you didn't know me when all along you knew my parents? You and your family were the so-called in-laws my dad was forcing me to meet this whole time!"

Her words dripped with anger, her voice trembling slightly as she confronted him.

Ford's brows furrowed as he quickly responded, his tone firm yet defensive. "What do you mean? I never knew you. I only found out who you were at the party. That's when everything clicked," he said, his eyes locked on hers, trying to make her believe him.

"You liar!" she spat back, her voice rising. "It was all your plan, wasn't it? To deceive me into marrying you? Why can't you and your family just leave me the hell alone?"

Ford's expression shifted as he noticed the cracks forming in her tough exterior. Her anger was real, but beneath it, he could see the pain. Her voice quivered slightly, and she hadn't even realized that tears were now streaming down her cheeks, betraying the depth of her hurt.

He wanted to defend himself further, to explain everything, to clear the air. But instead, he held back, letting her vent her emotions, knowing she needed to release the storm brewing inside her. For now, he chose to listen, waiting for the right moment to speak.

Unbeknownst to Elena, she was gradually revealing to Ford everything about the turmoil within her family. Her emotions poured out like a flood, and only when she had said everything on her mind did she pause and touch her cheeks, realizing for the first time that she had been crying.

"Elena, are you alright?" Ford asked, his voice soft with concern as he reached out to comfort her.

But Elena quickly wiped away her tears and took a step back, her voice cold and distant. "I'm alright," she said curtly, avoiding his gaze.

Ford sighed, sensing her resistance but determined to make her understand. "Elena, you're misunderstanding everything. Have you stopped to think about it? Why would I agree to a contract marriage with you if I knew you were the one my father had been planning for me all along?" he said, his voice firm yet pleading, trying to reason with her.

"No, not me!" Elena shot back, her voice filled with frustration and bitterness. "You've got it wrong. It's my sister—she was meant for you. And I… I was meant for your brother! I'm in a mess, Ford. And this marriage can't be nullified unless we both sign."

She took a deep breath, the weight of her situation evident in her trembling voice. "Divorce me. I want a divorce," she demanded abruptly, her tone resolute.

"Divorce?" Ford replied, his voice rising with disbelief. "What do you mean? We just got married. Not now, Elena," he fired back, his frustration beginning to show. "And my sister is for you, don't you get it?" she added, her voice breaking slightly as she tried to make her point.

Ford stared at her, his jaw tightening. "Being with you is a mistake!" she insisted, her voice thick with emotion as she tried to justify her position.

Ford, however, didn't flinch. He took a step closer, his expression unwavering. "And how do you know that I want her and not you?" he said, his words calm but laced with intensity.

Elena froze, stunned by his response. Silence stretched between them as their eyes locked, the tension palpable in the air.

Ford finally broke the silence, his tone softening as he reached for her hands. "Elena, you need to calm down. I truly don't know everything that's happening, but you have to listen to me," he said gently, his grip firm yet comforting.

He knew that arguing over who was right or wrong wouldn't solve anything at the moment. What mattered now was easing the storm within her heart and finding a way to bridge the chasm of misunderstanding between them.

The woman standing before him looked utterly broken and scared. Ford gently covered her small, trembling palms with his larger ones, his steady gaze fixed on her tear-streaked face. His voice softened as he spoke. "Elena, you need to trust me. And if something is wrong, you need to tell me. I can help you," he said, trying to reassure her.

Elena stared into his deep, brown eyes, momentarily losing herself in their warmth. She wanted to believe him—wanted to trust him. She was exhausted from all the fighting, the chaos, and the overwhelming emotions. For a moment, her resolve seemed to waver. But just as quickly, doubt crept back in. With a sharp breath, she withdrew her hands from his hold, breaking the fragile connection between them.

"And why should I believe you?" she retorted, her voice trembling but firm. "I don't know you, Ford. You're a stranger to me. Just leave me alone! And do me a favor—don't say anything about our marriage to anyone."

With those biting words, Elena turned on her heel and walked away, her steps quick and determined, as though she was trying to escape from both him and the turmoil inside her. She had barely taken five steps when she suddenly faltered. Her vision blurred, and the world around her started to spin. Before she could process what was happening, her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.

"Elena! Elena!" Ford shouted in alarm as he rushed to her side. Kneeling beside her, he gently lifted her limp body, his heart pounding with fear. "Elena, wake up!" he pleaded, his voice trembling as he lightly tapped her cheek, but she didn't respond.

Hearing the commotion, one of the security personnel ran out from the gate, wide-eyed and panicked. "Sir, what's the problem?" the guard asked, his voice uncertain.

Ford shot him a furious glare, his voice sharp and commanding. "Don't stand there asking stupid questions! Call your boss and tell him his daughter fainted! Now!" he barked, his frustration and fear spilling over.

The guard immediately fumbled for his phone, while Ford remained by Elena's side, his mind racing. For the first time, he felt the weight of responsibility pressing heavily on his shoulders. Whatever had caused her to collapse, he knew he couldn't let her go through this alone.

"Open the car!" Ford shouted at the driver, who was still frozen in shock at what had just unfolded. Startled, the man sprang into action, hurrying to the passenger side and opening the door wide enough for Ford to place Elena inside.

"Drive fast!" Ford commanded, his voice sharp with urgency.

"Yes, sir," the driver stammered, quickly starting the car.