Emma's pov
Two days passed, Dad called a family meeting after breakfast. We sat in the living room, us all, while he stood by the fireplace looking like he'd aged twenty years in days. His eyes were bloodshot . His hands shook. He seemed utterly defeated in a way I'd never witnessed before.
"I have something to share with everyone," he began, his tone distant. "Monroe Industries is failing. We're close to total bankruptcy."
Mom inhaled sharply , her hand flying to her mouth even though she had to have known. Lily's phone slipped from her grasp to the floor.
"What do you mean bankruptcy?" Lily's voice went shrill. "How bad?"
Dad exhales. "We have debts of billion dollars. Even if we sold everything we own, we would still be short. If I don't find a solution immediately, we lose everything. The company, this house, our entire way of life."
The room tilted. I gripped the side couch to steady myself. Billion dollars. The amount was incomprehensible.
"How did this occur?" Mom gasped, tears already streaming down her face.
"Bad investments. Trusting the wrong people. Taking much risks that didn't pay off." He rubbed his face with his hands . "I thought I could fix it all. I kept thinking the next deal would save us. But I was wrong. And now we have no time on our side."
"So what step do we take?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
Dad's expression changed. Something
flickered in his eyes. Desperation and hope mixed with calculation.
"There's a person that can assist us," he said slowly. "A man possesing enough money and power to rescue Monroe Industries back from the brink. To save our family from complete ruin."
"Who?" Lily leaned forward, and I could already see her mind working.
"Zayn Lancaster."
The name dropped into the room like a bomb.
Even I knew who Zayn Lancaster was. Everyone in Manhattan knew. His family owned Lancaster Global, one of the biggest real estate and investment corporations in the country. They controlled almost half the city. They come from old money, powerful money, the kind of wealth that could get anything and anyone.
"What does He want with us?" Lily asked, but there was something in her voice now. Interest. Excitement.
"He's willing to invest huge amounts into Monroe Industries," Dad explained. "Enough funds to clear off all the debts, secure the company, restore everything that was damaged. He'd become our partner, our benefactor. He'd save us."
"Why would he help?" Mom inquired, though I think we all understood the response before Dad voiced it.
"Because he expects something in return." Dad looked directly at Lily. "He wants a marriage. An arrangement that would unite our two families.He wants to marry you, Lily."
The quiet lingered. I held my breath, anticipating for Lily to burst out , to object , to claim this was utterly insane .
But instead, she rose gradually. Her face had gone from shock to something else. Something that looked almost like victory.
"Zayn Lancaster wants to marry me?" she asked, her voice filled with doubt.
"Yes. You'd become his wife. In exchange, he will saves us from complete destruction."
I waited for her to disagree . To tell Dad this was a crazy suggestion to think of . But Lily smoothed down her dress and lifted her chin.
"When do I get meet him?"
Mom made a choked sound. "Lily, you can't be serious about —"
"Why not?" Lily turned to face us, her eyes bright. "Mom, we're talking about Zayn Lancaster. Do you have any idea how many women would kill to be in my position, to be his wife? He's gorgeous, he's powerful, and he's richer than any man I know . This isn't a punishment. This is what every woman dreams of."
"But you have no knowledge of him," I said quietly. "You aren't in love with him."
Lily looked at me like as if I were a child. "Emma, love is for your paintings and romance novels. This is real life. In real life, marrying a billionaire who can give you everything you've ever wanted isn't a sacrifice at all . It's winning the price ."
"The engagement party is in two weeks," Dad said, relief flooding his features. "You'll meet Zayn before then, of course. We'll arrange for a proper introduction. And Lily..." His voice cracked slightly. "Thank you so much.You're saving this family. You're saving everything."
Lily smiled, that smile she uses when she gets exactly what she wanted. "Of course, Daddy. Someone has to save us all , right?"
She looked at me when she said it, and I heard the underlying words. Someone who actually matters. Someone who isn't me .
The next week were absolute chaos.
Our house transformed overnight into something between a wedding planning office and a war room. Event coordinators rushed in and out. Dress designers brought racks of gowns for Lily to try on. Caterers presented menu options. Florists displayed elaborate arrangements. The engagement party was being planned and put into place like it was a royal wedding.
Lily was in her element. She glowed. She laughed. She ordered people around with so much confidence and grace, already playing the role of Manhattan's queen. She showed me pictures of Zayn that she'd found online. Magazine covers. On screen. Billboards advertising Lancaster Global developments.
"Isn't he perfect?" she sighed dreamily , holding up her phone to show me a photo of Zayn in a tuxedo at some charity gala. "Look at that jawline. Those lovely eyes. Emma, I'm going to marry the most handsome billionaire in New York."
I looked at the photo. Zayn Lancaster was unquestionably very attractive. Tall with a dark-hair, chiseled features that belonged to a movie star. But his eyes bothered me. They were ice blue, and even in a photo they looked cold and empty . Like he was looking at the camera but seeing nothing, feeling nothing.
"He looks intimidating," I said honestly.
"He looks powerful," Lily corrected. "There's a difference.I can't believe this is my life now. Two weeks ago I was just Lily Monroe. In seven days I'll be engaged to Zayn Lancaster. My life is actually perfect."
I wanted to remind her that this engagement was happening because our family was bankrupt. That she was being sold to save a failing company. That this was not a fairy tale, it was purely a business transaction. But Lily is to blinded to reason . She'd already written all the story in her head, turned it into something very romantic and enviable.
I stayed out of the way mostly. Nobody needed me for any of it . I spent most of my time in my room, working on my paintings, trying to ignore all the chaos going on downstairs.
This was Lily's moment, like every moment in our family always was. I was just the background, the forgotten daughter, the one who didn't matter enough to save the family.
I told myself it didn't hurt, that this was just how things were. But some nights, alone with the smell of paint and the sound of laughter drifting up the stairs, I felt how small my place in the family really was.