Help: The Mysterious Grand Duke is in Love with Me
“You will marry him and you will go with him today,”
Dutton's words echoed through the room as Evangeline sat on the floor, touching her face.
Her cheek stung with intense pain from a fierce slap as she looked up at her father daring not to respond.
He pulled her up off the floor by the collar of her snowy blue dress. Forcing her to look into his eyes.
“I'm not asking you anymore, I'm telling you, the offer he made is worth more than your entire life. The amount of gold he offered will pay off all my debts and leave me living comfortably for the rest of my life. You have no choice in the matter, you will marry him,” He demanded, his shouts stinging her ears.
She raised her hand, weakly pushing on his chest.
“I want to marry Cade, I have no interest in a man I barely know,” She cried, barely able to speak.
“You have no choice,” He barked, grabbing onto her face, “You will marry who I tell you to marry. I've already accepted the dowry.”
She whimpered in pain as he threw her to the ground. Her cheeks now revealing light bruising.
“Father please,” She begged, crawling over to his legs, grabbing hold of them, “Please I want to be with Cade, don't make me go to a man I don't know. Don't make me marry someone else.”
He kicked her off, sliding her across the floor.
“That forest boy, you always talk about that forest boy. You know nothing about him, you have no idea of his origins, you say you love him but you've never seen his face because he hides from you. Only ever speaking to you from a distance, sometimes I wonder if he's even real or if you're just imagining things to get out of your duties as the daughter of a noble,” He snickered.
“He's real,” She screamed, using up all her energy, “He's real and he loves me and I love him. I won't marry anyone else. I refuse, and if you make me go I'll make the Grand Duke wish he never asked for my hand in the first place.”
“You're going Evangeline, you are going to live with His Royal Highness and you will behave yourself or else I'll come over there and make you behave,” He warned, towering over her, “This is an opportunity of a lifetime, you should be thanking me for helping you become a Royal instead you throw this tantrum and think I will put up with this nonsense? Well I won't! Not now, not ever. Now get dressed and pack your things, the carriage will be here to take you before nightfall and you will go even if you have to be taken there kicking and screaming…”