CCNote: This story is almost over! That was fast huh? There are only four or five more chapters left before Sleeping with the Enemy is complete. Thanks for sticking it out with me guys. Post revisions tons of folks dropped off but for those of you who consistently read, review, and give me your thoughts, know that it is greatly appreciated!
To reviewers with burning questions: I wish you guys weren't so damn perceptive lol! I wanna answer all of your questions but that would give away the story. Just know that whatever you're currently thinking is going to happen is probably wrong. Or maybe you're right. I don't know, I'm not saying either way. But just like everyone thought Sasuke was gonna fuck Sakura 10plus chapters ago, you're probably wrong about this too. Or maybe you're right and I'm trying to throw you off.
To ladykatsuyu: Yea Konohamaru is a Sarutobi. When I first started writing I couldn't remember for the life of me what his freaking last name was and kept forgetting to look it up. When I was creating my storyboard (very drunk mind you) I was watching short Naruto clips on Youtube to get a feel for the characters again. The name Senju popped out and drunk me said "Oh that sounds cool and important!" and the last name stuck. After that sober me is a lazy bitch and has not had the time to go through the story and change all mentions of Senju to Sarutobi. We are 26 chapters in so I'll go back and make those changes after the story is finished. Sorry for the confusion and thanks for pointing it out!
Alright so! Happy 'Respect for the Aged' Day tomorrow, a made-up government holiday that lets me stay home from work yay! Please ignore all typos, I've given up on finding a beta lol. Enjoy this chapter and don't forget to leave a review!
I Hate You
Saturday November 28 2017 4:02am
Hyuuga Compound
...
'I am disappointed in you.'
Unlike the ceiling of the Uchiha Residence, lights and shadows did not dance across the ceiling of her room in the compound. The hustle and bustle of the city were a long way off from the property leaving its occupants to reside in their own self-sustained world. At times it was a welcome respite at others it was nothing less than suffocating. Hinata rolled over onto her side, hugging her pillow close.
I am disappointed.
Her father's words rang loudly in her ears as she stared at the dark expansive ceiling above her. She had always known that she was not up to par. She did not possess Neji's ruthlessness or Hanabi's drive. No matter what she did there was always a flaw. She'd done her best growing up to feel as though she were worthy of her birthright, to prove to her father and elders that she was capable of being the next head. All she'd ever wanted to do was prove herself. In the last few months, she thought that she had been doing a decent job at it.
Disappointed...
Unfortunately, all her effort had amounted to was to be used as a political tool. Her usefulness ascended only to that of marriage and nothing more. In the end, she couldn't even do that right. Perhaps that was evidence enough that she was never meant to lead their clan. She was unable to make the necessary sacrifices that all of the leaders before her had to make. She couldn't follow through with her promise. She was weak and therefore a disappointment.
In you...
She had always felt like an imposter and her father's words confirmed it. That off-putting look in his eyes when she brought home her ranking in class and it was not at the top. How he had patted Neji's back when he made his valedictorian speech at his graduation from university yet gave no such affection to herself when she graduated. She had not made it as high as Neji had so why had she expected that kind of acknowledgment anyway? When Hanabi consistently brought home award after award despite her constant delinquency she was not met with an admonishment to get in line but with pride. Hinata, on the other hand, had always kept her nose in her books and later on in her work. Never had she stepped out of line. Not once had she directly undermined her father's authority. Yet, here she was. Nothing more than a disappointment...
"Hinata!" A not so quiet whisper called into the dark room. Light from the hallway spilled through the cracked door and illuminated her little sister's silhouette. "Are you awake?"
Hinata glanced at her phone and frowned. What was Hanabi doing getting in this late? Or should she say early? The girl should have arrived back home hours ago. Hanabi padded barefoot across the room, her approach accented by her heavy and unladylike footsteps. It was almost as if Hanabi stepped with more force than she realized she possessed. The younger Hyuuga slipped onto the bed and laid down. Two sets of pale eyes stared back at each other, one full of excitement and the other struggling to keep their internal conflict under control.
"Hanabi." Hinata whispered wearily. "How...how did it go?"
"It went great!" She replied and immediately launched into a detail rendition of the rarely seen, ancient Senju Estate and its residents.
The dinner had gone well, as Hinata had expected it would. Hanabi could eat with her toes and people would still find her to be endearing. Apparently, the Senju elders had found her to be suitable enough to invite their annual winter sailing event the following Saturday. All of the Senju and their associates would be there, it was sure to be quite the spectacle. Hanabi was so giddy that Hinata couldn't help but smile despite her own morose attitude. This was what she was supposed to sacrifice her own happiness for. For Hanabi to be happy. For Hanabi to be with someone that not only cherished and loved her but would bring even greater power to their family name. Hinata scanned over her younger sister's rumpled kimono, messy hair, and bright eyes. Was it worth it? Was it worth giving up everything she'd found that she'd wanted in favor of her sister? When Hanabi smiled and recounted the many rooms she had explored with Konohamaru, the only answer Hinata was able to come up with was a resounding 'yes'. She might not be able to do it for her clan but...perhaps, if she tried hard enough, she could do it for her sister. For that rare bright smile she now possessed to always remain there.
Hanabi wiggled closer to her, searching for warmth in her sister's spacious bed. Hinata wrapped her arms around her to pull her close to her heart. She hadn't held Hanabi like this since she was a little girl too afraid of the dark to sleep on her own. Could she marry Gaara? She could be a dutiful matriarch for the Sabaku, a partner that was seen but scarcely heard from. Her stomach twisted at the thought. The idea of bearing Gaara's children and smiling like she was happy was enough to make bile rise in her throat. In the next moment, she found her head in the toilet and Hanabi's hand holding her hair back as the early morning light seeped through her windows.
…..
Thursday, December 2, 2017, 2:37 pm
Hyuuga Enterprise
...
Sasuke frowned as he hung up on his last conference call of the day, not because he was dissatisfied. Not because he'd had to make concessions or conceded. No. It was because the desk across from his remained empty. Hinata Hyuuga had not shown up to work in almost a week. At first, her absence had largely gone unnoticed by anyone but himself but now even their subordinates were starting to whisper. They talked of her being seen as unfit and removed from her position. Others told of her being removed to make way for the second Hyuuga daughter who it was rumored was a much better fit despite her age. More than a few Hyuuga employees shot him suspicious looks as though he were the one to blame for their mistress's absence. He raised his coffee mug to his lips and paused. The lavender mug clutched between his fingers just wasn't the same. Without Hinata there to tease it was just another cup.
'Hinata.' He thought as he stared at her empty desk.
All of his texts came back unreceived and his calls were blocked. If he didn't know any better it looked as if Hinata wanted nothing more to do with him. Frustratedly, he leaned back onto the couch until he was lying prone against the cushions, Hinata's marriage contract in hand. He'd been trying to find a loophole, a small clause just ripe for exploit to release Hinata from her bond to Gaara. Unfortunately, he'd found none. She was the perfect candidate for Gaara which is why he'd chosen her in the first place. It didn't help that the first time they'd met in a more personal setting Hinata had defended the Uchiha against his shareholders and shown an inner fire to intrigue any red-blooded man. Sasuke rested his forearm over his tired eyes and released a slow, steady breath. No matter how airtight this contract was there had to be a way to break it. His body relaxed against the sofa, his breathing becoming slower and slower.
'Sasuke, I love you.'
Women had professed their love for him many times over the course of his life but none so simply, so genuinely as she had. He wanted to hear her say it over and over again. He would never grow tired of hearing her affection spill from her lips. How was that even possible? In his adult life, he had never been one to need the affirmation of others but he craved hers. There was no rational explanation for the change except for the possibility that he loved her too. Soon his fatigue won out and he fell into a fitful state of unconsciousness.
…..
Thursday, December 3, 2017, 3:00 pm
Hyuuga Enterprise
...
"I haven't seen the Hyuuga Princess around in a while." A nasal voice observed as she reapplied her lipstick in the bathroom mirror. Sakura rolled her eyes and noted that the shade did nothing for the woman's complexion. Amateur. Mina never seemed to catch on that red just wasn't her color.
"Don't you mean the Hyuuga Whore?" The woman to her left sneered, her arms crossed over her chest.
"You're just mad because she put you in your place, Kora." Sakura sniffed, keeping a steady hand on her mascara wand as she applied the black liquid to her eyelashes. The woman scoffed at her assumption.
"As if. I'm over that." Kora waved. "Haven't you heard the news?"
"What news?" Sakura asked lamely, feigning disinterest.
The two women on either side of her gave each other knowing looks before going back to their primping. Mina fluffed her hair and gave Sakura a pitying look in the mirror.
"I can't believe you don't know." She pouted while Kora giggled.
"You would think that you'd be the first to know after all. To think that it's been happening right under your nose."
"So sad."
Sakura zipped up her makeup bag and glared at the two. Whatever game they were playing at she wanted none of it. Kora placed a hand on her shoulder, keeping her from leaving.
"Testy today huh?" She said with a sly smile. "Well the whore isn't here so maybe you'll stand a better chance now."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Sakura hissed and jerked away from the woman's hand. "Hinata is not a whore. Last time I checked she was your boss and I don't think she'd take kindly to you making false accusations on her character."
Mina and Kora laughed at her statement leaving her even more perplexed than before.
"Keep thinking that Haruno." Mina said with a shake of her head as Sakura stormed out of the bathroom.
'Stupid vultures.' Sakura sneered mentally as she made her way back to the office.
They had been getting really bold lately with Hinata's sudden disappearance but hopefully, they would settle down soon. If not she would be forced to mention something to Sasuke and that would not be a pretty sight. Heads would roll if he heard how they were speaking about the Hyuuga. That realization made her stop in her tracks. Sasuke was one of the most detached people she had ever come across. he only let a few people into his inner circle and even those individuals had no idea what he truly thought. After working under him for three long years she liked to think that she had earned a place among the few people he trusted.
However, within just a few weeks Hinata had managed to also gain a seat at that exclusive table. She'd tried her best not to notice the looks they shared or the subtle brushing of their hands when they stood next to each other in public. They were partners working in close proximity, it was only natural that they became close. If she were being honest their interactions did make her a bit jealous if only for the fact that Hinata seemed oblivious. The Hyuuga had no idea how many times a day Sasuke would look up from his work to stare at her while she worked at her desk. She had no idea how he used to ask for Sakura to reschedule his meetings so that his day would line up with hers. That rescheduling had been impossible in recent weeks but when she had been able to work her magic, the constant requests had made the pink haired woman want to tear her hair out.
Shaking her head, she continued onwards to the office. Even if Sasuke had some interest in his partner she had never seen him act on it. More than likely it was only a passing fancy and besides, Hinata was with Gaara. She'd seen the ruby necklace tucked inside of the woman's desk drawer when she'd been searching for an extra pad of post its. No one in their right mind would be able to deny a man that showered them with gifts like that! Satisfied with her new sense of security, she opened the office door to find her boss stretched out on the low sofa in the center of the room. One of his arms was draped across his eyes while the other dangled over the side. Sakura felt her heart skip a beat at the rare sight of him so exposed.
Carefully, she stepped closer to his side. Was it possible for anyone to look as perfect as he did? Seeing him lying there made her feel giddy, one could even say bold. She knelt down beside him, brushing a few dark strands of hair off of his face. A shiver ran down her spine as she noted just how smooth his skin was, it was even better than she had imagined. Curiously, she caressed his cheek wondering all the while what it would feel like to press her lips against it. She'd wondered what that felt like since the day she had been hired by HR and sent to his office. Every woman that worked for the Uchiha had had a similar thought cross their mind from time to time about both of the brothers. She, however, had only possessed eyes for Sasuke.
Keeping her feelings under wraps for three years had definitely been a test of her willpower but it was worth it. She was able to stay by his side every day, to watch him grow and succeed within the company. Sakura smiled to herself as she retracted her hand. After three years she had grown as well, maybe he would finally start seeing her in a new light as well. His rejection at the club had stung, she'd even gone home early to drown her depression in ice cream but it was no big deal. Sasuke was not the kind of man to give in easily. He just needed to be coaxed into seeing her as more than his secretary. The man in question stirred a bit in his sleep before settling back down.
'How cute!' Sakura squealed internally.
She could be patient and wait for him to come around. Eventually, he had to take an interest in someone, why couldn't it be her? In the meantime, she would bide her time and be of use to him for as long as he needed. His lips parted slightly, letting out a deep breath and illuminating further just how perfect he was. His lips looked so soft. Biting her lower lip she debated whether he would wake up or not. He had so much going on lately it was no small mystery as to why he was so tired. She leaned in close, her nose brushing ever so lightly against his.
'Only this once.' She thought guilty to herself, her heart beating like a war drum in her ears.
Only this one time would she indulge herself. He would fall for her eventually so it was okay right? He just looked so perfect. She lowered herself even further, her lips almost brushing against his when he opened his mouth. His voice was barely above a whisper but she caught every syllable.
"Hinata."
…..
Saturday December 5 2017 3:15pm
Hyuuga Compound
...
"You should eat more Ms. Hinata." The elderly Hyuuga maid chided as her mistress stirred her spoon around her chicken soup.
"I'm sorry." Hinata mumbled.
The maid waited patiently until she raised the spoon to her lips before taking her leave of the kitchen. When the sound of her footsteps were far enough away, Hinata quickly dumped the contents of her bowl into the sink. She hated to waste food but she didn't want the woman to see that she wasn't eating. She didn't want to be a disappointment to someone else. When the last of the broth was down the drain she retook her seat at the island and rested her head forehead against the cold marble. She felt absolutely pathetic. She knew that she should return to her bedroom but she couldn't manage the effort to make it up the stairs.
When her father had taken away her responsibilities to her clan she was left without a purpose. It was if someone had clipped her wings, leaving her rot inside of a gilded cage. Everything she'd worked for, so many sleepless nights for nothing. This day was to come when her engagement to Gaara was to be announced but it hurt even more than she had imagined. A wave of nausea ran through her and she clutched the edge of her tshirt, breathing deeply through her nose until it passed. She was useless to her clan. Useless to her father. Useless to...Sasuke.
The thought of his name made her eyes sting with unshed tears. What was he doing right now? Did he know why she was missing, why she hadn't been in contact? Did he miss her? She could only imagine how much slack he now had to pick up in her absence, guilt racked at her heart. She enjoyed her job and now she looked as if she had just abandoned it. The nausea finally passed and she allowed herself a sigh of relief. Maybe now she might be able to conquer the stairs.
"You can't be in here!" The elderly maid cried out from the foyer.
Hinata picked herself up from the counterstop and slipped off of the barstool. The sound of tussling increased as she walked out of the kitchen. There she had a clear shot of the commotion going on. In the door was a blonde woman dressed in all black, how she got the shades of black to coordinate so perfectly Hinata would never know. The maid was trying to push the woman out the door but the blonde was having none of it.
"I'm a friend of Hinata's-" Ino grumbled obstinately but the maid was having none of it.
"I don't care who you are missy! You can't be here!"
"Ino." Hinata called out, the sound of her mistress's voice distracted the maid long enough that Ino was able to skirt around the old woman and scurry into the relative safety of the kitchen.
"Ms. Hyuuga, she can't be here." The maid said sternly with her hands on her hips.
"It's okay she will be leaving soon." Hinata soothed but the maid remained unconvinced. "I'll eat everything on my plate for dinner. I promise."
The maid let out a short breath through her nose but the promise of Hinata actually eating something seemed to lessen her irritation. She narrowed her pale eyes at Hinata and waggled a finger at her.
"Have her gone before your father gets home. I never saw her."
Hinata smiled as the woman turned on her heels and went on to busy herself elsewhere in the house. Ino slumped down onto the bar stool and removed her black skull cap and shades.
"What are you a prisoner or something?" She remarked and Hinata gave her a small smile.
'Something like that.' The Hyuuga thought but kept the statement to herself.
"What brings you here Ino?" Hinata asked, opening the fridge and pulling out a water bottle.
The blonde accepted the water gratefully and nearly drank down half of it the second it hit her lips.
"You haven't been answering any of our messages." Ino explained. "Everyone's really worried."
Hinata looked down at the marble countertop guiltily. She hated worrying her friends.
"Sasuke's even called me a few times to see if I've been able to get through to you. How he got my number I'll never know."
Hinata's eyes widened at the mention of Sasuke's name. Since when did he and Ino know each other, let alone know each other well enough for him to feel comfortable calling her. Ino noticed her surprised look and set her waterbottle down on the countertop.
"Sasuke is actually why I'm here." She said solemnly. "Well partially. He and Naruto are friends right?"
"Yes." Hinata confirmed, not sure where this conversation was going.
"Were you and Naruto...a...um...a thing?" The blonde asked hesitantly.
Hinata blushed and nodded her head. Her confirmation made Ino's shoulders slump.
"I...I had hoped that I was only overreacting from stress but I was right. I hate being right."
"Ino, whats going on?"
The blonde sighed and looked across the island at her, her blue eyes strikingly sad. Instantly Hinata saw her own insecurities reflect back to her and she walked around the island to wrap an arm around Ino.
"Ino, Naruto and I broke up almost over a year ago. There is nothing going on between us."
"Then why is your picture still in his phone?" Ino sniffed, her voice on the verge of tears.
Hinata blinked and tapped her index finger against her chin.
"Probably because he never deletes anything. He's a bit of a hoarder." The Hyuuga said and Ino let out a small, weak laugh.
"So now you just so happen to be dating his friend?"
"That's...complicated."
"Isn't everything?"
Silence fell over the kitchen as both women were left alone to their own thoughts. Everything was indeed too complicated. Ino fished around in her purse and pulled out her cellphone. She swiped a few times before she handed the phone to Hinata. The Hyuuga looked at Ino curiously before scrolling through the text messages she'd pulled up. There were tons of texts from Naruto apologizing as if he'd murdered someone. Hinata's mouth fell open as she looked back up to a blushing Ino who was biting her lower lip.
"I don't know how to respond." She said sheepishly as Hinata placed the phone on the counter.
"Well, you have to say something!"
"I know I know! I feel terrible but at the same time I don't think I'm ready for being the girlfriend of someone who is always in the limelight!"
Hinata frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Do you like him?" She asked sternly and Ino nodded her head.
"Yes but it's not enough to like him. Everyone on the news is going crazy over how I'm no good for him. I'm just a nobody. My family isn't rich. I wasn't even able to finish university before I had to quit and help out at the shop. I have nothing of value-"
"Naruto doesn't care about that."
"I know and that's the problem!"
The maid reentered the kitchen, rapping her fist sharply against the door causing the two women to break from their conversation.
"Neji will be returning home early. Your friend, who I've never seen, should be leaving Ms. Hinata."
...
Saturday, December 5, 2017, 4:56 pm
Hyuuga Compound
...
"Oh, Neji!" Hinata cried out as she rushed from the front door to the kitchen.
He followed behind her, amused at her sudden burst of energy after a week of lethargy. She flung open the freezer and grabbed the first bag of frozen vegetables she could get her hands on. She then directed him over to the dining room table and forced him to sit down with a strength that was surprising for her diminished state.
"It's not a big deal Hinata." Neji sighed but then hissed as she pressed the frozen bag of produce against his left eye.
She placed a hand on his cheek to keep him from moving away. His good pale eye glared at her insistence but she ignored him. She took his left hand and placed it on the bag to keep it in place before searching through the kitchen cabinets for their first aid kit. When she'd found it she scurried back to the dining room and pulled up a chair in front of him. She fished out a bottle of antiseptic and doused a few cotton balls in the clear liquid. Neji removed the bag of produce from his left eye which was now swollen shut and begrudgingly allowed her to apply the burning substance to his cuts on his cheek and forehead.
"How did this happen?" Hinata asked worriedly. Neji had left the compound that morning in perfect shape, there was no reason that he be in this rough state. He sucked in a sharp breath as she pressed down a bit too hard and moved his face away. "Neji please tell me!"
Hinata wasn't quite sure what to make of her cousin's current state. His face was always pristine. Seeing it marred in this way was more than unsettling. She put the cotton ball to the side and unscrewed some ointment to aid in reducing the swelling of his eye.
"Hinata, I'm fine." Neji said simply and grabbed her wrist before she could come any closer to his face. "I'm more worried about you."
"M-me?" She stammered and he nodded his head.
"The other branch members tell me you haven't been eating all week and I can see you're not getting enough sleep."
Hinata bit her bottom lip as he let her wrist go and allowed her to continue her meager attempt to clean his wounds. She hadn't been able to keep much down all week. It wasn't for a small lack of trying. She really wasn't hungry but sometimes a random craving hit and she would actually allow herself to eat. Unfortunately whatever she ate was nearly always immediately regurgitated. It made her lethargic and weak but she'd been unable to sleep.
"You haven't shown up to work all week." Neji continued.
His words her hurt deeply, reopening the wound that had not yet healed. Even if she wanted to go to work she couldn't. Her cell phone had been confiscated and with it all of her contacts. The first morning she'd tried to leave, the driver wouldn't take her and she'd no way to call a cab. Her laptop had also been taken from her room leaving her with no contact with the outside world. Her father trusted her so little to not contact Sasuke that he'd removed any means of her doing so. Sighing she finished dabbing the cool ointment on Neji's eye before pressing the frozen bag against his face again.
"I...I'm fine Neji." She said softly but he didn't seem to buy it. "What is going on with you? How did you get hurt like this?"
Neji bristled at her lack of answers and took the bag from her to press it against his eye on his own.
"Lee." He said simply and her eyes widened.
Lee was Neji's old teammate. He would never hurt him in such a way! Neji patted her hand comfortingly and let out a sigh.
"You saw how I ruined Tenten's meeting with the new fighting instructor right?" He said and Hinata nodded her head solemnly. How could she ever forget? "Well, I agreed to be the new instructor in his place. Lee decided to 'teach me a lesson' for leaving and putting them in a bind in the first place."
"Did he have to be so rough?" Hinata squeaked. Neji in any kind of pain made her uneasy. The Hyuuga smiled and rubbed a thumb over her furrowed brow just as the front door slammed open.
"Hinata!" A panicked voice yelled causing both Neji and Hinata to look up.
"In the kitchen!" Neji yelled back.
Hanabi stormed into the room, her winter coat rumpled and her hair escaping her ponytail. She marched right up to the pair and threw her phone down on the table. The elder Hyuugas looked at it curiously but didn't give it much attention.
"What's wrong Hana?" Hinata asked gently to her clearly irate sister.
"I don't know, you tell me for once!" She yelled back. Hinata stared back at her dumbstruck while Neji rose from his chair.
"Hanabi, watch your tone." He reprimanded but Hanabi ignored him.
"Everything is a lie isn't it?" She laughed. "They don't like me for me. It's because of you, isn't it? It's always because of you."
"Hanabi what are you-"
"Don't act innocent! I know! I fucking know!"
Hanabi shrugged off her coat and threw it onto the dining room table with her phone. Neji and Hinata cast a worrying look to each other, they'd never seen Hanabi so unnerved before.
"Does he even like me for real or is that because of you too?" Hanabi accused with her hands on her hips.
"Konohamaru?" Hinata asked and Hanabi sucked in her teeth.
"Who else would I be talking about?"
"Hanabi you're going to have to be more clear if you want anyone to understand what you're getting at." Neji chided, lowering the frozen bag from his eye.
"Do I have to spell it out? Do you two keep so many secrets from me that you can't keep them all straight? Is that it? Fucking liars."
"Hanabi-" Hinata started, reaching out a hand to touch her sister's shoulder but the girl flinched away.
"Don't touch me. Don't ever touch me!"
"Hana-"
"No! I know what you did! You've sold yourself out to buy me a place in their eyes. They would have never looked at me twice if it hadn't been for you!" Hanabi shouted, her eyes boring accusatory holes into her elder sister.
Hinata retracted her hand slowly. She hadn't wished for Hanabi to find out like this. If anything she would had preferred that Hanabi were to never discover their father's machinations.
"How did you find out?" Hinata asked hesitantly and Hanabi scoffed.
"The ladies of a 'higher caliber' than me let me know very well what was going on. I am only a second daughter, there is no way the heir of Senju would be allowed to keep company with someone who can offer him so little."
"The marriage contract." Neji mumbled under his breath, sinking back into his seat. Hanabi's lips curled over her teeth and she glared furiously at both of them.
"You two both know about this. You manipulated my life to put it down a path that you thought was most suitable. You don't care about my feelings at all!"
"That's not true Hanabi!" Hinata protested weakly, a bout of sudden nausea limiting her strength. "We just wish for you to be happy!"
"Happy?" Hanabi repeated skeptically. "Happy? I don't even know what that is. I don't know what anything truly is because it's always been force fed to me. You don't even know what happiness is!"
Hinata reached out once more to still the shaking of her sister's shoulders but the gesture was only smacked away.
"I hate you! I hate you so much!"
"Ha-ha-Hanabi..." she stammered, her breath catching in her throat at her sister's declaration. The girl looked at her with cold, tear-filled eyes and fists clenched at her side.
"I don't want to be heiress. I have never wanted that. I do not want to be used in whatever political game you guys are trying to play. If you go through with this you are officially ruining my life. I will never forgive you for this."
To be continued...