Love Wasn't in The Contract

POV: Ivy Carter

I could taste blood in my mouth... and it sucks because whenever I felt this way... it only means one thing - things are about to get intense.

My twin. Zara. I could hardly picture what she looks like because it's hard to really do anything around here especially when the one person you thought wpould stick around chooses to run away. 

"Ivy!" My father called out, his voice rough. It has always been like that. Nothing new about it. 

From the other room, I could hear my mother cough and I knew for certain her health was getting worse with each passing day but my father didn't care much about the whole thing, most especially about me. He just never cares.

"Did you hear me?” he voiced out again as his fork hit the plate. He always had the same mood whenever he's eating. And my chest wouldn't stop beating fast, betraying me, just like it does whenever he gets in this mood. It happens regularly.

"Yes, Father," I said in a really low voice trying to stay calm, avoid any sudden move and also trying to never look into his eyes. That's how it had to be.

"Very good. Pay attention to what I'm about to tell you. The woman who gave birth to you? Your mother? We both know she's really sick and can barely do anything." He raised his hand, pointing towards the end of the room and dropped it like it meant nothing. Like my mother wasn't getting worse as time goes by. As though leaving her alone in the room uncared for was normal. His attention has always been elsewhere, not on something that needs tending to.

"Well Zara," he said, his voice trailing off into silence after pausing and taking a long sip of water. Then came the real words. "She has proven herself to be less reliable and selfish to this family."

I wanted to laugh. I really wanted to because that tag 'reliable' only meant one thing. A word for when Zara ran, away from this hell hole and choices that always seems to tie her down, to tie me down but he wouldn't use the word fled. he literally skipped the blunt truth.

"What about Zara?” I asked, though my fingers wouldn't stop trembling.

"What do you mean? She's gone. Fled like a coward that she is and I know for one that doesn't change anything, does it?” He leaned forward and I thought he was going to hit me for even asking "The Hale arrangements, The Marriage."

I felt my stomach made that silly sound. Those Hale plans sounds heavy. Marriage around the corner. Zara was supposed to wed Alistair Hale... the billionaire. She spoke of his name like it was a curse. Thinking about it, I don't even blame her for running.

"But... Zara's not here." My voice, low. Really low because it had to be or i know what will come. I always knew.

The way he looked at me made it seem like I had said something out of line. He didn't even look happy. Never happy. "She isn't here but you're here and that's more than enough."

I felt a sudden chill run through my body. "Me?" What does he mean... me? I moved my head trying to say no to the whole idea "No, no, I can't do that. I'm not anywhere near Zara. I'm just not it..."

"She's your twin, girl. You both look the same!" He shouted, hitting his hand on the table. I pulled back, my chair moving back a little. I could hear my mother coughing again, a weak, faraway sound. He didn't even care, didn't seem to notice it. "What makes you think Alistair Hale cares about which twin it is? he just needs a Carter. A pretty face like yours, and a really quiet one at that. And you, Ivy, you're quiet. More like the right person for the arrangement." He almost laughed, a really stupid thing to do at the time. "Convenient, isn't it?"

"No. Please, Father. I don't... I can't marry that man. I don't even know him. Zara hated the whole arrangement thing. she literally ran because..."

"Silence!" He cuts me off, his voice sounds like a whip. His chair moved back and I shut my eyes, bracing myself. This was it. This was always it. The whole defiance, arguments and certainly... the inevitable consequences.

"Zara ran, and that only mean one thing. You will take her place. The Hale fortune awaits you," He smiled cruelly, his hand already rising.

CRACK. 

The slap echoed. A sharp, hot thing across my check. My head snapped sideways and I felt like, I was going to give up the ghost. This was different. So much more than before but I didn't give up the ghost but it was as though my world blur. My ear rang. I could taste blood and this time it happens to be mine. But I didn’t cry. I never cried in front of him. That was another rule. Never let him see you break.

"You don't have any say, Ivy," he said, his voice now calm, as if he'd just cleaned up a messy desk. "No choice at all. Pack a bag. One small bag. Only essential stuffs. They will be here tonight."

Tonight? I couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything. Tonight? He didn't even give me time to grieve. No time to grieve the girl I was. No time to prepare for what's coming. Just that I'm Zara's replacement.

"Tonight?” I asked, my voice was rough, while my eyes were filled with unshed tears.

"Yes, tonight. You will go to Mr. Hale's estate. You will be polite about the whole thing, you will be quiet and you will be Zara." He watched me, his eyes cold and calculating. "Do you understand me?”

I didn't even answer him. I just stood there, my hands shaking, touching my cheek. My mother coughed again and this time it was a desperate, weak sound. One i didn't even bother to register or maybe I just couldn't because of that slap. The Hale fortune was all that matters to him. Not me. Not even her.

I walked back to my room, feeling numb. The small bag felt heavy in my hands as I pulled it from the cupboard, just a few clothes, a toothbrush. A book Zara liked. I quickly hid it because I can't be seen taking anything that's not necessary. I just packed in silence.

The black limousine was shiny, very long, and it was waiting. The driver is a tall man in dark suit. He opened the door and there was no goodbye from anyone. Not from my father, who watched from the doorway, ensuring I complied. 

I just stepped inside, and the car kick-started. I just kept wondering how l can pretend to be someone else. To be Zara. Somehow, I just hoped Alistair Hale wasn't as observant as he was rich