1 Prologue

"Are you out of your senses?" Marco Marino glared at his father. His eyes filled with rage.

"The deal has already been made."

"You—"

"What are their terms?" Ricardo Marino asked. Unlike his younger brother, he was very calm. There was no hint of rage or displeasure in his eyes.

"Why the fuck do you want to know their terms?" Marco snapped at his elder brother. "Don't tell me you are agreeing to this."

"Marco—"

"She is our fucking sister, Ricardo." He narrowed his eyes. "How can you even consider handing her over to those suckers?"

A silence enveloped the room. The three men glared at each other.

It was unusual of them to not agree to something but this was different. This wasn't some business deal they were discussing.

They were talking about Elsa Marino, the soul of the Marino household. The woman all the three Marino men would give up their life for.

"Marco—" Enzo placed his hand on his son's shoulder. "I know how you are feeling right now and trust me, I don't feel any better. But this is not the time to act recklessly. We need to do this. We need this to keep everyone safe including Elsa."

"Bullshit," Marco jerked his hand off his shoulder. "There is always a choice father but yet you choose to throw your only daughter under the bus."

He looked at Ricardo. "Say something. Tell him this is never going to happen. We will never allow our little sister to be pawned like this."

Ricardo tucked his hands in his pockets and exhaled. He didn't say anything but it was enough for Marco to understand that his elder brother was siding with their father.

"You both are out of your fucking mind," Marco slammed his first on the table. "I don't care what happens. I am not allowing this."

He gritted his teeth. "My sister is not marrying that sucker Desmond Fedorov."

"Marco, you need to calm down first and think it through." Enzo tried to calm his son down.

When he summoned his sons to tell them about the arrangement he had made, he had expected Marco's wrath.

Unlike Ricardo, who knew how to control his emotions, Marco was very transparent. He never hesitated to express his emotions.

"She..will..not..marry..into..that..family." Marco gritted his teeth. He would not let that happen even over his dead body.

"Marco—"

Ricardo frowned when he saw Elsa standing near the door. "Princess, go inside."

"Oh so now she is your princess?" Marco scoffed.

Elsa lowered her head and tears threatened to roll down her cheeks.

Marco's heart clenched when he saw his little sister's vulnerable state. Her clothes were still stained with blood and her hair was a mess. Her cheeks still had traces of tears she had shed a few hours ago.

Balling his fingers into a fist, he stormed towards her. "Don't cry—" He pulled her in his embrace. "I will never let it happen. You are not marrying that man."

When he kissed the top of her head, Elsa pulled away and looked at him.

She wiped the tears with the back of hand and straightened her shoulders..

"But I want to….I am willing to marry Desmond Fedorov."

…..