Collateral Hearts : The Marriage Bargain First Impressions

Allina Hartwell

"I said, I’m not marrying him,"

Allina's POV "I said, I’m not marrying him," I repeated, enunciating every word as though it would somehow make the absurdity of this situation clearer to everyone involved. I felt my mother’s hand squeeze mine beneath the table, her eyes pleading with me, silently begging me to comply. But I wasn’t about to back down. Not this time. How could they think this was acceptable? I was their only daughter, and they hadn’t even bothered to give me a heads-up about this...arrangement. How could they throw me into this without a thought for my feelings? The man beside me shifted, finally breaking his silence. His voice was smooth but grated on my nerves, as it had from the moment he arrived, a full fifteen minutes late. So much for being “punctual and disciplined,” like his best friend—the crown prince, no less. His lateness was just the first offense. The second was his clear lack of respect for my parents. His subtle exchanges, coated in false politeness, were nothing more than veiled insults. What annoyed me the most was that my father allowed it. He let this man walk all over him. And third, it was painfully obvious he wasn’t interested in me, either. The way he carried himself, like he was some kind of divine gift to us mere mortals... everything about him screamed arrogance. Marry him? If this ever became my only option, I’d rather take vows of chastity and become a nun. This whole situation was nothing but an elaborate setup, and I was their scapegoat. The longest argument of my life with my parents was unfolding, louder and uglier than any we’d had before. We were always at odds about something, but this? This was different. This was a battle I had to win.

Ethan Blackwood

“I’ll need a word with my fiancée.”

Before she could protest, Ethan grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the back of the restaurant. His grip was firm, leaving little room for resistance.

Allina Hartwell

“What are you doing?”

Allina Hartwell

I hissed, trying to yank my hand away. My heart raced with a mix of annoyance and apprehension.

Ethan remained silent until we were alone in a private room. The sudden isolation made the tension palpable.

Allina Hartwell

“You could’ve asked like a normal person.”

Allina Hartwell

My voice trembled slightly as I tried to reclaim my composure.

Ethan Blackwood

“Normal isn’t my style.”

His smirk was infuriatingly confident.

Allina Hartwell

“Well, arrogance suits you perfectly.”

Ethan Blackwood

*Smirked* (immediately wiped his hand with sanitizer.) “Feisty. Don’t worry, my standards aren’t that low.”

Allina Hartwell

I crossed my arms, disgust written all over my face.

Allina Hartwell

“I should probably use acid where you touched me, just to be safe.”