Forced Love, I Don't Want It Anymore

I couldn't deny that I shared some of the blame for the mess between David and me.

I shouldn't have coveted something that wasn't mine to begin with.

David's father, Ryan Federer, was a college buddy of my father, Vincent. After graduation, Ryan started his own business and made quite a name for himself, while Vincent took a government job.

Things took a dark turn when Ryan's company was targeted for a hostile takeover.

In an attempt to retaliate, someone hired a hitman, and Vincent was stabbed multiple times while trying to save Ryan.

He didn't survive, leaving behind a young me and my mother, Fiona.

Ryan felt guilty for what happened and took it upon himself to look after us. But as I grew up, my introverted nature made me a target for bullying at school. So, Ryan decided to enroll me in the same school as David, hoping he would keep an eye on me. David was a year older, handsome, wealthy, and a top student—he was the king of the school.

With his support, life got a lot easier for me.

When I tripped during gym class, he rushed to carry me to the nurse's office and personally applied ointment to my scrapes. Whenever I struggled with math, he patiently went over problems with me after school, never losing his cool.

But there were plenty of girls at school who had a crush on David. They noticed how he always defended me and how close we were. One day, they cornered me in an alley, and just as they were tearing at my clothes, David showed up. He sprinted toward me, took off his jacket, and draped it over my shoulders like a shield.

I'd never forget that moment. He stood behind me, gentle yet firm, and said, "Don't be scared. I'm here. I won't let anyone hurt you."

That day, the guy who never laid a hand on a girl broke his own rule for me.

There was something intoxicating about being chosen and protected like that.

That was when I realized I had feelings for him.

But the very person I thought would protect me ended up hurting me the most.

Once we reached college, our paths crossed less frequently. As graduation neared, Ryan somehow learned about my feelings for David and pressured him to marry me.

But to my shock, David resisted fiercely.

That was when I discovered the truth: his kindness toward me stemmed from his obligation to Vincent.

He told me he could take care of me because of the debt his family owed, but he refused to sacrifice his own life or the right to choose who he loved because of it.

From that day on, the David I once saw as my guardian turned cold, never giving me a kind look again.

Even though I liked him, I never wanted to force him into anything, but Ryan was relentless, insisting it was their family's obligation to me.

I didn't know what Ryan had said to David, but eventually, he had agreed to marry me.

There was no romance, no wedding.

On the day we got our marriage license, he leaned in close and mocked, "Congratulations, Mrs. Federer! You finally got what you wanted! But remember, you'll never have my heart." And he meant it.

Then Freya came into the picture.

David brought her on board as his assistant, and I soon learned she suffered from severe menstrual cramps, sometimes even landing in the hospital. Whenever those days rolled around, David would vanish without a trace, even from Ryan.

It was like clockwork; whenever Freya had her period, David would act like it was the end of the world, rushing around to get her medicine and feminine products, even rubbing her stomach to ease her pain. He was always hovering over her, forbidding her from drinking alcohol or anything cold.

I never imagined his obsession with Freya would end up costing my mother her life.

Vincent died trying to save Ryan, and now Fiona had paid the price too. Maybe my family was just cursed when it came to them.

If I could turn back time, I'd choose to never have met Ryan or David at all.