Forced to Marry the Guard, He Now Regrets It

That song was the one I wrote when Daniel Brooks and I confirmed our relationship. I had played it only for him, pouring into it my deepest blessings and hopes for our love.

Even though that love had now rotted and soured, I would never allow it to be made a joke.

“I’m sorry, Emma, I didn’t know it was that important… I… I didn’t mean it…” Chloe Miller stammered, tears falling like an innocent, frightened fawn.

Daniel’s brief hesitation vanished. His tone hardened into a command.

“Emma, it’s just a song. Can a song be more important than a person? You gave it to me—what’s wrong with letting Chloe hear it too?”

I stood unmoving, and he reminded me coldly,

“Think about the Carter family.”

“I’ve already agreed to marry that man. You promised to continue cooperating with the Carters. My attending this party to help ease tensions doesn’t mean I’ll let you humiliate me again and again.”

I spat out the words icily and turned to change clothes and leave.

At the mention of my impending marriage, Daniel faltered for a moment, about to speak—but Chloe choked out a sob in his arms.

“So Emma thinks playing for me is humiliation. Right, I’m just the maid’s daughter. Even if I saved Daniel once and was adopted by the Brooks family, it doesn’t change my lowly status.”

“I don’t deserve to be with Emma, nor to stay by Daniel’s side. I’ll leave right now.”

She pushed Daniel away and ran out, crying.

I had no interest in their melodrama. I turned and stepped into the dressing room.

Moments later, Daniel kicked the door open, his face dark, yanking me out with a grip like iron. His voice was cold as ice.

“Emma Carter, are you satisfied now? Chloe ran off to Nightshade Club to drown herself in liquor. You’d better apologize and bring her back.”

“Otherwise, forget about me ever marrying you.”

His tone carried complete certainty, as if convinced I could only be coerced by such threats.

Nightshade was the largest entertainment club in the city. Chloe’s bodyguards quickly lost her in the chaos. Daniel, furious and anxious, searched frantically, terrified something would happen to her if he was too late.

He didn’t care in the slightest that I had been pushed aside by the surging crowd. Clutching my skirt tightly, I kept my guard up, forcing myself to slip through the throng until I finally escaped into the street.

Just as I was about to hail a cab, a desperate scream reached me from a nearby alley. Chloe’s voice.

Her cries grew weaker, more pitiful. On the phone, the police said it would take twenty minutes for them to arrive. I canceled the ride I had just ordered.

Grabbing an empty bottle from a trash pile, I crept toward the alley. Five tattooed men were tearing at Chloe’s dress.

No time to call for help—I charged in, smashing a bottle over one man’s head and pulling Chloe up to run. But before we could escape, a hand yanked me back, shoving me violently to the ground.

Four men pinned me down. Chloe bolted, screaming in terror as she fled.

“Don’t chase me! Take her! She’s the Carter heiress—you’d never get a chance with her otherwise!”

At her words, the men’s gazes turned lecherous, eyes crawling over my exposed skin with vile hunger.

“Get off me! Don’t touch me! Get away!”

Suddenly, I heard Daniel’s voice. My hope flared—I screamed for help.

But Chloe’s voice came, urging him on.

“Daniel, it’s terrifying here. Let’s just go back. I’ll never sneak out again.”

“Alright, I’ll let you off this time. Next time, you’ll get a real scolding.” Daniel’s tone was indulgent, doting.

Their footsteps drifted farther and farther away.