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“No date of birth listed. It looks like it was written but was then blacked out.” She looks back up. “Anything else, sir?”
“No, no, that’s all. Thank you, Sky.”
Nine years old. There’s no way that could be our daughter. I left ten years ago. Emma had been on birth control while we were together. I made sure to get her on it when we became sexually active. Both of us hated the feeling of condoms so we just didn’t use them and instead relied on the pill. The chance of birth control failing is slim. The timeline doesn’t add up. Or at least I don’t think so. Emma would never have been with someone willingly so soon after I left, no matter how angry she was at me.
Fuck.All I’m left with is more questions, while Emma is the one with all the answers. And, of course, there is no way to ask her any of this. She can’t even know that I’m still involved.
Glancing at the clock, I see it’s only twelve pm.Shit.I still have a whole day ahead of me before the opening ceremony and fights tonight. After the information Sky provided, I want to keep working out, but I know I need to wait and relax. Save the anger for tonight. In the ring.
THREE
EMMA
“Sis! Wake up!” I feel a nudge on my leg. “The nanny is here. We need to go now. You know Dad expects you to look perfect for tonight. The fighters will be getting their first glimpse at their possible bride.”
God, she sounds way too enthusiastic.I yawn and stretch my body on the couch. It may have been only a twenty-minute nap, but I slept horribly last night, so it was needed. My sister is still impatiently moving about in front of me as I make my way off the couch. The last thing I want to do is dress shopping for an event I don’t want to be at, being sold as a bride to someone I don’t even know. It’s moments like this that make me wish Trevor was still around, but I know he isn’t and now it’s up to me to make the best life possible for Alexis. She deserves the world.
“I really don’t see the point in doing this. Shouldn’t they wait to see their prize ‘til, I don’t know, the semi-finals or something?” The look on my sister’s face was priceless at that. Even I know better than to assume that’s how our world works. Father loves to flaunt us around as his bargaining chips, as always. There was no getting out of this night, no matter what I did.
“Kidding, Sis.” I smile and nudge her shoulder. “I know the drill. Now let’s go find me a dress for this evening.”
“Now you're talking, Emma. I knew you could be persuaded to see things our way eventually.” She perkily replies, heading towards her garage. It takes everything in me to not roll my eyes at her. My sister changed a lot since my freshman year. She sacrificed herself to protect me but in the end she became like them.She has been brainwashed one too many times by our father and her husband. Ever the doting perfect wife. She was born for this lifestyle.
Following her to the garage, we get into her Bentley, heading towards town. Knowing Nora, she is heading straight to some of the high-end boutiques along the main shopping district that she loves. In my opinion, it is way too much money to spend on everyday clothes, let alone a dress, but I know this is what is expected of me. Let’s just hope whatever she has picked out isn’t something that will stand out too much.
“I had several dresses pulled aside for you to try on once we get to the store. Please remember that this event is not something you can wear one of your regular dresses for. You will need to wear one of the ones I picked out.” Nora breaks through my thoughts, causing me to give her a side eye and roll my eyes. Of course, she feels the need to press the importance of tonight. She has always been the perfect daughter where I was the rebel, the one that would never fall in line, who thought for herself.
I know this fight’s importance and that I must dress to match a certain standard. It would be nice to still pick a dress out on my own. It would also be a dress that covered a lot more than whatever she chose for me. Since having Alexis, I’ve always tried to hide my body. It’s not that I’m ashamed of the stretch marks along my stomach; no, in fact, I’m proud of them. My daughter is my pride and joy. After I had her, my father, with the assistance of my sister, put me on a strict diet and workout regimen to make sure I looked like the perfect daughter once again. I know I have a nice body that would drive men crazy if they saw it, which is exactly why I keep it hidden. I don’t want to be the candy on a man’s arm. I want passion and love from my husband.
“Oh, don’t give me that look, Emma. You know I’m just doing what Dad asked of me. I have all the faith in the world that you would have picked out something stunning on your own.” She tries to placate me using the dad card, causing me to sigh in response. She can blame this on my father all she wants, it is his fault, but I also know she really doesn’t have the faith in me.
It’s not that she’s wrong. I’m sure our father did tell her to do this. I just hate being treated like a child when I’m an adult with my own daughter to care for. Though, of course, my father has to control every aspect of our lives. I really don’t understand why Nora lets him get away with still controlling hers when she is married with her own kids. Well, that’s not true. She doesn’t know any better, and her husband is so enamored with our father and what he can offer him that he will do whatever he tells him to do. Her husband would never support her in thinking for herself or doing something she actually wants. Truthfully, I think she enjoys this life.
“I’m sure Father did tell you to do all this. However, I really would have been fine on my own. Thank you for coming with me and arranging all this, though. It was really nice of you.” I turn to look at her and smile. No reason to start a fight today of all days. I also know that whatever I do and say will be reported to our father. He is good at that.
“Oh thank goodness. I really thought you were going to start a fight over this. Perfect. Well, here we are,” she states, putting the car in park.
Looking up, I see we are parked in front of a small boutique known for its fancy cocktail dresses. While I’m still gathering the courage to walk into this hell, Nora is already out of the car standing near the door impatiently waiting on me. How she managed that so fast, I will never know. Then again, she does love a good shopping trip.
Joining her at the door, she leads us inside to get started. All I can do is hold my breath and hope she doesn’t make me try on every single dress. I’m really hoping we can find a dress for me in this first store and it doesn’t turn into an all-day shopping trip. I’m almost positive a whole hair and makeup team will be waiting at the house later to help me get ready. Neither of them would let something like that slide by on an important night.
“Welcome, Mrs. Silverton and Miss Delcoure. We are so happy to have you both here today. I have the dresses you requested set aside and in a dressing room for you. If you both would like to follow me, I will show you which room will be yours.” The young lady at the desk greets us and walks away, expecting us to follow her.
It takes everything in me to not roll my eyes. I know when we are out in the town I am expected to be on my best behavior and act the way a Delcoure is expected. Our family runs this town; without us, there would be no town. With that kind of power comes a certain class that is expected to be followed. From a young age, we were groomed to be polite and hold ourselves above all others.
Nora behaves the part so well, as well as our younger brother William. I, however, struggle with it. Probably due to my time spent with Trevor, who grounded me and introduced me to how the other side lives. He taught me how to live, to look at the world around me instead of expecting it to look at me. He kept me humble, let me live and thrive. I learned a lot about myself in high school, especially about the person I wanted to be.
Thanks to him, I knew I wanted Alexis to grow up differently. She can have some of the pleasures that money brings, but I want her to also work for things. Not everything will be handed to her. She needs to learn to look out for herself. So far, I’d say I’ve done a good job. Well, see when she gets older.
“Emma, let’s go. We don’t have all day!” Nora scolds, pulling me from my thoughts and back into the small boutique.
I walk through the door she holds open for me into our private dressing room, almost stopping when I see the sheer number of dresses hanging up around the room. I’m so hoping not all of these are for me to try on. They are beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t want to go through this many dresses either.
“Go change. The first three dresses are behind the curtain.” Nora nudges me further into the room, shutting the door behind her.
Taking a deep breath, I calm my mind to get this over with. Heading behind the curtain, I see the first three dresses she has already picked for me. The first is an off-the-shoulder mermaid-style black dress. It’s elegant and sexy. I strip out of my clothes, neatly fold them on the small bench in the area, and take the first dress off the hanger. It’s a tight fit to get it on, but I’m thankful the zipper is on the side so I can zip it up myself without needing help. When I do I see a slit up my left leg almost to the top of my thigh. Thankfully that’s the only real exposed part of the dress which I can handle. The top of the dress pushes my breasts up enough to show them off, but they are still completely covered.
“Are you ready yet?” my sister’s voice travels through the curtain.
