Beth 2

The next day, Nyx went to Beth's home just as they had planned, but she was nowhere to be found. She waited and waited, and hours passed before Beth finally returned.

Nyx was unhappy with the delay but was glad that Beth didn't abandon her when she needed the help. The marriage was not for her. She could feel it, but since no one in her family would listen. Running away and returning a few days or weeks later should be enough to send the message to her mother and father as well as the man she is to marry.

"We are running out of time. We have to go at once. My stuff is ready and…" she stopped when Beth sat down lazily as though strength had left her. "All right, let's get you something to eat first. Mrs Cole prepared some cookies earlier," she said and walked out of the room to the kitchen where Beth's mother hadn't the cookies.

While Nyx left for the kitchen, Beth took out her cell phone from her bag, wrote down a message, and sent it before Nyx could return to the room.

"Sorry that I was so inconsiderate. Have some snacks before we leave, but they have to be swift and discreet before anyone realizes what I am doing. I trust my father would do anything to have me married and mum… she wouldn't object even if I pleaded with her," Nyx placed the cookies as well as a glass of milk in front of Beth with a sunken expression.

The thought of her mother had her worried and almost had second thoughts about her decision. The woman was in poor health, and no one knew how long she had left to live. Her sickness also could not be identified, so there was no treatment. Every doctor they visited told them that there was nothing wrong with Martha, but her health complexion got worse as the days went by.

"I know you didn't mean to overwork me, so I forgive you. But I want to ask, do you really want to run away from your wedding? Mr Morgan is said to be a good man, not to mention, rich," Beth raised a brow as she inquired, but Nyx gave a firm nod, and she sighed. "Alright then, have it your way. I still want to know why you are against it, though. Don't tell me it's because of the invisible friend of yours you always talked about when we were kids," she joked and laughed it off, but Nyx remained silent and serious. "Nyx…?!" Beth exclaimed.

"It does not matter what the reason is. I do not wish to marry a man that I do not know," Nyx firmly stated. Beth just gave her a nod and turned her focus on the cookies.

***

Nyx watched as Beth stepped out of the car and walked ahead to the group of men in shock and disbelief. They had driven out of the city and almost crossed to the next state when they met these people, and Beth seemed very well acquainted with them.

She couldn't tell what they were saying, but with the many glances and the Sorry look in Beth's eyes, she knew it was about her. That was confirmed when two men walked to the car she was in and opened one side and the other stood, blocking the other door. They bowed, and she frowned.

"Good day, Miss Anders, we are here to take you back home," the man who opened the door said, his tone was modest but very professional.

Nyx looked at where Beth stood with her gaze cast down. Their eyes met fleetingly, but she quickly averted her gaze again as if she were unable to look at Nyx. The betrayal that she felt at that moment was indescribable. She trusted her, but this was what her trust led her to.

"Miss Anders," the man called again, snapping her attention back to him. "Please do not make things difficult for us. We are only following instructions."

Nyx knew she had no other means to escape an arranged marriage with a man she only got to see his photo a few hours ago when she searched him online. Besides his good-looking face, she did not know anything else about him. No one would tell her, not even her mother. They would not allow her to confront him because they thought it was for the best and the man's safety.

Having no other option, Nyx came down from the car. "I can walk on my own," she said when the man offered his hand. She was then led to the car which they came in. Reaching where Beth stood, she stopped and looked at her. Stared at her so intently that Beth became uncomfortable.

"I am sorry," Beth uttered. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but Nyx turned a blind eye to them. "Nyx… I truly am sorry," she uttered when Nyx started walking again. The tears she was holding split, but she didn't care and followed Nyx.

"I don't want to see her," Nyx said to the men, shut the door after Nyx got in and stood in front of it to stop Beth from coming any closer than she already was.

"Take the lady back, I will escort Miss Cole back home," the man who had spoken to Nyx before instructed his subordinates.

***

Nyx thought she would be taken back home, but to her surprise, she was taken to the Morgan residence. A house far bigger than theirs. She looked around for routes to leave the house, but right from the gates of the mansion, it was heavily guarded, and spots that weren't have some high-tech to prevent her from escaping. She sighed and resigned to her fate.

Upon venturing further into the mansion, she met her father and mother there about to be allocated rooms of their own.

"Give me a room far away from theirs, the farther away the better," she had said to the housekeeper whose name she did not know yet.

This was how she got trapped in the Morgan mansion until the eve of the wedding. Even during her stay there, she did not get to see her groom until it was that very morning. Nyx also ensured that she did not have any interactions with Beth either, so it came as a surprise when she was present at the wedding as also as her maid of honour.