ONCE MY LOVE, ALWAYS MY LOVE

 NATALIA'S POV

The blue gown hugged my body perfectly, highlighting every curve as if I were walking into an auditorium, not the mess of an evening my parents had dragged me into. I stared at myself in the mirror, the perfect image reflected at me, all lies. Beneath the polished surface, my mind agitated with unease. My family had been unsettled for months, and now this, whatever this was, felt like the final thread snapping.

"Natalia!" My mother's voice, sharp and commanding, slashed through the air.

"I'm coming!" I snapped, grabbing my clutch and heading downstairs.

There she sat, in the wheelchair that had become her prison since the accident. Her face was pale, life was really unbearable for her. My father stood nearby, his expression stern and unreadable.

"We're late," he said, his voice sharp. 

"Late for what?" I asked, frustration lacing my tone.

"You'll see," he mumbled as he brushed past me. 

I hesitated, looking at my mother. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached out to squeeze mine. "Just trust us, Natalia," she whispered, her voice barely loud enough. 

The desperation in her tone sent a chill through me, but I followed them to the car, with the hope that nothing stupid goes wrong each mile we travel. 

At the Restaurant

The exterior was elegantly decorated, emanating a peaceful aura that seemed to envelop me even before I stepped inside. My father guided us to a table in a private section, but the silence between us was unimaginable. 

"Dad, what's going on?" I asked again, but he ignored me.

Before he could answer, the doors swung open, and the entire room seemed to hold its breath.

A man entered, accompanied by two associates who moved like shadows at his side. He walked with the ease of someone who controls the world, his tailored suit firm on his broad shoulders, his eyes sharp and enticing.

Andrew Johnson.

I didn't need an introduction. His name was whispered in boardrooms, printed in headlines, and spoken with a mix of awe and fear due to the power and authority he commands.

"Well," he muttered, his deep voice heard across the room. "If it isn't the Wilson family. I'd say it's a pleasure, but I tell lies a lot" 

My father stood, his face faded. "Mr. Johnson, thank you for meeting us."

Andrew didn't even pay attention to him, his gaze cutting straight towards me. His lips curled into a mocking smile. "And you must be Natalia. The infamous Wilson daughter." He adjusted his head, his eyes scanning over me like I was some kind of specimen under a microscope. "Hmph. You'll do."

My blood boiled. "Excuse me?"

He chuckled, a sound so low and cruel it made my skin shiver. "Relax, sweetheart. It's not a compliment, just an observation. Your father has been exaggerating about you like you're some prize, but I see now it was just due to desperation" 

"Watch your mouth," my father snapped, his voice trembling.

Andrew turned his gaze to my father, his smirk widening. "Or what? You'll beg me to leave? Oh, wait, you already did that when you came crawling to me."

"Mr. Johnson, I beg you" my father began, but Andrew cut him off with a raised hand.

"Let's skip the long talks, shall we?" Andrew said, his voice sharp. He leaned back in his chair, utterly at ease. "I agreed to meet you because I was curious, very curious to see just how far the mighty Wilson family has fallen. And I must say, I'm not disappointed."

 ANDREW'S POV

Watching the Wilsons fidget was even more satisfying than I'd imagined. Wilson Sr. looked like he might collapse at any moment and his daughter… ah, the daughter.

Natalia was something else, her fiery eyes, the way her jaw clenched when I spoke. She wasn't like the others I'd dealt with. No, she had a fight left in her. It was almost a shame I was going to break her.

"Without any delay, let's get to the point," I said, adjusting forward. "Your father's company is about to crash, and I'm the only thing standing between it and crumbling. I've agreed to help, but only on one condition." I turned my cold gaze to Natalia. "You marry me."

Her reaction was predictable. "What?!" she shouted, her voice filled with fury. 

I smirked. "Don't act so surprised, sweetheart. You didn't think I was here out of kindness, did you? Your father has nothing else to offer, and you, well, you're the only thing of value left in his sad little kingdom".

She stood abruptly, her chair dragging against the floor. "I'm not some object you can trade!"

"No," I agreed, my voice cold. "You're not. You're a means to an end. And right now, that end is the only thing keeping your family alive at least to some extent. So sit down, Natalia, and stop wasting my time."

 NATALIA'S POV

I couldn't believe what I was listening to and my father sat there, silent and ashamed, while this man, a stranger, spoke to me like I was nothing. The mighty has truly fallen.

"How can you allow him to talk to us like this?" I demanded, turning to my father.

He avoided my gaze, his hands trembling. "Natalia, please—"

Andrew laughed, the sound sharp and cruel. "Oh, don't blame him. He's just doing what he does best, failing. The only reason your family hasn't faded yet is because of me. But unfortunately that can change any moment from now". 

I turned back to Andrew, my voice shaking with anger. "You're a freak."

He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "And you're wasting my time." He stood, towering over me. "Let me make this simple: you marry me, or I leave. And when I do, your family loses everything, your house, your mother's treatments, your father's last shred of dignity, and all you cherish. It's all gone. So make your choice, princess. But don't take too long. My patience is very slim. 

 ANDREW'S POV

As Natalia stormed out, her fiery spirit blazing, I couldn't help but smirk. She would break—sooner or later, they all did.

Turning to her father, I let my voice drop, cold and cutting. "Get her in line, Wilson. I don't have time for theatrics."

Wilson nodded shakily, his face pale. "I'll talk to her—"

"You'll do more than talk," I interrupted. "You'll make her understand the stakes. Because if she doesn't agree, this deal is off, and I'll watch your family crumble with a smile on my face."

I walked out of the restaurant, my associates falling into step behind me.

"She'll come around," I muttered, a cruel smile tugging at my lips. "They always do."

 NATALIA'S POV

The drive home was quiet, the weight of what had just happened heavy and oppressive. As soon as we stopped at the driveway, I ran to my room, slamming the door shut.

I collapsed onto the floor, tears streaming down my face. How could my father agree to this? How could he let that man control our lives?

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.

"Natalia?" came a soft voice from the other side.