Author's note: this is from Magda's point of view

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Fucking Kim! When I get my hands on that treacherous bitch, I will pull her hair out and scratch her face so that no one can recognize her.

I knew it was a mistake to hide at her place, but I couldn't go to Anna's, and I was too hysterical to think of any other place.

Anna probably knew I took her father's gun, and she won't let it go.

I didn't mean to shot Drago. I really didn't.

I wanted him to know that I mean business and that I will not give up easily.

I made sure that Sanya disappears, and I can make Seraphina go away as well. No one will stop me from getting what I want. No one!

How was I supposed to know that Drago will grab the gun and it will go off?

It was an accident! But I knew that no one will believe me, so I panicked and ran.

I tossed the gun into a nearby container after a few blocks. I don't even remember if I wiped my fingerprints off it.

I went to Kim's place because I needed to calm down and figure out my next steps.

Kim gave me her phone and I checked the news. How is it possible that no one mentioned murder? I'm positive that he was shot in the chest, and I saw his shirt turning red from blood. There was no way Drago survived that.

I was at a loss of what to do. I was supposed to win Drago over, to tell him that Seraphina is a big fraud and that I'm the only one who ever loved him, yet I ended up killing him. That was NOT what I had in mind when I escaped that hell in Sweden.

Lost in my thoughts, I completely missed that Kim called my brother.

I thought that John will make me go to that horrible school again, but I realized that he wants to marry me off and not just to anyone, but to one of the biggest woman-beaters ever!

Enitan Keita. I remember his file. A chubby dark-skinned man with barely a few strands of hair on his head. He has five wives that he whips for pleasure and to ensure their obedience. To add to the list of bad points, he lives in some country in Western Africa!

What the fuck, John!?

Is this what he prepared for his loving sister? Is this the same John who always hovered over me and made my scandals disappear?

I refused to believe that this was happening.

I couldn't hear what the man on the other side of the line was saying, but just from listening to John, I've got the picture.

"...Giantshade Industries is ready to come to the table and negotiate a deal for the construction project in Mali. I can guarantee that we can come to an agreement that will benefit both of our companies..."

John smiled while listening to Mr. Keita's response.

"No need for you to come here, Mr. Keita. I will escort my sister personally. Only like that, I can show that I am a good brother. We will be at your place tomorrow by lunchtime. Will that work?"

I couldn't believe this! Tomorrow by lunchtime!? Doesn't that mean we are leaving soon?

"Yes, yes, Magda is also excited about this, and she can't wait to become Mrs. Keita. My sister is not big on ceremonies, so you don't need to make it extravagant. How much time do you need to prepare?"

Why does John mean by, 'not big on ceremonies'? I always dreamed about an extravagant wedding! I was supposed to wear a princess-style gown, embellished with diamonds and pearls, and a matching sparkly tiara on my head! Hundreds of guests and white silk and flowers everywhere! And my groom should be tall and handsome, like Drago, and not ugly over-fried dumpling like Enitan Keita!

"Alright. I will make sure I come with a dowry, and by the time you wed my sister, we will have the draft of our contract ready…"

I listened to John exchanging pleasantries, and I couldn't believe that he was really doing this to me.

"You are a beast!", I screamed as soon as they removed the gag. "You can't do this! What kind of a brother are you?"

He shook his head. "I am a brother who doesn't know what else to do with you. You are willful, disobedient, malicious, scandalous, lazy, incompetent… should I keep going? Unfortunately, none of these are enough to put you in jail. I tried sending you to school, but you escaped. Tell me, what should I do?"

During my stay in Sweden, I thought about my situation, and I realized one thing. "This is about Seraphina, right? It's about Miss Perfect and how you want her to be yours." I saw John narrowing his eyes and I knew I got it right. "Do you think she will spare you a glance? She is with Drago. They are about to get married! Where does that leave you, brother?"

"Shut up, Magda!", John roared. "You have no right to talk about her!"

I couldn't believe this. Did he forget who is his sister? Is he putting some no-name missy above me?

"Do you think she is better than me?"

John sneered at me. "I am confident that she doesn't sleep with guys for a phone call."

That was a low blow. "I wouldn't do that if you didn't put me in that god-forsaken place! It's all your fault."

"So, it's my fault you are a slut? If you were obedient and focused on your lessons, you would earn your ticket out. But you couldn't put your mind into studies because your head is full of parties and designer dresses, and chasing after men who don't want you. Do you think that you have a chance to win over Drago Orsini? Let me tell you one thing, sister. Drago is a smart man and he saw how ugly you are on the inside. No matter what you do, he won't like you."

I was furious. John said many hurtful things, but the one that stood out was him mentioning how I'm ugly on the inside. Isn't that what Drago said?

"Let me go!", I demanded.

"And then what? How long will it take for you to cause another scandal? Do you need to drag our family and the company in the mud with you? For years, I'm letting you go, Magda. I've had enough."

"I will change my name. No one will know we are related. Just let me go! I won't ask for much. Give me an apartment and enough for monthly expenses and you won't hear from me."

John rolled his eyes at me. "Do you think I'm stupid? Do you think that I don't know you will say anything just to get out of this? Trust me, Magda, you crossed the line more than once and I have no intention of allowing it to happen again."

I wanted to respond, but words refused to come out. My eyelids grew heavy, and I realized that they sedated me again, and there was a good chance that when I open my eyes, I will be only hours away from marrying Enitan Keita.

Damn it!

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