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taking the white dress out of the big white box and staring at the sparkling jewelry it was covered in.

”Its really beautiful, but… ” I looked at my younger sister, fully considered herself on the dress, and then turned to Juliette. ”Why? ”

”Oh, Olly, you can even imagine, how stupid is our life, ” answered Juliette. ”Sometimes you have to choose between two evils and theres no one who can tell you what is better. ”

”But he is rich, ” said I suddenly, staring at the white dress in my younger sisters hands. ”At least you won need anything. ”

”If everythings okay, maybe the same will be for you too, ” Juliette smiled to me and continued packing her things into a big suitcase, which also was provided by Hamilton.

I knew that I don have a big chance of having a good life in the future. At school I had some friends, but they were the same omegas as I, so we rarely spoke about our future plans. It was obvious that one day we met an alpha that just would take us as its own thing and we would live under him to give birth to other humans. Omegas rarely became something bigger than househusbands. The most visible advantage was to open the small cafe or restaurant or maybe a floral shop. But it depended on how rich the husband was. Most employers even refused to give omegas work because of the heat and other biological aspects. They made excuses saying that omegas need an extra care so they could not provide it unless its the only omegas concern. Of course, there were a lot of omegas, who worked in such conditions, because of the good salary or lack of money, but that meant you would always face the harassment. This world was not ready for omegas.

And I knew that one day, it was clear, that I could become the victim of it or at the very happy ending became the another househusband giving birth to a child in one of the government clinics in the suburbs. I didn expect much of my future life, but my sister, Juliette, she could have all. Everything. Just at once. Just by saying a word. I realized it, when I saw the white dress in a luxurious white box.

***

The wedding took place in a small church near the park. The day before each member of our family got an invitation and a special wedding costume exactly in size. I was wearing a white shirt with ruffles and a vest, grey trousers and black shoes. They even put socks and handkerchiefs with our costumes to show us that they took care of everything.

A black jeep came at noon. We all sat inside, I, my younger sister, my mom and my dad. Juliette sat in the other car behind us. I looked at the rearview mirror and saw her, beautiful, in white dress and with expensive jewelry, makeup and hairstyle. Although our costumes were rich, we all were still poor and if anyone saw us on the street they could even laugh at us wearing expensive clothes like freaks who got money and spent them on the first unnecessary thing.

When we came to the church, there were already two men at the entrance. They looked like civilians, but we knew they had something forbidden beneath their clothes. Inside it was quiet and empty. We sat on the second bench from the beginning. The decorations were rich but not pompous. It felt like the owner of the wedding was a very restrained but knowing his worth man. The quiet music began to play somewhere making the place a bit comfortable.

”I gonna bring some water, ” whispered my dad and came to one of the men standing near the altar. The priest was preparing for ceremony. He put the rings and the sacred ribbon on the table with white tablecloth. I was watching carefully even didn notice at first the arrival of Ranold Hamilton. He was wearing a black wedding suit that perfectly embraced his figure. I realized I was starring at him when my sister suddenly shook my hand.

”Wheres dad? ” She whispered.

”I don know, ” I answered, turning to her and hugging her by the shoulders softly patting on her head.

The men around began to walk back and forth and I didn understand what was going on, but one thing was obviously clear — something went wrong. Ranold Hamilton was talking to someone on the phone, while we were sitting on the bench, hugging and clutching each others hands, I, my sister and my mother. I don remember how much time passed, but neither my dad nor my sister ever came through that churchs door. One of the men called my mom and asked her something, but she only shook her head and whispered something very quiet. It was around six in the evening when we finally got home. Neither dad nor sister were there. Only the cousins children and we three. The evening was very quiet. No one said a word. Everyone took its place and stayed there up to very late. My dad and my sister just disappeared as if they never were here on this world. Their phones were silent and we even couldn say why. As I thought, my mom knew nothing too, so these two did their dirty deeds without her being involved.

The night was restless. My younger sister was silent too. My mom said nothing. Everyone was thinking about what happened. And then the new day came. And then another one. And another one. There wasn a word about Ranold Hamilton, about our dad or Juliette. Everyone tried to keep doing their own business pretending nothing happened.

I had a week before the last exam. Almost a month passed since the canceled wedding. And almost a month without any signal from dad or Juliette. Everyone was still silent until that fatal evening.

I washed the dishes in the kitchen when suddenly the door opened. The same way, with no knocking. ”Mom, who is there? Mister Jerish came back? Or has it Susanna returned from her extra classes? ” And there was no answer. A strange feeling began to grow deep inside me. I turned off the tap and stepped back from the sink turning my head to the door, when suddenly he came into the kitchen. I tried to step back but he was faster and caught me before I could do something to prevent it. He pushed me in front of him to the stairs holding me by my arm and then up, going right into my room closing the door behind us.

”Sit. We need to talk, ” said he as if I meant something to him.

I sat on the bed and he sat on the chair in front of me crossing his legs. I didn understand what was going on, but it seemed to me he was that kind of man who preferred solving problems face to face without any witnesses. I glanced at him only once, or rather, at his back while he was taking the chair to sit down. All the other time I stared at old wooden floor below my feet in scuffed socks.

He began in a soft, mild voice. ”My name is Ranold Hamilton. We had some deal with your sister and your dad. Still can tell you all the details, my apologies, but they broke the agreement. I waited for a month trying to find them, as it was agreed, but the period came to an end. The second part of the contract is now in force and you are the trustee that it will be done properly. ”

”What… contract? ” I asked, barely understanding what he was trying to tell me.

”Lets say, a business one. As it was certified, you are now the trustee of that contract. ”

”And… what does that mean? ” To be honest, I actually do not know where I had so much courage to even ask him a thing, but maybe a month without any word about all the situation itself made me like this. Maybe, Ranold Hamilton was the only clue where could my dad and sister be, so I tried my best to make everything clear for myself.

Ranold Hamilton did not answer for a long time. He observed me, watched my reaction, tried to understand if I had known something or not. But my mind was completely blank. I was thinking about my dad and sister, who sank in debts and now I was the only one who could bring the peace to our family. I was thinking about my future, about my past. I was thinking about the place my dad and sister could be. I was thinking about how stupid they should be to agree on deal with Ranold Hamilton. I was thinking about everything except the real thing.

”You will become my husband. The wedding is in a week. Prepare yourself, ” that was all he said. And then he stood up and left the room as if he was never here, but his words were echoed in my mind as if he was still here. Near. All the time.