Chains of Contracted Marriage

CHAPTER TWO

LILLIAN

I sat on my couch, sipping a glass of wine and staring blankly at the wall. I couldn't believe how badly the date with Ethan had gone. I had tried to go in with an open mind, to give him a chance, but he had been so cold and arrogant.

I thought about the way he had spoken to me, the way he had expected me to just agree to his terms without even discussing it. It made my blood boil just thinking about it.

And yet... there was that moment when he had caught me, when his hands had been around my waist and his eyes had crinkled at the corners as he smiled. It had been a fleeting moment, but it had left an impression.

I shook my head, trying to clear it. What was wrong with me? I was not going to let a handsome face and a charming smile distract me from the fact that Ethan was clearly not the right man for me or for this entire arrangement in all it's sorts.

I took another sip of my wine, feeling the cool liquid slide down my throat. I was better off without him, I told myself. I deserved someone who would treat me with respect and kindness, someone who would love me for who I was.

But as I sat there, sipping my wine and staring at the wall, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just let something slip away. Something that might have been important.

I pushed the thought aside and stood up, carrying my wine glass to the kitchen. I was not going to waste any more time thinking about Ethan. I had better things to do.

I was lost in thought, staring out the window as I replayed the events of the evening in my mind reminiscing on every detail, trying to figure him out. I didn't even notice when Beatrice, my guardian, walked into the room.

"Lillian, dear, how was your date with Ethan?" she asked, her voice bursting with excitement.

I turned to her, still feeling a bit dazed and startled. "It was a disaster," I said, shaking my head.

Beatrice's face fell, but she quickly recovered. "Oh, dear, what happened?" she asked, sitting down next to me on the couch.

I sighed, launching into the story of how Ethan had shown up late, been rude and obnoxious, and generally made a terrible impression.

Beatrice listened attentively, her expression growing more and more concerned. But when I finished, she surprised me by saying, "Well, Lillian, you have to admit that Ethan is a very successful businessman."

I rolled my eyes. "That's all you can say? He's rude, obnoxious, and completely lacking in charm. And out of all the men in the world, I had to be set up with him?"

Beatrice smiled. "Now, Lillian, don't be too hard on him. Ethan may not be the most charming man, but he's intelligent, driven, and very good at what he does. Those are all excellent qualities in a partner."

I shook my head. "I don't care about his business skills, Beatrice. I care about whether or not I can stand to be in the same room as him. And the answer is no."

Beatrice chuckled. "Well, I suppose we'll just have to work on that, won't we?"

I remained firm on my initial stand. "I really think we should reconsider this entire arrangement with the Calloway's, I would prefer a partner I can actually stand." I protested

Beatrice's expression turned serious, and she reached out to take my hand. "Lillian, I know you're upset, but I want you to rethink your decision. This marriage is not just about you and Ethan, it's about the future of our families and our businesses."

I pulled my hand away, feeling a surge of frustration. "That's exactly what I'm trying to say, Beatrice. This marriage is about everything except what I want, I know love was never an option but can we at least make trust a fair try."

Beatrice sighed. "Lillian, you're being naive. This marriage has been arranged for months. Everything is already in place. The contracts have been signed, the details have been worked out... all that's left is the ceremony and sorting out other things here and there."

I felt a cold dread creeping up my spine. "What are you saying?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

Beatrice's expression was firm. "I'm saying that whether you like Ethan or not, you will have to marry him.....I mean you will marry him, It's not a matter of choice, Lillian. It's a matter of duty."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "You're telling me that I have no say in my own future?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Beatrice's expression softened slightly. "I'm telling you that sometimes, we have to make sacrifices for the greater good. This marriage will secure our family's future, Lillian. It's a small price to pay."

I felt a wave of anger and resentment wash over me. I couldn't believe that Beatrice was willing to sacrifice my happiness and peace of mind for the sake of the family business.