Chains of Contracted Marriage

CHAPTER FOUR

LILLIAN

I stood in front of my closet, staring blankly at the rows of dresses and skirts. I had no idea what to wear to the family dinner at Ethan's. I honestly didn't even want to go, but Beatrice would not let me live if I turned her down and, despite my reluctance, I still wanted to make a good impression, but I also didn't want to seem like I was trying too hard.

Just as I was starting to get frustrated, Beatrice walked into the room. "Need some help, dear?" she asked, eyeing the open closet.

I nodded gratefully. "I have no idea what to wear." I didn't want to overdress, but I also didn't want to look like I had just rolled out of bed.

Beatrice chuckled. "Well, let's take a look at what you have." She began scanning the closet, pulling out a few dresses and holding them up against me.

We finally settled on a simple yet elegant black dress. It was sleeveless, with a fitted bodice and a flowing skirt that fell just above my knees. Beatrice helped me with it, adjusting the straps and smoothing out the wrinkles.

Next, we moved on to my hair and makeup. Beatrice styled my hair into loose waves, securing it with a few subtle pins. She then helped me with my makeup, opting for a natural look with a light foundation, subtle blush, and defined eyeliner.

As we finished up, I took a step back to admire myself in the mirror. I looked...polished. Elegant, even. I felt a surge of confidence, hoping that I would be able to make a good impression on Ethan's family.

Beatrice smiled at me, her eyes shining with approval. "You look lovely, dear. I'm sure you'll make a wonderful impression."

I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of determination wash over me. I was ready to face whatever the evening had in store. As soon as Beatrice gave me a final once-over and declared me ready, we heard a knock at the door. Beatrice smiled and headed to answer it, leaving me to trail behind her.

I smoothed out my dress and took a deep breath, feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation. I had no idea what to expect from this dinner, but I was determined to make a good impression.

As I followed Beatrice to the door, I caught sight of Ethan standing in the hallway. He looked...dazzling. His suit was perfectly tailored, accentuating his broad shoulders and lean waist. His eyes seemed to gleam in the dim light of the hallway, and his hair was styled perfectly, not a single strand out of place.

But despite his stunning appearance, his expression was still serious and stoic. He looked at me with the same intensity he had during our first meeting, his eyes seeming to bore into mine as if taking in every detail of my appearance.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as he looked at me, his gaze lingering on my face before sweeping down to my dress. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something in his eyes - approval, maybe, or even admiration - but it was quickly extinguished, replaced by his usual serious expression.

"Good evening, Lillian," he said, his voice low and smooth. He held out his hand, his eyes never leaving mine. "You look.... lovely, I guess."

I felt the obvious surge of reluctance, but I took his hand anyway, trying to ignore the spark of electricity that ran through me at his touch. "Thank you," I said, trying to sound calm. "You don't exactly look bad yourself."

Ethan's expression didn't change, but I thought I saw a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Shall we?" he said, gesturing towards the door.

I nodded, feeling a sense of sudden anxiety tense up in my stomach as I followed him out into the evening. He led me into the car while we had a very quiet ride to the Calloway estate.

As we drove up to the estate, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer scale of the place. The mansion loomed above us, its facade lit up by a series of spotlights shimmering over the tall trees that made it seem like a fairy-tale castle.

But my wonder was quickly replaced by a sense of unease as I saw the trail of cars lined up in front of the mansion. There must have been at least a dozen of them, all sleek and black, with drivers standing at attention beside them.

Ethan's driver pulled up to the front of the line and turned off the engine. For a moment, we just sat there in silence, the only sound the ticking of the engine as it cooled.

Then Ethan spoke up, his voice cold and detached. "So, Lillian, I wanted to go over a few things with you before we go inside."

I turned to him, feeling a sense of unease. "What kind of things?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Ethan's expression was serious. "Just a few rules of behavior. My family can be...particular. They expect a certain level of decorum and respect."

I felt a surge of annoyance at his tone. "I think I can manage to behave myself," I said, trying to keep my sarcasm in check.

Ethan's expression didn't change. "Good. I'm glad to hear that. Just remember, no politics, no controversy. Stick to small talk and you'll be fine."

I felt a wave of anger wash over me. Who did he think he was, lecturing me on how to behave? I reached for the door handle and pushed the door open, stepping out of the car without waiting for Ethan to come around and open it for me.

As I stood up, smoothing out my dress, I caught Ethan's eye. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the tension between us rising with each gaze.

Then Ethan's expression smoothed out, and he stepped out of the car, offering me his arm. "Shall we?" he said, his voice cold and polite.

I took his arm, feeling a sense of reluctance. I didn't want to be here anymore, didn't want to play this role. But I knew I had no choice, but I still didn't take his hand, his hand reaching out to grab me by the waist, pulling my back against him, holding me firmly in place.