Tangled Hearts

Chapter 7: The Announcement

Ten Years Ago

The grand ballroom of the King estate was buzzing with excitement, anticipation, and whispers of curiosity. The city’s elite, draped in designer gowns and tailored suits, filled the space with the clinking of glasses and the hum of polite conversation. Yet, beneath the surface, there was an undercurrent of intrigue, as many of the guests speculated about the announcement Edward King was about to make.

Rey King stood at the edge of the grand room, his posture tense, his expression dark. He knew what was coming, and the anger simmering inside him was barely under control. His father, Edward King, had made it clear: Rey would marry Cathy Chan, the daughter of the late Henny Chan.

It wasn’t a suggestion.

It was a command.

As Edward King approached the microphone at the front of the room, the guests began to quiet down, all eyes turning toward the powerful patriarch of the King family. Edward, a man in his sixties with silver hair and an air of authority, smiled warmly at the crowd, though his eyes were sharp and calculating.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Edward’s voice rang out, commanding the attention of everyone present, “thank you all for joining us tonight. It’s always a pleasure to be surrounded by friends and family who have supported the King's name throughout the years.”

The guests responded with polite applause, though the room remained charged with anticipation. Many of them had heard whispers of a major announcement, but the details had been kept tightly under wraps.

Edward’s smile widened, though it remained measured and controlled. “Tonight, I have the great pleasure of sharing some exciting news with you all. As you know, the King family has always valued tradition and the continuation of our legacy. It is with great pride that I announce the engagement of my son, Rey King, to Cathy Chan, the daughter of the late Henny Chan.”

A collective gasp rippled through the room, followed by a wave of whispers. The guests exchanged glances, eyebrows raised in surprise. Most of them knew Rey, the dashing heir to the King Conglomerate, but Cathy Chan was an unfamiliar name to many.

“Who is that woman?” one guest whispered to her companion.

“Cathy Chan?” another murmured, confusion lacing her tone. “Never heard of her. Where did she come from?”

“Is she someone from the Chan’s political family?” a man asked his wife, his brow furrowed.

“Must be,” she replied, her voice hushed. “Edward wouldn’t make such an announcement unless she was significant.”

As the whispers grew louder, Rey’s fury only intensified. He felt the weight of every gaze, every questioning look, and it took every ounce of self-control not to explode in front of the crowd. Cathy, standing a few feet away, forced a smile, though she could feel Rey’s anger radiating from across the room.

Edward gestured for Rey and Cathy to join him, but Rey’s feet felt like they were made of lead. After a moment, he forced himself to move, walking stiffly to the front of the room with Cathy beside him. As they stood next to Edward, the cameras flashed, capturing the moment for posterity.

But beneath the surface, Rey’s resentment boiled over. As soon as the formalities were over, Edward led them into his private office, away from the prying eyes of the guests.

The office was grand, filled with dark wood furniture, rich leather chairs, and a large mahogany desk. As soon as the door closed behind them, Rey’s composure shattered.

“This is insane Dad!” Rey shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. “You can’t just force me into a marriage like this! I love Eloise, not Cathy!”

Edward remained calm, moving behind his desk and sitting down. “Love? Rey, you’re always in love with someone. Today it’s Eloise, tomorrow it’ll be someone else. But love doesn’t build empires—marriages of substance do. This is what’s best for the family and the legacy we’ve built.”

Rey’s hands balled into fists. “I don’t care about your damn legacy! This isn’t about the family—this is about you controlling everything!”

Edward’s gaze remained steady, unfazed by Rey’s outburst. “You will do what’s necessary to ensure the future of this family. I’ve given you everything, Rey—every opportunity, every advantage. And now I’m asking you to do your part.”

Rey’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “I don’t understand,Dad? You’re ruining lives.”

Edward’s expression hardened. “If you refuse this, you’ll lose everything. No inheritance, no position in the company. You’ll be cut off, Rey. Completely.”

The words hung in the air like a guillotine, and Rey knew there was no winning this argument. His father had made up his mind, and nothing he said would change it.

Rey was trembling with frustration now, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the situation. “For f**k’s sake, I didn’t get it!?” he demanded, his voice raw. “This marriage doesn’t even make sense as a business deal! What’s the real reason, Dad? Why now, when I’ve finally found someone I actually love?”

Edward’s eyes flickered with something—hesitation, perhaps—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. He looked away, refusing to meet Rey’s gaze. “It’s best if you don’t ask questions right now, Rey,” he said, his tone final. “Some things are better left unknown.”

Rey’s anger flared even hotter. “What do you mean ‘better left unknown’? You’re tearing my life apart, and you can’t even give me a real reason? What aren’t you telling me?”

But Edward remained silent, his face unreadable. Rey could see that his father wasn’t going to budge, and that only fueled his frustration. He had never felt so powerless, so trapped.

Rey turned his fury on Cathy, who had been standing quietly to the side, trying to remain as invisible as possible. “And you,” he spat, his voice dripping with contempt. “I don’t know what you’ve done here but you’re no better than a gold digger. Is this what you wanted all along?”

Cathy flinched at his words, but she forced herself to stay calm. She had expected this reaction from Rey, and had braced herself for it. But that didn’t make it hurt any less. In her mind, she repeated the thought that had kept her going through the past few days: This marriage is the only way to get back what’s rightfully mine.

Rey’s gaze bore into her, but Cathy refused to look away. She couldn’t afford to be weak, not now. “Say whatever you want, Rey,” she finally said, her voice steady. “But I’m doing what I have to do.”

Rey let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “You’re unbelievable,” he muttered before turning to Edward. “Fine. I’ll go along with this farce. But expect a miserable show!”

Edward’s gaze remained fixed on Rey, cold and unyielding. “There’s more. In the next few days, there will be a series of interviews and photoshoots. The public will want to know more about the engagement, and we need to present a united front.”

Rey’s anger flared again. “No. I’m not doing it. I’ve agreed to this farce, but I’m not going to parade around in front of the cameras like some puppet.”

Edward’s eyes hardened further. “You will do it, Rey. One interview and one photoshoot. That’s non-negotiable.”

Rey’s eyes flashed with defiance, but he knew there was no point in arguing. His father had him cornered, and they both knew it. With a curt nod, Rey relented. “Fine. One interview, one photoshoot. But that’s it.”

Edward nodded, satisfied. “That’s all that’s needed. The rest we can handle from here.”

Without waiting for a response, Rey stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through the room, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.

Edward let out a slow breath, as if the tension of the confrontation had only just caught up with him. He turned to Cathy, his expression softening slightly. “I know this isn’t easy for you, Cathy,” he said, his voice quieter now. “But you’ll have my full support. You can count on that.”

Cathy nodded, though her heart was still pounding from the confrontation. “Thank you, Mr. King. I appreciate that.”

Edward leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting to the framed photograph on his desk—the one of him and Henny Chan, taken years ago. “Your father was a good man,” he said, almost to himself. “He would have wanted to see you taken care of, and that’s what I intend to do.”

Cathy glanced at the photograph, a pang of sadness twisting in her chest. “I hope I can live up to his expectations,” she said softly.

Edward nodded, his eyes still on the photograph. “You will,” he said with quiet certainty. “Now, in the next few days, we’ll schedule the interview and the photoshoot. It’s important that we present a united front to the public.”

Cathy nodded again, steeling herself for what was to come. “I understand.”

Edward’s gaze finally returned to Cathy, his expression once again calm and controlled. “Good. This is just the beginning, Cathy. But remember, you’re not alone in this. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Cathy forced a smile, though she knew the road ahead would be anything but easy. “Thank you, Mr. King,” she said softly.

Edward gave her a final nod before standing up. “That will be all for tonight. Go and get some rest. We have a lot of work to do.”

Cathy left the office, her mind swirling with thoughts and emotions she wasn’t sure she could process. The weight of what had just transpired bore down on her like a heavy stone, but she knew she had no choice but to keep moving forward. This marriage—no matter how forced or calculated—was her only chance to regain some semblance of control over her life and her future.

As she walked down the dimly lit hallway, she could still hear the faint murmurs of the guests in the ballroom, most of whom were still buzzing about the announcement. She knew they were talking about her, speculating about who she was and why she had suddenly become engaged to Rey King. The whispers and judgments would follow her, but she was determined to face them head-on.

As she stepped out into the night air, Cathy took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The cool breeze was a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere inside the King estate. It was a small relief, but it wasn’t enough to calm the storm raging inside her.