My Anthony

Chapter 4: Anthony’s Return

Anthony gazed out of the airplane window, his thoughts miles away, drifting like the clouds below. The hum of the engines was a distant sound as he stared at the vast expanse of blue stretching out before him. Leaving Germany had been harder than he’d anticipated, especially saying goodbye to Anabel. She had been his anchor, his reason to smile during the long months of studying and the pressures of family expectations. The thought of being apart from her felt like losing a part of himself, a void that couldn’t easily be filled.

"You’ll visit, right?" Anabel had asked just before he boarded the plane, her voice laced with a quiet hope, a sadness he could hear but not quite touch. She had tried to mask it, but the weight of the moment hung in the air between them.

"Of course," he had replied, his voice more certain than he felt. He had promised to visit, but as the plane ascended into the sky, he couldn’t help but wonder when or how he would be able to keep that promise. The distance between them seemed too great, the circumstances too uncertain.

Now, back in New York, the familiar cityscape below him felt different. The towering buildings, the constant motion, and the cacophony of sounds all seemed distant and foreign, despite being his home. His father’s voice snapped him back to reality.

"Welcome home, son," Mr. Watson greeted him as he stepped out of the airport, offering a firm handshake that Anthony returned with little enthusiasm. His father’s grip was as strong as ever, but there was an underlying tension between them, something unsaid, a feeling that had lingered even before Anthony had left for Germany.

"Thanks, Dad," Anthony replied, though his mind was still far away, back in Germany with Anabel. The distance between them was more than physical; it felt like an insurmountable gap had formed in his heart. He had never imagined that his return to New York would feel so hollow.

As they drove through the busy streets of Manhattan, Anthony tried to push his thoughts of Anabel aside, focusing on the road ahead. His father, however, was not one to allow silence to linger for long.

"How was Germany?" Mr. Watson asked, his voice casual, but there was a sharpness to it, as though he were probing for something.

"It was good," Anthony replied, his tone flat. "The university was... challenging. But it wasn’t all bad."

Mr. Watson nodded, but there was a gleam in his eye, something calculating. Anthony could feel the change in his father’s demeanor, as if the conversation was about to shift in a direction he wasn’t prepared for.

When they arrived at the family estate, dinner was already set. The large dining table, usually a place for casual conversation, felt too grand, too cold for the moment. They sat down, the clinking of silverware filling the silence as they began their meal. Anthony tried to focus on the food in front of him, but his mind was elsewhere.

Finally, after a few moments of small talk, Mr. Watson set his fork down, his expression turning serious. "There’s something we need to discuss," he said, his voice steady but firm.

Anthony glanced up from his plate, his curiosity piqued. He had a feeling he wasn’t going to like whatever was coming next. "What is it?" he asked, his voice cautious.

Mr. Watson leaned back in his chair, his gaze unwavering. "I’ve arranged for you to marry Lisa Williams."

Anthony froze, the words hanging in the air like a punch to the gut. His fork dropped from his hand, clattering against his plate. He looked at his father, searching his face for any sign that this was some kind of joke, but his father’s expression remained stoic, unreadable.

"You’re joking, right?" Anthony finally managed, his voice laced with disbelief. His mind raced, trying to process the words, but they didn’t make sense. "Lisa Williams? The daughter of the man I’m supposed to work with? The one who—" He stopped himself, the shock of the situation rendering him speechless.

"I’m not joking," Mr. Watson replied, his voice steady. "This marriage is a strategic alliance, Anthony. It will benefit both our companies, strengthen our position in the market, and secure the future of the Watson empire."

Anthony shook his head, the anger rising within him. "You’re telling me that my future, my life, is just a business deal? Is that it?" His voice was sharp now, filled with frustration and confusion. "You want me to marry someone I barely know for the sake of a partnership? For the sake of money?"

His father’s expression remained unchanged, but there was a coldness to it, a detachment that Anthony had never seen before. "This is about more than money. This is about securing our legacy, about ensuring the stability of the business. You may not see it now, but this marriage will secure your future. You will have a partner in Lisa, someone who can help you grow the company."

Anthony stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. "I can’t believe this," he muttered, pacing the length of the room. "You’ve never asked me what I want, what I think about any of this. You’ve just decided that I’ll marry her, no questions asked, no regard for how I feel."

"Anthony," Mr. Watson said, his voice stern now, "this is the reality of the world we live in. You have responsibilities. This isn’t about what you want—it’s about what’s necessary. I’ve already made the arrangements. It’s time for you to accept it."

The words stung, cutting through Anthony’s frustration and filling him with a deep sense of resentment. He couldn’t understand how his father, the man who had always been his role model, could make such a decision without considering the consequences on his own son.

With a final glance at his father, Anthony stormed out of the room, his heart heavy with anger and confusion. He felt betrayed—not just by the marriage proposal, but by the fact that his father saw him as nothing more than a pawn in a corporate game.

As he stepped out into the cool night air, the weight of the situation settled in. He didn’t know what to do, but one thing was certain—he wasn’t going to let his life be dictated by his father’s business plans. The future he had envisioned for himself was slipping further away with each passing minute, and he didn’t know how to stop it.