Chapter5
1147 Words
The ride home was painfully quiet. My parents made a few attempts at small talk, but I shut them down with short, one-word replies until they finally got the message—I wasn’t in the mood.
When we pulled up in front of the house, I reached for the door, ready to get out, when my dad’s voice stopped me.
“So, Cassandra… what do you think about David?”
“Oh, they look adorable together,” my mum chimed in before I could respond. “Like something straight out of a fairytale.”
I rolled my eyes. If only they knew the truth.
“I think the wedding will be amazing,” my dad continued casually, “and the engagement party should be sometime next month. We’ll be inviting some important guests from abroad.”
That was it. I snapped.
“Mind your language, young lady!” my mum scolded when I lashed out.
“Just stop, okay? Stop!” I shot back, already climbing out of the car.
“We’re talking to you, Cassandra! You don’t get to walk away!” my dad shouted after me.
I let out a bitter laugh. “What do you expect? A medal? Because you’re the ‘best parents in the world’? Hate to break it to you, but you’re not getting one from me.”
“Watch your tone!” my dad warned, his face flushed with anger.
“You know what, Dad? You can drop the act.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I heard everything. I heard you talking to his father. I know this marriage isn’t about me, it’s about your business. You’re forcing me to marry Jason just so you can merge companies.” My voice dripped with sarcasm as I continued, “And let’s not forget he hates me just as much as I hate him. But clearly, none of that matters to you.”
“We’re doing what’s best for you,” my dad insisted.
“By forcing me into marriage?”
“You’re the only daughter we have left.”
I blinked, stunned. “And what exactly happened to Elisia? She’s not dead, is she?” I asked, gesturing toward my sister, who sat quietly in the car, guilt written all over her face.
“She’s engaged,” my mum said softly.
“Oh, really? I had no idea,” I replied dryly. “So what does that make me?”
“You haven’t dated anyone since things ended with Caleb,” my mum added, clearly aware she’d crossed a line.
That hit harder than anything else.
Everyone knew that was still a sensitive topic, yet she threw it at me so casually.
“Low blow, Mum. Even for you,” I muttered before storming into the house and heading straight to my room.
I peeled off the dress I’d been wearing, too angry to care about anything, and threw on an oversized T-shirt and shorts instead. Collapsing onto my bed, I stared at the ceiling.
Then it hit me the engagement was next month.
Next month.
And this month was almost over.
“Great,” I muttered. “Just great.”
My phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts. I answered without even checking the screen.
“What?” I snapped.
“Whoa, who upset you?” Isa’s voice came through, instantly lighter, familiar.
I sighed. “Sorry. I’m just… not in a good mood.”
“Let me guess family dinner from hell?” she said, suddenly serious.
“You could say that.”
“So what happened?”
I hesitated, then said, “Turns out the reason I’m getting married is because of a business deal.”
“What?” she exclaimed.
“My dad wants to merge his company with David’s father’s. That’s the only reason this whole thing is happening.”
“Wait—who’s David?”
“My supposed fiancé.”
There was a pause before she squealed. “David Richardson?!”
“Yeah,” I replied flatly.
“Oh my gosh, you’re so lucky! He’s literally one of the hottest guys alive!”
I groaned. “Isa, no. He’s a complete jerk. Arrogant, annoying, just unbearable.”
“Well,” she teased, “an annoyingly hot jerk.”
“That’s not the point,” I snapped. “He hates me. And I hate him. So how exactly am I supposed to marry someone like that?”
“Why does he hate you?” she asked, confused. “I mean, you’re amazing. Maybe he just needs someone to knock some sense into him.”
I couldn’t help but smile slightly at that.
“Just be careful with what you say, Isa,” I warned.
“What, is he that bad?” she asked more quietly.
“Worse,” I admitted. “He was acting like a complete i***t, and I couldn’t just stay quiet.”
“You go, girl!” she cheered. “That’ll teach Mr. Hot Jerk a lesson.”
“You really need to stop calling him that.”
“Never. It suits him.”
I laughed despite myself.
Then I remembered.
“My engagement party is next month.”
There was a brief pause.
Then.
“EEEEEEE!”
I quickly pulled the phone away from my ear.
“Oh my gosh! That’s huge!” she gushed. “Okay, maybe not amazing, but still… kind of amazing. When’s the date?”
“I don’t even know yet. My dad mentioned it earlier, but I was too mad to listen.”
“I know you don’t want to hear this,” she said gently, “but you need to calm down.”
“I don’t want to hear that,” I shot back. “How do you expect me to be okay with marrying someone I barely know and don’t even like?”
“There’s a thin line between love and hate, you know…”
“Don’t even start,” I warned.
“Okay, okay,” she said quickly. “But seriously, you two need to figure things out. You’re going to be stuck with each other for a long time.”
“I know,” I sighed.
She softened her tone. “Get some rest. You’ll feel a bit better in the morning.”
“Thanks, Isa. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Nothing,” she said playfully. “Now go to sleep. Goodnight, I love you.”
“Goodnight, Isabella,” I teased, knowing she’d roll her eyes.
“I take that back I hate you,” she laughed.
I smiled. “Love you too.”
After we hung up, I dropped my phone on the bedside table and stared at the ceiling again.
Eventually, my thoughts drifted back to Tony, but before I could let myself spiral, sleep pulled me under.
- Writer
