Chapter 8
1206 Words
Chapter 8 — Rules Begin to Break
By Sunday evening, Amara had changed outfits three times.
She stood in front of the mirror, staring at herself.
“This is ridiculous.”
Nia, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, laughed.
“You're going to dinner, not court.”
“You haven't met Daniel's family.”
“Exactly. Which is why you need to look confident.”
Amara looked down at her dress.
“Do I look okay?”
“You look beautiful.”
Amara rolled her eyes.
“Don't start.”
“I'm serious.”
Nia stood and adjusted Amara's earrings.
“And remember, you're not going there to impress anyone.”
“Then why am I going?”
“To survive.”
Amara laughed.
“Very helpful.”
Nia grinned.
“You'll be fine.”
---
Daniel was waiting downstairs when Amara came out.
He looked up from his phone.
For a second, he didn't say anything.
Amara noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You were staring.”
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
Daniel cleared his throat.
“You look nice.”
Amara smiled.
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
There was an awkward silence.
Then Daniel held out his hand.
“We should go.”
Amara looked at his hand.
Then at him.
She hesitated before taking it.
It was only for a moment.
But neither of them immediately let go.
Daniel looked down at their hands.
Amara quickly pulled hers away.
“Let's go.”
He nodded.
“Right.”
---
The Williams family estate was larger than Amara expected.
She had been to Daniel's house before, but this was different.
There were expensive cars parked outside and several people gathered around the entrance.
Daniel noticed her expression.
“Don't worry.”
“I'm not worried.”
“You're holding your bag too tightly.”
She looked down.
She was.
“I just don't like being around too many strangers.”
Daniel nodded.
“Stay close to me.”
Amara glanced at him.
“I can handle myself.”
“I know.”
They walked inside.
Victoria greeted them first.
“Daniel.”
Then her eyes moved to Amara.
“Amara.”
“Good evening, ma.”
Victoria gave her a polite smile.
“I'm glad you came.”
Amara smiled back.
“So am I.”
Before Victoria could respond, a man approached them.
Richard.
Amara recognized him immediately.
He smiled warmly.
“So this is Daniel's wife.”
Daniel's expression became unreadable.
“Uncle Richard.”
Richard extended his hand.
“It's nice to finally meet you.”
Amara shook his hand.
“Nice to meet you too.”
Richard smiled.
“I've heard quite a lot about you.”
Amara glanced at Daniel.
Daniel didn't react.
“Hopefully, good things,” she said.
Richard laughed.
“Of course.”
But there was something about his smile that Amara couldn't quite understand.
---
Dinner began shortly after.
Amara sat beside Daniel.
Around the table were several members of the Williams family.
The conversation started normally.
Business.
Travel.
University.
Then one of Daniel's cousins turned to Amara.
“So, what do you study?”
“Medicine.”
“Medicine?”
“Yes.”
“That must be difficult.”
“It is.”
Daniel glanced at her.
“You complain about it every morning.”
Amara looked at him in disbelief.
“I do not.”
“You do.”
“When?”
“Every morning.”
The table laughed.
Amara shook her head.
“I regret telling you anything.”
Daniel smiled.
It was the first time they had joked with each other in front of his family.
And somehow, it felt natural.
Almost too natural.
---
Halfway through dinner, Victoria asked Amara a question.
“How is your mother?”
“She’s doing better, thank you.”
“I'm glad.”
Daniel looked at Amara.
“Her next appointment is on Thursday.”
Amara turned toward him.
“You remembered?”
Daniel looked surprised.
“Of course.”
She smiled.
“Thank you.”
Richard watched them silently.
Then he leaned back.
“You two seem to be getting along quite well.”
Amara looked at Daniel.
Daniel simply said,
“We're learning.”
Richard smiled.
“That's good.”
But the comment left an uncomfortable silence behind it.
Amara changed the subject.
“So, how long has the company been in the family?”
Richard answered immediately.
“Almost fifty years.”
Daniel glanced at him.
“My grandfather built it from nothing.”
“And now it's your responsibility,” Richard added.
Daniel's expression hardened slightly.
“I'm aware.”
Amara noticed the tension.
Before it could grow, Daniel changed the subject.
---
After dinner, Amara stepped outside onto the balcony.
She needed air.
A few minutes later, Daniel joined her.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“You've been quiet.”
“Your family is…interesting.”
He smiled.
“That is one word for them.”
Amara laughed.
Then she looked at him.
“Your uncle doesn't like me.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why do you think that?”
“He asked too many questions.”
“That's Richard.”
“And he kept looking at you.”
Daniel leaned against the railing.
“He looks at everyone.”
“Not like that.”
Daniel was quiet.
Amara studied his face.
“You don't trust him.”
It wasn't a question.
Daniel looked at her.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I've known him my entire life.”
“That doesn't explain anything.”
“It explains enough.”
She sighed.
“You really do love mysterious answers.”
Daniel smiled.
“And you really don't know when to stop asking questions.”
“Maybe.”
They stood quietly.
Then Daniel noticed a strand of hair had fallen across her face.
He reached out instinctively.
He stopped before touching her.
Amara noticed.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Daniel lowered his hand.
“Sorry.”
Amara shook her head.
“You don't have to apologize.”
His eyes met hers.
Something had changed.
Neither of them knew exactly when it happened.
But the distance between them wasn't as wide as it used to be.
---
On the drive home, Amara looked out the window.
“Daniel?”
“Hmm?”
“Why did you choose me?”
His hands tightened slightly around the steering wheel.
“You mean for the marriage?”
“Yes.”
He was quiet for several seconds.
Then he answered.
“Because I knew you needed help.”
Amara looked at him.
“That isn't the whole reason.”
“No.”
“Then what is?”
Daniel glanced at her briefly.
“Because you were the first person who looked at me without caring about my family's money.”
Amara didn't know what to say.
She looked back out the window.
For the first time, she wondered if perhaps Daniel hadn't chosen her only because she needed him.
Maybe, in some strange way, he had needed her too.
And that thought frightened her more than the contract ever had.
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