SUPRISE?! WHY BOTHER?

FAMILY TIES

Eva settled into her couch, sipping her coffee as she gazed out the window at the quiet Christmas scene outside. Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was her sister, Lena.

"Hey, sis! Merry Christmas!" Lena's cheerful voice filled the line.

"Merry Christmas, Len!" Eva smiled, feeling a pang of familial warmth. "How's the fam?"

Lena launched into a rundown of the day's chaos with her kids, Eva's parents, and the in-laws. Eva listened, laughing, as she doodled on a notebook.

As they chatted, Eva mentioned her meeting with Andrew. Lena's response was immediate: "That's amazing, Eva! You deserve it. When do you start?"

Eva grinned, feeling a boost of confidence. "He wants me to call next week. Might be an internship, but it's a start."

The conversation flowed, with Lena offering encouragement and advice. As they wrapped up, Eva promised to update her soon.

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Eva's brow furrowed – who could that be?

Eva's brow furrowed as she approached the door. Who could be visiting on Christmas Day? She opened it to find a tall, imposing figure with piercing blue eyes and a chiseled jawline. Her heart skipped a beat as she took in the familiar yet unfamiliar face.

"Ryder," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her stepbrother, Ryder, stood on her doorstep, a determined glare in his eyes. "Eva, it's time," he said, his voice firm.

Eva's mind reeled. Time for what? She hadn't seen Ryder in years, not since their parents had remarried and he'd left for the military. The memories came flooding back – the fights, the arguments, the tension.

"What are you talking about?" Eva asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Ryder's gaze never waled. "Our parents have arranged a marriage for us. It's time to fulfill our obligations."

Eva's eyes widened in shock. Arranged marriage? Was he kidding? She tried to slam the door shut, but Ryder's foot blocked it.

"Eva, don't make this harder than it has to be," he warned, his voice low and menacing.

Eva's face turned pale as she processed Ryder's words. "You can't be serious," she hissed, trying to push the door shut again. Ryder's foot held firm.

"I'm dead serious, Eva," he said, his expression unyielding. "Our parents have been planning this for months. You're coming with me."

As Eva's anger flared, she heard a faint noise behind her. She turned to see her phone, still connected to her sister Lena, lying on the couch.

"Eva? Eva, what's going on?" Lena's voice echoed through the phone, loud enough for Ryder to hear.

Ryder's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking from Eva to the phone. "Lena's on the line, isn't she?" he said, his voice dripping with a sinister undertone. "Tell her to stay out of this, Eva. This doesn't concern her."

Eva's heart racing, she realized Ryder wasn't just here for an arranged marriage. He was here for something more.

Suddenly, Ryder's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his expression hardening as he read the message. "Looks like we have a complication," he said, his eyes glinting with a hint of violence.

Eva's instincts screamed at her to run. But where could she go?