Chapter Four: The Man Behind the Name
865 Words
Yvonne followed the stranger into the building, still holding the envelope tightly against her chest.
He walked ahead of her with an easy confidence, barely looking back to make sure she was following.
“This way,” he said.
Yvonne nodded.
They reached the elevator, and he pressed the button.
For some reason, she couldn’t stop looking at him.
There was something about him that felt strangely familiar.
Not his face exactly.
Something else.
The way he looked at her.
The elevator doors opened.
“After you.”
“Thank you.”
They stepped inside.
For a few seconds, neither spoke.
Yvonne glanced at him again.
He caught her looking.
“Do I know you?”
She quickly looked away.
“No.”
He smiled.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
The elevator reached their floor.
He stepped out first and waited for her.
“This is the office you’re looking for.”
Yvonne looked at the sign on the door.
“Oh.”
She turned toward him.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She smiled.
Then she walked inside.
Adrian stood there for a moment, watching her disappear.
He couldn’t explain why he was still thinking about her.
He had only met her for a few minutes.
Yet something about her had stayed with him.
He shook the thought away and continued down the hallway.
He had more important things to deal with.
Back at the Carter mansion, the meeting was still going on.
Edward Sterling closed the folder in front of him.
“Everything is in order.”
Richard smiled with relief.
“So we have an agreement?”
Edward extended his hand.
“We have an agreement.”
Richard shook it.
Charlotte sat quietly nearby.
She had spent the entire meeting trying not to think about the marriage.
She had already decided she wanted no part of it.
If Edward wanted a Carter daughter, Yvonne could take her place.
She didn’t feel guilty.
After all, Yvonne had never been treated like a true member of the family anyway.
Richard looked toward the door.
“Where is Yvonne?”
“She went to deliver some documents,” his wife replied.
Edward nodded.
“We’ll discuss the marriage arrangement once the families have had time to prepare.”
Charlotte’s eyes lifted.
“Of course.”
She forced a smile.
Inside, she was relieved.
She had escaped.
At least, she thought she had.
Meanwhile, Yvonne returned home shortly after.
She walked into the living room and immediately noticed that everyone was still gathered there.
Her father looked up.
“You’re back.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Yvonne placed the empty envelope on the table.
“The documents were delivered.”
Richard nodded.
“Thank you.”
She turned to leave.
“Wait.”
Yvonne stopped.
Richard looked at her for a moment.
“Edward has agreed to the deal.”
She knew what came next.
“And the marriage?”
Richard nodded.
“It will happen.”
Yvonne’s fingers tightened around the strap of her handbag.
“To whom?”
Richard hesitated.
“That’s something we’ll discuss later.”
Yvonne frowned.
“Why later?”
“Because there are arrangements to be made.”
She looked around the room.
Nobody seemed willing to meet her eyes.
Then Charlotte spoke.
“You shouldn’t worry about it yet.”
Yvonne looked at her.
“Easy for you to say.”
Charlotte smiled.
“You’ll be fine.”
Yvonne didn’t answer.
She turned and walked upstairs.
Charlotte watched her go.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
For some reason, she couldn’t shake the thought that something was about to change.
She just didn’t know what.
That evening, Yvonne sat alone in her room.
Her thoughts drifted back to the stranger she’d met earlier.
She remembered his eyes.
The brief smile.
The strange feeling she’d had when they looked at each other.
She didn’t know his name.
She didn’t know who he was.
She only knew that for those few seconds, she had forgotten everything else.
She smiled faintly to herself.
Then she heard a knock.
“Come in.”
Her father entered.
Yvonne sat up.
“Father?”
Richard closed the door behind him.
“We need to talk.”
Her smile disappeared.
“About the marriage?”
Richard nodded.
Yvonne stared at him.
“Who am I supposed to marry?”
Richard looked at her.
“Adrian Sterling.”
Yvonne froze.
The name hit her with unexpected force.
Adrian.
The stranger from earlier.
Her heart began beating faster.
She looked at her father in disbelief.
“I met him today.”
Richard frowned.
“You met Adrian?”
“I didn’t know who he was.”
For the first time, Richard looked surprised.
Then Yvonne remembered the way the stranger had looked at her.
The way he had smiled.
The strange familiarity she couldn’t explain.
She lowered her eyes.
She had no idea that the little boy from her forgotten childhood was the same man she had just met.
And Adrian had no idea that the woman he couldn’t stop thinking about was the bride his family had chosen for him.
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