four weeks
778 Words
Chapter Six – Four Weeks
My phone buzzed again.
A message blinked on the screen, and my breath caught in my throat.
“Having fun with your in-laws? Remember—you only have four weeks.”
The words blurred for a moment before sinking in, each one burning into my chest. My stomach twisted painfully, and when I lifted my head, James was already staring at me. His eyes—cold, hard, and full of restrained fury—locked onto mine. The warmth and teasing spark from earlier had vanished. Now, he looked like a storm barely held together by pride.
Mrs. Edward, sensing the sudden chill, leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially, “Looks like my son’s in a bad mood today. He keeps looking this way. I don’t even know how to persuade him to get married.”
I forced a small smile, nodding politely even as my pulse thundered in my ears.
Four weeks.
Four weeks to decide. Four weeks to choose between loyalty, love, and the dangerous temptation that James embodied so effortlessly.
Jonathan, blissfully unaware of the silent battle unfolding across the table, kept talking beside me. His laughter was light, easy, but it sounded so far away. I curved my lips into a smile to match his, pretending to listen, though my mind was drowning elsewhere.
Every detail of James’s smirk, every low whisper, every possessive glance—each one replayed in my head like a curse. The tension in my chest wound tighter and tighter, until even breathing felt like a sin.
I tried—God, I tried—to focus on Jonathan. On his kindness, on the comfort of his laugh, on the warmth of his hand brushing against mine. But no matter how hard I tried, James’s presence clung to me like smoke, wrapping around my thoughts and seeping into my heartbeat.
The four-week deadline pressed down on me, an invisible weight crushing my shoulders. The room felt smaller, the laughter louder, and yet I felt completely alone in the middle of it all—smiling when I wanted to scream.
By the time the day finally ended, I was running on autopilot.
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When I got home with my parents, I barely had time to drop my purse before a stinging slap exploded across my face.
“Dad!” I gasped, clutching my cheek.
My father’s face was red with fury. “What was that performance for? Laughing, chatting, acting like everything’s fine—what was that about?!”
“Oliver, calm down,” my mother said quickly, stepping between us. “She’s our daughter, not your employee.”
“Calm down?” he snapped, pacing the living room like a man possessed. “We can’t wait any longer! At this rate, we’ll lose everything we’ve worked for. Is it so hard to ask your future in-laws for a little help? What’s taking you so long?”
I swallowed hard, my voice trembling. “Dad, it’s not as easy as you think. I’m marrying Jonathan, not James. I can’t just—”
My mother’s tone softened, though her eyes were heavy with worry. “Honey, I know it’s hard for you. But the company can’t hold on much longer. We need the funds, and fast.”
Silence hung thick between us. Then, my father turned, his expression darkening.
“I saw the way James looked at you today,” he said slowly. “He’s interested. Why don’t you just ask him directly? He’d agree.”
“Dad, he wouldn’t!” I burst out, tears of frustration welling in my eyes. “We don’t even have a personal relationship. Why would he help me?”
Another slap. This one sharper, angrier. My ears rang.
“If you don’t have one,” he barked, “then make one. Seduce him! Isn’t that what women are good at? Don’t worry about the consequences—I’ll talk to Mr. Edward myself. I’ll make sure James becomes your groom instead of that useless Jonathan!”
I froze. His words echoed in my mind like poison.
Seduce him? Replace Jonathan?
My heart broke, but it wasn’t just the pain of his words—it was the realization that this man, my father, saw me not as his daughter but as a bargaining chip.
My voice cracked as I whispered, “Are you even human? How could you say that? About me… about Jonathan? You’d throw away your daughter’s happiness just for money? You’d have me sell myself to a stranger?”
Tears blurred my vision, but I didn’t look away. “You’re not even trying to save the company anymore. You’re trying to destroy me.
- Writer
