Becoming Mrs Reed

Golden rays of sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow across the spacious bedroom. Jayla groaned softly as she stirred awake. The pounding ache in her head hit almost immediately. She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her right hand against her forehead, wincing. "Ugh..." Her throat felt dry, and her mouth tasted bitter. She slowly sat up, trying to recall the events of the previous night. Fragments of laughter... Music... Clinking glasses... Then nothing. She let out a weary sigh. "How much did I drink last night?" she muttered to herself, her voice rough and hoarse. She rubbed her temples in hopes of easing the headache, but it did little to help. Just then, a gentle knock sounded on her bedroom door. "Young Miss?" The voice belonged to one of the household maids. "Your father asked to see you." Jayla sighed again. "Tell him I'll be down in a minute." "Yes, Young Miss." The maid's footsteps gradually faded down the hallway. Jayla dragged herself out of bed and walked into the adjoining bathroom. She splashed cold water across her face several times, hoping it would wash away the effects of the alcohol. After brushing her teeth and tying her hair into a loose ponytail, she changed out of the glamorous dress she had worn the previous evening and slipped into a pair of plain shorts and a lightweight sleeveless top. She looked at herself in the mirror. "Good enough," she murmured. With one final deep breath, she left her room and made her way downstairs. As she entered the sitting room, she expected to find only her father waiting. Instead... There was someone else. A man she had never seen before. He was tall, with broad shoulders and an imposing presence that commanded attention without a single word. He wore a perfectly tailored royal blue suit that looked as though it had been custom-made. Every detail, from his polished shoes to the expensive watch resting on his wrist, spoke of wealth and influence. His piercing hazel eyes slowly swept over Jayla from head to toe. Not with admiration... But with quiet judgment. His expression remained unreadable. His lips were pressed into a thin, emotionless line, making him appear even more intimidating. For reasons she couldn't explain... The moment their eyes met... Jayla felt as though she were being carefully assessed. "Jayla, you're here." Her father looked up with a warm smile and gestured toward the empty seat beside him. "Come and sit." Jayla's eyes drifted once more to the sharply dressed stranger before she slowly walked over and sat beside her father. She couldn't stop staring at him. There was something oddly familiar about his face. She just couldn't place where she had seen him before. Her father smiled. "Dear, I'd like you to meet Bryson Reed." Jayla gave a small nod. "Nice to meet you," she said politely, though Bryson merely inclined his head in acknowledgment. He barely spoke. He simply continued watching her with those unreadable hazel eyes. Then her father cleared his throat. "And..." "He's your fiancé." Jayla's eyes widened. She nearly choked on her own saliva. "Cough... cough..." "What?" She stared at her father in disbelief before bursting into an awkward laugh. "Dad..." She shook her head. "Is this another one of your jokes?" "You've pulled some ridiculous pranks before, but this one is a little too much." She laughed again. "Okay, you got me." But neither man laughed. Her father's expression remained completely serious. The smile slowly disappeared from Jayla's face. "Dad..." Her voice became quieter. "Why aren't you laughing?" "I'm not joking." The words landed heavily in the room. Jayla blinked. Her father folded his hands together. "When you were little, you and Bryson were inseparable." "You followed him everywhere." "You cried whenever he had to leave." "You even insisted that you'd marry him one day." Jayla frowned. "I did?" Her father nodded. "Mr. Reed—may he rest in peace—and I were the closest of friends." "We made a promise to each other." "If both of you still had no objections when the time came..." "...we would honor that promise." Jayla stared at him, speechless. "Honor a promise?" She let out a nervous laugh. "Dad... people don't arrange marriages because of something two children said years ago." Her father sighed. "It wasn't just a childhood promise." "It was an agreement between two lifelong friends." He looked at Bryson before turning back to her. "And I've decided to keep my word." Jayla felt as though the room had suddenly become too small. "So..." She swallowed hard. "What exactly are you saying?" Her father's answer came without hesitation. "The wedding is scheduled for next week." Silence. Jayla simply stared at him. Surely... She had heard him wrong. A wedding. Next week. To a man she barely remembered. And judging by the expression on Bryson Reed's face... He didn't seem particularly thrilled about it either.