Shadows of a Loveless Marriage

Chapter three

The Decision

The days that followed the meeting with Mr. Guillermo Montemayor felt like a blur to Alea. She spent most of her time at the café, her mind elsewhere, lost in thought. The weight of the decision that lay ahead was suffocating. She found herself staring at the steam rising from the cups of coffee she served, the swirl of the dark liquid in each cup resembling the turmoil inside her mind.

The conversation with her father was still fresh in her memory. She could still hear his voice, the desperation, and the silent plea for her to accept the arrangement. He had promised her that this was the only way to save their family—this marriage to someone she barely knew.

Alea had never imagined her life would lead to something like this. She had dreamed of love, of choosing a partner who would understand her, someone who would make her feel special and loved. But now, that seemed like a distant fantasy. She was being thrust into a marriage of convenience, a union for the survival of her family.

"Anak, you don't understand. This is the only way we'll make it through," her father had told her the night before, his voice laced with guilt and regret.

"I know it's hard, but you're our only hope."

Alea had tried to fight it. She had asked him why it had to be her. Why she was the one who had to carry the burden of their family's future. But there were no answers. Just silence and the weight of reality.

As the sun set on the third evening after her meeting with Mr. Montemayor, Alea found herself once again at the small café. It was quieter now, the evening rush having passed, and she was alone with her thoughts.

The door opened with a soft chime, and a familiar figure stepped inside. Alea didn't have to look up to know who it was.

"Lucas," she whispered, her voice tired but steady.

Her best friend walked up to her, his usual carefree demeanor replaced with a more serious expression.

"Alea, I'm really worried about you," Lucas said, his tone softer than usual.

"You've been distant lately. I know you've got a lot on your plate, but you don't have to go through this alone. You can talk to me."

Alea forced a smile, but it felt strained. She had always relied on Lucas, and in this moment, she needed him more than ever. But how could she explain the overwhelming sense of responsibility that was suffocating her? How could she tell him that her family's future rested on her shoulders, and that she might be forced into a marriage she didn't want?

"I don't know what to do, Lucas," Alea confessed, her voice breaking for the first time in days. "Everything is a mess. I'm being asked to marry a stranger, someone I've never met, just to save my family. It doesn't feel real."

Lucas's face softened, and he placed a hand on hers.

"Alea, I can't pretend to know what you're going through. But you're not alone in this. I'm here for you, always. Whatever decision you make, I'll support you. But just remember... you have to take care of yourself, too."

Alea nodded, tears threatening to fall. She squeezed his hand, grateful for his presence, but the truth was, there was no easy way out. Her family needed her, and her heart ached at the thought of letting them down.

Later that evening, she returned home to her father, who was waiting for her in the living room. The conversation they had was inevitable. It had to happen, and it was time for Alea to make her decision.

"Alea, anak, have you thought about what we talked about?" her father asked, his voice filled with both hope and uncertainty.

Alea took a deep breath and sat down across from him. She looked at her father, the man who had always been her rock, but who now seemed so fragile. She saw the weight of years of hard work, sacrifice, and disappointment in his eyes. He wasn't asking her to marry for love—he was asking her to marry for survival.

"I've thought about it," she said softly.

"I've thought about it nonstop." She swallowed hard, her throat tight.

"I understand, Papa. I know what this means for the family. I know we have no other choice."

Her father's eyes brightened with relief, but also with sadness.

"I'm sorry you have to go through this, anak. I never wanted this for you."

Alea nodded, her own heart breaking. She hadn't wanted it either. But sometimes, life didn't give you a choice.

"I'll do it," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'll marry him."

Her father's face softened, and he stood up, walking over to her and pulling her into an embrace.

"Thank you, anak. I know it's not easy, but this is the only way."

Alea closed her eyes, her arms tightly wrapped around her father. But deep inside, something was shifting. She wasn't sure if she had made the right choice, but the path was set now. She had no other option but to walk it.

The next day, Alea found herself sitting across from Mr. Guillermo Montemayor once again. This time, she was ready to make the commitment, ready to do what she had to do to save her family. The tension between them was palpable, and as she looked up at the man before her, she couldn't help but feel like a pawn in a game of power.

"You've made your decision, Miss Valverde ?" Guillermo asked, his voice measured and calm.

Alea nodded, her heart heavy with the gravity of what she was about to do.

"Yes, Mr. Montemayor. I'm ready."

A small, satisfied smile played at the corner of his lips, but there was something cold in his eyes.

"Good. We'll begin the preparations for the wedding immediately."

As Alea stood to leave, her heart heavy with the certainty of her decision, she felt the weight of her family's survival resting squarely on her shoulders. There was no turning back now.