Collided

CHAPTER TWO

ETHAN'S POV

"You must be wondering why I summoned you here.” He started.

You bet I am! I thought.

“How's the company?” he asked rather. I straightened up and ceased eating.

“We're improving. We finished off a massive deal on Friday, which will promote our sales by

10%.” I illustrated in detail how it went, the firms involved, and the rapid nod of his head which

he gave, seemed to signal to me that I was getting in his good books. Getting on my father's good

books wasn't an easy task, that's why it was difficult to please him.

“Good. I called you for something dissimilar,” he said. I knew already he was about to drop a

bombshell. Each family dinner was to discuss something important.

“We want you to get married.” He disclosed.

If I was drinking water, I probably would have choked on it. That was the last thing I foresaw. It

wasn't even a suggestion. It was an order. I turned to my mom, and I had an inkling she had already

had an idea.

“You're kidding, right?” I questioned, chuckling nervously.

“This isn't a joke, Ethan,” he stated.

“Then why am I getting wedded? I'm not even in a relationship.”

“It's time you get into one!” My Dad said.

“Whose idea was this?” I asked, pushing my plates away. I had already lost my appetite. Likewise, I

already knew the answer even before I asked. My mom rarely made decisions or revealed news

like this.

“Mine.” My dad replied.

I thought as much. My dad was too authoritative, and I hated him for this.

“I would rather not get married.” I let out.

Mom chuckled and said bitterly, “As if you have a choice.” She's right, though. I didn't have a

choice, but I would rather not yield in. But that was fruitless because one way or the other, my

Father always finds a way to bend you to his will, even going as far as to employ extreme

measures.

“I would rather not get married.”

“No one asked for your opinion. You are going to do as I say.” Dad said.

“Why do I have to get married? I'm only 29!”

“Ernest got married at 27.” He responded.

At that moment, I wanted to stab a knife into his eyes. The stainless-steel bread knife on the

tray called out to me as it glinted dazzlingly.

“I'm not Ernest!” I said angrily. “And it was because his girlfriend got pregnant.” I retorted.

I was tired of them dictating my life.

“He's trying to do what's best for you.” Mom comforted me, but it sounded far from it.

“By forcing me to get married, to end up in a loveless and cheating marriage like yours? You

don't know what's best for me. Never have and never will!” I pointed out.

“Enough! I will not have you insult me or your mother under my roof.” My dad bellowed.

I kept quiet. I didn't even have anything more to say even if I wanted to, and the rage in me was

already tilting over the edge.

“You're going to get married as soon as possible.” He went further.

“Why am I getting married so soon? I'm tired of you guys dictating my life.”

“This isn't up for debate, Ethan.”

“Why are you doing this? Why do you enjoy tormenting your children?” At that juncture, I

wanted to scream out in frustration.

“Ethan, please.” My mom pleaded.

“Are you going to just watch him dictate our lives? This is the same reason Evelyn refused to

come back home. You pushed her to the edge, and she left.” I said, referring to my sister, who

was older than me by two years.

“The more time you spend whining about this, the less time you have to get married.” He said.

I sighed in resignation. There was no point arguing with him. His mind was made up already.

“But, can't I think about it?”

“What's there to think about? We aren't giving you an option. It's an order that needs to be

carried out immediately.”

“Why do you keep saying 'we'? I had nothing to do with this.” Mom said angrily

“Fine. I'll do as you say. It's not as if I have a choice in my life after all.”

He went back to eating his meal as if he hadn't just dropped a bombshell, while I stared at mine

in disdain. No offense to Alice, she's a great cook, but at that moment, I felt like hurling

everything I ate.

I met my mom's gaze across the table. It held empathy and compassion. There was nothing she

could do, either. It was my cross to bear.

She was tired of her marriage, but she could do nothing. Her father was bound to an agreement

with my dad's father, and it couldn't be breached. My dad was responsible for the coldness in my

mom. She despised him, but there was nothing she could do.

“What happens if he would rather not get married?” My mom asked.

I haven't even thought of that. Surely, the outcome wouldn't be that grave if I chose not to get

married.

My dad dropped his spoon and looked up at me.

“Are you considering not getting married?” He asked with a smirk.

“Well, you can't expect me to obey you blindly. What's the catch?” I answered back.

“Even if he's to get married, at least give him two months of preparation to look for a lady.” My

mom said,

“Two months?” I stared in disbelief.

“Two months is nothing likened to the fact that I'll be spending my life with her,” I replied.

“Stay out of this.” My dad cautioned my mom. She rolled her eyes and went back to picking her

salad.

He turned back to me and halted. At that instant, I knew he must have thought about what he

was going to say, and that it was going to change my life. I braced myself for whatever he had to

say, but it seemed I wasn't ready because nothing prepared me for what followed next.

“If you refuse to get married, I'm cutting you off from the inheritance.”