Riley’s pov
The room felt suffocating, the weight of their stares bearing down on me as I stood frozen in place. My chest tightened with anger and disbelief, and the sounds pounding in my ears made it hard to think straight.
“This doesn’t make any sense… not to me, and not to him either!” I yelled, pointing at Xavier, who stood stiff as a statue. His jaw clenched, his face impassive, but I could see the storm brewing beneath the surface.
“I will not do this! I won’t allow it! You can’t just come into my life and decide it’s okay to turn everything upside down!” My voice cracked, my words spilling out in a painful rush. My chest heaved, my heart hammering against my ribs.
“How do you expect me to get married without anyone I know by my side? Not my mother, not even my friends! W
