Rejected by One, Wanted by Another

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The walk out of the restaurant was blurry as the light kept shining on Lucy’s eyes. As soon as the heavy doors opened, the sidewalk was crowded with people holding cameras. The flashes were so constant they made Lucy’s eyes ache.

"Lucy! Over here! Give us a look at the ring!"

"Is it true the wedding was moved up because of your father’s health?"

The reporters kept shouting questions, trying to get a reaction. Adrian didn't seem bothered at all. He wrapped his arm tightly around Lucy’s waist, pulling her close to him as they moved toward the car. Lucy kept her head up and kept a polite smile on her face. It was a look she had practiced many times for her father’s business events, but tonight, it felt heavier.

A reporter with a handheld mic shoved her way toward them. "Miss Quinn! A sudden wedding right after finals, some are saying this is a strategic move for the merger. Do you have a comment on the timing?"

Lucy didn't stop walking, but she turned her head just enough to give a polite smile. "When you know you’ve found the right partner, there’s no reason to let the calendar dictate your happiness. We’re simply excited to start our lives together."

"Well said, darling," Adrian murmured with approval as he ushered her into the car.

The door shut, finally blocking out the noise. The car felt very quiet and smelled like the expensive lilies Adrian had given her earlier. Adrian didn't say anything at first. He just started the engine and began driving back toward the university. The charming, sweet version of him from dinner seemed to vanish the moment they were alone.

When they pulled up to her dorm, Adrian didn't get out to open her door. He kept the car running and turned to look at her. His eyes were dark and serious.

"You did well tonight, Lucy. Very professional," he said. Then his voice dropped, losing its warmth. "But let’s be clear. The world is watching now. Every move you make, every person you talk to on this campus... it reflects on me. I’ve put a lot on the line to move this date up. Don’t make me look like a fool by acting out of line. Behave yourself, and these few weeks will be the easiest of your life."

Lucy felt a chill that had nothing to do with the night air. "I understand, Adrian."

"Good. Get some sleep. You have a lot of planning to do tomorrow."

Lucy practically ran up the stairs to her suite. She felt like she needed to scrub the makeup off her face and just hide. When she opened the door, Zoe was sitting on the couch with her laptop open, looking very excited.

"Oh my god, Lucy! You're already trending!" Zoe jumped up, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and something Lucy couldn't quite name. "I saw the live-streamed clips from the restaurant. Three weeks? Why didn't you tell me? We have so much to do! We need to look at dresses, the guest list, the…"

""Oh my god, Lucy! You're all over the internet!" Zoe stood up and ran over. "I saw the video from the restaurant! Three weeks? Why didn't you tell me? We have so much to do. We need to look at dresses, flowers, the guest list…"

"Not tonight, Zoe," Lucy said. She didn't even stop to look at her. She walked straight to her bed. “

"But Lucy, this is huge! Everyone is calling it the wedding of the year…"

"I’m tired, Zoe. I just want to sleep," Lucy said, closing her door. She stood in the dark for a minute, listening to her own heart beat. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

She climbed into her bed and immediately fell asleep.

—————

The next morning, Lucy didn't even need her alarm. Her phone started buzzing at six in the morning and wouldn't stop.

She picked it up and saw dozens of text messages, i********: tags, and news alerts. The headline on the morning news site was huge: MATTHEWS AND QUINN WEDDING MOVED UP. There was a picture of Adrian kissing her forehead at the dinner. In the photo, she looked perfect, but she knew how scared she actually felt in that moment.

Suddenly, her phone started ringing. It was her father.

Lucy took a deep breath and tried to make her voice sound happy. "Hi, Dad."

"Lucy! I just saw the news," Thomas Quinn said. He sounded much better than he had the day before. He sounded excited and proud. "Adrian called me last night to ask if it was okay to move the date. He said you both were just too happy to wait. Is it true? Are you ready for this, honey?"

Lucy bit her lip, trying to stop a tear from falling. She thought about her father’s medical bills and how much he needed this merger to work. "Yes, Dad. It’s what I want. We didn't see any point in waiting until the end of the year. This way, everything is settled sooner."

"It makes me so happy to hear that, Lucy. I know you’ll be in good hands with the Matthews family."

"I know, Dad."

"Hey! Let me talk to her!" Lucy heard a small voice in the background. "Elie? Elie!"

"Hi, Leo," Lucy said, her voice finally softening into a real smile.

"Are you really getting married in a month? Are we going to live in that big house with the pool?" Leo asked.

Lucy swallowed back a sob and forced a laugh. "Yes, peanut. You’ll have your own room there whenever you want to visit. I promise."

"Cool! Can I have a big TV in it?"

"Whatever you want, Leo."

After she hung up, Lucy sat on her bed and stared at the wall. She had just promised her entire future away to keep her family safe. She had exactly thirty days left of her old life.

She looked at her desk where her art books were sitting. She thought about Jonathan and the project they still had to finish. But looking at the news on her phone, she realized that Adrian was right, everyone was watching her now. There was no way to hide anymore.