CHAPTER FOUR
1077 Words
A MARRIAGE I NEVER CHOSE,
The room fell into complete silence.
Adrian stood frozen, his sharp eyes moving from his father to Clara, then to the old photograph lying on the center table.
His brows knitted together.
"My... what?"
Richard inhaled deeply before speaking.
"Sit down, Adrian."
"No."
His answer came instantly.
"I asked you a question. What exactly is going on here?"
Richard exchanged a brief glance with Eleanor before looking back at his son.
"We've decided that it's time to fulfill the promise I made years ago."
"What promise?"
Richard picked up the old photograph and held it out.
"The promise your late Uncle James Hart and I made when you and Clara were children."
Adrian stared at the picture for a moment before his eyes narrowed.
"You can't be serious."
"I am."
Richard's voice remained calm.
"We promised that one day, our families would become one. Clara has accepted the marriage."
Adrian's gaze shot toward Clara.
She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes.
His jaw clenched.
"So everyone agreed..."
"...except me."
Richard sighed.
"That's why we called you here."
Adrian let out a bitter laugh.
"So this wasn't a discussion."
"It was a decision."
The words hung heavily in the air.
Eleanor stood up.
"Adrian, please listen to us."
"No, Mom."
He shook his head.
"You should be listening to me."
"I've spent my entire life preparing to serve this country."
"I've trained every single day."
"I've sacrificed my time, my comfort, and everything else because becoming a soldier is the only dream I've ever had."
He looked directly at his father.
"And now you're asking me to throw all of that away because of a promise that was made before I was old enough to understand what marriage even means?"
Richard remained silent.
Adrian continued.
"Did anyone think to ask what I wanted?"
The question pierced the room.
Clara slowly lowered her head.
She already knew the answer.
Richard finally spoke.
"I understand your anger."
"No, Dad."
"You don't."
"If you did, we wouldn't be standing here."
Richard's expression hardened.
"You are my only son, Adrian."
"Everything I've built will one day belong to you."
"Our family needs you."
"And what about what I need?" Adrian asked, frustration rising in his voice.
"What about my life?"
"What about my dream?"
"I've dreamed of wearing that uniform since I was a child."
"I can't give that up."
Richard took a slow step forward.
"You can still live a meaningful life without joining the army."
"But I can't live my life pretending someone else's dream is mine."
His words struck everyone in the room.
Clara felt a sharp pain in her chest.
She wanted to disappear.
She had imagined many reactions from Adrian.
But hearing him reject the marriage so openly still hurt more than she expected.
Eleanor noticed the sadness on Clara's face and gently squeezed her hand.
"My dear..."
Clara forced a faint smile.
"I'm okay, Aunt Eleanor."
But she wasn't.
Not even close.
Adrian looked toward Clara.
For a brief second, guilt flashed across his face.
She hadn't done anything wrong.
She was kind, thoughtful, and had always treated him with respect.
She didn't deserve to be caught in this.
Taking a deep breath, he softened his tone.
"Clara..."
She slowly looked up.
"I'm sorry."
"This isn't about you."
"You deserve someone who can give you his whole heart."
"And right now..."
"My heart belongs to one thing."
"The army."
A tear escaped Clara's eye before she quickly wiped it away.
"I understand."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Richard slammed his hand against the table.
"Enough!"
Everyone flinched.
"I made a promise to my best friend."
"I watched him take his last breath."
"I looked him in the eyes and swore our families would remain united."
"I'm not breaking that promise."
Adrian met his father's gaze without fear.
"And I'm not giving up my future."
The two men stared at each other.
Neither willing to back down.
The atmosphere became unbearably tense.
Sophia Hart finally rose from her seat.
"Richard."
"I think everyone needs time to calm down."
Richard closed his eyes.
After several seconds, he nodded reluctantly.
"Very well."
He looked at Adrian.
"But this conversation isn't over."
Adrian said nothing.
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the mansion.
The sound of the front door closing echoed through the house.
Clara stared after him until he disappeared from sight.
Moments later, she quietly stood.
"Excuse me."
No one stopped her.
She hurried upstairs, entered her bedroom, and gently locked the door behind her.
The smile she had forced all morning vanished.
She slid down against the door and buried her face in her hands.
The tears she had been holding back finally fell.
"I knew this would happen," she whispered between sobs.
"He never wanted this."
"He never wanted... me."
Just then, her phone vibrated on the bedside table.
She glanced at the screen.
Vanessa Calling...
Clara wiped her tears before answering.
"Hello..."
Vanessa immediately sensed something was wrong.
"Clara?"
"Why do you sound like you've been crying?"
Clara tried to laugh.
"It's nothing."
"Don't lie to me."
"I've known you since we were kids."
"What happened?"
For a moment, Clara remained silent.
Then everything came pouring out.
She told Vanessa about Richard and Eleanor's visit.
The promise between the two families.
Her acceptance of the marriage.
And Adrian's painful rejection.
Vanessa listened quietly until Clara finished.
Then she spoke gently.
"Listen to me carefully."
"This isn't the end."
"Adrian isn't rejecting you because he hates you."
"He's fighting for the dream he's loved his whole life."
"Those are two completely different things."
Clara remained silent.
"You've loved him for years," Vanessa continued.
"Don't lose yourself because today didn't go the way you hoped."
"You are Clara Hart."
"The strongest and kindest person I know."
"And whether Adrian realizes it now or later..."
"He'll eventually see the woman who's been standing beside him all along."
For the first time that day, Clara smiled through her tears.
"Thank you, Vanessa."
"That's what best friends are for."
After ending the call, Clara wal
ked to her bedroom window.
Outside, the afternoon breeze rustled the trees.
She looked toward the distant road where Adrian had disappeared.
Her heart still belonged to him.
Even if he didn't belong to her.
Yet somewhere deep inside, she couldn't shake the feeling that fate wasn't finished with either of them.
Not yet.
- Writer
