Bound by a promise

Chapter 14

Victoria watched Sophia disappear into the mansion before turning back to Ethan.

"I've been calling you all morning," she said.

"I was busy."

"You could have called back."

"I forgot."

Victoria forced a smile, though she was clearly disappointed.

"You never forget business calls."

"This wasn't business."

Before she could respond, Richard walked over.

"Victoria, it's nice to see you."

She smiled warmly.

"Good afternoon, Uncle Richard."

"We weren't expecting you."

"My father had a meeting nearby, so I thought I'd stop by."

Richard nodded politely.

"You're welcome to join us for lunch."

"I'd love to."

Victoria's eyes briefly searched for Sophia.

She smiled to herself.

Perfect.

---

Inside the mansion, Sophia was helping Eleanor arrange the dining table.

"You don't have to do this," Eleanor said kindly.

"I don't mind."

Eleanor smiled.

"You're just like your mother."

Sophia laughed softly.

"I've heard that many times."

As they finished arranging the table, Victoria walked in.

She smiled sweetly.

"Sophia."

Sophia turned.

"Victoria."

"I didn't know you and Ethan were taking walks together."

Sophia almost laughed.

"We weren't."

"Oh?"

"Our parents practically pushed us outside."

Victoria studied her face, trying to see if she was lying.

Sophia looked completely relaxed.

"You don't seem happy about this marriage."

"I'm not."

Victoria's smile widened.

"I'm glad we're on the same page."

Sophia raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"I've loved Ethan for years."

She said it confidently.

"And I intend to marry him."

Sophia looked at her for a few seconds before replying calmly.

"Then you should convince him, not me."

Victoria was caught off guard.

"What?"

"I don't want this marriage either."

Sophia picked up a stack of plates.

"So if you can make him marry you instead, you'll actually be doing me a favor."

With that, she walked away.

Victoria stood there speechless.

That wasn't the reaction she had expected.

---

Lunch began a few minutes later.

Everyone sat around the long dining table.

Richard sat at one end while Daniel sat at the other.

Sophia deliberately chose a seat far from Ethan.

Unfortunately...

Victoria sat beside Ethan instead.

Throughout the meal, Victoria kept talking to him.

"Ethan, remember our trip to Paris?"

"You should come to my company's fashion launch next month."

"My father was asking about you yesterday."

Ethan answered politely but briefly.

"Hmm."

"I'll think about it."

"Maybe."

Sophia quietly focused on her food.

She couldn't care less.

Lily's words suddenly echoed in her head.

"She's been chasing Ethan since university."

Sophia almost smiled.

Good luck with that.

After lunch, everyone moved to the garden for tea.

Richard cleared his throat.

"I have an announcement."

Sophia immediately looked suspicious.

"What now?"

Richard smiled.

"Next month is my birthday."

Everyone nodded.

"I've decided to host a grand celebration."

"That's wonderful," Daniel said.

Richard looked at Ethan and Sophia.

"I expect both of you to attend."

Sophia sighed.

"I was already expecting that."

Richard smiled knowingly.

"And you'll arrive together."

Sophia almost dropped her teacup.

"What?"

"So will Ethan."

Ethan looked at his father.

"No."

Richard ignored both of them.

"It'll be good for the families."

Sophia shook her head.

"This is getting out of hand."

Daniel spoke gently.

"Sophia."

"Dad, you're making decisions like I'm ten years old."

Richard looked at Ethan.

"And you?"

"I'm not driving anyone."

Victoria remained quiet, but inside she was furious.

She had spent years imagining herself arriving beside Ethan at events.

Now the families wanted Sophia to take that place.

She couldn't accept it.

Not now.

Not ever.

---

As the afternoon came to an end, the Clark family prepared to leave.

Sophia walked toward her car.

Just as she reached the driver's door, Ethan called her.

"Sophia."

She turned around.

"What?"

"I meant what I said before."

"About what?"

"I still have no intention of marrying you."

Sophia smiled.

"That's the best thing you've said all day."

Ethan nodded once.

"I'll find a way to stop this."

"I'll do the same."

For the first time since this whole situation began...

They had made the same promise.

Not to each other.

But against the marriage.

Neither of them realized...

That fate had already started moving in a direction neither of them could control.

And the harder they fought the promise...

The closer it would bring them together.

To be continued…