chapter 9
882 Words
Sophia looked from her father to her mother, her heart beating faster.
"Dad... Mom... what's going on?"
Daniel Clark leaned back in his chair and let out a quiet sigh.
"This isn't an easy conversation."
Sophia forced a small smile.
"You're both making me nervous."
Grace reached across the table and gently held her daughter's hand.
"Whatever happens, remember that we love you."
Sophia frowned.
"You're really scaring me now."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Twenty-two years ago, before you were born, Richard Lockwood and I made a promise."
Sophia listened quietly.
"We were not only business partners but also very close friends. We wanted our families to remain united for generations."
Sophia didn't interrupt.
She waited for him to continue.
"When your mother became pregnant and Eleanor was expecting Ethan around the same time, Richard suggested something."
Daniel paused.
"He wanted our children to get married when they became adults."
Sophia blinked.
She thought she had heard him wrongly.
"...What?"
Grace squeezed her hand gently.
"It was meant to strengthen the bond between both families."
Sophia laughed.
A short, nervous laugh.
"This is a joke... right?"
Neither of her parents laughed.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
"No..."
Daniel looked at her sadly.
"It isn't a joke."
Sophia stood up immediately.
"No."
She shook her head.
"No... you can't be serious."
"We are."
"So you're telling me..."
Her voice became louder.
"...that my marriage was decided before I was even born?"
Daniel stood up.
"We believed it was the right decision."
"For who?"
Sophia asked.
"For me?"
Nobody answered.
She looked at both of them.
"You never thought I should choose the person I want to spend the rest of my life with?"
Grace stood up.
"We wanted to tell you earlier."
"When?"
Sophia asked bitterly.
"On my wedding day?"
"Sophia..."
"No, Mom."
She stepped back.
"This is unbelievable."
Daniel tried to remain calm.
"You haven't even heard everything."
"I don't need to."
"Please."
Sophia folded her arms.
"Fine."
Daniel took a deep breath.
"The man you're supposed to marry..."
Sophia waited.
"...is Ethan Lockwood."
The room became silent.
Sophia stared at her father.
Then she laughed again.
This time louder.
"No."
Daniel remained quiet.
"Absolutely not."
She shook her head repeatedly.
"Anyone but him."
Grace looked worried.
"You know Ethan?"
Sophia turned to her mother in disbelief.
"You know him too?"
"No."
"But I've heard Richard mention him many times."
Sophia covered her face.
"This can't be happening."
Daniel walked closer.
"The wedding won't happen immediately."
"I don't care."
"Sophia..."
"I said no."
Daniel's expression became serious.
"This promise means a great deal to both families."
Sophia looked straight into his eyes.
"I don't care about the promise."
"I gave Richard my word."
"And what about me?"
Daniel didn't answer.
"What about my happiness?"
Silence.
Sophia felt tears gathering in her eyes.
Not because she was weak.
But because she felt betrayed.
Her parents had always respected her opinions.
Or at least...
She thought they had.
Without saying another word, she turned and walked out of the study.
"Sweetheart!"
Grace called after her.
Sophia didn't stop.
She ran upstairs, entered her room and locked the door.
She leaned against it, trying to calm herself.
"Ethan Lockwood..."
She couldn't believe it.
Out of every man in London...
Why him?
---
Meanwhile...
At the Lockwood mansion.
Ethan sat opposite his parents in Richard's study.
Richard looked at his son.
"You've always trusted me."
"Yes."
"And I've always tried to do what's best for this family."
Ethan nodded.
"I know."
Richard inhaled slowly.
"When you were born, I made an agreement with Daniel Clark."
Ethan frowned.
"What agreement?"
Richard looked directly at him.
"You were promised in marriage to Daniel's daughter."
Ethan remained silent.
Richard continued.
"Her name is Sophia Clark."
For the first time that evening...
Ethan completely lost his calm expression.
"...Sophia?"
"Yes."
"The Sophia Clark from Westbridge University?"
Richard nodded.
Ethan stood up immediately.
"No."
"Ethan."
"I said no."
Eleanor sighed softly.
"We knew this would be difficult."
"Difficult?"
Ethan let out a dry laugh.
"You expect me to marry the one person who argues with me every chance she gets?"
Richard remained calm.
"You don't know her as well as you think."
"I know enough."
"She's intelligent."
"So?"
"Kind."
"So?"
"Responsible."
Ethan looked at his father.
"I don't want to marry her."
Richard stood up.
"This isn't only about what you want."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"So my opinion doesn't matter?"
"It does."
"Clearly, it doesn't."
Without waiting for another word, Ethan walked out of the study.
Richard closed his eyes briefly.
"He'll come around."
Eleanor wasn't so sure.
---
That night...
Sophia lay awake in bed.
She couldn't sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes...
She saw Ethan's face.
His cold expression.
His arrogant attitude.
His annoying confidence.
"No."
She whispered to herself.
"I'll never marry him."
At almost the same time...
Ethan stood on the balcony of his bedroom.
His hands rested on the railing as he stared into the dark London sky.
One name kept repeating in his mind.
Sophia Clark.
He couldn't believe fate would play such a cruel joke on him.
He disliked her.
She disliked him.
And now...
Their families expected them to get married.
Neither of them knew...
That this was only the beginning.
To be continued…
- Writer
