Bound by a promise

Chapter 10

Sophia barely slept that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered her father's words.

"You were promised to Ethan Lockwood."

She turned over in bed and groaned.

"This has to be a nightmare."

The next morning, she skipped breakfast.

Grace noticed immediately.

"Sophia."

"I'm not hungry."

"You've never skipped breakfast."

"There's a first time for everything."

Daniel looked at his daughter.

"We need to talk."

Sophia shook her head.

"I have nothing to say."

"You can't avoid this forever."

She looked at her father.

"I can try."

Without waiting for another word, she picked up her car keys and left the house.

---

Meanwhile, at the Lockwood mansion...

Ethan was equally frustrated.

Richard looked at his son across the dining table.

"You should eat."

"I'm not hungry."

Eleanor sighed.

"You and Sophia are reacting the same way."

Ethan frowned.

"She already knows?"

Richard nodded.

"Daniel told her yesterday."

"And?"

Richard smiled faintly.

"She rejected the idea immediately."

For some reason, Ethan wasn't surprised.

"Good."

Richard raised an eyebrow.

"Good?"

"It means I'm not the only one against this."

Richard calmly placed his coffee cup on the table.

"You'll still meet this evening."

Ethan looked up sharply.

"What?"

"The Clark family is coming for dinner."

"I'm not staying."

"You are."

"I have work."

Richard's voice became firm.

"You'll be here."

Ethan knew that tone.

His father rarely raised his voice, but once he made a decision, changing it was almost impossible.

---

By evening...

The Clark family's car stopped in front of the magnificent Lockwood mansion.

Sophia looked out the window.

The mansion looked just as grand as she remembered from the few charity events her family had attended years ago.

"I don't want to do this," she muttered.

Grace gently squeezed her hand.

"Just hear everyone out."

Sophia sighed.

"I already know my answer."

Daniel remained silent.

A butler opened the door and welcomed them inside.

The living room was elegant, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and expensive paintings decorating the walls.

Richard and Eleanor warmly welcomed them.

"It's been too long," Richard said, shaking Daniel's hand.

"It has," Daniel replied.

Sophia greeted them politely.

"Good evening, Mr. Lockwood. Mrs. Lockwood."

Eleanor smiled kindly.

"It's lovely to see you again, Sophia."

Sophia forced a smile.

"Thank you."

She looked around.

"Where's Ethan?"

Almost immediately...

Footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Ethan walked into the living room wearing a simple black shirt and dark trousers.

The moment his eyes landed on Sophia...

He stopped.

Sophia looked at him.

Neither of them smiled.

The room suddenly felt awkward.

Richard cleared his throat.

"Ethan."

Ethan nodded politely.

"Mr. Clark."

"Mrs. Clark."

Then he looked at Sophia.

"Miss Clark."

Sophia folded her arms.

"Mr. Lockwood."

Their greeting sounded more like a challenge than politeness.

Daniel and Richard exchanged helpless looks.

This was going to be harder than they expected.

---

Dinner was unusually quiet.

Everyone tried to start conversations.

Only Ethan and Sophia remained silent.

Finally, Richard spoke.

"I think it's time you both discuss the future."

Sophia immediately put down her fork.

"My answer hasn't changed."

Ethan looked at his father.

"Neither has mine."

Richard sighed.

"You haven't even given each other a chance."

Sophia couldn't hold back anymore.

"A chance?"

She looked around the table.

"How can you ask us to give each other a chance when you've already made the decision for us?"

No one answered.

She continued.

"You all keep talking about a promise."

She looked directly at Richard.

"But none of you asked whether we wanted to make our own promises."

Silence filled the dining room.

Ethan looked at Sophia.

For the first time...

He agreed with everything she was saying.

Richard finally spoke.

"The promise was made out of love and trust."

Sophia shook her head.

"It may have been your promise..."

She glanced at Ethan before looking back at the adults.

"But it isn't ours."

Ethan slowly nodded.

"I agree."

Everyone looked at him.

"I respect both families."

He remained calm.

"But I won't marry someone simply because a decision was made before I was born."

Sophia looked at him briefly.

That was the first time they had ever been on the same side.

Not because they liked each other.

But because they wanted the same thing.

Freedom.

Richard stood up.

"I expected this reaction."

He looked at both of them.

"I'm not asking you to get married tomorrow."

Sophia frowned.

"Then what are you asking?"

"I want both of you to spend time together."

Ethan immediately refused.

"No."

Sophia answered at the same time.

"No."

Richard ignored them.

"Three months."

Both of them stared at him.

"Get to know each other properly."

Sophia laughed in disbelief.

"I already know enough."

"So do I," Ethan added.

Richard smiled slightly.

"I don't think you do."

The dinner ended with no agreement.

As the Clark family prepared to leave, Sophia walked toward the front door.

She was about to step outside when Ethan's voice stopped her.

"Sophia."

She turned around.

"What?"

He slipped his hands into his pockets.

"I still don't want this marriage."

Sophia nodded.

"Good."

"At least we agree on something."

She looked him straight in the eyes.

"We'll make them cancel it."

Ethan's expression remained calm.

"We will."

Neither of them realized...

That the promise they were both trying so hard to escape...

Would one day become the reason they couldn't bear to lose each other.

To be continued…