The Unthinkable
1134 Words
Elena Sterling
I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. I had this weird feeling. I tried to shake it off.
Ever since Adrian Lancaster walked out of my father’s office that afternoon, an ache had settled low in my chest — cold and sharp, like something was unraveling inside me. My father barely spoke during dinner, and when I asked what was going on, he told me not to worry.
But now, as I stood in his study again, I knew this was more than just another business problem.
“Sit down, sweetheart.” My father’s voice was calm, but there was something in his eyes — something I hadn’t seen before. A flicker of defeat, of desperation.
I sat slowly, heart pounding in my chest. “What’s going on?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and swallowed half of it in one go. My stomach twisted. I’d only ever seen him drink like that when things were really bad.
“Dad…” I tried again. “What did Adrian mean today? About you — about the shipments?” “ Why didn't you say anything?”
He turned to face me then, glass still clutched tightly in his hand. “He’s lying,” he said firmly. “I swear to you, Elena — I’m not involved in anything illegal. You believe me right?”
I believed him — or at least, I wanted to. He wasn’t just my father; he was my hero. The man who’d worked late nights to build a company from nothing. The man who had always put family first.
But if that was true... why hadn’t he pushed harder to deny it when Adrian first accused him?
“Then why didn’t you fight back?” I asked. “Why didn’t you demand to see this so-called proof?”
“Because I don’t have a choice.” His voice cracked slightly, and he ran a hand down his face. “He’s manipulated the facts, twisted things to make it look like I’m guilty. I can’t prove he’s lying.”
I stared at him, unable to breathe.
“But… you’re innocent.” My voice wavered. “Right?”
“Yes.” His answer was immediate — too immediate. He downed the rest of his drink and set the glass aside with a sharp clink.
“Then what’s the plan?” I pressed. “We can fight this — go to the police, hire a lawyer—” You don't have to follow his unwanted demands.”
“We can’t,” he cut in. “Adrian’s too powerful. He’s already built his case — and trust me, Elena, if this goes public, it won’t matter whether I’m innocent or not. People will believe what they want to believe.”
My breath came faster. This couldn’t be happening.
“Then what do we do? How do we prove that you are innocent and not involved in any illegal things?”
My father turned back to me, and for the first time in my life, I saw something raw and vulnerable in his eyes — something that terrified me.
“There’s only one way out of this,” he said quietly. “You’re going to have to marry him.”
I jerked back as if he’d slapped me.
“What?” My voice shot up. “No! That’s insane! Why are you saying that?”
“It’s the only way,” he insisted. “Adrian wants you, Elena. If you agree to marry him, he’ll keep this quiet.”
I shot to my feet, heart hammering against my ribs. “You can’t be serious! He’s blackmailing you, and you want me to just — what? Walk down the aisle like nothing’s wrong?”
“I don’t want this either,” my father said grimly. “But Adrian’s not giving me a choice.”
“You can’t expect me to—”
“I do,” he said firmly. “Because it’s not just about me. If this gets out, our family will be ruined. The company… everything I’ve built... everything I’ve worked for… it’ll be gone. And you…” His voice faltered. “You’ll lose everything, too.”
I shook my head, panic rising fast. “I can’t marry him. I can’t — I won’t! I will never marry him.”
“You have to,” my father said, his tone gentler now. He reached out and took my hand in his — warm, steady, familiar. “I know this isn’t fair. But if you marry him… if you get close to him... you can turn this around.”
“What?” My breath hitched.
“You can find out what he’s hiding,” he said urgently. “There’s no way he’s doing this without something to lose. If you marry him, if you get him to trust you… you can uncover whatever proof he’s keeping from me.”
I froze, his words crashing over me like a wave.
“You’re asking me to… spy on him?”
“Not spy,” my father corrected quickly. “Just… pay attention. Watch him. Look for gaps in his story — anything that can prove I’m innocent.”
I shook my head again, disbelief knotting in my chest. “And what if there’s nothing to find?”
“There is,” my father said fiercely. “There has to be.”
He was gripping my hand tightly now, his eyes locked on mine. “I swear to you, Elena — I didn’t do what he’s claiming. If you marry him, you can make him regret this. You can make him pay for what he’s doing to us.”
The room felt too small, the air too thick.
Adrian’s cold gaze flashed through my mind — the way he’d looked at me like I was already his. Like he knew exactly how this would end.
“I can’t,” I whispered.
“You can,” my father said. “Because I know you, Elena. You’re smart. Stronger than you think.” His voice lowered, pleading now. “I need you to do this... for me.”
I swallowed hard, my pulse thudding painfully in my ears.
I didn’t want to marry Adrian Lancaster. I didn’t want to become some pawn in whatever twisted game he was playing.
But my father’s face — tired, worn, almost broken — was enough to make me doubt everything I thought I knew.
“Okay,” I said quietly, barely recognizing my own voice.
My father’s shoulders sagged with relief.
“You won’t regret this,” he promised.
But as his hand squeezed mine, I couldn’t shake the cold feeling creeping up my spine.
I already did.
- Writer
