Entwined Fates

Sophia’s point of view “There’s absolutely no way in hell you’re serious, I’d rather lose an arm, than marry that prick of a man”, I yelled, my voice reverberating from across the living room where I sat, my heart pounding against my chest, the gravity of each word echoing off the ceilings. My father, Graham Hartley, rose up in anger, his face masked with suppressed frustration. “You have no choice, I have given the Lake family my word and that is final, this is crucial for the future of the company”. “Oh I sure do have a choice and marrying Donald is definitely not it” I stated, tears beginning to well up in my eyes. I could feel the walls closing in, the weight of duty hovering over me. “Please Dad, what about me? What about my future?” I asked, my voice trembling with desperation. His gaze softened for a moment but his voice remained unshaken. “Sometimes we need to make sacrifices for the greater good”. “Sacrifice?”, I asked scoffing, shaking my head and standing up in restrained fury. “You want me to sacrifice my entire life, my happiness for a business deal? Is that all I’m worth to you?” “Donald is a monster with a questionable reputation preceding him, yet you’d rather have me warm him bed alongside a thousand others”. “I could marry him if you don’t want to, he’s quite handsome and wealthy too”, Roxy, my annoying younger sister, snorted from the other end of the living room. “Quite difficult to find both characteristics in one man lately”. “By all means, you can have him, “I shot back. “One could add all to yourself but that’d never happen”, I retorted sarcastically. “Enough!!”, my dad’s voice interjected the squabble. “Sophia, you will marry Donald and if you choose not to do so, your inheritance to the company will be cut off!” “And you Roxy, slow down on smearing the impeccable name of the Hartley family with your continuous philandering, DO YOU BOTH UNDERSTAND?”. “I understand perfectly father”, I cut him off, standing up and meeting his gaze head-on. “I understand you’ve decided to use me as a pawn in your game, but this time, the game’s over”. In one swift whirl, I stomped out of the living room towards the grand stairs leaving my father in a conflict of his emotions. A few steps up the stairs, I paused,glancing back at my father, for a moment I almost second guessed my decision but I remained resolute. I had to choose myself this once , even if it meant defying the man who raised me. As I ascended the stairs, my mind drifted to Alexander Hayes—my father’s best friend, he was the first and only man that actually gave me butterflies in my belly since my teenage years. Not only was he my father’s friend which automatically meant off limits, he was also twice my age,yet I loved him regardless. Unfortunately, in a world where business loyalties surpassed human emotions, love was only a luxury I couldn’t afford. I reached my room slamming the door behind me, leaned against it and tried to catch my breath. My mind wandered to thoughts of rebellion and escape. My whole life’s decision was made based on the interest of the company before mine, I studied business admin against music because my Dad said I needed the knowledge for the company. I’ve had enough, I couldn’t let my autocratic father continue to dictate my life and I deserve better than to be a bargaining chip for his business deals. I collapsed onto my bed, my face buried in my hands,the tears I held back now flowing freely. How did it come to this? A loud knock interjected my line of thoughts, “Open up honey”, a shrill voice said at the other side of the door. “Go away”, I yelled amidst sobs. “I don't want to talk to anyone”. “Sophia,please,” my mom’s voice softened, With a heavy sigh, I sluggishly trotted to the door and turned the knob. The door opened, my mother Angela Hartley stood there with concern written all over her face. Her frail frame on the wheelchair she relied on was a stark contrast to the powerful man downstairs. “Oh poor dear”She said, wheeling herself into my room, “ I’m so sorry, I wish I could change your father’s mind but you know how he can be”. I sank onto the edge of my king size luxurious bed, “luxury! That’s all I ever got”, a fresh wave of hopelessness washing over me. “Why does it always have to be like this mom? Why do I always have to give up my dreams for the company? Doesn’t he ever care about my happiness? “Of course he does honey, he’s just not very good at showing it”she replied reassuringly “He believes he’s doing what’s best for the family, but he sometimes confuses business and family”. “Well! Well! Well! If it isn’t the crying bride”, Roxy mocked from the doorway, before I had a chance to respond,her arms crossed against her chest. “Roxy, wrong timing”, my mom reprimanded gently. “It’s never the right time to call y’all out on your bullshit”Roxy retorted, flipping her hair over her shoulders. “I’d give anything to be in your shoes, yet you're wasting your chance away”. “Money and power, that’s all you ever care about isn’t it?” I snapped, my rage fueling up. “I want more , I deserve more”. “And your father’s friend is your definition of more?”, Roxy blurted. I was appalled, shocked and confusion was written all over my face. How did she find out? I thought to myself. “What…. What do you mean?” I stuttered, my words tumbled out of my mouth. Roxy clapped her hands loudly accompanied by a wild bawl of laughter. “Oh dear sister, you’d make a great actress but please save this performance for the day you’re kicked out of the company “. “That’s enough!”, my mother said in a firm voice bringing my sister’s tantrum to a halt. We stared at each other sternly, as opponents on a boxing ring. The tension in the room was thick, the silence was deafening but that silence was short lived. A loud crash echoed from the living room downstairs followed by a roar of angry voices. My mother’s eyes widened in alarm, Roxy’s sarcastic expression slipped and in its place stood genuine concern. We exchanged swift glances before I bolted towards the door running past Roxy who quickly joined the race down the grand stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, I froze. My father stood at the center of the living room, his face red with rage. On the other end of the rage was Alexander Hayes—his best friend, looking equally enraged. On the floor was a shattered ceramic flower pot, the shattered pieces spreading to every corner of the living room. “You think you can just waltz in here and decide what happens in my house?”my father yelled, droplets of sweat forming on his face. “You don’t deserve her as a daughter”, Alexander shot back, his eyes blaring with determination. My heart missed a beat realizing I was the reason for the argument. “Enough!” I yelled, stepping in between them. “I won’t let either of you decide my fate or what happens in my life anymore”. I took a deep breath and took a critical look at each and everyone of them in the room. “I’m leaving!”, I declared. I watched my father’s face twist with a mixture of anger and hurt while Alexander’s face softened with understanding. “I’m not going to remain here to be manipulated and controlled by y’all, I’m done!” My father looked at me, his anger slowly melting away. “You have nowhere to go,you have nothing”,he said scoffing, trying so hard to mask the fear underneath his voice. “I might not know where I’m going, but anywhere away from home is where I’d rather be”. I said looking at him deep in his soul. I dashed up the stairs and in no time I returned with a suitcase containing only the things I needed. I knew it was going to be a long ride but I was determined to see it through. As I swung the front door open, a whirl of breezy wind whipped past my face, sending my blonde hair flurrying across my face sticking to my glossy lips. I took one last look at my family, my hair partially covering my view. My mother slowly wheeled up and joined them, I looked at her with an expression that spoke a thousand words. She slowly nodded in approval, I was grateful for her understanding. “If you walk out that door, you lose your inheritance, the company…everything”, my father threatened. I walked out the door, stepping into the darkness, walking into the unknown. The future was uncertain but I had never been more free.