Chapter 8: Wedding Date
486 Words
Antonio Garcia walked into the dining room, a smile on his face. "Hey, family! How was everyone's day?"
Ava, his daughter, looked up from her phone. "It was good, Dad. Just the usual office stuff."
Antonio nodded, taking his seat at the head of the table. "Well, I have some news to share with you all. James Brooks and I finalized the wedding date today."
Ava's eyes widened, and she suddenly lost her appetite. "Oh...that's great, Dad."
Antonio didn't notice his daughter's reaction, too excited to share the news. "It's going to be on June 1st, at the Grand Plaza Hotel. It'll be a beautiful ceremony, and I know you'll make a lovely bride, Ava."
Ava pushed her chair back, her eyes welling up with tears. "Excuse me, Dad. I'm not feeling well. I think I'll go to my room."
Maria, Antonio's wife, looked concerned. "Ava, sweetie, what's wrong?"
Ava shook her head, quickly getting up from the table. "I just need some fresh air, Mom. That's all."
Antonio frowned, feeling a pang of concern. "Ava, is everything okay? You're not having second thoughts about the wedding, are you?"
Ava forced a smile, trying to reassure her father. "No, Dad. Of course not. I just...need some time to think, that's all."
Antonio nodded, though he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. "Okay, mija. We'll talk about this later, okay?"
Ava nodded, quickly exiting the dining room and heading up to her bedroom.
As soon as she closed the door behind her, she let out a sigh of relief. She couldn't believe her father had actually set a date for the wedding. It was all happening so fast, and she felt like she was losing control.
Ava walked over to her window, staring out at the city skyline. She felt trapped, like she was living in a prison of her own making. She didn't want to marry Ethan Brooks, but she didn't know how to escape the arrangement.
As she stood there, lost in thought, she heard a knock on her door. It was her mother, Maria.
"Ava, sweetie, are you okay? You looked so upset at dinner," Maria said, concern etched on her face.
Ava forced a smile, trying to reassure her mother. "I'm fine, Mom. Just a little overwhelmed, that's all."
Maria nodded, though she didn't look convinced. "Okay, mija. But if you ever need to talk, I'm here for you. You know that, right?"
Ava nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. She knew her mother was trying to help, but she couldn't confide in her. Not now, not when the wedding was just around the corner.
As Maria left her room, Ava felt a sense of desperation wash over her. She didn't love Ethan Brooks.
And now, she was trapped, stuck in a life she didn't want. She didn't know how to escape and she knew she shouldn't think of escaping.
- Writer
