I married a stranger

Chapter two: An unexpected decision

Rose’s POV:

There was tension in the air as we ate dinner, they kept avoiding my eyes when I tried to start a conversation which was weird they were usually the ones who would not stop talking.

“So what is this all about.” I said immediately after we finished dinner.

My dad let out an awkward cough before saying, “Rose there is something your mother and I need to talk to you about.”

I looked between them, suddenly feeling uneasy. “Okay… what is it?”

My dad exchanged a quick glance with my mum before looking back at me.

“We have been thinking about your future.”

I frowned. “My future?”

“Yes, we all went through a lot this few months and we are still healing but we have to move on .” He paused, as if carefully choosing his words. “There is someone we want you to meet.”

I stared at him, confused. “Someone?”

My mum finally spoke. “Your father means… a man.”

I blinked. “A man?”

My dad sighed. “We want you to marry him”.

Before I knew it i started laughing thinking it was a joke. “Daddy on a serious note was going on.” I said still struggling to hold my laughter.

“I’m being serious, I just signed a deal with Blackwood enterprises and what better way to strengthen that partnership than through marriage.” He said looking every way but not my face.

“Wait are you guys really serious? what do mean marriage? I do not even know the guy.” I could already feel my anger rising.

“I know is a lot to handle but your mum and I already talked about this and I think it will benefit us all.”

“It is a lot to take in dear but try and understand is also for your own good.” My mum said.

I laid my palms flat on the table as I stared at her in disbelief. “How is it for my own good, I just lost sister eleven months ago and you want me to get married.”

I could see the hurt in their eyes after I finished talking. Then my mum faced me and said “I know she was my daughter too, but sometimes healing does not mean letting go of the people we have lost. it means learning to carry their memories while allowing ourselves to live again.”

I saw tears rolling down her cheeks and I could not help but feel guilty. I could feel my tears trying to come out and I looked up towards the ceiling trying to hold it in.

“This is for the best rose.” My father said his voice shaky, it did not sound calm and steady as it used to.

“we love you rose and I would not have agreed to this if I did not think he was good for you.” I let out a shaky breath and looked at my parents.

“ he agreed to meet you before the wedding, to get to know each other better.” My mum said, as if she thought it would make the situation feel less awful.

“ I have to go, I need more time to think about this.” I stood up and left, not even waiting to hear their reply.

As I got into the car, I sat there for a few seconds, staring blankly at the steering wheel. I still could not believe what I had just heard.

Marriage.

How could my parents sit there and talk about my marriage as if it were some business deal?

I started the car and drove off, my hands gripping the steering wheel tighter than usual. I was angry so angry that I wanted to turn the car around and tell them exactly what I thought about the whole situation.

But then I remembered my mum’s tears.

My grip on the steering wheel loosened.

I hated that she had cried. I hated even more that part of me felt guilty for making her cry when I knew she was hurting too.

I knew my mum was only trying to help. She had lost Lily too, and if anything, she probably understood the pain better than anyone. I knew she was not trying to replace Lily or tell me to forget about her. She just wanted me to move forward, even if I was not ready to.

But how was I supposed to move forward when everything still reminded me of her

I sighed and focused my eyes on the road, but my mind was nowhere near it.

I’m supposed to marry a complete stranger.

The thought made my stomach twist. I could not help but feel sick. The dinner I had just eaten seem to sit heavily in my stomach.

What was his name? What was he like? What if I do not like him? What if he does not lke me?

I shook my head. Why was I even thinking about this?

I do not want to get married. Not now. Not when I was still trying to figure out how to live with the fact that Lily was gone.

My eyes began to sting, and I quickly blinked away the tears. I looked up to avoid the tears coming down.

“This is insane,” I whispered to myself.

Yet, no matter how many times I told myself that, the same thought kept coming back.

I’m going to get married to a stranger.

I finally pulled into my driveway and turned off the engine. I sat there for a moment, staring ahead, still trying to process everything.

I grabbed my phone from the passenger seat, intending to call Isabella, but a notification caught my attention.

An email. That was strange I do not give out personal details to anyone, Isabella is always the one who receives all my emails relating to business.

“Hello, Rose. This is Christopher Blackwood.”My heart skipped.

Another message appeared almost immediately.

“I believe your parents have already told you about the arrangement.”I stared at the screen, completely frozen.

Then another message came through.

“We should talk.”