I married a stranger

Chapter two: An unexpected decision

Rose’s POV:

There is tension in the air as we eat dinner. Mum keeps her eyes on her plate, while Dad seems unusually interested in everything except me.

They are usually the ones who fill the dinner table with conversation.

Tonight, every silence feels deliberate.

The moment we finish eating, I put my fork down.

“So what is this all about.” I say to them.

Dad clears his throat before saying, “Rose there is something your mother and I need to talk to you about.”

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

Dad exchanges a quick glance with Mum before looking back at me.

“We have been thinking about your future.”

I frown. “My future?”

“Yes.” He pauses. “We have all been through a lot this few months and we are still healing. But life has to continue.”

Something about the way he says it makes me uneasy.

“There is someone we want you to meet.”

I stare at him, confused. “Someone?”

Mum finally speaks. “Your father means… a man.”

I blink. “A man?”

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

For a moment, I just stare at him.

Then I laugh.

A small, confused laugh escapes my lips because surely this has to be a joke. “Daddy on a serious note was going on.” I say while struggling to hold my laughter.

“I’m being serious.”

My laughter dies.

Dad looks everywhere but at me. “I recently just signed a deal with Blackwood enterprises and…”

“wait.” I hold up my hand.

“You are actually serious?”

“Yes.” He says.

I stare at both of them.

“You are talking about marriage?” Dad nods.

“To a man I have never even met?”

“I know this is a lot to take in,” he says, “but the Blackwoods and I have been discussing a partnership for years.” He says.

I frown. “Then why did it not happen?”

His expression changes slightly.

“Because circumstances changed.”

“What circumstances?”

He hesitates before answering. “After Lily died, the agreement between our families was called off.”

My chest tightens at the mention of her name.

“And now?”

“Now the Blackwoods are willing to revive the partnership.”

I stare at him, trying to understand.

“How does that involve me?

He pauses.

“The partnership gives Smith Empire a chance to recover. We are closer to bankruptcy than you realize, Rose. If we do not secure this deal, we could lose everything we have spent years building.”

I stare at him.

“And somehow marrying their son is part of the deal?”

“The Blackwoods want more than a business partnership. They want an alliance between our families. A marriage would make that alliance permanent and give both families something to protect.”

My stomach twists.

“So that is what I am?” I asked, my voice shaking. “A way to save the company?”

“Rose”

“No.”

“This is not just a contract, Rose. The Blackwoods are putting their resources, connections and reputation behind Smith Empire. They are willing to help restructure the company and secure its future.” Dad says.

“And they want a family alliance in return?” I ask.

Dad nods.

“They believe a marriage would bind the two families in a way a business contract never could.”

I push my chair back slightly.

“I do not even know the guy.”

“I know.”

“Then how can you possibly think this is okay?”

My anger rises with every word.

“You are asking me to marry a complete stranger.”

“It is a lot to take in, dear,” Mum says softly. “But your father and I believe this could be good for you too.”

I stare at her.

“How is this good for me?”My voice cracks.

“I just lost my sister eleven months ago, and you are asking me to get married?”

The room falls silent.

I see the hurt immediately in their eyes.

Mum looks down for a moment before meeting my gaze again.

“I know she was my daughter too.”

Her voice trembles.

“And I would never ask you to forget her.”

Tears begin to gather in her eyes.

“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.”

A tear slips down her cheek.

I look away.

My own eyes burn.

I hate this.

I hate seeing her cry.

I hate that she is hurting too.

And most of all, I hate that part of me knows she is not trying to replace Lily.

Dad reaches across the table.

“This is for the best, Rose.”

His voice is unsteady.

“We love you. I would not have agreed to this if I did not believe he was good for you.”

I swallow.

“He agreed to this?”

Mum nods.

“He agreed to meet you before the wedding. You will have time to get to know each other.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

“As if that makes this normal.”

“Rose”

“I need to go.”

I stand before either of them can say anything else.

“I need time to think about this.”

I leave before they can stop me

I get into the car, and sit there for a few seconds, staring blankly at the steering wheel. I still cannot believe what I had just heard.

Marriage.

I start the car and drive off, my hands gripping the steering wheel tighter than usual. I’m angry so angry that I want to turn the car around and tell them exactly what I thought about the whole situation.

But I suddenly remember my mum’s tears.

My grip on the steering wheel loosened.

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

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

But how am I suppose to move forward when everything still reminds me of her

I sigh and focus my eyes on the road, but my mind was nowhere near it.

I cannot 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 like me?

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

My eyes begin to sting, and I quickly blink away the tears. I look up to avoid the tears coming down.

“This is insane,” I whisper to myself.

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

I finally pull into my driveway and turn off the engine. I sit there for a moment, stare ahead, still trying to process everything.

I grab my phone from the passenger seat, to call Isabella, but a notification catches my attention.

An email. This is 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. Christopher Blackwood here.”My heart skips.

Another message appears almost immediately.

“I believe your parents have spoken to you about our arrangement.” I stare at the screen, completely frozen.

How did he even get my private email?

Then another message appears.

“We should talk.”