Forbidden: His Father's Desire

Chapter 6: Unavoidable

SANDRA’S POV

The sunlight floods the dining room, spilling across the table and marble floor like everything is normal but the weight in my chest refuses to move.

Breakfast sits untouched in front of me, toast, eggs, coffee already growing cold. Across from me, Dad flips through a stack of documents, calm and focused, reading contracts like this is just another ordinary morning.

“Eat,” he says without looking up. “I’m not hungry.”

“You didn’t eat last night either.” I shrug slightly, keeping my eyes on the table. “I’m fine.”

He pauses, that alone is enough to make me look up because my dad rarely pauses over anything. Work always keeps moving with him, now he’s really watching me. “You don’t look fine.”

Silence stretches between us, the ticking clock in the kitchen suddenly feels louder than before. I force a small smile, the kind that doesn’t reach anywhere real. “Just tired.”

His eyes stay on me longer this time, he knows something is off but he doesn’t push. He never does ever since Mom died, he’s always treated pain carefully, like pressing too hard might make people break apart completely.

Instead, he exhales lightly and gathers his files, stacking them neatly like everything is already decided. “Get ready,” he says, calm but firm. “I have a business meeting with Mr. Clayton, and you’re coming along. We need to finalize some details.”

My hand stills slightly on the table. “Today!?”

“Yes.” My stomach drops. He stands, adjusting his jacket, already moving forward like this is set, like there’s no room for anything else. “This deal matters, Sandra,” he adds, his voice steady. “It secures everything.”

I nod but I’m not really hearing him anymore, my focus has already shifted somewhere else.

My phone lights up on the table. Lena. *Are you coming to class today?* Another message follows almost immediately. *Don’t disappear on me.* My fingers hover for a second then I turn the screen off.

*******

The city is loud and bright, but it feels distant. I walk beside my dad into the building, keeping my expression neutral while people move around us like it’s any normal day.

Inside, everything is quiet and polished. Then the door opens and Kelvin Clayton walks in calmly like that night never happened. My fingers curl slightly before I force them still.

“Kelvin, good to see you,” my dad says easily, stepping forward. “Joseph,” Kelvin replies and they shake hands then, his eyes lift and find me. Everything stills for a second, I force myself to move first.

“Mr. Clayton.” My voice is steady. It doesn’t sound like anything is wrong. He nods once. “Miss Nicholson.”

The door opens again and Austin walks in. Casual, confident like nothing has changed since the last time I saw him.

He comes straight to me as if we’re still the same as before. His hand drops to my waist. “You’re ignoring my calls.”

I remove his hand immediately. “We’re not doing this.” His jaw tightens slightly. He leans closer, lowering his voice so only I can hear. “You can’t just walk away like that.”

Something sharp rises in my chest, but I keep my face calm. “We’re done.” He studies me for a second, like he doesn’t believe it or trying to figure out how far I’m willing to go.

Across the room, Kelvin is watching everything. I can feel it without even looking directly.

His eyes track the space between us. The distance, the way I stepped back, the way I didn’t let Austin touch me. Nothing about him changes but he sees everything.

The meeting starts, documents spread across the table, numbers, contracts, voices steady and focused.

I stay where I need to be and move when I’m supposed to, pour coffee, hand over files while keeping my expression neutral.

Austin keeps trying to pull me into small conversations, standing too close and acting like nothing is broken.

I don’t respond more than necessary. Kelvin doesn’t interfere, he doesn’t say anything but I feel his attention the entire time.

At some point, I look up and our eyes meet again. This time it’s different, he doesn’t look away or soften it. He just holds it like he’s waiting. My breath catches slightly and I’m the one who looks away first.

The meeting slows, voices lower, chairs shift, papers move and then his voice. “Miss Nicholson……. I’d like a word with you later.” A pause. “About the investment.” I don’t look at him, I already know that’s not what he means and that’s exactly why my chest tightens again.