My father had finally gone through all the contracts and sealed the arrangements for what he called an "agreement of mutual benefit." An arranged marriage. My fate was now written in ink, stamped, and signed away to a stranger.
The thought of it sent chills down my spine. Fear clutched my chest, wrapping itself around my heart like an iron chain. Who was this man I was to marry? I knew nothing about him—his name, his age, his appearance, his personality. Everything about him was a mystery. And no matter how much I pried, my father refused to answer. Each time I asked, he would only give me a vague look before shrugging off my inquiries as though they were mere whispers carried away by the wind.
Then the bombshell dropped. The wedding was to take place this week.
"This week?" I had repeated, my voice barely above a whisper, as the news sank in. My mind reeled. Wasn't this too soon? Wasn't I supposed to have time to prepare myself, to at least brace for what was coming? But my father's word was final. There was no room for protest, no space for hesitation.
Eventually, I stopped fighting. What else could I do? There was no escape, no alternate path. This was my fate, and I had no choice but to accept it.
That night, overwhelmed by the weight of my thoughts, I locked myself inside my room. The silence was deafening. My mind raced with endless possibilities. What kind of life awaited me after this marriage? Would I be happy? Would he be kind? Would he love me? Or would I be nothing more than an accessory in his world?
Sleep must have claimed me at some point because when I opened my eyes again, the morning sun had already slipped past my curtains, painting my room in golden hues. I groggily sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes before deciding to head downstairs.
As I descended the grand staircase, hushed voices reached my ears. One was familiar—deep and authoritative. My father. The other… unfamiliar. Rich, steady, and composed.
My breath hitched. Could it be?
I hesitated at the last step, straining to listen.
"So, you are the man my daughter is to marry," my father said, his tone carrying a rare warmth.
A short pause, then the other voice responded, "Yes. Indeed, I am."
His voice was deep, yet smooth—a commanding presence wrapped in a sound that, to my horror, I found… attractive.
Snap out of it, Ruby! I shook my head, biting my lip. Now was not the time to get carried away by a mere voice. I hadn't even seen his face yet.
Still, curiosity burned inside me. I took a small step forward, peeking around the corner, but something held me back. A strange, unexplainable dread settled in my chest. A whisper in the back of my mind told me that once I laid eyes on this man, there would be no turning back.
What if I didn't like what I saw? Or worse… what if I did?