When I arrived at the office, a mountain of work was already waiting for me. Since Mia rarely showed up to handle her share of the responsibilities, most of the heavy lifting fell on my shoulders. I spent the next few hours meticulously arranging documents, attending a couple of critical meetings, and checking in on our latest party planning project. Thankfully, our employees were working diligently, reviewing every minor detail with absolute precision.
"Is everything ready?" I asked, walking over to the main coordinator. "Everything needs to be flawless tonight."
"Yes, Miss Lily. Everything is completely set," one of my employees replied confidently.
I wasn't surprised that Mia wasn't there, but I was fairly certain she was currently pre-gaming for a much more exciting party somewhere else.
While I genuinely loved the creative process of planning events, I absolutely detested actually being in crowded spaces. It drained my energy almost instantly. In that regard, Mia and I were polar opposites. I preferred the quiet safety of my home and focusing on work, while she lived for the nightlife and constant entertainment.
Once I confirmed that the event preparations were running smoothly, I finally cleared my desk to head home. I needed to get to bed early because tomorrow was going to be an incredibly hectic day. We had a massive wedding event to coordinate. Given how late Mia would probably stay out tonight, I already knew she would be too exhausted to offer me any real help.
By the time I pulled up to the massive iron gates of my family's estate, the sky had completely darkened. The security guard recognized my car, immediately opening the gates so I could drive into the courtyard.
"Good evening, Miss Lily," the guard said, tipping his hat as I rolled down my window.
"Good evening. How was your day?" I asked with a tired but warm smile.
"It was a good day, thank you. Did everything go well at the university?"
"Yes, thank you. Exams are starting soon, and once they're over, I'll finally be free."
The guard smiled kindly. "I am certain everything will go well and you will graduate with flying colors."
"Thank you. Have a good night," I said, parking the car.
As I approached the grand front doors of the mansion, one of our housemaids opened it before I could even reach for the handle.
"Good evening, Miss Lily," she whispered, her eyes darting nervously toward the grand hallway. "Everyone is home. They are waiting for you."
I paused, a cold spike of anxiety hitting my chest. "Good evening. Did something happen?"
Something was definitely wrong. My family never waited for me. Usually, my existence in this house was entirely ignored.
"I don't know the details, miss," the maid replied in a hushed tone. "But they are currently in the living room with some very important guests."
"Guests?" I muttered.
A heavy, sinking feeling formed in my gut. Trusting my instincts, I bypassed the coat rack and walked straight toward the double doors of the living room. Taking a deep breath, I pushed them open and stepped inside, instantly recognizing the faces staring back at me.
"Hello," I said, keeping my voice even. "I was told you were waiting for me."
My father, Daniel, stood up from his armchair, a tight, uncharacteristic smile plastered on his face. "Ah, Lily. You've returned at a perfect time. We were just about to call you. You remember Henry, don't you?"
"Yes. He's your business partner," I replied, nodding politely to the older man sitting on the sofa.
"Henry and his son, Killian, have graced us with a visit tonight," Daniel announced.
Before I could even glance at the young man sitting beside Henry, my mother, Victoria, abruptly stood up. Her face was pale, and her eyes held a frantic, desperate look I had never seen before.
"We will leave the guests for a brief moment and return shortly," Victoria said, her voice strained. She looked directly at me and signaled with a sharp tilt of her head. "Lily, follow me."
The moment we stepped out into the hallway, my father and my two brothers silently fell in line behind us. My mind raced, entirely unable to comprehend the bizarre, suffocating atmosphere. They didn't stop until they dragged me all the way into my bedroom, which sat in the furthest, most isolated wing of the mansion.
The moment the door clicked shut, Victoria turned on me. "Lily, listen to me very carefully right now, and do not dare to interrupt. Our family is facing an enormous crisis, and you are the only one who can save us."
I stared at her, completely taken aback. "You need my help?"
In my entire life, my mother had never asked me for anything, let alone help. She looked utterly terrified, her hands trembling slightly. I glanced at my father and brothers; their rigid postures and dark expressions mirrored her anxiety.
"Killian is here tonight to ask for your hand in marriage," Victoria blurted out, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "And you must agree to it. It's merely a formality at this point because we have already signed the agreement on our end. He is only asking for your consent out of basic courtesy."
My heart stopped. "What? Are you insane? Is this a joke?"
"We wouldn't have come to you begging for a favor if that guy didn't explicitly demand to marry you," my older brother, Evan, sneered, his voice dripping with his usual bitter irony.
"Exactly," my younger brother, Leon, chimed in, crossing his arms. "Do you think we're happy standing here, having to rely on you to pull us out of a ditch?"
I looked at them, a cold, numbing realization washing over me. I wasn't even shocked by my brothers' disgusting attitude anymore. Their cruelty had long since become a routine part of my daily existence.
"Do you even realize what you're doing?" I whispered, looking between my parents. "You're trying to sell me."
Evan scoffed, rolling his eyes. "So what? At least this way, your useless existence can finally be of some help to this family."
"I agree with Evan," Leon mumbled, looking bored.
A wave of icy calm washed over my panic. Of course. If I agreed to this ridiculous arrangement, I could use it to my advantage. This was my ticket out. I could finally cut ties and escape this miserable, toxic family forever. I would be completely free. But if I agreed too quickly, they would suspect I was planning something. I needed to play the part of the rebellious daughter first.
"I refuse," I said firmly, locking eyes with my father. "I am not marrying some stranger I met two minutes ago."
"What?!" Evan barked, stepping forward. "How can you be so selfish?"
"Enough!" Daniel slammed his hand against my vanity table, his voice booming. "We are not going to argue about this, Lily. It has already been decided. Tomorrow is your wedding. You will accept it because you have absolutely no other choice."
I kept my expression perfectly guarded, hiding the sudden rush of adrenaline. "Then why did you even bother asking for my opinion if everything was already decided behind my back?"
"Because if we hadn't warned you beforehand, you would have thrown a scene and refused him right in front of his father," Evan hissed. "We won't let you ruin this deal, no matter what."
I tilted my head, looking at them coldly. "And how can you be so sure that I won't just say 'no' at the altar tomorrow?"
Leon let out a dry laugh. "We'll make sure of that. Do you think we're stupid enough to leave that to chance?"
Yes, you are stupid, I thought to myself. But keeping that thought buried was vital to my escape. Tomorrow, I would get my freedom.
I let out a long, defeated sigh, letting my shoulders slump. "Fine. It seems I really don't have a choice."
Relief instantly washed over their tense faces. They looked sickeningly pleased with themselves.
"You made the right choice, Lily," Daniel said, his voice instantly smoothing over into his fake, aristocratic tone.
"Let's go back down," Victoria urged, smoothing out her dress. "Our guests are waiting."
They practically rushed out of the room, eager to deliver the news. I followed them back downstairs, my mind working a mile a minute. I just needed to play along for now, and I would find a way to explain the truth to Killian later.
As we re-entered the living room, Victoria flashed a radiant smile. "We've spoken with Lily and explained the situation. She happily agrees to the marriage."
"Excellent!" Henry beamed, clapping his hands together. "We have been business partners for years, Daniel, and now we are finally becoming family. I couldn't be happier. Killian, son, don't forget the ring."
From the sofa, Killian stood up. He was undeniably striking, with sharp features and an unreadable, intense gaze that seemed to pierce right through me. He pulled a small, velvet ring box from his pocket. They really had orchestrated every single detail beforehand. Without a word, he stepped up to me, took my hand, and slid the heavy diamond ring onto my finger. His touch was cold, sending a strange shiver down my spine.
"We must celebrate this joyous occasion!" Daniel declared proudly. "The dining table should be fully set by now."
My family hadn't looked this genuinely happy in years. As we moved toward the dining room, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I slipped it out just enough to see the screen it was a message from Joel. I couldn't read it now, but I promised myself I'd reply the second these people left.
Unfortunately, the dinner dragged on, and I didn't get a single chance to speak with Killian privately. I desperately needed to pull him aside and explain my side of the story before we walked down the aisle. It was the most critical thing on my agenda, but tomorrow was already the wedding, and my window of opportunity was shrinking rapidly. I couldn't comprehend why they were forcing such an insane, rushed timeline, but my family's financial desperation had to be severe.
Before I knew it, the night concluded, and Killian left so quickly with his father that I couldn't catch him.
"We will see you tomorrow at the wedding, Lily," Henry said warmly as they stood by the door. "Don't stress about a thing, we've already taken care of all the arrangements."
"Thank you for everything, Henry," Daniel replied, shaking his hand firmly. "We will discuss the remaining business details after the ceremony."
Watching them leave, the puzzle pieces finally clicked into place. My father's company had been bleeding money for months, and considering the lavish, unsustainable lifestyle my family insisted on maintaining, it was obvious they were completely broke. This entire marriage was a financial lifeline from Henry. What I couldn't figure out, however, was what Henry stood to gain from this. What did Killian get out of marrying a girl from a bankrupt family?
"Go to your room and get some sleep," Victoria commanded the moment the door closed. "You have to wake up early tomorrow."
"And don't even think about changing your mind," Evan added, a mocking smirk plastered on his face as I turned toward the stairs. "You won't be able to do a damn thing anyway. Accept it, Lily this is your destiny."
I didn't waste my breath responding. I marched straight to my bedroom, lacking both the energy and the desire to deal with their malice.
Once safely locked inside my room, I immediately yanked out my phone. The message was indeed from Joel.
Can you come out to the beach to meet me right now? I need to tell you something important.
I frowned, typing back rapidly: If it's an absolute emergency, I'll come. If not, can it please wait until another time?
What could he possibly have to say that was so urgent he couldn't just say it over a phone call or a text? My curiosity was piqued, overridden by a strange sense of foreboding.
His reply came a second later: It's an emergency. I have to tell you tonight. Please.
I stared at the screen. Fine. Since he was insisting it was that urgent, I had to go. I crept to my door and opened it quietly, peering into the dark hallway. The house was dead silent. Slipping past the rooms, I made my way outside into the cool night air. I couldn't risk taking my own car because the engine would undoubtedly wake my parents, so I quickly pulled up an app and ordered a taxi to the estate gates.
As I walked down the driveway, I ran into the night security guard. I told him quietly that I had to step out for an urgent matter, knowing he was loyal enough not to run to my parents with the information.
"Please be careful, Miss Lily," he murmured, looking concerned.
"Don't worry, I'll be back before anyone notices," I reassured him with a small nod.
The taxi pulled up right outside the gates a minute later. Slipping into the backseat, I told the driver to head toward the beach, completely unaware of the revelation that was waiting for me in the dark.