The first thing that woke Jayden that morning was a stubborn ray of sunlight cutting through the curtains and landing directly on her face.
She groaned and pulled the covers over her head.
Why can't there be forty-eight hours in a day? she thought bitterly. Maybe then she'd have enough time to figure out how to escape this ridiculous marriage her father was forcing on her.
Enough sulking.
She sat up, exhaling slowly. She had already decided she would face this head-on. Running had worked before, but not this time.
Her father wouldn't back down.
And her mother? Neutral, as always.
That left only one person.
Hayden.
Her younger brother and her only reliable ally.
She grabbed her phone and dialed his number. He picked up almost immediately.
"Hello?"
Jayden blinked slightly. How did her twenty-three-year-old brother have a voice deep enough to make women pause?
"You'd better get here quickly," he said, skipping greetings. "Dad already knows I've been covering for you. He's expecting you to ditch him again today."
"I won't ditch," she replied, pushing off the bed. "I just woke up late. I'll be there soon. Just… stall him a little, my lovely brother. I love you."
She ended the call before he could respond.
Jayden shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
How difficult can it be to just be a beautiful, single woman in this century?
Who still believed in arranged marriages?
Only her father.
She sighed and walked toward her closet. Today wasn't just another day it was a confrontation.
She needed to look the part.
Her fingers skimmed through her clothes before stopping at a pair of black tailored slacks.
Yes.
Strong. Uncompromising.
She paired it with a crisp white shirt clean, sharp, controlled. Exactly how she needed to be.
As she dressed, her thoughts drifted back to Hayden. He had always come through for h creating excuses, covering her tracks, even "forgetting" messages when necessary.
Without him, she wouldn't have lasted this long.
A small smile crossed her face.
But even she knew
This wasn't something she could keep avoiding forever.
Still… she could delay it.
And she would.
After grabbing her handbag, she stepped out and headed for her car.
The drive felt shorter than usual.
Too short.
Before she could prepare herself properly, the familiar gates of the Cole residence came into view.
Her grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.
You've got this.
She parked, took a steady breath, and stepped out.
The front door opened almost immediately.
"Hey, kiddo!" her father called, smiling but there was something beneath it she didn't trust. "Glad you could make it. We have a lot to talk about."
Jayden forced a smile.
Of course they did.
She straightened her shoulders and walked toward him, every step steady, controlled.
But the moment she stepped inside
Her body stiffened at the atmosphere that welcomed her in the living room.