The house looked exactly the way Dare remembered.
Too big.
Too quiet.
Too perfect.
His father was waiting in his office when he arrived.
His mother stood near the window, her hands clasped tightly together.
"You embarrassed us," his father said immediately.
Dare stayed standing.
"No. I embarrassed your plans."
His father's face darkened.
"You will marry that girl."
"No."
The word filled the room.
For a second, nobody spoke.
Then his father stood up slowly.
"You do not get to say no."
"I do."
Dare looked at him steadily.
"I have spent my whole life doing everything you wanted. I came to the school you chose. I studied what you wanted. I acted like the son you wanted."
His voice shook slightly.
"But I am tired."
"You are being selfish."
"No," Dare said quietly. "For the first time in my life, I am being honest."
His father stared at him.
"She is not good enough for you."
"You do not even know her."
"I know where she comes from."
Dare's jaw tightened.
"You mean she is not rich."
"She is not one of us."
Before Dare could answer, his mother finally spoke.
"Enough."
Both of them turned.
She looked at Dare's father for a long moment.
Then she said quietly:
"Let him choose."
The room went silent.
His father frowned.
"You cannot be serious."
"I am."
She looked away briefly.
"When I married you, it was because our families wanted it."
For the first time, there was something sad in her voice.
"And do you know what the loneliest thing in the world is?"
Nobody answered.
"It is waking up beside somebody every day and knowing they were never your choice."
Dare stared at his mother.
She looked at him and smiled sadly.
"I do not want that for him."
His father was quiet for a long time.
Then finally, he sat down.
"Fine," he said coldly.
Dare's breath caught.
"But if this girl is worth destroying all our plans for…"
He looked up.
"Bring her home."
And suddenly, that felt even more terrifying.