The soft glow of the morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a warm hue over the lavish bedroom. The quiet of the apartment was almost surreal, the silence a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions Lena had been trying to suppress. She hadn't slept much the night before, her mind replaying the conversation with her mother over and over again. The thought of an arranged marriage—something she had never agreed to, something that felt like a foreign weight on her shoulders—lingered like a shadow in her thoughts.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and Lena groggily reached for it. It was a message from Skye: "You good? I'm here for you today, whatever you need."
Lena quickly typed back: "Thanks. Just not ready for this breakfast with the parents thing. But I'll get through it."
After a few minutes, she forced herself to get out of bed. The world outside her window seemed oblivious to the chaos swirling in her chest. She moved through her morning routine, the motions automatic as she dressed in a tailored, simple outfit—something elegant but understated, a subtle nod to the conversation she would be having soon. There was no escaping it.
The staff had already prepared breakfast in the dining room. When Lena entered, the same opulence greeted her: the polished marble table, the gleaming silverware, the large windows with their view of the city. Her parents were already sitting, the tension between them palpable. Her father was reading over some papers, while her mother sipped her coffee with an air of composure. She had the same elegant, controlled demeanor that Lena had grown up with—the kind that was meant to inspire respect, but often felt more like a mask.
Her mother looked up when Lena entered, her sharp eyes assessing her daughter in that way she always did. There was a slight, almost imperceptible frown on her face, as though Lena had taken longer than expected. But she didn't comment on it.
"Good morning, Lena," her mother said, her tone polite but distant. "Sit down. We need to discuss the details."
Lena took her seat, avoiding the urge to roll her eyes. She knew better than to protest right now. The conversation would be inevitable.
Her father glanced up briefly, then returned to his papers. "We've already made the arrangements," he said, his voice low but firm. "You will meet with the family next week. We expect you to honor this decision."
Lena clenched her hands in her lap, the pressure building. "I don't have a say in this?" she asked quietly, trying to keep her voice steady.
Her mother's gaze hardened slightly. "It's for the best, Lena. This marriage will secure your future. Your father's business is growing, and we need strong alliances. You should be grateful. This is how things work."
Lena's heart tightened. The cold, calculated way her mother spoke, as though Lena were nothing more than a pawn in their game of power, made her feel small. But she wasn't going to give in so easily. She had always been more than just a piece in her parent's plans, even if they didn't see it that way.
"I'm not a business deal," she said, her voice rising just slightly. "I don't want my life decided for me like this. I don't want to just go through the motions because you think it's 'for the best.'"
Her father finally looked up from his papers, his gaze stern. "You're being childish, Lena. You don't understand the stakes here. Your mother and I have worked hard to build this empire, and it's time for you to step into the role you were born into. No more rebellion. It's time to grow up."
The words stung more than Lena cared to admit. She knew what her father meant—he wanted her to be the perfect heir, the obedient daughter who would do whatever was needed to secure the family's future. But she wasn't that person anymore, and she couldn't pretend to be.
"I'm not asking you to rebel, but I am asking for a choice," she said, her voice trembling with restrained emotion. "I can't just walk into this marriage without knowing who I'm marrying, without any say in it. This isn't a transaction. It's my life."
Her mother's lips tightened into a thin line, the mask of control slipping slightly. "You'll meet with them next week," she said, voice cold and dismissive. "The details will be arranged then. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
Lena stared at her mother, her heart pounding. This was happening. There was no turning back.
"I'll go," Lena said, her voice quiet but resolute. "But I need time. I need to know more about this. I can't just be handed a life like it's nothing."
Her father gave a small nod, seemingly satisfied with the conclusion. "We'll send the details to you soon. You'll meet the family next week, and we expect you to carry out your duties with grace."
Lena's pulse raced, but she kept her expression neutral. "Fine," she said, standing up from the table. "I'll be there."
With that, she turned and walked out of the room, her heart heavy with the weight of what had just been decided for her.
Outside the dining room, she leaned against the wall for a moment, trying to steady herself. This wasn't how she had imagined her life would go. Her parents had made the decision without her, and now she was expected to just accept it.
But one thing was clear—Lena wasn't done fighting for herself. Whatever this marriage was, whoever it was with, she would find a way to take control.
She wasn't going to let her parents—or anyone—decide her future without her input.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. The next chapter of her life was unfolding whether she was ready or not. But she would face it on her own terms.
And for the first time in a long while, Lena felt a spark of defiance burn within her. She wasn't going down without a fight.
Lena stood in the hallway, her mind spinning as she tried to collect herself. She could feel the tension in her chest, that ever-present pressure threatening to explode. The sound of her parents' voices, so calm and detached, echoed in her ears, and she realized they would never understand how this felt. To them, it was just another business arrangement. But to her, it was a matter of identity, of agency.
She knew that she couldn't just sit back and let this unfold the way they wanted it to. Not without understanding the full picture. But what could she do now? They'd already made their move, and the date for the meeting was set.
The sound of footsteps behind her brought her back to the present. She turned quickly to see Skye, her best friend, walking toward her with a concerned expression. Skye's ever-present smile had faded into something more empathetic, as if she already sensed the storm brewing inside Lena.
"You okay?" Skye asked, voice soft but filled with concern.
Lena exhaled slowly, wiping her hand over her face in frustration. "No. No, I'm not okay. My parents—" She stopped herself, realizing she was on the verge of shouting. Instead, she lowered her voice. "They've arranged a marriage for me. In three months."
Skye blinked, stunned for a moment. "What? But you never even agreed to that!"
"I didn't even know it was happening!" Lena replied, her voice rising again, her anger now seeping through the cracks. "They've decided everything. I'm supposed to meet this… this person next week. I don't even know who it is!"
Skye's eyes widened. "That's insane. You need to fight this, Lena. You can't just let them dictate your life like that."
"I don't know how," Lena admitted, her shoulders slumping as the weight of it all sank in. "I'm just… stuck. They've already made their decision. I have no say in this."
Skye walked over to Lena, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're not stuck. Not at all. You've always been the one to make your own decisions. They can't take that from you."
Lena looked up at her best friend, the words resonating in her chest like a spark of hope. "But what if I don't have any other choice? What if it's too late?"
"Then we figure it out. Together," Skye said firmly, her voice full of conviction. "You don't have to do this alone, Lena. You never have to do anything alone."
Lena felt a small tear slip down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away. It wasn't time for weakness. Not yet. She had to figure out what came next.
"Thanks, Skye. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Skye squeezed her hand, offering a reassuring smile. "You're not going through this alone. I'm right here, every step of the way."
Lena took a deep breath, forcing herself to pull it together. She couldn't let herself fall apart, not now. There was too much at stake. Her mind began to work through her options, but the options were few. She couldn't just walk into the meeting next week without any preparation, without knowing what kind of future she was being handed.
"Alright," Lena said, her tone more resolute now. "I'll go through with the meeting. I have to. But I'm going to do it on my terms. I'll find out what this marriage is really about and what I can do to take control."
Skye raised an eyebrow. "And how are we doing that?"
Lena's lips curved into a small, determined smile. "I'll start with research. I'll find out who they want to marry me off to, why, and—"
A sudden knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and before she could respond, the door opened to reveal Ethan, standing in the doorway with a slight frown on his face. He'd obviously been looking for her.
"Lena, are you okay?" His voice was laced with concern, his usual confident demeanor replaced with something softer. His eyes searched hers, trying to gauge her mood.
Lena hesitated for a moment, then gave him a tight-lipped smile. "I'm fine. Just... dealing with family stuff."
Ethan's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "I'm sorry. If you need anything, anything at all, don't hesitate to ask."
She appreciated the gesture more than she could say, but she wasn't sure what help he could offer, not when everything felt so out of her control.
"Thanks, Ethan," she said, her voice softening. "I'll figure it out."
Ethan seemed to accept her answer, nodding. "Alright. But remember, you don't have to carry this burden alone. You've got people who care about you. Don't forget that."
As Ethan left, Lena stood there for a moment, her thoughts swirling. He was right, of course. She didn't have to do everything by herself. She had Skye, she had him—and maybe, just maybe, she could find a way out of this mess.
For now, she needed to focus on the task ahead. She needed to prepare for whatever was coming next. But first, she had to find out who was behind this marriage arrangement and what kind of game they were playing.
As she walked away from the hallway, Lena could feel a renewed sense of purpose. She wasn't going to let her parents make decisions for her. Not again.
It was time to take control.
Lena walked toward the window, her gaze falling on the city below, her mind racing with possibilities. She couldn't just let this arrangement slide by. Her future was her own, and she wasn't going to let anyone dictate it for her, not even her parents. There had to be a way to turn this around, to uncover the truth behind this decision, and to reclaim the life she had built for herself.
She glanced at Skye, who was watching her with an expression full of quiet encouragement. "I'm going to figure this out," Lena said, her voice steady now. "I'll get answers, and I'll take control of this situation. No matter what."
Skye nodded, her support unwavering. "You've got this, Lena. And I'm with you every step of the way."
Lena nodded back, her resolve solidifying. There was no going back now. The fight had only just begun.