CHAPTER 22
Rachel sat in stunned silence for half an hour after her mother delivered the news of the contract marriage. Her mind raced with a mix of emotions, shock and displeasure at the thought of being tied to a man she didn’t even know. She couldn’t believe that her mother would use her father’s wishes as an excuse to push through with something that felt so outdated and absurd.
“Mom, this is the 21st century, people don’t have these kinds of marriage agreements anymore,” Rachel exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration.
Her mother tried to calm her down, “I know it’s difficult for you to understand, but your father had this arranged before the accident. It’s his wish and I just want to fulfill it.”
Rachel shook her head, “You’re using his wish as a cover up for your own plans for me. I don’t even know what this man looks like, how am I supposed to marry him?”
Her mother’s expression softened, “I understand your concerns, but I assure you that this is for the best. Let me show you his picture.”
She got up from her seat and went to retrieve a picture from a nearby drawer. Handing it over to Rachel, she said “You have an appointment with him next week, you can use that time to get to know each other.”
Rachel took the picture and stared at it for a while, the details of the man’s handsome face jogging memories as she felt like they had met before. She couldn’t shake off the feeling of familiarity as she looked at his face.
She turned to her mother, her expression a mix of confusion and skepticism “I feel like I’ve seen him before, have we met before?”
Her mother shook her head, “No, you haven’t met before. But you’ll have the opportunity to get to know each other and make your own decision.”
Rachel sighed, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events. She knew that she had a lot to think about and she needed time to process everything. She bid her mother goodnight and was left alone with her thoughts and the picture of the man she was supposed to marry.
The man in the picture had chiseled features and a strong jawline, his dark brown hair was styled in a short, messy cut that gave him a rugged, handsome look. He had piercing blue eyes that seemed to sparkle with intelligence and a hint of amusement.
His full lips were curved into a small smile that suggested a confident and easygoing nature. He was tall and athletic, with broad shoulders and a powerful build that exuded strength and masculinity. His outfit in the picture was a dark suit that fitted him perfectly, highlighting his strong physique and impeccable taste in fashion.
His features were similar to that of someone she had met lately, someone she was struggling to remember, but with a more refined and polished look. Overall, he gave off the impression of a successful and sophisticated man who was used to getting what he wanted.
As Rachel looked at the picture of the man she was supposed to marry, her anger and frustration boiled over. She felt trapped, like her life was being dictated to her by her mother and the wishes of a father she had lost. Without thinking, she flung the picture across the room, watching as it hit the wall with a satisfying thud.
“I can’t believe you would do this to me, Mom,” Rachel exclaimed, her voice filled with anger.
Her mother tried to reach out to her, “Rachel, please calm down. I know this is difficult for you but-”
“Difficult? This is ridiculous!” Rachel interjected, cutting her mother off. “I can’t believe you would expect me to just marry a man I’ve never met before, just because it’s what Dad wanted. What about what I want, what about my future, what about my happiness?”
“Rachel, I understand you’re upset,” her mother said, her voice calm but firm. “But please, let’s talk about this calmly.”
But Rachel was beyond listening, she was furious. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” she exclaimed, grabbing her bag and storming out of the room.
Her mother called out to her, trying to stop her from leaving, but Rachel was beyond listening. She needed to get away, to clear her head and figure out what she was going to do about this arranged marriage that was being forced upon her.
As she walked out of the house, she felt a sense of finality, like her life was about to change forever and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it.
Rachel was so angry and upset that she didn’t even bother to change out of the scanty wear she was wearing while working in her room. She was wearing a small tank top that showed off her toned arms and a pair of shorts that revealed her long legs.
As she stormed out of the house, she felt a chill in the air and grabbed a sweatshirt to cover herself. The sweatshirt was large and oversized, making her feel even more insignificant than she already did. She put it on quickly, pulling it over her head and letting it fall over her shoulders.
As she walked out into the night, she felt a lump in her throat. She had never felt so alone and uncertain about her future. She didn’t know what to do or where to go. All she knew was that she needed to get away from her mother and the pressure of the arranged marriage. The streets were deserted and the silence was only broken by the sound of her own footsteps. She walked aimlessly, not paying attention to where she was going, just trying to clear her head and make sense of her feelings.
As she walked, the tears began to well up in her eyes. She felt like her life was spiraling out of control and she didn’t know how to make it stop. She could feel the weight of the arranged marriage bearing down on her and the thought of being tied to a stranger for the rest of her life was overwhelming. She tried to hold back the tears, but they began to spill over, rolling down her cheeks as she cried.
Back at home, Rachel’s mother sat alone in the living room, feeling devastated for bringing up the topic of the arranged marriage again. She knew that it was a sensitive subject for Rachel. She wished she could take back the words and make things right for her daughter but just like Rachel, there was nothing she could do.