CH 108
Andrianne was about to leave her father’s study, feeling overwhelmed by emotions when something caught her attention. At the far end of the room, on top of a pile of books, was a piece of paper that seemed to have fallen off a desk. She walked towards it, her eyes fixated on the paper. As she got closer, she realized it was a note. Her heart skipped a beat, wondering what it could be. She picked up the note and looked at it closely, her hands trembling slightly. It was a handwritten note from her father.
The note was written on a piece of plain white paper, in her father’s elegant cursive handwriting. It was dated about two months ago, and it started with “My dear Andrianne”. As she read on, Andrianne’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Her father had written about how he regretted all the pain he had caused her over the years, and how he was sorry for forcing her into a marriage she didn’t want. He wrote about how he was happy to see that Lucas had been able to make her happy, and how proud he was of the person she had become.
Andrianne was taken aback by the note she had just discovered. It was as if the words on the paper had punched her in the gut. She couldn’t believe what she was reading. Her father had actually regretted his actions? He had forced her to marry Lucas, the same man she had grown to love deeply. She felt a mix of emotions, ranging from anger to sadness, and then to confusion.
She sat down on her father’s desk chair, holding the note tightly in her hand. Her mind was spinning with thoughts and questions. Why did he do this? Why did he force her to marry Lucas if he didn’t approve of the union? And why did he wait until now to tell her how he truly felt?
As she read the note over and over again, tears streamed down her face. She felt like her entire life had been a lie, that she had been living in a world that was completely different from what she had thought. She felt betrayed by her father, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
Andrianne took a deep breath, wiping the tears from her eyes. She knew that she had to move on from this, that there was nothing she could do to change the past. She stood up from the chair and walked over to the window, staring out at the view. It was as if she was seeing the world for the first time, like everything had a different meaning.
After a few minutes of deep thinking, Andrianne decided to leave the study and head back to the main living room. As she walked down the long hallway, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was changing, that everything she had known before was now different.
When she reached the living room, she saw that Lucas was already there. He looked up when she entered, and their eyes met. She saw the concern in his gaze, and she knew that he was worried about her.
“Andrianne, are you okay?” he asked, standing up from the couch.
She nodded, unable to find the words to speak. Lucas walked over to her and took her hand, pulling her close. She leaned into him, feeling his warmth surrounding her.
“It’s okay,” he whispered, his voice soft and comforting. “Whatever it is, we’ll face it together.”
Andrianne nodded again, feeling a sense of comfort in his words. She knew that he was right, that they were in this together. They would face whatever life threw at them, together.
As they stood there, holding each other, Andrianne felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that her life would never be the same, but she was ready to face the future, whatever it held. She had Lucas by her side, and that was all that mattered.
The day of the burial was dreary and overcast. The sky was a blanket of grey, and the air was damp and chilly. Andrianne stood at the gravesite, wearing a fitted black dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. She felt so alone in the world without her parents, but she knew that she had to be strong for herself and for her father’s company.
As the minister gave his final prayers, Andrianne couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. She wished that she had made amends with her father before his passing. Tears streamed down her face as the casket was lowered into the ground.
Jackie stood beside her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Andrianne,” she said softly. “If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.”
Andrianne turned to her friend, feeling grateful for her presence. “Thank you, Jackie,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
Jackie hugged her tightly, whispering words of comfort. “You’re not alone, Andrianne. You have me, and we’ll get through this together.”
As the mourners started to disperse, Andrianne remained by the graveside, lost in thought. She vowed to herself that she would grow her father’s company into something even greater, and that she would make him proud.
The rain began to fall, soaking through her dress and chilling her to the bone. But she didn’t move, she couldn’t move. All she could do was stand there, lost in her own thoughts.
Jackie placed an umbrella over her head, shielding her from the rain. “We should go, Andrianne,” she said gently. “You’ll catch a cold if you stay out here much longer.”
Andrianne nodded, finally tearing her gaze away from the gravesite. She followed Jackie back to the car, her mind still racing with memories and regrets.
As they drove back to Jackie’s house, Jackie talked to Andrianne about her plans for the future. “You know, Andrianne, you don’t have to do this alone,” she said. “I’ll help you with the company. We can make it something great, together.”
Andrianne looked at her friend, feeling a glimmer of hope. “Thank you, Jackie,” she said, smiling through her tears. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“We don’t need to find out,” Jackie pulled her by the hands as they made their way to the car.