Anxiety hung thick in the air of the mansion's parlor, wrapping around Lena like a heavy fog. She paced the marble floor, her silk robe whispering against her legs with each restless step. Her phone felt like a lifeline in her grip, but the screen remained stubbornly dark. Julian was late.
After her husband's passing, the will had laid out a clear path: Julian was the heir. But there was a catch, he had to be married by a specific date. Time was slipping through her fingers like sand, and with each passing moment, her heart raced faster.
Lena's rival, the co-wife she loathed with every fiber of her being, was lurking in the shadows. This woman had been secretly consulting lawyers, plotting to challenge the will and secure her own son's claim. If Julian missed the deadline, everything they had built, their comfort, their power, their legacy would vanish, leaving it all to someone who had always coveted what Lena held dear.
"Where is he?" Lena murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she stopped by a window overlooking the garden. The vibrant blooms outside felt like a cruel contrast to the turmoil inside her. Julian, born out of wedlock, had always been a point no of contention. Even though her husband had accepted him later in life, that fact remained a vulnerability. The rival could exploit it at any moment. Julian needed to marry, and he needed to do it quickly.
***
In the study, Julian felt like he was on stage, the spotlight glaring down on him. He sat tall in a leather chair, watching as a woman with a sharp bob and an even sharper gaze moved around Alicia, who stood nervously in the center of the room. Ms. Evangeline, the trainer, commanded attention with an air of authority.
"Shoulders back. Chin up. CEOs don't slouch. They own the space," she instructed, her voice firm. Alicia straightened, discomfort creeping in as the designer dress clung tightly to her frame. She was a sales rep, not a CEO, and the role felt foreign.
"Let's practice conversation," Ms. Evangeline said, her eyes narrowing as she turned to Julian. "Julian, you're Alicia's mother. Ask her about the quarterly report."
Julian's cold stare fixed on Alicia, and she felt the weight of his gaze. "Alicia, how's your company's expansion into the Asian market? The numbers looked promising, but I want details."
Alicia's mind went blank, panic rising in her chest. "It's… going well," she stammered, her voice shaky. "We're… exploring new opportunities."
"That's not good enough," Julian said flatly, his tone leaving no room for error. "My mother will see right through that. You're a CEO. You need to know your business. Discuss market trends, competitors, strategic goals."
Ms. Evangeline intervened, sensing the tension. "We've created a backstory. Your company is a small tech startup that Julian invested in. Focus on key points: 'leveraging AI for customer experience' and 'entering the market with a disruptive product.'"
They practiced over and over, Alicia memorizing details about a company she didn't own. The trainer taught her how to hold a teacup, make small talk about art, and walk with confidence, each lesson feeling like a step deeper into a role she never asked to play.
"Remember," Julian said, locking eyes with her after Ms. Evangeline left, his expression serious. "The lie must be perfect. My mother wants a refined lady. I told her you're a CEO to speed things up. If she doubts it, we both lose."
Alicia nodded, feeling the pressure mount.
***
The waiting room of the hospital felt heavy with tension. Plastic chairs were arranged inmmm. Alicia sat there, her heart racing, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Her mother was in surgery, and the weight of uncertainty pressed down on her chest. She had already spent the first payment, and Julian's advance was gone. Relief and fear waged a silent battle within her.
Next to her, Sarah was absorbed in her phone, scrolling through social media with a distracted focus. Alicia's voice broke the silence, shaky and uncertain. "I don't know if I can do this."
Sarah glanced up, concern etched on her face. "What do you mean?"
"The marriage," Alicia admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Julian is… so distant. I had a coach today, teaching me how to act like someone else. But I can't lie. His mother will see right through me. What if I mess up?"
Sarah's eyes locked onto Alicia's, a mix of empathy and urgency in her gaze. "Are you thinking about backing out?"
Alicia fell silent, the weight of the question hanging heavily between them. She could feel the gravity of her situation pressing down on her. "You can't do that, Alicia," Sarah said quietly but firmly. "You've already paid the hospital. The $20,000 is gone. What's your plan? Tell Julian you can't go through with it and give him back his money? You can't."
Alicia's heart sank as the reality of her predicament hit her like a cold wave. She had been so focused on her mother's health that the deal with Julian had felt like a secondary concern. Now, it loomed over her like a trap, tightening its grip. "I didn't think about that," she confessed, her voice barely audible, laced with regret.
"That's the thing," Sarah said softly, her tone steady. "There's no turning back. You made a choice for your family. You've already done the tough part. You just need to finish."
Alicia turned her gaze toward the doors of the operating room, her heart pounding in her chest. The choice was no longer hers to make.