Laura instructed her driver early that morning, her voice steady but carrying an undertone of hidden tension.
"I will be going out today," she said plainly.
"Yes madam," the driver responded without hesitation.
She turned away from him and moved into the house. Inside, the silence of her room felt heavier than usual. She prepared herself deliberately, taking her bath slowly, almost ritualistically, as if washing away some invisible burden that clung to her skin. When she finished, she selected one of her best dresses. She did not even glance toward the dining table where her breakfast had been neatly arranged. Food was the last thing on her mind. Her hunger was not for bread or tea but for peace of mind, for a solution to her ongoing troubles. She had already decided to eat later at a café, not because she wanted to indulge but because she wanted to save time and avoid lingering in her house with thoughts that troubled her deeply.
Still restless about her situation, Laura had set her mind on traveling to a neighboring city. Her destination was the residence of Mr Harrison, one of her father's closest allies. In her heart she carried a fragile hope that Harrison might be able to influence her father's decision and ease the unbearable weight that had been placed on her shoulders.
As she packed a few things into a small travel bag, every movement felt mechanical. But behind that composure was a storm. Every step she took was painted with the image of Felix. His face, his words, his quiet strength. She remembered how he had confided in her, how he too was enduring the same expectations, the same parental pressures that sought to cage his freedom.
"I am not alone in this," she whispered to herself. "Even Felix has tested and he is still testing it. I have to be strong."
These words gave her a brief comfort, though not enough to still the unease in her chest. After arranging her bag neatly, she walked out and got into the car. Her driver, trained in discretion and silence, opened the door for her and then returned to his seat. With a smooth motion, the car zoomed off, carrying Laura on yet another journey that she hoped would give her answers.
Laura was no ordinary young woman. She was the daughter of a wealthy socialite whose name commanded respect across the city. As such, she was granted privileges that ordinary citizens could only dream of. That morning, her car moved with remarkable ease, gliding through traffic as if the city itself bowed to make way for her. The congestion that normally delayed others hardly slowed her down, as security personnel discreetly cleared the way.
It was not long before the grand gates of Mr Harrison's residence appeared before her. When the car stopped, Laura stepped out and was momentarily stunned. The compound looked like another heaven on earth, shimmering with opulence. The glittering golden walls reflected the sunlight, and the grand architectural designs looked as though they had been built not merely for living but to proclaim power. The structures stood tall and proud, announcing wealth at every angle.
For a moment, she gazed at the magnificence with admiration, but her heart quickly sobered. A piercing thought crept into her mind: What if all this glitter is just a cover? What if inside this golden home, his children have no peace just like me?
The thought unsettled her, leaving her troubled and distracted. So absorbed was she in this reflection that when the guards approached to attend to her, she did not notice them immediately. They had to tap her lightly on the shoulder to bring her back to reality. Embarrassed, she apologized frantically, her voice trembling slightly. But the guards, fully aware of who she was and her standing in society, brushed off the apology with polite smiles.
"Do not worry, madam," one of them said respectfully. They offered her a variety of refreshments while she waited, assuring her that Mr Harrison would join her shortly.
Laura declined the food and drinks with a faint shake of her head. Though everything looked inviting, her appetite was far from present. She was consumed by a matter that demanded urgent attention. Eating at such a time felt almost like a betrayal to her own struggle.
Moments later, the sound of footsteps echoed from the adjoining hallway. The sharp, deliberate rhythm grew closer until Mr Harrison appeared in the sitting room. Laura immediately gathered herself, straightening her posture and forcing a gentle smile onto her face as though all was well. She masked her troubled spirit beneath a veil of grace.
"Oh, Laura, you are here," Harrison said warmly, his tone filled with excitement as he stretched out his hands in welcome.
Laura rose to greet him, managing another polite smile. Yet her eyes betrayed her turmoil. She responded with short pleasantries, though her heart urged her to hurry. She could not endure small talk when the weight of her purpose pressed so heavily on her.
Finally, unable to restrain herself, Laura spoke out abruptly. She laid out her reasons for visiting, explaining her desperation and the need for Harrison to speak to her father on her behalf. Her words were quick, her tone firm, but Harrison's reaction was not what she hoped for.
He listened quietly, his expression unreadable, and when she finished, his response cut deeply. Harrison was of her father's opinion. He shared the same rigid perspective and had already discussed Laura's case with her father during a prior council deliberation. A decision had been reached, and it was final.
Laura's heart sank instantly. Her entire effort, her journey, her courage to ask for help—all of it collapsed in that single moment. Her chest tightened with the sharp sting of disappointment. She realized painfully that her father's will was stronger than any ally's compassion. Harrison's support had been nothing more than a faint hope, and now even that was gone.
Overwhelmed, she could no longer hide her feelings. She stood abruptly, her face shadowed with bitterness and hurt. She murmured a quick farewell, though her voice was heavy with unspoken pain, and walked straight out of the room. The guards tried to bid her a polite goodbye, but she did not pause to answer. Within seconds she was in her car, and her driver, sensing the depth of her disappointment, quietly drove her away.
As the car rolled through the streets, Laura's thoughts spiraled. She stared blankly out of the window, the buildings passing like blurred memories. Every attempt she had made to resist her father's decision seemed to be crushed. She felt like a bird trapped in a golden cage, adorned with beauty but denied freedom.
After some time, the car pulled over at a small café. Laura needed a moment to breathe, to collect herself, and perhaps to fill the emptiness in her stomach. She stepped out and walked in quietly, hoping to blend into the calm environment. But fate had other plans for her.
Inside the café, just beside her, stood Felix. He had entered only a few minutes earlier to purchase some beverages. The sight of him startled Laura at first, but quickly, joy replaced her surprise. Felix too seemed equally pleased.
"You did not drop a mail or even call," Laura said, her voice carrying a mix of reproach and delight.
"I was just about doing that," Felix replied almost instantly, his eyes lighting up at the chance to see her again.
They both sat down, their faces brightening with relief as though destiny itself had orchestrated their meeting. In that modest café, amidst the quiet hum of other customers, Laura and Felix opened their hearts once more. They spoke at length about their families' expectations, about the invisible chains that sought to bind their wills.
"I have just returned from Jude's close ally's place," Laura confessed, her tone heavy with weariness. "I went there to see if I could talk to him so he could convince my father, but only for me to realize it had already been a decision made at the round table. They all agreed on one thing, the same thing my father has been insisting upon. Everything I hoped for has been taken away."
Felix listened intently, his gaze locked on her with the same expression he had shown during their first meeting. His pity for her was not the shallow kind; it was mixed with empathy, with a deep understanding of her struggle. His eyes spoke what his words could not.
"How I wish I could help," Felix said softly, his voice heavy with sincerity.
Laura looked at him and saw in him the mirror of her own struggles. In his presence she did not feel alone. Her heart, though bruised by disappointment, found a flicker of warmth again.