AMARA P.O.V
I wasn't planning on coming home this evening,at 25 years old I've spent years carefully building a life away from my father's suffocating rules,but when he sent for me to come home i knew i didn't have a choice the message that was sent for me was curt, commanding and impossible to ignore--i knew i didn't have a choice.
I hated coming back here,it always give out a suffocating feeling.The house smells the same- roasted chicken, expensive wine, faint perfume my mother always wore but it doesn't feel like home not in a slightest bit
"Amara" my mother soft voice cut through my thought as i step into the dining room,she looked up from the table,tired but smiling as if she is grateful i actually came when summoned.
"Hi mom",i murmured leaning down to kiss her cheek before slipping into my seat.
"He'll be here soon",she whispered and something in her eyes made my eyes tighten.HE.My father
Dinner began quietly enough,the clink of silver ware against china filling the silence.my mother tries to keep up small talks asking about my job and how I've been coping,the front door opens and heavy footsteps echoes down the hall,the entire atmosphere shifted.
My father walked in,suit crisp, expression unreadable,he sat at the head of the table without so much as a glance in my direction
"Good evening" my mother offer,he only gave a curt nod and reach for the wine,i keep my head down forcing food past the knot in my throat until his voice shatter the silence "Amara" i froze
"yes?" He looks at me, his eyes and sharp and cold "you're 25 years now it's time you do something worthwhile for this family". Every nerve in my body went rigid,i already hated where this was going" I've arranged your marriage with Alexander voss" he says flatly
The fork slip from my hand and clattered against the plate,my chest squeez so tight it was hard to breathe,the words slammed into me,sharp and heavy as if he had just sentenced me instead of speaking to me,i should have know him inviting me here wouldn't end well "you can't be serious" i whispered ,his gaze was steel"This family has sacrificed too much for you to waste your life playing independent, you'll marry him and that's an order"
"No".The word slipped out before i could stop it i push back from the table,heat burning through my veins," i won't do it, I'm not your pawn,i won't marry a stranger just because you want control over me!" I let out a bitter laugh "Do you even know who you're asking me to marry?" My voice shook not with fear,but fury." Alexander voss, ruthless,cold as steel . A man who devours companies and spits out their carcasses like they're nothing,the kind of man whose name alone makes people lower their voices and you want me to be his wife?"i lean forward,my hands trembling" Tell me father,what do you gain from all this?is this about me,or your empire?"
His eyes narrow, unyielding." He is stability,he is power, exactly what you need".
I shot up from the table" No! I will not marry him. Never"
For the first time this night,his lips curl into something between disgust and dismissal "Then you will have notm one to call your own,no family,from this day on you are dead to me".The words cut deeper than a knife, leaving me hollor and breathless.
Mother didn't say a word,her fork trembling in her hand, clinking softly against the plate as she kept her gaze lowered. Not a protest.Not even a whisper.Just silence.Fear.She wouldn't dare defy him--she never did and in that silence,i realized I'm truly alone at the table.
I stumbled to my feet,heart hammering,rage and despair colliding in my throat,"Then bury me now "i chocked out, slamming my napkin onto the table," Because i will never marry him".
The scrape of my chair echoed like a scream as i storm out,the taste of betrayal bitter on my tongue,my mother's voice calling after me as the door slammed behind me