After the taxi dropped her off at the villa, she ran straight to her room without greeting any of the maids she passed. The house was quiet; Richard and Vanessa were not home. Tiffany had gone to her college and Noah was in school. Only the maids moved about quietly.
After she shut the door she sat on the cold floor of her room, tears spilling freely down her face. No matter how hard she tried to heal, it felt like she was breaking even more. Every loud sound, every sudden movement dragged her back to that moment, to her mother falling, to the sound that still echoed in her head.
She knew she was becoming unstable. A forced marriage loomed over her, closing in fast, suffocating her. But what choice did she have? Her mother's reputation was being used as a weapon. The wedding gown would be chosen on Friday. The wedding itself was happening this weekend.
It was already too late to escape.
*******
Throughout the week, Aria stopped attending her classes. She barely stepped outside her room, barely spoke to anyone. The urge to go anywhere disappeared completely. She just wanted to be alone, hidden, unseen.
By Friday, Vanessa took Tiffany and Aria to a bridal boutique.
Tiffany was the one who excitedly picked out the wedding gowns, parading them around as if it were her own wedding. Each gown she chose was plain, dull, almost lifeless. Vanessa sat cross-legged on a sofa nearby, watching silently, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Aria stepped out of the dressing room wearing a short fitted wedding gown. It was a long-sleeved lace dress, hugging her body perfectly yet it looked bland on her, as if it didn't belong to her at all.
"Mom, what about this one? It's perfect for sister, right?" Tiffany said cheerfully, examining the gown with satisfaction.
"Of course, darling," Vanessa replied smoothly before turning to Aria. "Do you like it?"
Aria, who had been staring at the floor, slowly lifted her head. Her lips trembled slightly.
"Y… yeah. I like it."
"Of course you should" Vanessa said, her smile deepening.
*******
The next day, the entire Dawson family went to the Sterling estate to discuss the wedding scheduled for the following day.
As their cars passed through the massive iron gates, Aria's breath caught in her throat.
The Sterling estate stretched endlessly before them, manicured lawns, towering fountains, marble pathways gleaming under the sun. The mansion itself stood like a fortress of wealth and power, grand and intimidating, its tall pillars and wide balconies radiating authority. It was the kind of place that made you feel small the moment you stepped inside its territory.
Only two cars drove into the compound. Richard and Vanessa's car led the way, while the second car carried Tiffany, Noah, and Aria. Aria sat quietly in the front passenger seat, her eyes glued to the scenery outside, overwhelmed.
In the backseat, Tiffany and Noah stared in awe.
"Wow… this place is amazing," Tiffany whispered excitedly. "It's like three times bigger than our house. I wish I lived here."
The moment they stepped out of the car, Butler Ian stood waiting with several maids lined neatly behind him.
"Welcome, the Dawsons," Butler Ian said respectfully as he bowed, the maids following suit.
After the greetings, Vanessa signaled to the two drivers carrying wrapped gifts. They stepped forward, handing them over to the maids, who accepted them and led the group inside.
In the grand living room, the Dawsons were greeted by Grandpa Sterling seated there with a cold aura