CHAPTER 5: PRE-WEDDING JITTERS
Later that evening in the Pierce household, the whole family was gathered at dinner. The atmosphere was tense as everyone ate quietly. There was not a single chatter as usual—it was just quiet.
After dinner, once the maids had cleared the table, Mr. Raymond Pierce cleared his throat and spoke.
"Good evening, everyone. I'm here to inform you all that in two days, your sister Diana will be getting married."
Jason, Raymond Pierce's first son, was the first to react. "What the hell, Dad?"
"Is that why the atmosphere around the table is so gloomy today?" Phoebe, the lastborn, added.
"Hmm, good for her that she's getting married then," the second child, Rebekah, spoke next.
"Rebekah, for once, you should try having feelings like a human being," Jackson, the third child, chipped in.
The siblings quickly got into an argument. In the midst of the chaos, Diana remained mute, not saying a single word.
"Diana, are you not going to say anything about this?" Phoebe asked, reminding her sister that she was supposed to speak up.
Diana smiled at her sadly and still said nothing.
Raymond Pierce, having had enough of his children's bickering, slapped his hand on the table and commanded with a stern face, "Everyone, be quiet."
Immediately, silence fell over the table.
"I didn't bring this up so we could discuss it," he continued. "Diana is getting married, and that is final. I only said it so you will support your sister. So, you're either together with your mother, your sister, and me in this, or you're out of it. And anyone who doesn't support this will have to go find a place to live and get their own job."
"What?!" Jason exclaimed. "Dad, at least tell us why this is happening!"
Raymond looked at his son and frowned. "Jason, I don't owe you an explanation, and don't go asking your sister because she owes you no explanation either."
Jackson turned to Diana. "Dee, did you really agree to this?"
Diana nodded.
Rebekah rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Did the cat get your tongue, Diana, that you can't say actual words?"
"I am okay with this," Diana shouted back, her voice cracking. "Is that what you want to hear?"
The tears she had been trying to hold back all evening came rushing out again. She quickly wiped them away and stood up.
"Dad, please excuse me."
Everyone turned to stare at her, their faces filled with pity.
Katherine looked at her daughter, uncertain what to say. "Diana, baby—"
"Mom!" Diana cut her off sharply.
Katherine sighed and nodded, staying silent.
"Diana, you can go if that's what you want," Raymond said.
Diana pushed her chair back, the scraping sound loud in the tense atmosphere, and hurried off to her room.
Phoebe stood as well. "Dad, can I leave too?"
"No, Phoebe," her father said. "You will sit and hear the plan, then tell your sister later."
Raymond continued, "I don't want any of you asking your sister about this again. This conversation will not leave this table. I have already contacted the Higgins family."
"Hold on, Dad, for a moment. You mean the Higgins? Like Hillary Higgins?" Phoebe asked, her tone excited.
"Yes," her father replied.
Jackson frowned. "And who the hell is that?"
Everyone ignored his question as Rebekah asked, "So she's getting married to their son, James Alfred Higgins?"
"Yes," their father answered again.
"Oh my God!" Phoebe half-yelled.
Rebekah smirked. "Why are you so happy, anyway? No one's seen him for the past ten years, and you don't even know what he looks like now!"
Phoebe's excitement faded as she frowned, realizing her sister had a point.
"And how did you ladies get all this information?" Katherine asked.
"Duh, Mom. The internet, of course," Phoebe responded gloomily.
Raymond hushed them again and continued. "No matter how he is, the decision has already been made."
Jason opened his mouth to argue, but his father held up a hand, signaling that he was not to be interrupted again.
"As I was saying, I have already contacted the Higgins family. They've said it will be a small wedding with just family and a few friends, according to what their son wants. He doesn't want the media knowing about him getting married just yet."
"Why? Because our sister is such a disgrace?" Jackson muttered.
"Jackson!" Raymond Pierce roared, slamming his hands on the table. "One more word, and I will kick you off this table and out of this house!"
Jackson fell silent, fuming inside.
"I will send the venue of the wedding to the group chat," Raymond continued. "You don't have to do much—just appear at your sister's wedding."
With that, he stood up and, with his wife's help, walked toward their bedroom.
Jackson stood again and shouted after them, "So you're just going to give our sister away like that—your own daughter—like she means nothing?"
But his words fell on deaf ears.
Phoebe ran up to her sister's room, Jackson following close behind. They tried to open the door, but it was locked.
"Diana!" They both called at the same time, but there was no response.
Phoebe sighed, turning to her brother. "I guess she needs to be alone now, bro. Tomorrow morning, we'll talk to her before I go to school and you to work."
"Okay, let's do that then."
They both dispersed to their rooms.
Meanwhile…
Diana was done crying. She sat quietly in the silence of her room, staring at the card of the man who would soon be her husband. She recalled the events of the day, and now that she thought about it, he was also a victim in all of this. And the way she spoke to him… it was uncalled for.
She wasn't a rude person. Now she wondered what he thought of her.
And besides, marrying him wasn't such a bad idea after all. She had nothing to lose.
With that thought, Diana picked up her phone and dialed his number. He picked up on the second ring.
"Hello?"
Diana's heart pounded at the sound of his voice, but she steadied herself.
"Mr. Higgins, I have decided to get married to you even though I never had much choice about it in the first place. My mind is made up, and I'm also sorry for the way I talked to you earlier. It was really uncalled for."
James was in his study, flipping through documents when her call came. He answered absentmindedly, barely registering the caller—until he heard her voice.
She actually called me?
And then she apologized.
That took him by surprise.
He had already pegged her as someone who would fight this marriage to the last breath, yet here she was, agreeing to it.
His lips curled slightly, an amused exhale leaving him as he leaned back in his chair.
"A woman who knows how to apologize. Interesting."
He let the silence stretch for a few seconds, just to see if she would panic. And sure enough, she did.
"Hello, are you still there?"
"Apology accepted, Diana. And since I will be your husband, you should drop the Mr. Higgins and just call me James."
Diana swallowed, something warm curling in her chest at his words.
"Since there's nothing left for us to say, I will see you on our wedding day then, Diana. Your father will give you the details about the wedding. Have a good night's rest."
And with that, he ended the call.
Yet, even after setting his phone down, he found himself staring at the screen.
His fingers tapped lightly against the desk as thoughts of his soon-to-be wife lingered longer than they should.
This marriage might turn out to be more interesting than I expected.