**Chapter 12: Meeting fate. **
The morning light filtered through Irina's curtains, casting a soft glow that seemed to match the tumultuous emotions swirling within her. Her room, once a sanctuary, now felt like a space fraught with uncertainty.
A gentle knock on the door disrupted her thoughts, and before she could respond, her older brother, Alex, entered. His expression was one of concern, his eyes searching hers. "Irina, are you okay?"
The sight of her brother's genuine worry was all it took to break down the walls she had built around her emotions. Tears welled in Irina's eyes, and with a shaky breath, she let them fall.
Alex closed the door behind him and walked over, enveloping her in a warm hug. "Hey, it's okay. You can talk to me."
Irina's voice wavered as she tried to explain the maelstrom of emotions that had consumed her. "I'm just... so frustrated, Alex. Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Alex's embrace tightened, his voice a mixture of regret and empathy. "I know, Irina. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I didn't think it was my place."
As her tears subsided, Irina looked up at her brother, her gaze a mix of vulnerability and determination. "I'm actually happy, you know. I've wanted to leave this house for so long. But I'm worried about Corian... about how he actually is."
Alex's reassurance was steady, his voice a comforting presence. "Irina, I've met him a few times. He's a good guy, respectful and kind. You don't need to worry too much."
Her brother's words were like a balm to her soul, a glimmer of hope in the midst of uncertainty. Irina wiped her tears away, her heart a bit lighter than before. "Thank you, Alex."
He gave her a reassuring smile and patted her shoulder gently. "Anytime, little sis."
As he turned to leave, Irina's voice was soft but earnest. "Alex?"
He paused in the doorway, looking back at her with warmth in his eyes. "Yeah?"
"Promise me you'll be there for me through this."
Alex's smile held a mixture of sibling protectiveness and affection. "Of course, Irina. Always."
And with that promise lingering in the air, Alex left her room, leaving Irina with a newfound sense of strength. The bonds of siblinghood were a refuge she could always count on, a reminder that even in the face of uncertainty, she wasn't alone.
---
Monday arrived, draped in anticipation and anxiety, as Irina prepared to meet Corian for the first time. She chose a stunning red gown that hugged her figure elegantly, her hair swept into a sophisticated bun. Her jewelry shimmered in the light, and she completed her look with red high-heeled shoes, a perfect match for her attire.
As she stood before the mirror, she was a vision of both beauty and nervousness, her heart racing with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Her reflection stared back at her, a reflection of the journey she was about to embark on.
Downstairs, her family was assembled in the living room, dressed in their finest attire, a united front for the momentous occasion. The room was filled with a tension that mirrored the emotions swirling within Irina's heart.
A knock at the door signaled the arrival of Corian's family, and a bodyguard walked in to announce their presence. Her father granted permission for them to enter, and the family rose to their feet as Corian's family stepped into the room.
Irina's heart raced as she scanned the men in black suits, her eyes searching for Corian among them. And then, amidst the sea of faces, her gaze locked onto his, a mixture of shock and recognition washing over her.
In the midst of her finely dressed suitor, Corian stood, the memory of their encounter at the coffee shop rushing back to both of them. Their eyes met, a silent realization passing between them, as if fate had orchestrated this unexpected reunion.
"Y-you!?" Irina and Corian exclaimed simultaneously, the word hanging in the air like a shared secret.
The tension in the room seemed to intensify, the weight of their previous encounter mingling with the present moment. The unexpected twist of events had thrown them into a whirlwind of emotions, a dance of fate that neither of them could have predicted.
As they stood there, faces etched with surprise, their paths converging in a way they could never have foreseen, Irina couldn't help but wonder what destiny had in store for them next.