A hint of unease runs down my spine as I walk into my parents' house. Mom was vague on the phone, and the way she spoke to me made me uncomfortable. She was too sweet, too soft-spoken. I'm not sure what it is she wants, but I'm sure it won't bode well for me.
My suspicions are confirmed when I find my parents in the sitting room, Grandma Anne seated opposite them, their expressions tense.
"Raven," my mother says. She exhales in relief as I walk toward her and pats the seat next to her. I'm hesitant as I sit down, unable to read the room. What exactly is going on here? Wedding drama, perhaps? Did I mess something up with the preparations?
Grandma Anne smiles at me reassuringly, but I can't calm my racing heart. It's as though every instinct is telling me that something is wrong, and it has everything to do with me.
"Hannah and Ares ended their engagement," Grandma Anne says. "She wants to focus on her career for a bit longer, and as such, she has chosen to end their relationship."
I blink in disbelief. She… what? I clear my throat and turn to look at my parents, but their grave expressions tell me this isn't a joke.
"I… are we… are we rescheduling the wedding?" I ask, confused. Hannah has postponed the wedding three times so far, so this doesn't exactly surprise me, but it's definitely really late notice. Most things, including the venue, I won't be able to cancel without penalty.
Grandma Anne shakes her head. "We won't cancel the wedding. This marriage is long overdue, and it was always meant to be an arranged marriage." She looks at my parents pointedly. "We've let these youngsters run wild, and now we're paying the price. It's best to get things back on track as soon as we can."
Mom and Dad turn to me, their expressions grim. "You have to marry Ares," Mom says.
A nervous laugh escapes my lips, and Dad clenches his jaw. They can't be serious, can he?
"Mom," I murmur. "Is this some kind of joke? Hannah and Ares have postponed their marriage several times. This isn't something new. We'll handle it."
Grandma Anne smiles at me and shakes her head. "This is not a joke, sweetheart. I will no longer accept Hannah into our family. If this merger is to proceed, the bride must be you."
I run a hand through my hair, confused. "Have you spoken to Hannah and Ares? I'm not sure what's going on, Grandma Anne, but this must be some kind of misunderstanding. How about I speak to Hannah?"
She shakes her head. "Even if she were to change her mind, I'm no longer willing to welcome her into our family. The woman I wanted Ares to marry has always been you, and perhaps this is just life's way of allowing me to correct my mistake before it was too late. The wedding will go ahead, and the bride must be you."
I glance at my parents, but neither of them can face me. This… this can't be real. "Does Ares know?"
Grandma Anne nods. "He's been informed. The Windsor's have a history of successful arranged marriages, and he's well aware of that. He knows what is expected of him."
I frown, my stomach churning. What exactly is going on? Hannah never even told me she'd ended things with Ares again, and now I'm being informed that I'm marrying him in her stead. This is ridiculous, and there's no way either Hannah or Ares would accept this.
I rise from my seat and walk toward the door, my thoughts reeling. I need some time to think, to speak to Hannah and Ares. I'm sure it's a mere misunderstanding that's resulted in Grandma's radical decision-making.
"Raven." Grandma's voice stops me in my tracks just as I wrap my hand around the doorknob. "Your efforts will be futile. Should you wish for this merger to proceed, you'll have to do your part. You will have to marry Ares."
I glance back at her, noting the determination in her eyes. I nod politely before I walk out, her words resounding in my mind. Grandma is the sweetest woman I know, but once she's made up her mind, there's no changing it. She rules the Windsor family with an iron fist.
I'm absentminded as I walk through the house, unsure of what to even think. "Sweetheart!"
I turn at the sound of my father's voice and find him walking toward me, an apologetic expression on his face. "I'm sorry to overwhelm you with this so suddenly. The Windsor's only just informed us of this change. I wish I could've broken the news to you differently."
I nod as he falls into step with me. "This… Dad, you do realize that this is ridiculous, right? Ares and Hannah love each other."
Dad shakes his head. "I'm not sure that's enough anymore. Now that they've decided that they'll no longer accept her as Ares's wife, love can't save them. She made her choice, Rave."
I pause in the hallway and turn toward him. "She made her choice, but I'm the one who has to pay the price."
Dad inhales deeply, a hint of reluctance in his gaze. "I'm sorry, Raven. They won't change their minds. This deal always entailed a marriage between Ares and you. The only reason they made an exception is because Hannah fell in love with him. She lifted the burden you were meant to carry, but it was always yours."
My heart twists painfully, and I shake my head. "If I was always meant to marry him, she should've stayed away from him. You can't expect me to marry my sister's ex, Dad. You can't do this to me. Do you understand how messed up this is? You can't condemn me to a marriage with someone who is in love with my sister."
Dad inhales shakily and looks to the side. "I'm sorry, Raven, but you have no choice. Throughout the years, we've relied a lot on the Windsor's. If this merger were to fall through, it'd mean bankruptcy for us. If you want to keep your company and the investment funds I promised you, you'll marry him."
My eyes widen as disillusionment washes over me. "Are you threatening me?"
Dad sighs. "I'm not, Raven. I'm just telling you the truth. If you do not marry Ares, we'll lose everything. Everything the Windsor's have done for us… it would take me several lifetimes to repay that.
Think through this carefully, sweetheart. He would treat you well, and the Windsor's love you. It's a small price to pay for everything we've been given, everything we stand to gain from this merger.
Don't forget, you marrying Ares means the company will fall into your hands, not Hannah's. I will ensure it. You'll inherit my shares, even if your mother gives hers to Hannah."
I frown at him in disbelief.
He can't be serious, can he? He can't truly think that this seems even remotely appealing to me. I grit my teeth and walk away, my heels clicking loudly on the marble floor.
I need to find Hannah. I don't know what she's thinking, but I refuse to take responsibility for her mess. I might love Ares, but I have no intention of accepting her sloppy seconds.