"After everything I've done for her. Why is she doing this to me?" Adrian walked into his study, slamming himself into his chair.
"Adrain, calm down. This marriage can still work out." Barb says firmly, placing a hand on his arm. "We can replace Raven with Ananya. She's capable. The Silvers won't care as long as—"
"Enough!" Adrian barks, cutting her off. "We both know that's not happening. Ananya isn't my blood. She doesn't even bare my name." His voice echoes through the room. Barb flinches but doesn't say another word.
The study door suddenly opens again. Raven stands in the doorway, with Ananya and Annie behind her, their faces tense. Adrian's face hardens at the sight of Raven.
Adrian rose to his feets at the sight of Raven.His voice was low, but sharp. "Do you have any idea what you just did?"
"I do." Raven's gaze met her father's. Her voice was steady, but her heart raced inside. "I'm not getting married, Dad. That's what I've been trying to tell you."
For a moment, Adrian stared at her, silent, before he finally said. "Fine."
Raven blinked, surprised by his sudden compliance. She hadn't expected him to give in so easily. But before she could respond, he added coldly, "You must be glad to know your sister will be replacing you."
"I'll be taking Raven's place?" Ananya asked, excitement in her voice.
"No," Adrian replied, turning his back on both of them. "Annie will."
"What?" Annie gasps, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Father, you can't—" She steps forward, pleading. "You can't do that. I have a whole life ahead of me."
Adrian's expression remained cold and determined. "If you girls think I'm going to forfeit this marriage, you must be out of your senses. This marriage will hold whether you like it or not. You'll marry into the Silvers in her place." He moved away from the desk preparing to leave his study.
"Raven, are you happy now?" Annie faced her sister. Her voice seething.
Raven shakes her head as if she was still processing everything. "No, how can you say that? I never wanted this for you."
Annie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. This was probably your plan all along— dump the marriage on me."
Those words cut deep, more than Raven could have expected. She felt a pang in her chest. "Annie, no—" Raven's voice faltered as she looked between her sister and her father, who remained stone-faced.
Her sister's gaze felt like a slap, knocking her back a couple of steps. The thought that Annie believed she would willingly hand over this misery—it broke something inside her. Annie wasn't just her sister; she was her confidante, her best friend, the one person Raven had always tried to protect. If she'd known their father would force this on Annie, she never would've tried to end the marriage. She would've found another way.
Raven walked over to her father, standing in front of him, her voice trembling but firm. "Dad, I'll marry Michael, okay? Just don't do this to Annie. Please. She doesn't deserve this." Her fingers fumbled as she spoke.
Adrian's face didn't soften. "It's too late for that, Raven. You should have thought about this before trying to walk away." His words came out sharp. He walked past her, going towards the door.
"Dad!" Raven cried out, her voice breaking as she fell to her knees in front of him. "Please! I can fix this. I'll talk to the Silvers; I'll make them accept me again. Just don't take this out on Annie. I'm begging you."
Annie's breath caught in her throat as she watched Raven on the ground, pleading. "Raven…" she whispered, her anger slowly melting into shock.
Adrian turned, his eyes widening just slightly at Raven's desperation. For a moment, he seemed taken aback. He bent down and pulled Raven to her feet. "You're just like your mother," he muttered under his breath. He looked at her hard. "Fine. But if you fail to convince the Silvers, Annie will take your place. Understand that." His firm grip on her arm let her go and walked out of the room
Raven stood there, watching the door her father just walked out of as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Now, she was left with no choice than to enter a marriage she had tried to run out of.
"You are really a piece of work, you know that right?" Barb said standing in front of Raven. "Good luck." She added, her voice dripping with sarcasm before turning on her heel and walking out.
Ananya didn't say a word, as she just looked at Raven before following her mom behind.
"Raven." Annie's voice was soft as she got Raven's attention. "I— I didn't mean what I said. I'm sorry." Annie looked at her feets as she couldn't bring herself to look at her sister.
Raven wiped at her eyes quickly. "No, I'm sorry. I should have known dad would try to bring you into this. I won't let him, okay?"
Annie could only nod her head as she couldn't bring herself to say anything.
Raven went back into the lounge. Michael was back in the room, and Laura and Matthew were now on their feets.
"Before you leave, listen to Raven please." Adrian's voice came out, his tone almost pleading now.
"What more does she have to say? We can't go on with this marriage. It's so unfortunate, you know what this marriage meant to us, Adrian." Laura replied, picking her coat from the chair.
Annie just nodded, her eyes filled with unspoken words, but the lump in her throat kept her silent.
Raven took a deep breath and made her way back into the lounge. Michael was back, his body resting by the entrance, his face unreadable. Laura and Matthew were standing now, coats in hand, clearly preparing to leave.
Before they could, Adrian's voice came from behind her. "Please, before you go, hear her out," he said, his tone almost pleading now.
Laura stopped, her hand pausing mid-air as she reached for her coat. She turned slowly, her eyes filled with disappointment. "What more is there to say, Adrian? We cannot go on with this marriage. You know how much this meant to us. To our families."
Raven swallowed hard, her heart hammering in her chest. She stepped forward, her voice trembling but resolute. "Please, just listen. I know everything is a mess right now and you might think this marriage isn't valid anymore, but your son is the only man I've been with. In all context, he took my virginity, and you can't cancel this marriage based on that."
Laura shakes her head slightly. "Oh sweetheart, it doesn't matter if he took your virginity, what matters is it was before the wedding. That has been the tradition for years, what do you think the public will say when this gets out?"
Michael, who had been silent the whole time stepped forward, his voice sharp and precise. "What if it doesn't?"
Laura turned to look at her son. Her eyebrows slowly raised, "What does that mean?"
Micheal shrugged casually, as he pretended to pick an invisible lint on his sleeve. "We keep it from the public. They don't have to know."
The Silvers exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable. There was a heavy silence between them, one that kept Raven uneasy. Laura looked at Matthew, then at Michael, before pulling them aside. They gathered together, speaking in low voices that the other occupants in the room couldn't make out.
After what seemed like forever, they turned back to face her. Laura's expression was stern. "There's only one way we can move forward with this marriage," she said slowly. "You will have to sign a non-disclosure agreement. No word of this scandal leaves this room. If you're willing to sign it, we'll consider going ahead with the marriage. But this is your last chance."
Raven exhaled shakily, knowing full well what this meant. She would be trapped, bound by silence, but she didn't care anymore. All that mattered was saving her sister from this fate.
"I'll sign it," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'll do whatever it takes." Raven's eyes flickered to Michael, his jaw tight, his gaze fixed on her. Something in his stare made her shudder, but she couldn't back down now.
"Good." Micheal said, sliding his hands into his pockets. "I'll get my lawyer to contact you. Everyone in this room will be included in the NDA."
Adrian's shoulders relaxed slightly as he turned towards Laura. "Oh, thank you Laura."
"Don't mention it. We need this marriage as much as you do. We'll take our leave now. I'll send over the details for the wedding arrangements." Laura replied, slipping into her coat.
Adrian nodded his head firmly. "Sure thing. Let me escort you outside."
As Micheal, Matthew and Laura proceeded to leave the room, Raven's voice came out stopping them in their tracks.
"Excuse me. Can I speak to Michael, alone?"
Everyone turned towards Raven. Michael's brow furrowed, a shadow crossing his face as he exchanged a look with his parents. There was a silent question in his eyes, one that seemed to ask why now?