I couldn't stand still. My grandfather's voice echoed around the study like a hammer, each word striking me with more force than the last. He was pacing back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back, his face twisted in frustration.
"Why the hasty engagement, Caleb?" he snapped, not even bothering to look at me as he continued his pacing. "Is she pregnant? Is that what this is?"
I clenched my fists, trying to keep my temper in check. "No, Grandfather. She's not pregnant."
He stopped pacing and turned to face me, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Then why? Why the sudden rush? You've barely known this woman, and now you're telling me you want to marry her? What's the hurry?"
I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I just… I just want to marry her now. I'm at a marriageable age. I want to settle down."
"Settle down?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "You? Settle down? Don't make me laugh, Caleb. You've spent your entire life avoiding commitment, and now suddenly you're in a rush to get married? To an actress, no less?"
I bit back the sharp retort that was on the tip of my tongue. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but I didn't expect him to be this hostile. "I love her," I said, my voice firm. "That's why I want to marry her."
My grandfather raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Love," he muttered, almost to himself. "You expect me to believe that?"
I clenched my jaw. "It's the truth."
He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. Then, slowly, he shook his head. "You're hiding something," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You kept her a secret from me. From all of us. Why?"
I hesitated. I knew I had to tread carefully here. My grandfather wasn't a man you could lie to easily. "Because I knew you wouldn't approve," I admitted. "I knew you'd try to stop me."
"Damn right, I would've," he snapped. "And I still might."
I took a step forward, meeting his gaze head-on. "It's too late for that. We're days away from the wedding. Everyone knows we're getting married. I've already invited my closest friends. This is happening, whether you approve or not."
His eyes flashed with anger. "You think you can just go ahead with this without my blessing? You think you can marry some actress and not face consequences?"
"Grandpa, didn't you always say you wanted me to settle down?" I shot back. "Isn't that what you've been hounding me about for years? To find someone, get married, and start a family? Well, here I am, doing exactly that. So why the hell are you so angry now?"
He didn't answer right away. He just stared at me, his expression hard, unforgiving. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he let out a long sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. "You're making a mistake, Caleb," he said quietly. "A big one."
I didn't respond. There was nothing I could say that would change his mind. He wasn't going to approve of Megan, no matter what I did. But that didn't matter. She was the "wife" that I chose.
After a few more minutes of lecturing, he finally waved his hand, dismissing me. "Fine. Go. Do what you want. But don't say I didn't warn you."
I didn't waste any time. The moment he gave me permission to leave, I turned on my heel and left the study, my heart pounding in my chest.
I needed to find Megan. God only knew what my cousins were doing to her right now.
I made my way through the house, scanning the rooms for any sign of her. When I reached the living room, I found my cousins lounging on the couches, looking far too pleased with themselves.
"Where's Megan?" I demanded, my voice sharp.
Marcus gave me a lazy smirk, shrugging. "She left."
My heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean, she left?"
"She ran off," Marcus said, his smirk widening. "Guess she couldn't handle the heat."
Without another word, I turned and bolted for the door. I didn't have time for their bullshit. I needed to find her. I needed to make sure she was okay.
I found her in the garden, sitting on a stone bench, her face buried in her hands. My heart clenched at the sight of her.
Fuck. She was crying.
I rushed over to her, kneeling in front of her. "Megan," I said softly, reaching out to take her hands. "Hey, it's okay. I'm here."
She looked up at me, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "I… I couldn't take it," she whispered, her voice trembling. "They were horrible, Caleb. They tore me apart."
My chest tightened with guilt. I should've been there. I should've protected her from them. "I'm so sorry," I whispered, pulling her into my arms. "I'm so, so sorry."
We sat there for a long time, her head resting on my shoulder, the cool night air surrounding us. I held her close, my heart aching with every tear she shed.
I hated seeing her like this. I hated that I'd put her through this.
Suddenly, she spoke, her voice soft and distant. "Once upon a time," she began, "a young girl dreamed of becoming one of the shining stars in the sky…"
She trailed off, raising her hand to the sky, as if reaching for something just out of reach.
I turned to her, my heart aching. "What did she do?" I asked quietly.
Megan didn't answer right away. She just stared at the stars, her eyes filled with a sadness I didn't fully understand.
"She fell," she whispered.
And I didn't know how to catch her.