---
Ximena entered her father's study, feeling a heaviness in the air. It was a grand room, filled with shelves of books, a computer on the desk, and large windows that let in the natural light. Her father, Mr. Jones, sat at his desk, his glasses perched on the bridge of his nose as he read a thick book.
She quietly closed the door behind her, drawing his attention. He looked up, closed his book, and smiled warmly. "Ximena," he greeted, taking her hands as she sat down.
"Dad," she began, her voice tinged with frustration. "Are we going to pretend everything's fine? My wedding is days away, and I don't know how to feel with everything that's happening." Her heart raced as she spoke, feeling the weight of the diary she had recently found.
Mr. Jones sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Ximena, I don't know what you want me to say," he said, his tone calm but distant.
She looked him directly in the eye. "I found the diary."
The moment she said those words, his expression shifted. He stood, crossing his arms defensively. "What you found doesn't change what's happening now," he said, but the tension in his voice betrayed his unease.
Frustrated, Ximena stood up abruptly. "I can't believe you're still hiding things from me," she snapped. She stormed out of the study, slamming the door behind her.
As she made her way through the house, Aunt Maggie hurried after her, calling her name. But Ximena didn't stop, her steps echoing down the hallway. When Aunt Maggie finally caught up, Mr. Jones was there to stop her. "Let her go," he said softly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "She'll come around."
"But I'm worried about her. Maybe it's time you told her the truth," Aunt Maggie said, her voice filled with concern.
Ximena continued toward her room, her phone clenched tightly in her hand. She could feel her emotions spiraling out of control. When she entered, Rex and Willow were sitting together, their conversation abruptly stopping as she walked in. Willow's eyes met Ximena's with an intensity that made the air between them thick with tension. Willow smirked and left without a word.
Ximena turned to Rex, her brows furrowed in confusion. "What was that about? I've never seen Willow mad at you before."
Rex looked away, his shoulders slumping. "It's nothing," he muttered, heading upstairs without another word.
Later, Ximena sat on Rex's bed, trying to distract herself by scrolling through her phone. When Rex came out of the bathroom, his hair still damp from the shower, Ximena put her phone aside and approached him. "I spoke to the wedding planner," she said. "Everything is on track, but something feels off. What's going on, Rex?"
He sighed deeply and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry," he whispered, resting his chin on her head.
"Rex, you don't have to keep apologizing," she said softly, sensing the weight on his shoulders.
"I just don't want you to worry. You deserve better than this mess," he replied, his voice low.
Ximena pulled back to look into his eyes. "If something's wrong, you need to tell me. This wedding can't go ahead if we're not on the same page."
Rex hesitated before answering, his expression darkening. "There are things you don't know yet, Ximena. Things that might change everything."
Her heart raced at his words. "Then tell me. Let me in, Rex."
He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes clouded with emotion. "I promise that when you find out, I'll explain everything. But you need to trust me, no matter what."
Ximena held his face in her hands. "Rex, I love you, but I can't keep feeling like I'm in the dark. If this is going to work, we need to be honest with each other."
Rex looked away, his silence heavy with the weight of unspoken words. Before he could respond, her phone buzzed, breaking the tension. She glanced at the screen.
"Hello?" she answered. "Theo McDonalds? It's been a while."
Theo's familiar voice came through the line. "I heard about the wedding. Surprised I didn't get an invitation."
Ximena sighed. "It wasn't intentional. I'll send you one right away."
After ending the call, she turned to Rex. "I forgot to invite one of the major shareholders, Theo. Should I still send it?"
Rex shrugged, his expression unreadable. "Do what you think is best. But don't dwell on past mistakes, Ximena. We have to face what's ahead."
Ximena nodded, though the unease lingered in her heart. Wedding preparations were in full swing, but there was an underlying tension she couldn't shake.
Later that evening, Valerie entered the room with boxes of shoes, jewelry, and clothes. "These belonged to Mom," she said, setting them down.
Ximena sat down on the edge of the bed, her thoughts still swirling. "Val, there's so much I need to tell you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Before Valerie could respond, there was a knock at the door. A servant entered, carrying a small white box tied with red ribbons. "This was delivered for you, ma'am. A dispatch rider dropped it off earlier."
Ximena took the box, her heart pounding. As she placed it on the bed, her phone buzzed with another voicemail from Theo. "Ximena, I hope this helps you find clarity. Stay safe. – Theo."
"What was that about?" Valerie asked, eyeing the box suspiciously.
"I'm not sure," Ximena replied. "Should I open it?"
"Better wait until after the honeymoon," Valerie suggested, but Ximena could see the concern on her face.
Across town, in a large hall, Harriette stood before a group of students. "Chop chop, everyone!" she snapped. "We have limited time to accomplish great things. Amethyst needs us, and our families depend on our success."
The students nodded in agreement, their resolve clear. Harriette's voice echoed through the room as she inspired them with her usual fierce determination.
Back in her room, Ximena paced restlessly. Valerie and Aunt Maggie had tried to calm her down earlier, but her thoughts were a tangled mess. She was torn between her love for Rex and the uncertainty clouding her heart.
Later that evening, Mr. Jones entered her room, dressed in a sleek black tuxedo. "I should have prepared you for all of this better," he said, his voice full of regret.
Ximena looked at him, her eyes softening. "There's still time, Dad. We can make things right."
He handed her an old diary, the leather cover worn and faded. "This is your guide, Ximena. It's more than just a book. It holds the answers you've been searching for."
She took the diary from him, running her fingers over the cover. "What's the story behind this, Dad?"
Mr. Jones sighed deeply before speaking. "Lavender was pregnant with Valerie when you arrived in our lives. I remember the day vividly. A strange figure appeared, leaving a basket at our doorstep. Inside was you, Ximena. You were unlike any child we'd ever seen, and the diamonds in your tiny hands… they were the beginning of the Jones legacy."
Ximena's heart raced as she listened, feeling a deeper connection to the mysterious past that had always eluded her. "Thank you for telling me, Dad," she said, hugging him tightly.
The day of the wedding arrived, and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement. As Ximena walked down the aisle with her father, the crowd watched in awe. Her diamond-studded gown shimmered in the light, her steps slow and deliberate.
At the altar, Rex stood waiting, his expression serious. As the priest recited the vows, Ximena's mind wandered, her thoughts distant.
"I hereby pronounce you husband and wife," the priest said, his voice echoing in the grand hall. Rex reached for Ximena, but something inside her snapped. She felt strange but strong.
She pulled away, her heart pounding. "I can't do this," she whispered, her voice shaking.
Rex looked at her, confused. "Ximena, what are you talking about? We're married."
"I'm sorry, Rex. But I can't go through with this," she said, stepping back. "There's too much I don't understand. I need to find myself before we can be together."
Without another word, Ximena turned and ran out of the church, her gown trailing behind her like a ghost of the life she was leaving behind.