Ezra Everhart
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Noah was practically fuming beside me, his face twisted with frustration as he paced back and forth in the room. Noah had just come from the tea room where Irina, as of late-had once again done something to stir the waters. This time, it was her ridiculous request to make Celine her personal maid. Noah hadn't taken it well, and neither had I, but for entirely different reasons.
I leaned against the wall, my arms crossed, listening to Noah rant about Irina. But honestly, I wasn't even paying full attention to him. It was hard to. My mind was elsewhere, somewhere quieter, where I didn't have to deal with the weight of this... marriage.
"I don't understand it, Ezra!" Noah finally stopped pacing and turned to our uncle-my uncle, Lord Alexander Everhart-who was sitting calmly across the room. "Why would you choose Irina to become Ezra's wife? Of all people, why her?" His voice was sharp, a mix of frustration and confusion.
I kept silent. It was a question I had asked myself a thousand times since the engagement had been forced on me. Irina Helgrave, of all people, was the one chosen to be my wife. But my silence wasn't new. I had long learned that asking questions didn't always get you the answers you wanted.
Alexander, however, was as calm as ever. He looked at Noah, his expression unreadable, before he let out a long, tired sigh. "Ezra's father and Irina's father were close. Best friends, in fact," he began, his voice measured, like he had practiced this explanation a hundred times before. "They signed an agreement to ensure their children would marry one day, to continue the bond of friendship between the families."
Noah clenched his fists. "Friendship?" he spat. "You expect us to believe this is just about friendship?"
I could feel the tension between them rising, but I kept quiet, waiting for more. This wasn't just about friendship, and Noah knew it.
Alexander's eyes flicked over to me, but I said nothing. He sighed again, deeper this time. "It's not just friendship," he admitted, his voice lowering slightly. "It's about the business as well. The one they shared."
That caught my attention. I straightened slightly, narrowing my eyes at him. Business? My father had never once mentioned any kind of business with Irina's family, and he certainly didn't talk about it before he died. "What business?" I asked, my voice cool and direct. "My father never spoke of this."
Alexander shook his head. "He wouldn't have," he replied. "It was a dangerous business, one that your father kept hidden from you."
Noah shot me a glance, his brow furrowed in confusion. Dangerous? This was news to both of us. "Dangerous how?" Noah demanded, stepping closer to Alexander. "What kind of business would require forcing Ezra into a marriage with her?"
But Alexander simply shook his head again, this time with a look that warned us both not to push further. "I cannot tell you more than that," he said firmly. "All you need to know is that this arrangement is meant to protect Ezra."
I could feel the frustration bubbling beneath my skin. Protect me? From what? This entire situation didn't make any sense. But Alexander was shutting us out, refusing to answer the questions that weighed heavily in both my mind and Noah's.
Noah wasn't backing down, though. "Protect him from what?" he asked, his voice rising. "From Irina? If anything, she's the one causing problems. You've seen how she is. How can marrying her possibly keep Ezra safe?"
Alexander's gaze darkened slightly. "Irina's reputation is not lost on me," he admitted, his tone growing serious. "But sometimes, you have to make difficult choices to ensure the safety of your family. This marriage... it's one of those choices."
I could hear the weight in his voice, but it didn't make me feel any better. In fact, it made me feel worse. This was all about some business arrangement I didn't understand, and apparently, it was more important than my own life and happiness.
Noah shook his head in disbelief, his voice thick with frustration. "I wish Irina could stop being so... annoying," he muttered, his anger deflating a little, but the tension still heavy in the room.
Alexander's lips thinned into a grim line, and for the first time, he looked truly weary. "I know what she's like," he said quietly. "But there's more to this than either of you know. More than I can tell you. All I can say is that marrying her was necessary. To keep you both safe."
Safe? I felt a chill run down my spine. I had more questions now than ever, but none of them would be answered. Not tonight. Alexander wasn't going to budge.
Noah and I exchanged a glance-frustration mirrored between us-but neither of us said another word.