The kitchen feels like a universe away from the gleaming dining room, but the weight of the evening's events hangs on me like a second skin. Mrs. Mayfield's words repeat in my head, their quiet strength cutting through the silence.
Freedom always comes at a price.
How much am I willing to pay?
Mrs. Mayfield clears the teacups with precision, as if each motion is part of a big choreography. She does not talk again, and I am thankful for the break. My thoughts whirl, twisted and chaotic, as I struggle with the truths she's forced me to face.
As I prepare to depart, the faint sound of agitated voices echoes down the corridors. Evan's distinctive giggle rips through the tension, defying censure. I hesitate, my feet firmly planted on the icy tiles.
Mrs. Mayfield takes a break from her cleaning and looks at me, her expression strange. "The men are most likely hashing things out," she says calmly, but her tone has an edge. "It's best if we stay here for now."
But something within me protests. I can't sit here drinking tea and pretending everything is alright.
I ascend slowly, testing the waves. "Thank you for the tea," I say softly.
Her eyes tighten slightly, but she does not stop me. She merely adds, "Be careful, Sophia."
-
The hallway extends before me, each step raising the muted sounds from the room ahead. My heartbeat quickens. What am I even doing? I have no plan or script to follow—just an irresistible pull toward the turmoil I've been cautioned to avoid.
I come to a halt just outside the doorway, the voices clearly audible.
"...reckless as always, Evan," Carter's voice echoes with frustration. "This isn't a game."
"And yet here you are, playing along," Evan responds, his tone stern yet tinted with laughter. "What is the matter, Carter? Are you afraid I will spoil your lovely little arrangement?"
"This isn't about me." Carter's voice is quieter now, but the weight of it remains. "This is about her. About what is best for her."
"And you think you know what's best?" Evan chuckles in a short, harsh tone. "You don't even know her."
The room falls silent, and the tension is obvious even from where I stand.
My chest tightens, and before I can question myself, I go through the doorway. All eyes are on me—Evan, lounging carelessly against the wall; Carter, standing tense beside the desk; and my father, seated with an air of imperious serenity.
"Sophia," my father begins, his tone a mix of disbelief and mild displeasure.
The room seems to shrink as my father's gaze, weighted with power and expectancy, fixes on mine. His displeasure is evident in his tight posture and wrinkled pose. Carter straightens, a concerned expression on his face, while Evan's smirk softens into something more serious.
"Sophia," my father says again, his voice cutting through the silence like a razor. "Come here."
I take a step forward, every nerve in my body screaming at me to turn back and leave. But something keeps me in place—a resistance I didn't realize I had, a quiet resolve that says, "Don't bow your head this time."
"What were you doing in here earlier?" My father's tone is cool, calculated. "Do you have any idea the kind of damage this could cause to your reputation? To our family name?"
I glance at Evan, who meets my gaze with a slight shrug, as if to say, I told you this would happen. Carter, on the other hand, looks ready to intervene, his lips parting as though to speak.
Before he can, my father raises a hand, silencing him. "Enough of this foolishness," he declares, standing. The force of his presence fills the room. "It is clear to me that steps must be taken to preserve what remains of this situation."
He looks at me, his expression hard but not unkind, as though he's explaining something painfully obvious to a child. "You will marry one of the Mayfield boys."
The air seems to leave the room. I blink, unsure if I've heard him correctly. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," he replies. "Your actions tonight have already sparked questions. Questions that could jeopardize everything we've worked for. Marriage will maintain stability and prevent rumors from spreading. The Mayfield family has been extremely patient, but this matter must be resolved."
My stomach turns as his words sink in. Marry one of them? As if I were an object to be traded in the name of protecting our family's image? My attention moves to Evan, whose smirk has evaporated, replaced by a unique earnestness. Carter appears stunned, with his perfectly prepared façade cracking just enough to expose his incredulity.
"This is absurd," Evan says, pushing off the wall. "You're treating her like—"
"Enough," declares my father, his voice stern. "This is not up for discussion."
Carter finally finds his voice and steps forward. "With all due respect, sir, perhaps this isn't the best—"
"Do you want to marry her, Carter?" my father asks, his gaze tightening. "Or shall I assume Evan is the better candidate, given their… closeness tonight?"
Carter looks at me, his jaw hardening. He does not respond, but his hesitancy speaks volumes. Evan, meanwhile, is staring at my father, his hands twisted into fists by his sides.
I feel overwhelmed, like if the room's walls are closing in on me. My voice trembles when I finally speak. "What if I don't want to marry either of them?"
My father's expression darkens. "You do not have an option, Sophia. This is not about what you desire. It's about what's required."
The words struck deep, serving as a vivid reminder of the cage from where I've spent my entire life attempting to escape. My hands squeeze into fists at my sides, and my defiance sparks again. "And if I refuse?"
The hush that followed was deafening. My father's stare hardens, and his jaw tightens as he leans in. "Then you'll have nothing, Sophia." There is no home. No name. No future. Nothing."
For a minute, the weight of his words crushes me, crushing down on my chest till I can barely breathe. But then I glance at Evan and Carter, and see the storm rising between them. And I recall Mrs. Mayfield's words.
Freedom always comes at a price.
I take a long breath, my voice steady, and say, "I'll decide who I marry. Not you."