The grand party continued with an air of elegance, but there was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere when Max William and his wife Alia returned to the main hall.
The crowd naturally turned their attention to the couple, their presence demanding respect and intrigue.
Max, with his commanding voice and regal demeanor, raised a hand to silence the murmurs.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice echoing through the hall,
"this party was called not just to celebrate, but to make a special announcement."
All eyes were on him, including Sarah's. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach, an unspoken dread filling her as she sensed what was coming.
---
Max smiled, but there was a sharpness in his expression that made the announcement feel less like a celebration and more like a decree.
"In six days," he continued,
"my son, Josh, will marry My servant Leo's daughter, Sarah."
The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
Sarah's heart skipped a beat, though she remained composed.
Her pride was screaming in protest, but she swallowed her feelings, standing tall and expressionless.
She could feel the eyes of the guests on her, some filled with pity, others with curiosity, and a few with disdain.
Across the room, Josh, Eithan, and Ruhr exchanged incredulous looks.
The announcement had blindsided them just as much as Sarah.
---
Ruhr was the first to speak, her voice sharp and unyielding.
"Uncle Max, that's so mean!" she exclaimed, stepping forward. Her usual gentle demeanor was replaced by a rare intensity.
"How can you treat Sarah like this? She's not just some... pawn for your plans!"
Eithan, who was far from his usual carefree self, frowned deeply.
"Dad, this is wrong," he said firmly.
"You can't just introduce someone's like this. Especially not Josh's future wife Sarah ."
Josh, though stunned, quickly found his voice.
"Father," he said, his tone filled with quiet anger,
"I think I deserve to have a say that , You can't just introduce her like that ."
Max, however, was unmoved. He waved a dismissive hand at their protests.
"Enough," he said, his voice stern.
"This is for the good of the family. Sarah comes from a poor background, yes, but she will bring humility and diligence to our household. It's not wrong to lift someone from poverty. We must address them how they are ."
---
The youngest member of the family, Albert, decided to chime in with his usual mischief.
"Uncle Max," he said in a childish but mocking tone,
"why don't you just marry Sarah yourself? You're always making insult for poor people and don't them as equal as everyone else."
The comment drew a few gasps and stifled laughter from the crowd, but the humor was short-lived.
Ruhr, horrified by Albert's bluntness, quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Shut up, Albert," she hissed, dragging him back to her side.
Max's expression darkened, but he didn't respond to the boy's taunt. Instead, he turned his attention back to the room, addressing the growing unrest.
---
While Max was busy asserting his authority, Alia remained seated, her expression a careful mask.
Outwardly, she looked ashamed, her hand resting lightly on her cheek as though the announcement had caught her off guard. But inside, she was thrilled.
"This is perfect," she thought, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Sarah will bring exactly what this family needs. And more importantly, she'll be easier to control than most."
Alia's mind raced with possibilities.
She had always seen Sarah as more than just Leo's daughter; there was something about her that intrigued Alia, a depth of strength and intelligence that most wouldn't notice.
---
Meanwhile, Sarah stood rooted to the spot, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
The weight of Max's words pressed heavily on her, but she refused to show any sign of weakness.
"Thank you, Mr. William," she said finally, her voice steady but devoid of emotion.
"I appreciate your... consideration."
Her response was diplomatic, but everyone in the room could sense the underlying tension.
Josh stepped closer to her, his face filled with concern.
"Sarah, you don't have....." he said softly, his voice just loud enough for her to hear.
She glanced at him, her expression unreadable.
"It's fine," she replied, her tone clipped.
"This is your family's decision, and I respect that."
---
The rest of the evening continued under a cloud of tension.
Conversations were strained, the laughter forced.
Even the music, which had been lively and celebratory earlier, seemed subdued.
Josh couldn't take his eyes off Sarah, his frustration growing with each passing moment.
He knew there was more to her silence than she was letting on, but he also knew better than to push her in front of everyone.
Eithan, Ruhr, and even Albert shared his frustration, their usual camaraderie replaced by a shared sense of injustice.
---
As the party began to wind down, Max stood once more to address the guests.
"Let this union be a symbol of unity and progress," he said, raising his glass.
"Sarah will bring honor to this family, and together with Josh, they will secure our legacy. That our family also treat poor as EQUAL "
The toast was met with polite applause, though it was clear that many in the room shared the same unease as Josh and his siblings.
---
As the guests began to leave, Sarah found herself alone in one of the hallways, away from the prying eyes of the crowd.
She leaned against the wall, her eyes closed as she tried to process everything that had happened.
Josh found her there, his expression filled with a mix of anger and concern.
"Sarah," he said, his voice low.
"You don't have to do this. I'll talk to my father. I'll make him change his mind. And try to make out our marriage as diginity as possible ."
She opened her eyes and looked at him, her gaze steady.
"It's not that simple, Josh We are poor so we have to face the truth ." she said.
"Your father has already made up his mind. And as much as I hate to admit it, he's right about thing—I am just a servant's daughter."
Josh shook his head.
"You're so much more than that, Sarah. Don't let him make you feel otherwise."
She gave him a small, sad smile.
"Thank you, Josh," she said softly.
"But for now, let's just focus on getting through these six days."
---
Sarah sit on balcony where josh is with him and holding her hand .
Sarah , for her revenge she sacrifice her pride .
One day she will treat Max William .