As Nolan wheeled himself away, Vanya felt a surge of anger and humiliation. She stormed after him, her heels clicking on the marble floor.
"You're running away with your tail between your legs?" Vanya sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "You're afraid to face me, to look me in the eye and tell me that you don't want me?"
Nolan didn't respond, but instead continued to wheel himself away, his back to Vanya.
"You're preventing me from seeing your face, as if you're worthy of being hidden," Vanya spat, her anger boiling over. "Man up, Nolan. Tell your family that you don't want me. Tell them that you're too afraid to face me."
Nolan still didn't respond, but Vanya could sense a tension in his body, a sense of coiled anger waiting to be unleashed.
"You know what?" Vanya said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I don't even want to see your face. You're not worthy of me. You're not worthy of anyone. I won't break up the engagement unless you do....."
With that, Vanya turned her back on Nolan and lifted her dress, revealing a glimpse of her elegant legs. She walked away from him, her head held high, leaving Nolan to stew in his own bitter juices.
As she walked back to the living room, Vanya could feel the eyes of Nolan's family on her, watching her with a mixture of shock and admiration. Mrs. Carter rushed over to her, a look of concern on her face.
"Vanya, dear, I'm so sorry about what just happened," Mrs. Carter said, taking Vanya's arm. "Nolan can be a bit... difficult sometimes."
Vanya smiled, a cold, hard smile. "I can handle myself, Mrs. Carter," she said. "I don't need anyone's protection or apologies."
As she spoke, Vanya couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. But as she glanced back at Nolan, who was still sitting in his wheelchair, his back to her, Vanya felt a shiver run down her spine. This wasn't over yet. Not by a long shot.
As Vanya walked away, Nolan's eyes remained fixed on her retreating back. He couldn't help but feel a spark of interest ignite within him. Who was this woman who dared to challenge him, to reject him so publicly?
Nolan's eyes narrowed as he thought about his family's antics. They still thought they could control him, arrange his marriage for him like he was some kind of prize to be won. It was infuriating.
And what was worse, Nolan knew that his family's motivations were rooted in his disability. They thought that because he was in a wheelchair, he needed to be taken care of, that he couldn't make his own decisions.
But Nolan was determined to prove them wrong. He would show them that he was still a man, still capable of making his own choices. And he would start by getting to know Vanya William.
Nolan's eyes snapped open, and he clenched his fist in determination. "Challenge accepted, Vanya William," he muttered to himself. "I will see your face, and I will see how bold you'll be when you're faced with me."
With a newfound sense of purpose, Nolan wheeled himself out of the room, leaving his family to wonder what had just sparked within him.
As he disappeared into the hallway, Mrs. Carter turned to her family with a concerned expression. "What just happened?" she asked. "Nolan seemed so... determined all of a sudden."
Christopher frowned, his eyes narrowing in thought. "I don't know, Mother," he said. "But I think we're about to see a side of Nolan that we've never seen before."
Nolan sat in his room, staring at the wall as he thought about his decision. He had decided to agree to the marriage, not because he wanted to, but because he wanted to prove to himself and his family that he was still in control.
The next day, Nolan followed his parents to the William's estate, where they were supposed to meet Vanya and begin making preparations for the wedding. As they arrived, Nolan's father, Mr. Carter, seemed relieved that Nolan had finally agreed to the marriage.
"Ah, excellent," Mr. Carter said, patting Nolan on the back. "I'm glad you've come to your senses, son. This marriage will be good for both our families."
Nolan nodded, his expression neutral. "I'm doing this for the family, Father," he said. "Not because I want to."
As they entered the William's house, Nolan's eyes scanned the room for any sign of Vanya. He spotted her across the room, but before he could get a good look at her, she turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Nolan's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. He had to see her face. He had to know what she looked like.
He tried to creep up on her, to get a glimpse of her face without her noticing. But just as he was about to reach her, she turned around, and their eyes met for a brief moment.
Nolan felt a jolt of electricity run through his body. He had never seen eyes like hers before. They were piercing green, and they seemed to bore into his very soul.
But before he could get a better look at her, Vanya turned and disappeared into the crowd again.
Nolan was determined to see her face. He paid one of the waiters to create a distraction, hoping to catch a glimpse of Vanya's face. But just as the waiter dropped a tray of glasses, Vanya turned around, and Nolan's heart sank.
She was wearing a veil, and it covered her face completely. Nolan's eyes met hers, and he felt that same jolt of electricity run through his body. But he still couldn't see her face.
And to make matters worse, Nolan was wearing a mask, so Vanya couldn't see his face either. All they could see were each other's eyes.
Nolan felt a sense of frustration wash over him. Why was she avoiding him? What was she hiding?
As the day drew to a close, Nolan's family left the William's estate, still unaware that Nolan and Vanya were avoiding seeing each other
None of them knew that Nolan and Vanya had sworn not to see each other's faces, and that their hatred for each other was already simmering just below the surface.
As Nolan sat in his wheelchair, staring out the window, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. He would meet Vanya again, and next time, he would make sure to see her face.
"