My dad struck his spoon against the crystal champagne glass, sending a clear, resonant chime that cut through the clinking of glasses and the hum of chatter, drawing every eye to him as the music faded into silence.
"We all know that my daughter Elara is taking a significant step today—she's getting engaged. But what you don't know is who the lucky gentleman is…" He paused for dramatic effect, letting the anticipation build in the air. "Please allow me to introduce to you, Mr. Johnson George."
A wave of confusion washed over me as I gasped, hardly able to process the name. My dad must have made a mistake, I thought. Just then, I felt my mum lean in, her voice a soft whisper in my ear: "Play along, my dear. We'll explain everything later." The world around me blurred like a scene from a movie, and before I knew it, I was caught in a warm embrace with this Mr. Johnson. What on earth was happening? After the last laughter faded and the revelry of the party came to a haunting close, I stormed into the living room, my heart pounding with a mix of fury and confusion. "What is going on?" I demanded, locking eyes with my parents, desperation lacing my voice. My heart sank as they revealed the shocking news: my engagement with Jared had been abruptly cancelled. "You now belong to Mr. Johnson," they said, as if stating a mere fact, not the shattering of my dreams.
"Or should I say, John," they added, referencing the man who had casually introduced himself to me earlier that night? I felt an overwhelming wave of betrayal wash over me. "Mum! Dad! How could you both do this?" My voice cracked, a mixture of hurt and indignation spilling forth. "You make decisions about my life as if I'm just some object, a toy for your amusement. I accepted Jared because he was familiar, part of our lives, and this was the first time you ever involved yourselves in such a significant aspect of my life. And now you want me to accept John?"
My chest tightened as I spoke, tears brimming in my eyes. "Mum, how do you expect me to feel? Do you really have my best interests at heart, or is it all just about your desires?" I was overwhelmed by the weight of memories, the stories my mother had woven about her and Dad's passionate love affair that led to their wedding. "Don't you want me to experience that too? To find love like you did?"
As the reality of their decision settled heavily in the air, I realized with a start that my cheeks were wet, soaked with tears that fell unbidden, a manifestation of the turmoil raging inside me.
Darlin…
Before my mother could utter another word, I bolted from the room, my heart pounding in my chest. I ordered our chauffeur to take me home, the sobs escaping me like a torrent.
As barely escaped his lips, the alcohol fogging his mind. I tried to lend him support, urging him to sit he gently urged me to sit mine. I responded instinctively, feeling a surge of weightlessness as I surrendered to the sensation of his kiss. At that moment, nothing else existed except the warmth of Damon's lips against my own. Suddenly, he tightened his grip on me, deepening the kiss, and a wave of desire washed over me. I felt a conflicting urge to push away, yet the bliss of our connection held me captive.