Desperate Measure

The sharp knock on my bedroom door came like a bullet to my chest. Before I could respond, the door swung open and my mother stepped in, her perfume sweeping through the air like an announcement of war.

“Irene, I swear to God, I will not see your face if you are not downstairs within five minutes. I don’t understand why you’re still hiding in here when everyone is waiting downstairs.”

Her voice carried no warmth, only command. My fingers froze around the brush in my hand, and for a moment I thought I'd misheard her.

“Who?” I whispered, though in the pit of my stomach I already knew.

“Irene! This evening is crucial for your father,” she snapped, marching closer. “It is important for all of us, too. Do you want to see your father get jailed? Our only chance is to buy Uncle Luke and Andrew for your father's business.”

“Mom, I can't force it anymore,” My voice cracked, the smirk that followed bitter and defensive. “Mom, how many times do I have to say it? I can’t keep faking love for someone who makes my skin crawl. I’ve done it long enough—for Dad’s sake, but I won’t sacrifice my life like this.”

Seeing how worn out I’d become, her expression softened, her command melting into something like pity. She reached for my hands, and for the first time that night, I saw a flicker of pity in her eyes.

“Irene, you know if there's another way, I myself won't let this happen,”she said quietly. “How would a mother wish that her daughter would get into a loveless relationship? But Andrew has always proved he loves you. And as for you, come to think of it. Love would come in as time goes by.”

My body shook. I jerked my face away from her touch. How could she say that? Was this how she got married to Dad, got bargained into love?

“Can you listen to yourself, Mom? Love would come in as time goes by or what did you just say? Huh? You are telling me to abandon my life and dream, I hope you know right? And get married to someone I didn't love? What of that very one I told you about, didn't they mean anything to you?” I snapped, frustrated, as the brush slipped from my hand and clattered against the marble tiles.

“I know my dear,” She stepped closer, her grip on my wrist cold and firm. “For your exhibition dream, marrying Andrew will make it happen faster. Or do you think your father can still help you if he loses Andrew’s support?”

Her voice faltered but didn’t soften. “You know how high I want to see you succeed at the top level but my dear, desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Her words sliced deeper than any blade could and for a heartbeat, I couldn't breathe. I have seen my father over his desk with the weight of failure crushing his shoulders and I couldn't stop feeling sorry for him.

At first, I thought I would do anything if there was a way I could help him out. But then the help showed up but I can't bear the weight of the chain tied to it. I can't bear the burden of being in a loveless marriage, not in a relationship with an arrogant guy who thinks that with money he has access to everything.

“For your father, now put on your dress and come downstairs,” she whispered in my ear.

I nodded weakly with tears stung like acid behind my eyelids as she turned away and swept out, leaving the door wide open. as if escape was no longer an option. I sank onto the edge of the bed, my body trembling, my heart breaking into pieces I wasn't sure I could ever be whole again.

Minutes later, I washed my face, scrubbing away tears and bitterness from my lips. I dressed, each layer of fabric heavy with resignation, and By the time I reached the staircase, the hum of laughter floated up to meet me. I pasted on my smile, the same one I’d been wearing for years as my steps echoed like a prisoner walking toward her sentence.

It is better to go like a human being and make them forgive you rather than indulging them and then treating Andrew in a good way.

“Welcome,” my voice broke the hum of greetings as I entered the dining room.

Everyone's gaze landed on me as I approached them.

“Welcome to you, too beautiful,” Uncle Luke said warmly as I approached his side. “Irene, does your beauty increase over the days?” he teased with a grin.

I chuckled politely, but my eyes drifted to Andrew, who stood tall and cold beside him.

“How are you?” I asked that fake smile of mine already radiating over my face.

“As of now, good,” he replied, his voice cold and icy.

I was still trying to understand his words when my mother’s voice broke the silence.

“Come on, should we move to the table?” Mom suggested.

I was about to settle down when Andrew's hand reached for mine, firm and possessive. “I saw you last week having a conversation with someone. Why didn’t you call me? Instead, you chose to squeeze yourself into a small bus like a commoner.”

“What were you looking for, Irene?” His voice dipped, calm but cruel. “New faces? New lovers? Don’t forget—your future belongs to me.”

My chest ached, a steel band tightening around my ribs until I could barely breathe. He spoke as if I belonged to him already, and that thought alone made me want to choke.

Heat scorched my face. I wanted to scream, to throw the wine in his face, Instead, I smiled. My silence was my last act of rebellion and the thought of what might follow for my father pressed me into silence.

My stomach churned, searching for words to say until my gaze landed on my brother, Charles.

“Are you sure that we are brother and sister? Because you too said the same thing to me yesterday. You both are the same.”

At first, his face twisted in confusion, but the glint in my eyes made him realize exactly what I meant and just gave a forced smile in reply.

“Irene dear, did you start again?” my mother hissed, eyes narrowing in warning.

“Big love starts with arguments.”

“Yes, but you have passed the first stage,” mom muttered my mother hissed, eyes narrowing in warning.

“We are going into the direction of blind love and I hope she realizes soon.”

I just watched Clara, our maid glide out of the dining room with the empty tray. Mr Luke sliced the knife through the cured meat with a clean deliberate motion, each cut soft as a whisper.

I watched the blade flash in the light, nerves buzzing. Clara had just cleared the last serving dish, leaving only the scent of rosemary and smoke. Mr Luke glanced up, his grey eyes unreadable, and for a heartbeat, the air felt heavy like a storm waiting to break.

But then, what has been hitching me crossed my mind. Even though Andrew is a millionaire, no one is sure yet that his uncle had so much trust in him to hand over his billions to him. Because that has been one of my mother's master mind plans of wanting me to get married to him.

I swallowed hard, my voice smaller than I intended. “Uncle Luke,” I whispered, then pressed. “Are you really sure about leaving your entire big empire for Andrew?”

I could feel my mother’s gaze on me as his knife stopped mid-air, then the knife flashed under the chandelier’s light, red juices sliding down the blade like blood. He let his gaze lock on mine and the whole table seemed to hold its breath.

“With all my pleasure. I’m confident with Andrew. He has proven himself multiple times until now and I’m not worried at all. I know that he will sign up for a big success.”

I forced a hollow smile, my gaze flitting from my mother to my father at the other end of the table.

Andrew leaned back in his chair, close to Uncle Luke, his lips curling into a cruel smile.

“I’m not your lifeline,” Andrew said, his smile curving like a blade fixing his gaze on me. “I’m your future. Without me, you don’t just fal, you vanish.”

The air felt thick and the tension built up after he landed a blow on us. It grew suffocating, and I watched my father’s face twist in pain, my mother stayed silent, and I sat there bleeding inside. He must have thought he owned my future. Let him think it. I would rather burn than belong to him.