Chapter Six: Family Ties

“Elena,” Victor’s voice interrupted my racing thoughts, pulling me out of the fog of my own mind. I looked up to find him standing at the doorway, his expression soft but serious. “Mia and your father are here to see you.”

I felt a twinge of panic grip me at the unexpected news. I hadn’t expected them—especially after everything that had happened between Alexander and me. But the thought of seeing Mia again, of feeling something like normalcy in the midst of chaos, grounded me for a brief moment.

“Okay,” I said, standing from the chair where I’d been lost in thought for far too long. “Show them in.”

Victor gave a brief nod, stepping aside to let Mia and my father enter. When they did, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, albeit a small one. My father, usually so worn from the weight of years spent battling in the business world, was now glowing with pride. His eyes—normally so tired—shone with something like hope.

Mia’s hazel eyes locked on mine the instant she stepped into the room. The concern there hit me immediately, a deep well of it. Without hesitation, she crossed the room and enveloped me in a hug. “I can’t believe you’re doing this, El,” she murmured, her voice low but full of awe and apprehension. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.”

I hugged her back tightly, feeling a rush of emotion that was almost overwhelming. “It’s… complicated,” I admitted, pulling away just enough to look at my father, who was smiling in that proud, almost wistful way.

“Sweetheart,” he said, his voice wavering with emotion. “I know this isn’t what you wanted, but I couldn’t be prouder of you. You’re doing this for the family. For me.” The lines of stress that had carved deep into his face over the years seemed to have softened, replaced by something lighter. His eyes glistened, and I saw the weight of so many years of struggle lifting from his shoulders.

I swallowed hard. “Dad, you don’t have to thank me. I’m doing it because I love you,” I said, my voice quieter, and with more rawness than I intended. “I want to make sure you’re taken care of.”

Mia gently placed a hand on my shoulder, her expression soft but her voice firm. “I know you’re doing what you think is best,” she said, “but just… don’t forget about you, okay? Don’t lose yourself in all of this.”

I nodded, trying to smile, but it felt hollow, the knot in my stomach too tight to ignore. “I won’t forget, Mia. I promise.”

Victor cleared his throat from the corner, bringing the focus back to him. “There’s a lot happening, Elena,” he said, his voice low and steady. “The wedding news is everywhere. It’s all over the internet, and your father’s—”

“Happy,” my father interjected with a small, satisfied grin. “Proud of you, sweetheart. I didn’t expect this day to come when you’d marry someone like Alexander Wells, but here we are. I know you didn’t want this life, but look at what it’s doing for us.”

I caught the slight shift in his expression—the quiet hope that seemed to be settling over him. It wasn’t just relief anymore; it was belief. The belief that this marriage, this transaction, was somehow going to fix everything.

Part of me wanted to believe him. Part of me wanted to share his optimism, but it felt… impossible.

Mia turned to Victor, her brow furrowing slightly. “And Alexander… is he treating you well?” she asked cautiously, her voice quieter than usual.

I hesitated. The image of his cold, distant stare flashed across my mind—his stern, almost calculated demeanor. “He’s… trying. But it’s not the marriage I imagined.”

Victor shifted in his seat, his eyes lingering on me. “We’re all doing what we can to make sure things go smoothly. The arrangements, the business deals, everything. But Elena,” he added, his tone dropping a bit lower, “it’s important you keep your head in the game. Alexander may be the key to all of this, but he’s also unpredictable.”

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “You don’t say.”

Mia looked between us, sensing the unease. “We’re not going to let this marriage destroy you, Elena. Whatever happens, I’m here. Dad’s here. You don’t have to shoulder this on your own.”

Her words were a balm to the rawness inside me. I didn’t know how to express how much I needed that reassurance, but I squeezed her hand as if to say everything I couldn’t voice aloud.

“Thanks, Mia,” I whispered.

Victor shifted his weight, his eyes narrowing slightly. “We need to keep an eye on everything, Elena. Your father’s business, the Wells family, the fallout from your marriage—it’s all connected in ways you may not fully understand yet. Alexander’s a man of ambition, and sometimes, that means he’ll do whatever it takes to get what he wants.”

I swallowed hard. “I know. Believe me, I know.”

Victor’s gaze lingered on me, and I felt the weight of his words settle deeper, more urgently. For the first time, I truly understood how tangled everything had become.

We fell into a quiet pause, the heavy air thick with unspoken worries. Mia glanced at her watch and then back at me.

“You okay?” she asked softly.

“Yeah,” I said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Just… still processing everything. It’s a lot to take in.”

“Of course,” Mia said. “We’ll help you through it, one step at a time.”

Just then, a soft knock at the door broke the moment.

“Come in,” I called, my voice hollow.

The butler entered with a note in his hand, and before I could react, he spoke, “Ms. Spears, your presence is requested downstairs. The preparations for the wedding are almost complete.”

I stared at the note for a moment, letting the reality of the situation sink in. This was it. The wedding. It was real. It was happening.

“Thanks,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. “I’ll be down shortly.”

Victor, Mia, and my father exchanged looks that spoke volumes—concern, curiosity, and something I couldn’t quite name. But one thing was clear: they were all in this with me, for better or worse.

As the butler left, I turned to my father. “You ready for this, Dad?” I asked quietly.

He smiled, his voice hoarse. “I am, sweetheart. I am.”

The weight of the moment pressed down on me, heavy with expectation. But as I turned to leave, I felt something lighter, almost like a spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I could make something good of this.

Before I took another step, Mia’s voice stopped me. “Elena,” she said, her voice low but filled with urgency. “Just remember—this is your life, not just a transaction. Whatever happens with Alexander, don’t forget who you are.”

Her words stayed with me as I descended the staircase, the sounds of the wedding preparations echoing behind me. But in that moment, I wasn’t sure who I was anymore.