Tomorrow

Chapter 4: Tomorrow

“And I promise,” Alexander said quietly, “you will regret lying to me.”

The room went silent as Amelia stared at him.

Was he serious?

He looked at her like she had personally ruined his life or Like she had schemed her way into his family.

Into his money.

Into him.

The unfairness burned her more than she would have liked to admit.

“I didn’t lie,” she said quietly.

Alexander let out a short laugh. It was Cold and disbelieving Disbelieving.

“Really?”

He took one slow step toward her.

“Then explain this.” He lifted the engagement file. “Because the woman I agreed to marry suddenly disappeared and somehow” his eyes dragged over her face “you appeared.”

The humiliation hit hard and Before Amelia could speak,Richard stepped forward.

“Mr. Sterling, please,” he said quickly. “The situation is complicated.”

Alexander finally looked at him.

“No,” he said flatly. “It’s actually very simple.”

His voice turned colder.

“You promised me one daughter.”

He looked back at Amelia.

“But sent another.”

Nobody dared spoke.

At the head of the table, the Sterling patriarch calmly set down his glass.

“The issue now,” he said, “is not what happened.”

His sharp eyes moved between both families.

“It is how we handle it.”

Richard straightened instantly.

“Yes. Exactly.”

Amelia turned to him so fast she nearly fell.

He was agreeing?Just like that? She had never encountered such situation in her life before to prepare her enough for the betrayal she was currently experiencing.

“Dad,” she said quietly, “tell them.”

Richard stiffened.

Her chest tightened with each delayed breath.

Just Tell them.Tell them she never agreed.

Tell them Sophia ran away.

Tell them she was forced into this.

But instead He avoided her eyes.

“The Hart family still intends to honor the alliance.”

Something inside Amelia dropped Painfully.

“What?” she whispered.

Richard finally looked at her.

His voice lowered.

“Don’t do this.”

Don’t do this?

She almost screamed.

“You’re sacrificing me!”

“Lower your voice,” he hissed.

“No!”

The word echoed louder than expected.

Everyone looked at her.

But Amelia no longer cared. She wasn’t going to stand there and watch her life being signed away without putting so much as a fight.

“You all decided my future without asking me!”

Her voice cracked.

“You let Sophia walk away, and suddenly I’m supposed to clean up the mess?”

Sophia.

The name alone darkened Alexander’s expression.

“So she ran,” he said coldly.

Richard quickly shook his head.

“No, no…it’s not like that..”

“She panicked,” Amelia cut in bitterly. “Because apparently I’m the disposable daughter.”

“Amelia!” Richard snapped.

But the damage was done as the Silence stretched.

Alexander’s jaw tightened.

Something unreadable crossed his face.

But then again….

“You expect sympathy?” he asked coolly.

Amelia looked at him in disbelief.

“I expect basic human decency.”

A dangerous pause followed.

Then he said “Yet You still showed up.”

The words landed hard and Her throat tightened.

Of course,To him, that proved guilt.That proved that she wanted this. His Money,Status,His name.

“I had nowhere else to go,” she whispered.

For a second Something flickered in his expression but it was Gone too quickly as it came to fully understand.

Then the Sterling patriarch spoke again.

“Enough.”

His tone carried finality.

“The engagement has already been circulated publicly.”

Richard nodded immediately.

“The media knows and The board knows,” the older man added.

“And the Sterling family does not entertain scandal.”

Amelia felt trapped like Actually trapped.No one was asking what she wanted.No one cared. It felt like she was being trafficked or auctioned to the highest bidder.

Her entire life was being discussed like some business arrangement.

“I’m not marrying him,” she said suddenly.

The room stilled.

Alexander looked amused.

“Too late.”

Her pulse spiked.

“No,” she said, louder this time. “You can’t force me.”

“Can’t we?” Richard said sharply.

Amelia turned toward him slowly.The betrayal hurt more than the slap.

“You’d really choose this over me?”

His jaw hardened.

“I’m choosing survival.”

God.That hurt too deeply to ever forgive him for.

Alexander suddenly spoke.

“You’re dramatic.”

Amelia turned to him instantly.

“Excuse me?”

“You arrived. Stayed.” His voice remained calm. “And now suddenly you’re resisting?”

Anger surged through her chest.

“You think I wanted any of this?”

“Yes.”

His answer came instantly with No hesitation and No mercy.

Her laugh came out broken.

“Wow.”

Alexander’s expression didn’t move.

“I don’t like manipulation.”

“And I don’t like arrogant men,” Amelia shot back.

Richard nearly choked.

The room froze and Even the eavesdropping servants looked horrified.

Nobody and absolutely Nobody ever spoke to Alexander Sterling like that.

Something dangerous flashed in his gray eyes.

And then unexpected he smirked.

It was Small and barely noticeable but it was Humorless.

“Interesting.”

The Sterling patriarch sighed.

“This childish argument changes nothing.”

He looked toward the butler.

“Start with the Preparation of the wedding.”

Amelia’s heart dropped.

“What?”

“The ceremony will happen in three days.”

“Three—?”

“No,” Amelia said immediately. “Absolutely not.”

Then Alexander spoke.

“No!”

The room turned toward him and Even Amelia blinked.

For one stupid second she thought he was finally seeing reasoning to this whole situation and Hope rose.

Until he looked directly at her.

“Three days is unnecessary.”

“Move it to tomorrow.”

Dead silence rang around the room and Amelia almost stopped breathing.

Tomorrow?

Tomorrow?!

Her voice came out weak.

“You can’t be serious…”

Alexander buttoned his suit jacket with Expression blank.

“I don’t like unfinished business.”

Then his eyes locked onto hers.

Cold enough to freeze blood and make the entire room hold its breath.

“And the sooner this mistake is fixed…”

“…the sooner I can get rid of you.”