5. Accepting the challenge

The morning sunlight pricked her sleepy eyes, making Eleanor groan at the person who drew the curtains of her room apart.

“Can I get some sleep in this house?” She shouts.

In the soft hues of the morning light, Eleanor's abrupt shout echoed through the house, disrupting the tranquil ambiance that lingered. Rose, ever the nurturing presence, swiftly made her way to her daughter's bed, her touch gentle as she caressed Eleanor's tousled hair.

"Eleanor... it's 9:00 am. You wake up so late every day?" Rose inquired, a hint of concern lacing her words. Eleanor, still grappling with the remnants of a sleepless night, tossed to the other side, seeking refuge from the daylight.

"Your husband is responsible for this," she retorted, her frustration evident. "How am I supposed to wake up early when I couldn’t sleep the whole night?" The room, with its comfortable furnishings and the soft glow of morning sunlight, bore witness to Eleanor's discontent.

Rose, understanding her daughter's turmoil, took a seat beside her. "Eleanor... I talked to your father last night. You know how adamant he is. When he decides something, he ensures we follow it."

The revelation cut through Eleanor's grogginess, pulling her into a stark awareness of the situation. She sat up, opposite to her mother, the weight of her father's decisions casting a shadow over the room.

"Why is he punishing me? What have I done? Only because Patricia eloped doesn’t mean he can chain my freedom," Eleanor snapped, her frustration boiling over. The room, now charged with emotions, held the echoes of familial conflicts.

The mention of Patricia's name stirred a different set of emotions. Rose, visibly affected, spoke of her concern for Patricia's well-being. "I wonder how she is and where. She didn’t even show a courtesy to call back even once. I hope she is doing fine wherever she is," Rose sobbed, the room becoming a space for shared grief.

Eleanor, despite her frustration, felt a wave of pity for her mother. She moved closer and enveloped Rose in a comforting bear hug. The room, with its muted tones and familial warmth, became a sanctuary for the raw emotions that surfaced in the wake of Patricia's disappearance.

In the subdued light of the room, Eleanor's murmured words cut through the air, laden with a complex mix of emotions. "I hate her for doing this to us," she confessed, the weight of resentment palpable in her voice. Rose, her mother, looked on with a mixture of empathy and sorrow, understanding the turmoil that churned within her daughter.

"No, she is your elder sister, Eleanor. You shouldn’t hate her," Rose gently countered, her instinctive maternal defense emerging. Yet, Eleanor, fueled by the intensity of her feelings, wouldn't be swayed.

"She didn’t do any good to me. She became selfish, Mumma, and without thinking what consequences you, me, and Dad would face, she ran away. I always thought her to be docile and very much an obedient type, but she proved all of us wrong," Eleanor vented, her frustration finding a voice in the somber room.

Rose, unable to meet her daughter's eyes, looked down, wiping away her tears. The room, with its quiet elegance and framed family photographs, stood witness to the fractures that had appeared within the familial bonds.

"What have you decided to do now?" Rose asked, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and apprehension. "Will you also run away like her? Leaving me alone?" Tears welled up again in her eyes, reflecting the fear of abandonment.

Eleanor sighed, her disappointment evident. Her mother's tears were her weakness—a reminder of the sacrifices Rose had made for her family. A passive presence, she had obeyed her husband's commands and shielded her daughters from unnecessary wrath. Eleanor couldn't bear to see her mother suffer.

"I won’t run away. I am a fighter. It is my right to fight for what I want. And marrying the Knights is the last thing I will ever agree to," Eleanor asserted, her words carrying a sense of determination. Rose nodded, a mix of relief and pride in her eyes.

In the hushed conversation between mother and daughter, Eleanor's bold declaration hung in the air, challenging the established norms of familial expectations.

"But then how will you convince your father?" Rose inquired, her concern etched in the lines of her face.

Eleanor, ever the nonconformist, simply shrugged. "Who said I will convince him?"

A trace of terror flickered in Rose's eyes. "Then? What will you do?"

"I will talk to the Knights directly. Reject the proposal and walk away," Eleanor declared with a steely resolve, unmindful of the apprehension that clouded her mother's expression.

Rose, taken aback, could barely conceal her concern. "Reject the Knights? No… that’s… that’s not what you will do, Eleanor. No one dares to do that."

Eleanor, undeterred by the unspoken rules that governed societal expectations, offered a counterpoint. "Only because no one dared, I shouldn’t? Come on, Mumma. I have nothing to fear. I will tackle this my way."

Rose, grappling with the clash between tradition and Eleanor's determined spirit, issued a cautious advisory. "Whatever you do, just be cautious. And... I am sorry, but I will not be able to support you directly. You know your father. I have to take his side. But if you need me for any other type of support, I am always there for you."

Eleanor smiles. Her mother cannot do anything in the open which can hurt her relationship with her husband. But never mind. She doesn’t want to break her parent’s marriage. She just wants to break hers from happening!!

******************

KNIGHT MANSION

In the heart of the Knight mansion, Caroline Knight, the matriarch of the family, issued instructions to Sean Smith, the eldest of the loyal Smith brothers. The Smiths, known for their unwavering service to the Knights spanning decades, held a revered position in the household. Sean, dutifully carrying out Caroline's orders, bore the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.

"Keep the dry fruits basket in the car. These will go with us to the Governor," Caroline instructed, her voice a blend of authority and familiarity. The room, adorned with timeless artifacts and family portraits, became the backdrop for the interplay of familial dynamics.

As Sean executed the task, a shadow of gloominess crossed his face, catching Caroline's discerning eye. She couldn't let the discontent of a trusted servant pass unnoticed.

"What happened, Sean? You don’t seem happy doing this," Caroline inquired, her concern genuine.

Sean, with a respectful bow of his head, hesitated before voicing his apprehensions. "Grandma... Sorry to say, but we are skeptical about this alliance."

Caroline's expression shifted to one of curiosity and slight concern. "Why? What’s wrong?"

"The Governor is a selfish man, and he has always given trouble to the Knights, poking his nose every now and then in your decisions. We have also heard his daughter has got his traits. She is adamant like him. I wonder how will she match up to the Knight’s expectations," Sean explained, his honesty evident in the lines on his face.

Caroline, however, met his concerns with a confident smirk. "Adamancy is the birthright of every Knight, Sean, and if she has those traits too, then she is already fit to be in this family. We don’t have to teach her that. It will save our time."

"But, Grandma, this has also reached my ears that she is not approving this alliance," Sean added, voicing the rumors that had found their way to his attentive ears.

Caroline's response was immediate, her teeth gritting in irritation. "Who is she to decide that? Knights don’t ask, Sean. We demand, and her father has given his word to us. She will not be able to change that now."

Sean, aware of the consequences of questioning the Knight family's decisions, bowed his head again, a silent acknowledgment of both respect and fear. Caroline's final words, laden with the implication of serious consequences, hung in the air, creating a palpable tension within the room.

In the quiet ambiance of the car, Caroline Knight settled into her seat, her gaze flickering with scrutiny as Sean, the diligent Smith brother, closed the door behind her. The mansion's grandeur loomed in the background, a silent witness to the unfolding drama within the Knight family.

"Where is Kayden?" Caroline inquired, her expectations clear in her tone.

"Here," he emerged, dressed casually, an air of defiance emanating from him. Caroline's discerning eyes scanned him from top to bottom. However, her expectations clashed with Kayden's chosen attire, setting the stage for a clash of wills.

"We are not going for a party. It’s your engagement today," she interjected before he could get in the car, her words attempting to rein in his seemingly nonchalant approach.

"That’s the best I can wear today. Or else, I don’t mind asking you to leave there alone," he retorted, his arms crossed, a no-nonsense look etched on his face.

Caroline, though disapproving, found herself obliged to relent. Kayden, with a final defiant gaze, got into the car, taking a seat next to her. The subtle tension lingered, setting the tone for the journey to the engagement.

"I know you don’t like Watsons much," Caroline remarked, attempting to bridge the gap between Kayden's resistance and the impending connection with his in-laws. "But... they are your in-laws now. Try to fit in their zone and not show them we are the rulers."

Kayden, engrossed in his mobile phone, absorbed her words with a detached air. His response, a declaration of disinterest in fitting into any predefined mold, challenged Caroline's expectations.

"I am not interested in fitting in others' zones, Grandma. And you very well know if I have accepted this marriage, it is solely for one reason. So, don’t expect me to be a part of this drama," he asserted, his tone unyielding.

Grandma, taken aback by his indecency and apparent heartlessness, frowned at his response. "You remind me of your brother," she remarked, a subtle jab aimed at invoking self-reflection.

Kayden's reaction was visceral, his grip on the phone tightening as he growled, "I am anything but him." The intensity in his eyes reflected the depth of the resentment he harbored towards comparisons with his brother.

Grandma, with a knowing smirk, turned her head to gaze outside. She understood that Kayden would vehemently deny any similarity to his brother, yet the undeniable truth remained—they both shared the same Knight blood. The strained similarities between the two, etched into their family history, created an underlying tension that refused to be dismissed.

[Hello lovely readers! Welcome to my book! Hope you are enjoying it! Please support me by leaving me a rating and review! Your precious words mean the world to me! Love you all!]