Chapter 1

**Amara's POV**

On the 31st of December, we were preparing for the crossover night celebration. I was in my room brushing my hair after having my bath. I donned a long blue sleeping gown and stood by my mirror.

When I heard a knock on my door, I walked up to it and pulled it open. I saw my mother's maid, Agnes, standing there and smiling at me.

Agnes wore a similar long blue gown; she was light-skinned and of average height, just like me. I am 24 years old, and I asked her, “What do you want, Agnes?”

Smiling back at me, Agnes replied, “Good evening, Amara. Your father sent for you downstairs to see him before the crossover night begins.”

“Why? We just finished having dinner, and I am not interested in the fireworks,” I replied.

“I don't know, but your dad is downstairs waiting to see you, and the guests have all gone outside to prepare for the fireworks,” Agnes said.

"Hmm, that's fine. Inform my father that I will be with him shortly. I want to use the restroom," I told Agnes, and she nodded and left my corridor.

I sighed and went back to relieve myself. After that, I headed downstairs to the living room of my father's enormous white mansion to see him.

We specifically reside in the countryside. My father is like a chief among those living there. He is involved in farming and agricultural endeavors.

I am like a princess at home. My mother is the center of admiration, and my people love me too, as my parents taught me to be kind and helpful to those around us.

As time passed, it was now past 11 PM, and I didn't know how to feel about the New Year's celebration. I am the only child of my parents; I don’t lack anything, although I am still single.

My parents are billionaires, and they aren't pressuring me to get married, although my dad has rejected some bachelors, including my crush, Charles Wilfred.

My mother assured me that my father had my best interests at heart and wouldn't just discard me to any random suitor. He wanted the best for me, and so I remain single, waiting for my father’s approval.

I took the spiral staircase down into the living room.

We live in a standard duplex house surrounded by many trees and gardens.

Although our mansion is fenced, with the ongoing celebration, we have many guests visiting us to celebrate the New Year's festivities.

Even my dear cousins, aunties, and uncles are around.

I entered the living room but didn’t see anyone. Agnes emerged from the kitchen and informed me, “Your parents request to meet you in the office.”

“Okay,” I said, then went to my father's home office to see him. I suspected that what he wanted to tell me was private, so I made a beeline for my father's office on the lower floor.

I assumed he didn't want our relatives to eavesdrop on our conversation.

Upon arriving at the front door of my father's office, I knocked and heard his calm voice respond, “Come inside.”

Quietly, I pushed the office door open and walked into the enormous room, which had two guest seats and a set of four blue couches.

There, my parents sat together on a blue couch, their love blossoming. My father smiled at me, saying, “Come and sit down, Amara. Let's hurry up before the fireworks start. Your mother and I have something important to share with you.”

“Okay, Dad,” I nervously walked into the office, closing the door behind me. I then sat across from my parents on a similar blue couch.

My mother was wearing a red nightgown, and my dad wore a white garment, smiling and sitting beside her.

“Amara, it has come to the point that your mother and I need to inform you about our arrangement,” my father said. “We have been keeping it from you all this while, but now is the right time to inform you about our decision for you to get married.”

I gulped, listening to my father. "Well, I am sure that you're familiar with my very good friend, Mr. Joshua Briggs."

Smiling, I replied, “Yes, Dad. I know the man; he lives in the city with his family and occasionally visits here.”

“Very correct. He's my dear friend, Amara, a business mogul based in the city with his wife and two children. Now, you are to marry his only son, Darlington Briggs, and you will have to go to the city tomorrow to start living with him,” my father said.

“What? Daddy, I don't understand you. What do you mean by I am married to your best friend's son? When? How? I cannot remember getting married to any man. Did I have a memory loss or what?” I demanded, struggling to comprehend.

"Calm down, Amara," my father said as I stared at both of them seated on the blue couch in shock. When did I get married to a man without remembering it, especially when I yearned to settle down?

My parents smiled, while my father said, "Amara, this was an arrangement I made a long time ago with Mr. Joshua Briggs. You were only a baby then, and we wished for you to marry his only son, Darlington Briggs."

I gulped, continuing to look at my father in shock as he explained, "You are not fully married to Darlington Briggs, but you will have to live with him to see if you both can be compatible at least before finally completing the marriage rite."

“Daddy, I do not understand you. Do you mean I will visit them and spend some time there to see them? Or am I already married to the man you're saying is your best friend's son and engaged in couple's activities with him?” I asked, wanting to understand better.

“Both. Amara, like I said before, you do not have to misbehave when you get there. You should be a good lady to Darlington Briggs as you're his wife now," my father said. "Mr. Joshua has paid everything in the past for you to become his son's wife and future daughter-in-law. So, Darlington Briggs is your husband traditionally by our custom, and you are his wife. Also, Darlington may not be aware, which is why you haven’t seen him here, nor did either of you celebrate your wedding engagement in a grand style. But you're a married woman, and it's time for you to go to the city to be with your husband."

“What?? Daddy, I cannot marry a city-based man! I do not want to reside in the urban area, Mom?” I looked at my mother sadly, wanting her opinion on this shocking information. My mother sighed and said, “Amara, calm down. It is for your good.”

“How, Mom? I don't wish to go to the city to live with a man I'm not familiar with. Daddy, I do not like the bustling lives of city people. I want to remain here, where there is no noise and the wild lifestyle,” I pleaded, hoping my father would change his mind about all these sudden, ridiculous arrangements.

“Amara, I can understand your complaint, but you have to get married, and I trust Mr. Joshua's son to take care of you. Unfortunately, you will still have to visit them in the city for the marriage to continue,” my father said.