Chapter 1

Arranged Marriage Shock

Ava

I have just finished my MBA and I'm excited about the future ahead of me. Last night, I partied hard with my friends… and even though it’s almost 3pm the next day, I am still a little bit hangover. 

I worked hard to get here, and I'm proud of my accomplishments. To continue celebrating my success, I'm having dinner at a fancy restaurant in the city with mom. I sat on the swivel chair scrolling through twitter while I waited for mom.

It’s a pleasant surprise when I notice the tall built of father, Maximus Wellington, walking towards my table alone. Father is about 6’0, in his early sixties, already spotting salt and pepper beards, impeccably dressed in a blue tux, advertising him like the successful business tycoon that he is. He’s without mom though, I’m a little disappointed but pleased to see him because I haven't seen him in months.

"Father, what a surprise!" I say as I stand up to greet him.

"My sweet Ava,” he says, lightly hugging before pecking both my cheeks. “Congratulations on your MBA, my dear," he says, taking my hand in his. "I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, Father," I reply with a smile. “Gawd, you haven’t aged a day since the last time you delivered a speech at Oxford.”

Father smiles and winks, the corner of his eyes crinkling. “I age like wine.”

That has me chuckling. “True, daddy. True. Where’s mom?” 

My father signals for the waiter bring the best champagne to our table. “You know your mom, she couldn’t resist the temptation to miss the Paris Fashion week. You know how that is dear to her heart,” he says.

I nod sadly. I would want mom to sacrifice something for me for once. But I loved her anyway, and I’m sure in her own way, she loves me too. "Soo you swooped in like a prince charming to save the day, right?" I ask, curious about his visit.

Father pats his chest like he’s hurt, "I don’t need for things to go wrong before I make out time to see my precious daughter. But I have some news to share with you, my dear," he says with a stern expression on his face.

"What kind of news?" I ask, sensing that something is wrong.

What could it possibly be? I have already made it clear to my family that I want nothing to do with the family business. I’m forging my own path.

"It's about your future," he replies, looking down at the floor.

There goes nothing… a knot forms in my stomach, and I have a feeling that this is not going to be good news.

“Well then, there’s no need to beat around the bush dad. I aint getting any younger.” I say sarcastically to lighten the air.

Father heaves and drops the bomb. "I've arranged for you to marry Baxter Wolf," my father says, finally looking up at me. His gray eyes impassive and at the same time piercing.

“You did what?” My heart sinks at the mention of Baxter Wolf. He's my sworn enemy. I can’t marry that traitor, not if he’s the last man on planet earth. I’d sooner marry a flesh eating alien from Uranus than the beast, Baxter. Not after he hurt me, and broke my trust.

Father remains quiet. 

I look him with angry eyes, clenching the table. "Father, I can't marry Baxter," I protest. “How could you? The Wolf’s are the enemy. You will be sending me to their den…or have you forgotten? Our families are lifelong enemies. Caroline will chew me alive and spit me out!”

"You have no choice, Ava. It's a matter of family honor," my father replies firmly.

I can't believe what I'm hearing. My father is asking me to marry a man I despise, all for the sake of family honor. What is honor? I’m sure to a cunning man like Baxter, honor means stabbing your childhood friend in the back and ruining her family. I can’t sign off my future to honorably marry a man who isn’t honorable.

"I won't do it, Father. I won't marry someone I don't love," I say, my voice shaking with anger.

My father sighs heavily. "Calm down, sweetie.”

I huff, not believing him. “Calm down? Don’t tell to calm down, father. You are destroying the life I’m building for myself, I won’t just lie down and take it.”

“I knew you would be difficult about this, Ava,” he calmly says.

I can't believe this is happening.

When our meals eventuality come, I can't eat anything. I sit across from my father, staring at him in disbelief as he tries to explain why the arranged marriage is the best course of action for the family.

"Think about it, Ava. Baxter comes from a questionable family, I get it, but it can’t be that bad. He's successful, he's respected. You guys were friends once. You could do a lot worse," my father says, trying to reason with me.

I am done sitting here and listening to this errant nonsense. “Have you forgotten what he did? What his family did to ours? I’m leaving.”

Father looks at me with disappointment etched on his face. "Very well, Ava. But remember, your decision will have consequences. You will be turning your back on your family, and you will be letting us down. Have you ever asked me of anything and I refused you? Have I ever let you down? When you decided to leave home, turn your back on the business, I let you walk away unscathed even though it hurt me deeply. Your mother and I have never asked anything of you but this one thing. Just this one small thing."

As I stare at my father, I feel a sense of betrayal wash over me. But his words got to me. He has never asked me of anything and they do everything for me.

I take in a deep breathe, trying to calm the fire in my lungs. "Can't you at least give me some time to think about it?" I ask in a defeated, small shaking voice.

"I can give you a week. Not a day more, I’m afraid, Ava," father says, rising to his feet. "We have to move quickly if we're going to make this marriage happen."

With that, he stands, drops a hundred dollar pill on the table and leaves, leaving me alone with my hazy thoughts. 

I know I have a difficult decision to make, but for the moment, all I can do is sit here, stunned by my father's announcement. I know I have to act fast and find a way out of this arranged marriage without hurting my parents as a result. 

But how?