Chapter 5: The Unwilling Bride

The early morning sunlight filtered through the large windows, spilling its golden glow across the room, illuminating the chaos of Jane's new reality. It hit her like a slap in the face, as if the universe was mocking her. There was no going back. Gone were the carefree days of youth, no more carefree mornings with thoughts of the future that didn't involve forced decisions or heavy burdens.

She glanced at herself in the mirror, her heart aching. Her reflection looked the same as always, but the person staring back at her felt like a stranger. The agreement her parents, Mommy Maita and Daddy Ramon, had made sealed her fate. Uncle Jonny, their driver, was waiting outside, ready to cart her off to school like nothing had changed. She felt small, swallowed by the weight of their expectations.

Her life was no longer her own. It was their game, their rules. A puppet dancing to their tune.

She slipped into the car, her chest tight with the weight of everything she couldn't change. She tried to shake off the wave of sadness crashing over her, but it was futile. She couldn’t escape it.

She headed to the café, the usual hangout spot where her friends, Miya and Rafael, would be waiting. It was a place where they shared everything, laughs, tears, secrets. But today felt different. She knew they wouldn't be happy to hear the news that had already shaken her world to its core.

When she stepped inside, the usual warmth of the café felt distant, almost foreign. They weren’t there yet, but she knew they would arrive soon, laughing as usual, filling the air with their joy. She couldn’t bring herself to feel the same.

Five minutes passed before they walked through the door, their laughter bouncing off the walls. Stella was the first to notice her.

“Well, well, look who’s gracing us with her presence this early. Something must be up, huh?” Stella teased, her eyes scanning Jane with a knowing smirk. “I see you’re a little too dressed up today. You meeting someone special?”

Allen, on the other hand, immediately frowned as he took in Lily’s expression. “You okay? What’s with the bruises? You’re not still letting them hit you, are you?”

Lily bit her lip, the familiar ache in her chest intensifying. “I... I’m fine,” she whispered, not meeting their gazes. But they weren’t buying it.

“You don’t have to hide it, you know. We know how they treat you,” Miya added, her voice laced with frustration. “Have you seriously been hurt again? God, I don’t get your family. I really don’t.”

Lily couldn’t say anything. Her throat closed up, the weight of their words suffocating her.

Rafael’s voice softened, filled with concern. “Please, just leave them. You know we’ve got your back. Hell, you can stay with me if it comes to that. You don’t deserve to go through this.”

She didn’t know how to respond. How could she explain what had happened? How could she tell them that everything had changed, in one weekend, without warning?

Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over her cheeks as she finally broke. “Guys... I’m married,” she choked out, the words coming out in a broken sob.

They stared at her, stunned. “What?” Miya’s voice was thick with disbelief. “Married? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Yeah, no way. You’re kidding, right?” Rafael added, his voice filled with confusion. “Who the hell are you married to?”

The tears didn’t stop. Lily wiped her eyes, shaking her head. “I don’t know. I don’t understand it either... it happened so fast.”

Miya crossed her arms, her face hardening. “Wait, who? Are you serious? You’ve been... married? Is it an arranged thing? I swear, I can’t trust your family to save my life.”

“It’s Ethan,” Lily managed to say through her sobs. The name hung in the air, heavier than anything else she’d said.

“What? Ethan...?” Rafael repeated, his voice low, almost questioning, as if he couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. “Ethan De La Cuesta? Your sister’s boyfriend? The one everyone knows is a womanizer? What the hell happened?”

Lily felt her stomach churn at the mention of his name. “I don’t know... I don’t remember what happened. All I know is I woke up next to him... in my bed... married.”

Miya’s eyes widened. “Wait... what? That’s insane. Ethan? Your sister’s guy? He’s…. he’s a mess, Lily! What the hell were you thinking?”

Rafael put a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her despite the shock written all over his face. “Did something happen? Like, did you….?”

But Lily shook her head, her thoughts scattered. “I don’t remember. The last thing I recall is drinking apple juice, and then... nothing. I woke up and... there he was.”

Her friends were stunned into silence. They didn’t know how to react, didn’t know what to say. How could they?

“What did he say?” Rafael asked softly, his voice tinged with disbelief. “Did he blame you for it?”

“He says I manipulated him... that it was all my fault,” Lily whispered, the words bitter on her tongue. “But I swear, I didn’t do anything. I don’t know how this happened.”

“That’s... messed up,” Miya muttered, clenching her fists in anger. “God, your family’s twisted. No one does that to their daughter.”

Lily felt herself growing numb. Everything she thought she understood about her family, about her life, was unraveling before her. They’d set her up, played her like a pawn in their sick game.

“And now I’m stuck... in his house. Married to him. I don’t know what to do,” Lily said, her voice cracking.

Miya shot to her feet, pacing. “This is insane! We have to do something. You’re not just some damn trophy for them to play with!” she snapped, her voice seething with anger.

“I know,” Lily whispered, her head spinning. “But I don’t even know who I am anymore.”

Her heart ached, but there was nothing she could do to fix it… not now, not yet.

She excused herself, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on her. “I have to go home. I need answers from them.”

“We’ll come with you,” Miya insisted, grabbing Lily’s hand. But Lily pulled away, shaking her head.

“No, I have to do this alone.”

She walked out the door, her mind a whirlwind of confusion, anger, and pain. But as she walked down the path, she couldn’t shake the feeling that nothing would ever be the same again.