Chapter 6

Sarah P.O.V

It was nearly 11 in the morning, and I was ready with my decision. I went downstairs and knocked on Grandpa's door; he opened it.

I entered the room and saw Grandma sitting on the couch, reading a magazine. I sat next to her while Grandpa sat across from us. I cleared my throat before speaking.

"Grandpa, Grandma, I've made my decision. I want to save my mother's company; I don't want to lose Amario Enterprises. I'm ready for the marriage," I told them.

As soon as I finished speaking, I saw both my grandparents beaming with happiness. Grandma immediately hugged me tightly.

"Oh Sarah, I knew you would make the right decision. I'm sure this marriage and merger will bring much happiness to your life," Grandpa said while kissing my forehead.

"I'm sure you'll fulfil the responsibilities of both a wife and the new CEO of Amario Enterprises," Grandma said, clasping her hands together.

Both Grandma and Grandpa started discussing the merger and wedding. It had been ages since I'd seen them this happy. When Mom was alive, we always spent our vacations with Grandpa and Grandma.

We used to have so much fun then; Mom and Grandma would bake cakes and muffins together, while Dad and Grandpa taught me horseback riding and swimming.

Those were some of my happiest memories with my family.

Thinking of my father made me realize it had been five years since I'd seen him.

During those years, he never contacted me, and I didn't make any effort either. Before moving back here, I hoped he might visit, but it's been nearly a month since I returned, and he hasn't shown up.

"Sarah, dear, you'll be coming with me to Amario Enterprises tomorrow to sign the documents. You'll also meet your fiancé before signing," Grandpa informed me.

"Yes, dear, it would be good if you two met and got to know each other before the wedding," Grandma added.

I gave them a weak smile, but deep inside, I was nervous about the whole situation. Suddenly, it occurred to me that I still didn't know the name of the person I was marrying.

"Grandpa, may I know the name of the person I'm marrying?" I asked.

"Oh! Well, his name is Adrian Parker, the CEO of Parker Enterprises," he replied.

As soon as he said the name, I felt the ground slip from under my feet.

"Adrian Parker? The son of James and Lauren Parker?" I asked, hoping it wasn't him.

"Yes, sweetheart, he's the one," he answered.

I was utterly shocked. He was the same Adrian Parker who used to be my friend—a friend who abandoned me and our friendship.

"I'll see you later; I have some work to do," I told them and kissed their cheeks.

I immediately grabbed my car keys and started driving without a specific destination. After an hour, I found myself standing in front of my mother's grave.

I sat there for hours, remembering how happy our lives were when she was alive. Maybe I wouldn't be in this situation if she were here. Maybe I would have had a normal life with a happy family.

But now, everything is different; nothing is as I imagined or wished.

I still remember Adrian Parker, the guy who used to be one of my close friends along with Jessica, but it's been years since we talked or saw each other.

When he left for London, we three promised to stay connected no matter what. Even when Jessica started ignoring me, Adrian and I stayed in touch through emails, social media, and calls.

But slowly, the calls became less frequent, and eventually, he stopped calling altogether. I tried reaching out, but my calls went to voicemail. We were still connected through messages and emails, but by the end of sophomore year, he stopped replying.

Occasionally, I overheard Jessica and Chloe talking about Adrian. I heard them discuss the plans Adrian and Jessica made for her visit to London that summer.

It became clear he was purposely avoiding me. Maybe he chose Jessica over me, though all I wanted was for us three to stay friends. But they both decided to throw me out of their lives as if our friendship meant nothing to them.

FLASHBACK

It had been almost two years since I last heard from Adrian. He visited New York every summer, and he came for vacation that year too. I saw him hanging out with Chloe and Jessica the other day.

I was in my room, finishing up a painting, when I heard noises from downstairs, indicating Chloe had brought her friends over again.

I decided to ignore them and continue my work. After finishing my painting, I heard my stomach growl. I quickly put on my hoodie and went to the kitchen to grab something to eat. As I headed back to my room, holding a mug of hot coffee, I heard Chloe call from the living room.

"Hey Sarah, what are you doing alone? Come join us," she said.

"No, thanks, I've got some work to do," I politely declined. I was about to leave when I suddenly heard Adrian's voice.

"C'mon, Sarah, join us. A few minutes won't hurt," he insisted.

Though my instincts told me not to, I decided to join them for a few minutes. I walked into the living room, holding my coffee mug. I saw familiar faces from school, including Jessica and Justin.

I smiled and looked at Adrian. It had been so long since I'd seen him up close. As I walked toward the couch, Chloe stuck out her leg, causing me to lose my balance. I fell flat on the floor, spilling my coffee all over Jessica. Before I could even stand, Chloe started shouting.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you, Sarah? You're always finding ways to harm or insult Jessica," she yelled.

"I didn't do it on purpose; I'm so sorry, Jessica," I said, standing up.

"Ah, it's fine, Sarah," Jessica said, though I could see the smirk on her face.

"No, it's not fine. You did that on purpose. Adrian, this isn't the first time she's harmed Jessica," Chloe said, as Adrian was busy wiping Jessica with cold water.

"I knew you always hated Jessica, but I didn't know you could actually hurt her," Adrian said angrily.

Before I could defend myself, Adrian grabbed me harshly and pushed me out of the room.

"Get out of here; I don't want someone like you near me or Jessica."

I could sense his anger and hatred in his voice, but I also saw his concern for Jessica in his eyes. Without further explanation, I ran to my room and shut the door behind me. I knew Chloe and Jessica would torture me again once everyone left, as I had ruined their evening.

I was angry at myself for being a coward; I was tired of being weak and fragile.

FLASHBACK ENDS

That was the last time I saw him. After that, I did my best to avoid him, especially around Jessica and Chloe.

And now, I'm supposed to marry him. How can I deal with him? What if he hates me? How will I handle being around him?

I sat there for hours, thinking about everything, remembering my family and mother. Finally, as it grew dark, I decided to go home.

"You need to be strong, Sarah. You can survive this."