a's

t thing I saw, her broad smile almost blinding. I yawned and sat up, scrat

d voices drifting up from downstairs. I could tell some

is just a normal day? You've completely forgotten, haven't you?" She sighed dra

day my life, or rather, my family's future, would be sealed through my engagement to

nt questions-it was all part of the deal. This engagement was not just about love, it was

"Emma, snap out of it! We've got to ge

ment for both families. I had been trained for this my entire life, groomed for this day. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sincl

focating, but I had to keep g

rwork with his associates. I could hear the familiar buzz of conversation-talk of investments, mergers, a

toward the car. "You okay?" she

'm fine. Just... a

"You're going to be amazing tonight. And you

ck-but that didn't mean I knew where I stood with him, or what I really wanted from all of this. The media had painted a perfect picture of us, the

. Reporters lined the entrance, their cameras flashing as our car pulled up. I could already feel the weight of th

. They looked as polished and perfect as ever. Ryan's dark suit fit him perfectly, and his hair was styled in that e

or a moment, his eyes scanni

smile on my lips. "Thanks. Yo

gaze softening. "

agne. Ryan grabbed two glasses and handed one to me. "Her

I echoed, but part of me wondered what "us" really meant. Was it

The music from the main hall faded into the background as we settled in

greed to this engagement, I thought it was just business. A way to make the families st

stirring in my chest. Was he just saying that because of

Ryan!" she called out, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "You

his temple. "Lena, mus

. "Because you two are the stars of the show, and yo

d guests were laughing and chatting. Ryan and I drifted back into the center of it

had sh

versation with his parents, Jonathan and Elaine, discussing something with a group of businessmen. I stood there for a moment, feeling

thing familiar, but the longer I looked, the more distant she seemed. I moved t

o catch my breath, but then I re

th his parents? I hadn't seen him for a whi

ge emptiness that settled over me. My role in all of this had been planned for me, decided before I had a say. The engagement, the famili

yself standing alone, feeling more