"Brian, I don’t want to go through with the arranged marriage. I don’t want to marry that lunatic. He’s cruel and brutal. The women from previous arranged marriages … they all died! Why does it have to be me and not Lilian?"
Brian stroked her back gently. His voice was soothing and tender as he said, "Don’t worry. With me here, no one will dare force you. It doesn’t matter who has to go through with the arranged marriage. It won’t be you."
My parents immediately chimed in, their voices full of reassurance as they said, "Don’t worry, sweetheart. We would never agree to let you go. We’ll protect you."
I stood silently at the doorway. No one turned to look at me. Without a word, I walked straight to my room. The moment the door clicked shut, memories flooded my mind like a relentless tide.
I remembered the time I casually mentioned wanting to see the sunrise. That very night, Brian chartered a private jet to fly me to a remote island. He even built a special observation deck so I could watch the sunrise in comfort.