Carter glanced at Emily, concern etched across his features. He understood that any defense he offered would only dig her deeper into trouble.
With a shaky breath, Emily clutched the hem of her shirt, summoning her courage. “Whitney, I’m really sorry. I had no idea Tina would lose it and start throwing things at you.”
Whitney offered a faint smile, her voice softening. “Alright, I understand.”
A flicker of hope ignited in Emily’s eyes. “Whitney, you’re always so understanding. You’ll forgive me, won’t you?”
Whitney regarded her with a cool gaze. “Milly, are you really trying to pressure me into forgiving you?”
“Since we’re all being honest today, there’s something I need to say too. I already talked to Carter about this a while back, Grandpa. Not sure if he ever mentioned it to you,” she continued, her tone shifting to something more serious.
Carter’s heart raced, panic coursing through him. *What is she planning? Is she really going to tell Grandpa she wants out of the engagement?*
Sabrina’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively reached for Whitney’s hand, forcing a laugh that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Come on, Whitney, whatever it is, let’s discuss it after dinner, okay? It’s almost seven. I bet you’re starving.”
George, who had been quietly observing the exchange, glanced at Sabrina and seemed to catch on to the tension in the room. “Yeah, let’s eat first. Dad, why don’t we start dinner?”
Klein stood up, a smirk playing on his lips as he looked at Emily, who appeared as pale as a ghost, before turning his gaze to Carter, whose expression was stormy.
In that moment, Carter felt a wave of dread wash over him, fearing that Whitney might actually reveal the truth.
He was terrified that if Whitney spoke up, Emily would be shipped off abroad for another five years, just like before.
Dinner unfolded with everyone distracted, the atmosphere thick with unspoken words and unresolved tension.
Whitney had accepted Sabrina’s suggestion to hold off on the conversation for now, but she was determined to ensure that Sabrina heard her out today, no matter what.
“I’m full. I’m going back to my room,” Emily declared, the first to set her fork down, her voice tinged with a hint of defiance.
James glanced at her, his expression indifferent. “Okay.”
Sabrina, eager to keep the mood light, chimed in, “Milly, if you’re finished, you can head upstairs.”
She then shot George a meaningful look.
George caught the hint and spoke up, “Dad, I want to discuss that project with you and Klein.”
James sighed, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice. “Do we have to talk about it now?”
“Dad, it’s pretty urgent,” George insisted, his tone brooking no argument.
Reluctantly, James conceded and followed them upstairs, but before he left, he turned to Whitney. “Don’t wait for me. Just go ahead and eat. I’ll be back down soon.”
Sabrina had deftly orchestrated the room’s dynamics, ensuring that everyone else was gone.
Whitney sensed the shift and set her fork down, recognizing that Sabrina desired a private conversation.
“Carter, could you go upstairs and grab that box for me? Hurry!” Sabrina urged, her tone leaving no room for hesitation.
Carter cast Whitney a lingering look, his expression conflicted, before heading upstairs.
Once he was out of sight, Sabrina seized Whitney’s hand, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Whit, I’m truly sorry you’ve had to endure all this. My son can be such a nerd sometimes. Don’t let it bother you.”
“But look, you two have made it through five years to get here, and the wedding is just around the corner. Try to forgive him for being a little immature, alright? Trust me, once you’re married, if he ever upsets you again, I’ll set him straight. And even if I don’t, his grandpa won’t let him off easy. Don’t stay upset, honey. I genuinely adore you. I’m counting down the days until your wedding.”
Whitney offered a soft smile, but her heart felt heavy. “Sabrina, I’ve already made up my mind not to marry him. Didn’t Carter tell you all?”
“The day we failed to get the license, I knew right then that I wasn’t going to marry him.”
Sabrina’s smile faltered, a flicker of concern crossing her features. “Whit, please be honest with me. Has Carter been giving you a hard time? If he has, just tell me. I’ll stand up for you.”
“But with the wedding just days away, I really don’t like hearing you talk about not going through with it.”
Whitney’s thoughts darkened as she mused, *She keeps pretending to care, but of course she’ll back her own son.*
“Sabrina, I’ve spent five years convincing myself that Carter loves me. But even now, I’ve never once felt that love returned.
“I know all his favorites. I was always his little shadow, trailing behind him, hoping for a glimpse of affection.
“When he finally introduced me to his friends, I felt a surge of pride, thinking he had finally fallen for me.
“But I can’t keep lying to myself. With her, he remembers every little detail, every moment they share.
“He never forgets a single day spent with her. But me? He can’t even recall the date we were supposed to get our marriage license.”
Whitney met Sabrina’s gaze directly, her resolve hardening. “Sabrina, I can’t accept a marriage without love. I deserve more than an open relationship. Shouldn’t I walk away?”
Her question struck a chord with Sabrina, who parted her lips to respond but only managed a long, weary sigh.
“Honestly, it’s Carter’s fault. You haven’t done anything wrong,” she said gently, squeezing Whitney’s hand in a show of solidarity. “I didn’t do a good job raising my son, so please don’t blame yourself.
“But Whit, could you just give us a little more time, okay? I’m just scared it’ll be too much for James to handle.”
“How about this? Don’t get the marriage license just yet; have the wedding first. After it’s all over, you can tell James that you’re not really right for each other. Do you think that would work?” Sabrina proposed, her voice filled with desperation.
Whitney’s expression hardened, her gaze turning icy. “That’s not acceptable. If we go through with the wedding, wouldn’t everyone just assume I’m married?
“Sabrina, do you really think that’s fair to a girl’s reputation?”
Sabrina fell silent, the weight of Whitney’s words hanging in the air.
“The most I can give you is five days. You’d better figure out how to break it to James,” Whitney stated, her tone unyielding.
“If not, I won’t be showing up at the wedding at all,” she added, her determination resolute.
Whitney stood up, her decision made. “Sabrina, I need to leave now. Could you let James know I’m going?”
She had already stretched her limits, and now it was time to reclaim her dignity.
Meanwhile, Carter was still upstairs, fruitlessly hunting for that elusive box, growing increasingly frustrated. When he finally descended the stairs, he found his mother waiting for him, her expression fierce.
“Where is she?” Carter demanded, his voice tinged with urgency.
Sabrina shot him a withering glare. “Your fiancée just left with someone else. Happy now?”
Whitney had taken the wheel herself that day, her mind swirling with the possibility of awkward encounters. She wanted to be prepared for any situation, especially if she needed to make a hasty retreat.
However, as she drove away from Harris Manor, a thought struck her like a bolt of lightning-she had intended to discuss the contract with Klein today. It felt like a missed opportunity, a shortcut she had overlooked in her quest for fairness and equal footing in the competitive landscape she found herself in.
Pulling her car to the side of the road, she fished her phone out of her bag and opened the chat with Klein, her heart racing slightly as she typed.
Whitney: [Uncle Klein, will you be staying at Harris Manor tonight?]
To her surprise, his response came through almost immediately, causing her to raise an eyebrow in astonishment.
Klein: [What’s going on? Are you waiting for me to leave together?]
A flush crept across Whitney’s cheeks as she read his message. “Uncle Klein always maintains such an air of propriety, yet his words carry a playful undertone,” she mused, feeling a mix of confusion and excitement. Was she projecting her own feelings onto their exchanges, or was there truly something flirtatious in his tone?
Sitting up a little straighter in her seat, Whitney felt a surge of determination.
Whitney: [No, I’ve already left. If you’re free to chat, I can wait for you at the intersection.]
The minutes dragged on, each second stretching out like an eternity until Klein finally replied with a simple, yet reassuring, [Sure.]
*****
Meanwhile, in the study, Klein ran his thumb over the screen, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.