The moment Mr. Cole dropped the bombshell, Jayden felt as though her soul had temporarily left her body.
Two weeks?
Marriage?
Just like that?
Before she could even process the shock, her father had already disappeared upstairs, leaving behind a suffocating silence that pressed heavily against her chest.
Jayden stood frozen.
Her mind was completely blank.
Who does this to their own daughter?
Just because she was nearing thirty, they suddenly wanted to throw her into marriage as though it were some emergency project that needed immediate completion.
Were there not women in their late thirties and forties living successful lives without being tied to any man?
Why was everyone acting as though marriage was the only achievement that mattered?
Her breathing became uneven.
The pressure in her chest kept rising until she genuinely felt like she might lose her sanity if pushed any further.
And the worst part?
Her father hadn't even given her the chance to speak.
He had simply announced her wedding date and warned her not to "play tricks," as though he already expected rebellion from her.
After turning her entire life upside down, he went upstairs peacefully to rest.
Meanwhile, she was here barely holding herself together.
Jayden slowly turned toward her mother, hurt and betrayal flashing openly across her face.
"Mum?" Her voice trembled slightly. "You're really not going to say anything?"
Mrs. Cole remained silent.
That silence shattered something inside Jayden completely.
"I should've known better," she continued bitterly. "The moment you convinced me to attend that dinner 'just for courtesy's sake,' I should've known you already had plans behind my back."
Tears gathered in her eyes again.
"You told me to meet him casually, only for you all to start arranging a wedding immediately afterward?"
Her voice cracked.
"Who does that?"
Still, Mrs. Cole said nothing.
Jayden laughed hollowly through her tears.
"At this point, I honestly won't even be surprised if I find out you people sold me off somewhere," she said painfully. "Because tell me—what exactly is the difference between this and trafficking?"
"Jayden" her mother finally tried to speak.
"No!" Jayden snapped immediately. "At least kidnapped people hope to escape someday. But with you people? It's either obey or suffocate."
The room fell silent again.
Jayden wiped angrily at her tears before grabbing her handbag.
"For the sake of my sanity," she said shakily, "I can't stay here tonight and pretend everything is normal."
Without waiting for another response, she turned and hurried out of the house.
"Jayden!" Hayden called immediately before rushing after her.
The front door slammed shut behind them.
Inside the living room, Mrs. Cole finally exhaled tiredly and sank back into her seat.
The pressure was becoming unbearable.
Trying to remain neutral between her husband and daughter was no longer working.
Both of them cared deeply for each other
Yet both were hurting each other in the worst possible ways.
Mr. Cole believed he was securing his daughter's future.
Jayden believed her freedom was being stolen.
And neither side wanted to compromise.
Mrs. Cole rubbed her forehead slowly.
Perhaps they truly were handling the right intentions in the wrong way.
After a long moment, she stood up decisively.
She needed to speak with her husband properly before things escalated beyond repair.
If the marriage could no longer be stopped, then at the very least, they shouldn't force the girl so harshly.
Jayden was still their daughter
Not a machine programmed to obey commands.
——————
Outside, Hayden finally caught up with his sister just as she reached her car.
"Big sis wait."
Jayden stopped but didn't turn immediately.
Hayden moved closer carefully.
"You know Mum and Dad love you," he began gently. "What they're doing right now may not feel right, and honestly, Dad definitely went overboard tonight… but everything they're doing is because they're worried about you."
Jayden laughed weakly.
"Worried enough to arrange my wedding in two weeks?"
"I know," Hayden sighed. "That part shocked me too."
Jayden leaned tiredly against the car.
"It's not even about the wedding anymore," she admitted quietly. "I never planned on accepting the marriage in the first place."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"How can they force me to marry a complete stranger?"
Hayden remained silent.
"This is the twenty-first century," she continued bitterly. "Not some ancient era where women had no choice except submission."
Her eyes burned with determination.
"I refuse to become some caged bird."
The night fell quiet around them.
"Dad isn't struggling financially," Jayden added frustratedly. "So what exactly am I sacrificing my happiness for? Because honestly, if they want this wedding so badly, they should go find another bride."
Hayden sighed softly before speaking again.
"Everything you're saying makes sense," he admitted honestly. "And I agree with most of it."
Jayden looked at him in surprise.
"But…" Hayden continued carefully, "sometimes the devil your parents know is safer than the unknown angel you meet yourself."
Jayden frowned slightly.
"Dad already investigated everything about him," Hayden explained. "His background. His company. His health. His character."
"And you're not even someone who cares about money or status anyway."
Jayden stayed quiet.
"So maybe," Hayden said gently, "you should at least trust the process a little."
Jayden looked away.
"No parent would knowingly throw their daughter into hell, sis. No matter how strict they are."
The tension in her shoulders slowly eased.
"Besides," Hayden continued lightly, "accepting the engagement doesn't mean surrendering your freedom completely."
Jayden glanced back at him.
"You can set your rules," he said with a small smile. "If he respects them, then maybe things won't be as terrible as you think."
A long silence passed between them.
Then Hayden reached out and squeezed her shoulder gently.
"Whatever decision you make," he said sincerely, "I'll always stand by you."
That finally broke the remaining wall around Jayden's heart.
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she suddenly hugged him tightly.
"What would I do without you?" she whispered emotionally. "You've always been on my side."
Hayden laughed softly and wiped at her tears.
"You're such a big baby sometimes."
"Hm," Jayden sniffed. "Keep teasing me."
"I definitely will."
Despite herself, she smiled faintly.
"I'll think about everything you said," she admitted quietly. "But don't tell anyone about this conversation."
Hayden immediately raised his hand dramatically.
"Scout's honor."
Jayden rolled her eyes before extending her pinky finger toward him.
He laughed but hooked his finger around hers anyway.
Afterward, Hayden gently took her car keys from her.
"I'm driving you home," he decided firmly. "You need rest."
For the first time that night, Jayden didn't argue.