The Williams estate dining hall was so choking. The mahogany table shone in the chandelier, yet none disturbed the food lying on it. Mr. and Mrs. Williams sat before it and their faces were stretched and tired. Sophia sat by them, with her pose stiff, her smile sad, yet triumphant.
Ethan was on the opposite side of the room, and Christiana was beside him, her hands shaking as she gripped his.
Mr. Williams at last interrupted. "Ethan, enough is enough. This... is too far in attaching to Christiana. She has made a shame of our home, disturbed our harmony. It cannot continue."
The eyes of Christiana sank, and her heart closed.
The voice of Sophia was smooth as she leaned forward. "Father's right. Ethan, you have to decide. Wait, with us, your family, your future or turn your back on her and lose all you have been given. Wealth, education, security. All of it."
Ethan's jaw clenched. Then what good is a fortune, to buy my heart with, to retain?
Sophia's eyes darkened. "Then sell your pride. And will she be able to give you what we can? She's nothing, Ethan. Ill-fated orphan girl that will pull you back into poverty. I may give you the world, and she may give you heartache only.
The breath of Christiana came in with a catch, and her eyes were stinging with tears. Probably she is right, Ethan... maybe, she said to herself. Maybe you should stay. I do not want to see you lose everything because of me.
His voice broke and he turned sharply to her. "Don't you dare say that. You are not nothing. Nothing leaves this life worth living except you.
Sophia slammed her hand on the table, and her calm finally broke. "Then pick, Ethan! Me or her. This family or love."
The room went quiet.
Ethan looked around the table, seeing the faces that had taken him in—the parents who gave him a home, the mansion that once felt like a safe place.
Then his eyes landed on Christiana, shaking but strong, standing there with nothing but her heart to give.
And he knew.
"I choose Christiana."
People gasped.
Mrs. Williams covered her mouth in surprise. Mr. Williams frowned, his face hard. Sophia turned pale, her body shaking like the ground had been taken away from under her.
Ethan's voice was calm and sure.
"Thank you for letting me stay, for feeding me, for giving me a place to live. But I can't stay in a place where love is seen as something bad. If leaving is the cost of being with her, then that's what I have to do."
He turned to Christiana and held her hand.
"Let's go."
Christiana's tears finally came, not because of sadness, but because of how heavy his decision felt.
Behind them, Sophia screamed through the big hall.
"You'll regret this, Ethan! You'll regret ever choosing her over me!"
But Ethan didn't look back.