I always thought I had a goal to achieve, a life to fulfil. That I would finish my school, build my own life, fall in love, build my family and have my own happy ever after. But no, life had its own plans, one I didn't expect would hit me so hard it felt like I was drowning. I knew something was wrong when my father had came home one day, disoriented. looking frantically around, spreading multiple files on the table, racking his head like he was looking for a solution. When my mother had asked what happened, he'd looked so defeated I almost cried for him. When I later discovered what happened, I realized, he had been scammed, the information sat like a brick on my chest. How did that happen?.
My father was one of the most successful, brilliant businessmen in the country. And as a man dealing with multiple business brands, heavily involved in political affairs, knows how to make his profits, I still wondered how he got scammed. That was a year ago, and we've barely been holding off since then, though we weren't bankrupt, we just became less rich than we were before. Now, my mother complained a lot, sees fault in everything he does and makes sure to remind him everytime he came up with a new business idea that he was once stupid enough to get scammed. Everything my Dad came up with kept reaching a dead end, he had begun to lose hope. Until he came home one day with a timid smile on his face, telling me he needed a favor from me.
I knew it was something that would be hard to do, but of all the hard things I thought, getting married was not one of them. The news was shocking, I was told that every problem we were facing would vanish if I married this Man, who was this man?, I didn't know.
Apparently, he was an artist, a Professor of art. Billionaire. That word alone was enough to drive my mother to the edge of her sanity.
Although my parents asked me, I knew I had no choice but to agree, my mother had always made it known to me that being an only child and daughter came with a lot of sacrifices, and this was one of them. But he was 28 years old, I was only 21.
And that's how I found myself in the car, next to my mom, on our way to the Zukors' residence, to meet Zurien Zukor, my husband to be and his family. As we pulled up to the grand entrance of the Zukors' family mansion, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease wash over me. The sprawling estate loomed before us, its towering spires and manicured lawns was an evidence of the Zukors' wealth and influence. My mother's grip on my arm tightened, her nails digging into my skin as she whispered urgent reminders in my ear.
"Ava, remember to smile, to be gracious. This is a crucial night. Don't embarrass me."
I rolled my eyes."I'm always embarrassing you mother, no matter what I do, at the end of the day it always ends up with me embarrassing you anyways. And yes, I'm gonna smile, I'm not going to act like I have a a stick up my ass, and I'm going to pretend like everything is perfect." I quipped.
The car came to a stop, and our driver, Mr. Jenkins, leapt out to open the door for us. My mother released her hold on me, and I stepped out onto the driveway, my high heels clicking on the smooth stone.
"You better leave that attitude of yours in the car. This is a very important dinner, we can't afford to ruin it." She said firmly.
"Chill Mama, you're acting like we're going for an interview."
She turned to look at me up and down, giving an affirmative nod. She was proud of herself I believe, as she was the one who picked out the dress for me. It was a simple burgundy gown that hugged at the waist and flared at the hips, matched with simple heels and a portable bag, a thing necklace enhanced my neck, glowing under the artificial lights of the mansion. It was simple, boring, sophisticated, in my opinion. And my mother, the woman herself was dressed prim and proper her usual style as always, she's always dressed as if she's going to an office. Her slender figure moving with years and years of masterd elegance. I would be jealous, I should be jealous, but that just wasn't my thing, I was more of a live in the moment kind of person, not just trying to be perfect all my life.
On a normal day I would frustrate the living hell out of her and not wear the dress but I was angry as it is already. And it was not a normal day.
She reached out to fix my hair and I swatted her hands away. She looked at me incredulously and I matched her stare with a scowl.
"Aveline!, Behave will you?" She scolded.
"You've done enough nagging already, quit it." I snapped.
"I told you to leave this attitude of yours in the car but what is this behavior." She asked.
"You didn't leave yours in the car, so why should I leave mine?." I retorted.
She took a deep breath and shook her head, I could tell I was beginning to drive her crazy, that is one of my many talents.
"We are not having this conversation, you will behave like a proper woman and this dinner will go smoothly as planned, understood?."
"Whatever." I replied and began walking forward.
The evening air was cool and fragrant, filled with the scent of blooming flowers and fresh-cut grass. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as I gazed up at the mansion. It was even more imposing up close, its stone facade gleaming in the fading light of day.
My mother nudged me forward, and I began to walk towards the entrance, I realized I had stopped walking, my heart pounded in my chest. I could feel my mother's eyes upon me, the weight of Zuerien's family's expectations bearing down on me like a physical force. I straightened my shoulders, trying to shake off the feeling of being trapped, of being a pawn in a game I didn't want to play.