Chapter 3 Decision

The door burst open.

Diane barely had time to register the sudden intrusion before she was met with a room full of accusing eyes.

Her heart slammed against her ribs as she stood there, wrapped in a silk robe, the faint scent of last night's decisions still clinging to her skin. Across from her, Charles lounged lazily on the couch, one arm draped over the backrest, his expression unreadable.

And at the entrance-Nathaniel.

Fuming.

His blue eyes burned with barely restrained rage as he took in the scene. Behind him, a cluster of figures loomed, their expressions ranging from shock to cold calculation.

The elder of the Wallington family was here.

Her stepmother, Rosemary, was the first to break the silence.

"You disgraceful girl!" she spat, stepping forward with all the rage of a woman scorned. "How dare you humiliate us like this? Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Diane's nails dug into her palms, but she held her ground.

She refused to look weak in front of these people.

Rosemary's eyes darted to Nathaniel, then back to her. "You should be ashamed of yourself! Running off on your wedding night and throwing yourself at-" She gestured wildly toward Charles. "At your fiancé's older brother? Have you no shame?"

Diane's lips curled in a smirk. "Funny, I don't recall anyone calling Nathaniel shameless when he decided to sleep with my sister the night before our wedding."

A collective gasp rippled through the room.

Nathaniel's jaw tightened. "Diane-"

"You don't get to talk," she cut in, her voice sharp. "You lost that right when you betrayed me."

Rosemary, however, was not done. She turned to the elders, shaking her head. "This scandal is already spiraling out of control. We must fix this immediately."

Diane narrowed her eyes. Fix this?

Rosemary's lips twisted into a pleased smirk before she turned to Nathaniel. "There's only one solution-Nathaniel should marry Anabel."

The room fell silent.

Diane felt her breath catch in her throat.

Anabel?

Her own stepsister? Ha.

Nathaniel stiffened, his fists clenching at his sides. "What?"

"It's the only way," Rosemary insisted, her voice smooth, calculated. "The damage has been done. The media is already speculating about your breakup, and if you marry Anabel instead, we can spin it as if that was the plan all along."

Diane scoffed. The audacity.

Of course, Rosemary would try to secure another marriage into the Wallington family.

Before Nathaniel could respond, an authoritative voice cut through the room.

"That will not be necessary."

All eyes turned to the old man seated in the corner-the head of the Wallington family. Mr. Theodore Wallington.

The weight of his presence alone commanded attention.

Diane swallowed hard. She had only spoken to the man a handful of times, but she knew one thing for certain-his words were final.

His gaze swept over the room before settling on Charles.

"You," he said, voice firm. "You will take responsibility."

Diane's breath hitched.

What?

Charles, who had been silent this entire time, finally moved. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his expression calm.

The old man nodded. "You will marry her."

Another shocked silence filled the room.

Nathaniel stepped forward. "Grandfather, you can't be serious."

Theodore shot him a withering glare. "You had your chance. You threw it away."

Nathaniel's face darkened and he fell silent.

Meanwhile, Diane was still processing what was happening. Marry Charles? She had daringly climbed his bed with the intention of giving Nathan the taste of his own medicine, but...

Theodore continued, his voice unwavering. "The media already believes she spent the night with you, Charles. The scandal is out, and if we do not control the narrative, the repercussions will be far worse."

Rosemary clench her hand together, clearly angry , how could she let the other woman's daughter marry into the Wallington just like that. "No, she won't allow it.

Diane's mouth felt dry. "And if I refuse?"

Theodore's eyes met hers, sharp and calculating. "Then be prepared to watch your family fall." You younger generation takes everything as joke .

She stilled.

Rosemary interjected, our Diane is still young and unable to understand these things. She doesn't want to get married and we can't force her, I think Nathaniel and Anabel make a good match.

She spoke smoothly before casting a cold glance at Diane.

The Wallingtons held power. If they wanted, they could destroy the Thompsons with a snap of their fingers.

Diane felt trapped.

And then, Charles spoke.

His voice was calm, but laced with amusement. "Fine."

Her head snapped toward him. "Fine?"

He met her gaze, his smirk barely visible. "You heard the old man.

Her pulse pounded in her ears.

Just like that? wow.

Theodore nodded in approval. "Good. The wedding will take place tomorrow."

Rosemary was furious, not only was her suggestion wasn't taken, they acted as if she and her daughter were invisible in the room. She hurried out dragging Anabel with her, she needed to talk to the old man, she couldn't afford to leave a bad image.

She was going to be Mrs. Charles Wallington. Diane thought..

As the room emptied, Diane felt the weight of her situation settle over her.

Nathaniel was the last to leave. He turned to her, his voice low and seething. "You think you've won, don't you?" Do you even know what's involved in the marriage proposal?

She tilted her head. "I don't need to win, Nathaniel. I just refuse to lose." she sneered, not wanting to ask about the pros and cons of the proposal but, she'd surely get do her findings.

His eyes flashed, but before he could say anything else, Charles spoke lazily from behind her.

"Don't you have somewhere to be, , his gaze locking onto hers.little brother?"

Nathaniel's fists clenched before he finally stormed out, slamming the door behind him. His cousin surely knows how to ruin things for, but he won't let it slide. And Diane? tsk...

Silence.

Diane took a deep breath. Tomorrow.

She would be walking down the aisle .

But this time, to a man she's chosen for herself.

The air was heavy between her and Charles as he stood from the couch

"You're awfully quiet," he mused.

Diane exhaled slowly, then turned to him with a smirk. "Just thinking about how ridiculous this situation is."

Charles chuckled, stepping closer. "You have a habit of getting into ridiculous situations."

She arched a brow. "And you have a habit of agreeing to them."

A slow smirk spread across his lips. "I suppose I do."

A bold thought crossed her mind, and before she could stop herself, she reached out-her fingers trailing lightly over his chest, then lower.

Charles's smirk deepened.

"Another round?" she teased.

He grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer, his voice a low murmur against her skin. "Careful, Ms Thompson."

She shivered.

Soon, the room was filled with the sound of her moans, then his heavy breathing, and then-nothing but breathless whispers and tangled sheets.

Tomorrow, she would be his wife.

But this moment... she was simply his.

The Thompson family house

Anabel is still young and naive, Diane should have acted like a proper lady and remain calm so we can sort things out, but no ...