Chapter 4 The private conversation

After the formal part of the meeting concluded, the group dispersed into smaller clusters of conversation, the air still thick with the remnants of business dealings. Edward motioned for Sophia to follow him into a private office just off the main conference room. He had a look in his eyes that Sophia couldn't quite place-a mixture of determination and something darker, something almost predatory.

As soon as the door shut behind them, Edward turned to face her, his expression now more serious. "Sophia," he began, his voice quiet but intense, "you need to understand something. This marriage-it's not about feelings. It's not about love. It's about securing the future. For both our families."

Sophia's heart raced, the words sinking in deeper than she wanted them to. She had known all along that Edward wasn't driven by love-but hearing him say it so bluntly, with no attempt to soften the truth, stung.

"You've made that clear," she said, her voice tight, though she tried to maintain composure. "But that's not what I want. I want a marriage built on respect-something more than just a strategic move."

Edward took a step closer to her, his gaze never leaving hers. "You don't have a choice, Sophia," he said softly, though there was a hard edge to his words now. "We don't always get to choose the circumstances we're in. You're not just marrying me; you're marrying the legacy, the future. Our families' success depends on this."

Sophia felt a knot form in her stomach as his words hit her like a cold wave. He wasn't asking for her heart; he was demanding her compliance. She had hoped-no, believed-that there might be something more between them, that maybe, just maybe, they could build something real. But Edward wasn't interested in that. He saw her as a means to an end, and she was just another piece in his carefully constructed world.

"Is that all we are to you, then?" Sophia asked, her voice shaking slightly. "Just pieces to be moved around on your chessboard?"

Edward's expression softened for a moment, and his hand reached out to touch hers in a way that seemed almost too intimate, too possessive. "No, Sophia. You're important. You are the key to ensuring that everything I've worked for, everything our families have built, will endure."

Sophia pulled her hand away sharply, the cold realization of the situation washing over her. "I see," she said quietly, her voice laced with finality. "But I refuse to be a pawn in anyone's game."

Edward watched her carefully, the brief flicker of emotion in his eyes quickly replaced by the calculated composure that defined him. "You'll come around, Sophia. You'll see that this is the right thing."