Chapter 3 003

Emma's POV

I woke up to the sound of tapping on my shoulder. Lena's face was the first thing I saw, her broad smile almost blinding. I yawned and sat up, scratching my hair, still confused by the morning. What was all the fuss about?

"Lena, are there visitors around?" I asked, hearing loud voices drifting up from downstairs. I could tell something was off- there was an odd energy in the air today.

"Oh dear..." Lena groaned, rolling her eyes. "What's up with you? You think this is just a normal day? You've completely forgotten, haven't you?" She sighed dramatically. "You can't forget something like this, just like your birthday, Emma."

I blinked. It didn't take long for the pieces to fall together. Today was the day. The day my life, or rather, my family's future, would be sealed through my engagement to Ryan. The Sinclair and Carter families, once separate, were about to merge through us.

The media circus had been relentless for weeks now. The reporters, the cameras, the constant questions-it was all part of the deal. This engagement was not just about love, it was about power, influence, and legacy. I couldn't forget that, no matter how much I wanted to.

Lena's voice broke through my thoughts. "Emma, snap out of it! We've got to get ready. Everyone's waiting downstairs."

I nodded, trying to shake off the heaviness in my chest. The event wasn't just any ordinary occasion-it was a pivotal moment for both families. I had been trained for this my entire life, groomed for this day. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, had never given me a choice. And Ryan... well, Ryan was the perfect match for the plan they had carefully laid out.

The weight of it all felt suffocating, but I had to keep going. My family depended on it.

Downstairs, my parents were in full-on "business mode." My father, Mr. Sinclair, was finalizing some paperwork with his associates. I could hear the familiar buzz of conversation-talk of investments, mergers, and strategic partnerships. It felt like everything had already been decided for me before I even had a say.

Lena grabbed my hand as we walked toward the car. "You okay?" she asked, concern evident in her eyes.

I smiled weakly. "I'm fine. Just... a little overwhelmed."

"Don't worry," she said, squeezing my hand. "You're going to be amazing tonight. And you know what? You've got Ryan in your corner."

That was the thing, though. Ryan might have been in my corner, but I wasn't sure I was in his. The engagement was happening-there was no turning back-but that didn't mean I knew where I stood with him, or what I really wanted from all of this. The media had painted a perfect picture of us, the perfect couple, but behind closed doors, things felt much more complicated. I didn't know why all this was running through my head today of all day!

The drive to the hotel felt like a blur. The grandeur of the five-star venue was enough to leave anyone breathless. Reporters lined the entrance, their cameras flashing as our car pulled up. I could already feel the weight of their gaze on me. I had to smile, to look confident, to keep up the act. After all, this wasn't just about me anymore.

As we entered the grand hall, I caught a glimpse of Ryan at the far end, talking to his parents, Jonathan and Elaine. They looked as polished and perfect as ever. Ryan's dark suit fit him perfectly, and his hair was styled in that effortless way that seemed to say, "I've got it all together." When our eyes met, he gave me a small, reassuring smile.

"You look..." He hesitated for a moment, his eyes scanning me. "You look beautiful."

I arched an eyebrow, a teasing smile on my lips. "Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself."

He chuckled, his gaze softening. "I mean it, Emma."

Before I could respond, a waiter appeared, offering champagne. Ryan grabbed two glasses and handed one to me. "Here's to us," he said, raising his glass. "Tonight is ours."

I lifted my glass, the champagne sparkling in the light. "To us," I echoed, but part of me wondered what "us" really meant. Was it just about the families? The merger? Or was there something more?

We slipped away from the crowd, retreating to a quieter part of the bar. The music from the main hall faded into the background as we settled into a corner. The drinks began to flow, and the alcohol loosened my tongue.

Ryan leaned in slightly, his voice low and almost vulnerable. "You know, when I first agreed to this engagement, I thought it was just business. A way to make the families stronger. But with you..." He trailed off, his fingers brushing mine. "It feels different."

I felt my heart race, a flutter of something unfamiliar stirring in my chest. Was he just saying that because of the alcohol, or was there something more? Something real?

But before I could respond, Lena's voice cut through the moment. "Emma, Ryan!" she called out, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "You two are hiding away from the party! Come on, everyone is waiting for you."

Ryan groaned, rubbing his temple. "Lena, must you be so dramatic?"

"Yes!" she shot back, her tone playful but insistent. "Because you two are the stars of the show, and you're going to make everyone wait? Get back out there!"

We both stood, and I followed Lena back into the crowd. The music had picked up, and guests were laughing and chatting. Ryan and I drifted back into the center of it all, but something didn't feel right. I glanced around the room, scanning for Lena.

Where had she gone?

The crowd seemed to grow, the noise becoming louder, but Lena was nowhere to be found. I turned to Ryan, but he was already deep in conversation with his parents, Jonathan and Elaine, discussing something with a group of businessmen. I stood there for a moment, feeling oddly isolated in the midst of it all. Was this the life I had signed up for? The constant demands, the business deals, the expectations?

I stepped away, my mind racing. I wanted to find Lena, to ground myself in something familiar, but the longer I looked, the more distant she seemed. I moved through the crowd, trying to shake the growing unease that gnawed at my insides.

After a few minutes, I stopped to catch my breath, but then I realized something. Ryan was gone.

I glanced around, confused. Was he still with his parents? I hadn't seen him for a while. Maybe he had stepped away for a moment.

But as the night wore on, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. It wasn't just that Ryan had disappeared, it was the strange emptiness that settled over me. My role in all of this had been planned for me, decided before I had a say. The engagement, the families, the merger-it was all happening, but where did I fit into it? And where was Ryan, the man who was supposed to be standing by my side?

As the minutes ticked by, I found myself standing alone, feeling more disconnected than I ever had before.