Chapter 5 Unusual gesture

He smiled. "Do I need your permission to know him, too?"

Then he added with a sly tone, "Oh wait... is that your boyfriend you're talking about?"

"Yes," I said firmly. "That's him."

He smirked, then turned to walk away.

"Wait!" I called. "You haven't answered me. Don't go-wait.

After the party-which felt like it would never end-Tomson pulled me aside.

"How do you know Liam?" he asked.

I could hear the tension in his voice, a weight of unspoken secrets I couldn't even begin to understand.

"Liam? He's just a friend I met randomly," I lied.

How could I possibly tell him the truth-that I was drunk, spent the night at Liam's place, and didn't even know how it all happened? The story itself was too messy to explain, with no evidence to back it up. And besides, Tomson and I were just starting something-whatever it was. I couldn't risk ruining it now.

He stared at me for a long time, like he was searching for something in my eyes. Then he said coldly,

"Don't joke with fire, Lara. Let it be that you're telling me the truth."

I didn't say a word. Deep down, I knew I wasn't.

When I got home, I found my brother packing his clothes. He was heading off to school. I knew he'd gotten a scholarship-my parents were thrilled.

But me?

I was just a tool. A means to hold the family's blooming company together. No one really saw me.

Without me, the company would collapse, so in their eyes, I was important-at least in that way.

"Lara," my brother called.

I paused, refusing to look at him. "What is it?" I snapped, knowing he rarely had anything good to say. I wasn't in the mood.

"I heard Dad fixed your wedding date," he said with a mocking smile. "Don't worry, I'll fly back to attend."

I froze.

Fixed my wedding date? Without telling me?

The blood in my veins turned cold.

Without thinking, I stormed into my father's study.

"Dad," I said sharply.

He pulled off his glasses and turned from his book to face me.

"I heard you've fixed my wedding date," I said, my voice shaking.

He sighed. "Lara, with the way things are going, I don't think you can hold on to Tomson. He's too much for you. If we don't act now, he'll slip away-and our company will suffer. This marriage will secure things for all of us."

I stared at him, stunned.

"Dad, what about me? What about how I feel? Have you ever thought about that? Why are you controlling my life like I'm a chess piece?"

"Young lady," he said firmly, standing to face me. "When it comes to family matters, your feelings don't count. If you refuse, you're no longer my daughter."

His words hit me like a slap. My body trembled.

"Are you threatening me?" I whispered through sobs.

"Consider it that way," he replied coldly.

All they cared about was legacy. The company. Their image.

What about me?

I left quietly for my room, too numb to cry.

I picked up my phone and scrolled mindlessly. No pictures of me and Tomson online. But Olivia? There she was-with Tomson. Smiling. Hand-in-hand. The same party. Same night. There were journalists everywhere, yet I'd been cropped out of the story.

I dialed his number.

He picked up after the second ring. "Hey babe," he said casually.

"Tomson," I began, unsure of how to say what was choking me, "I saw the internet..."

"I had them remove it," he cut in.

"Remove what?"

"The pictures of me and you. I didn't want to cause you any damage."

"Damage? Tomson, I'm your wife-to-be. Why would you erase our photos, but leave yours with Olivia? We're getting married!"

"Why are you bringing up Olivia?" he snapped. "She has nothing to do with this."

"Really? Then why are people commenting that you two are the perfect couple? That you're meant to be? And you just let it slide. You love the attention, don't you?"

"Then leave it that way, Lara. You know your place. I'm tired of having this conversation with you. Always emotional over things that don't matter."

"Tomson... are you ashamed of me?" I asked, barely able to get the words out.

"If you don't have anything better to say, I'm hanging up. Goodnight."

And he did.

Just like that.

I stared at the screen, devastated. My life-my future-was being tossed around like a game board. I was nothing but a pawn between two selfish players.

Just as I was about to lie down, my father stormed into my room and slapped me-twice.

"You filthy rag," he yelled. "If you dare bother that young man again, I will tear you apart!"

My eyes widened in disbelief.

Tomson had called him-complained about me.

As a result, the wedding was now postponed.

So that was it.

They didn't care. They never had.

I sat on the edge of my bed, cradling my face in my palms. My cheek burned red from the slap. But the pain inside? That was worse.

I was tired of explaining myself to people who didn't care to listen. I expected too much from my parents. Now, my expectations lay in ruins.

Exhausted and numb, I looked in the mirror.

The girl staring back wasn't me-not anymore.

Red-cheeked. Hollow-eyed. Broken.

I threw on a hoodie, grabbed my phone, and walked out.

Where else could I go but the bar?

To drink away the pain.

To drown out the voices.

To remember what it felt like-to feel nothing at all.

On the second day, guess where I found myself? Liam's bed.

This time, it felt different-completely different from before.

He wasn't his usual playful self. Instead, he stood motionless at the doorway, staring at me with confusion clouding his face. Then, without a word, he turned around and quietly left the room.

I had no idea what he was thinking. The silence was thick, almost suffocating. Everything felt so awkward. I quickly gathered my things, hoping to slip out unnoticed.