Unexpected Desire

Angela stood outside the towering wooden doors of the church, her slender frame trembling in the delicate lace of her wedding gown. Tears streaked down her cheeks, glistening in the moonlight that filtered through the trees lining the path. Beside her, her father Franco stood rigid, his usually kind eyes hardened with determination. "Please, Dad," Angela pleaded, her voice choked with emotion. "I can't do this. I don't love him. I can't marry someone I don't love." Angela stood outside the church doors in her wedding gown, tears streaming down her cheeks. She pleaded with her father, Franco, who stood beside her with a stern expression. "Dad, please," Angela begged, her voice trembling. "I can't marry him. I don't love him." Franco's face hardened with frustration. "Angela, you will marry him," he replied firmly. "It's for the family. You have no choice." Angela's heart sank as the weight of his words settled in. She glanced nervously at the guests inside the church, their expectant stares making her feel suffocated with obligation. She resisted as Franco gripped her shoulder, guiding her towards the entrance. "No, Dad, please," Angela cried, her desperation evident. "I can't do this." Franco's grip tightened as he pushed her through the church doors. Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of flowers and anticipation. Angela walked down the aisle, her steps slow and heavy, feeling the disapproving gazes of the guests piercing through her. Approaching the altar, Angela stole a glance at the groom. His face twisted unnaturally before her eyes, contorting into a horrifying, demonic expression that made her scream, "No!" in terror. Gasping for breath, Angela woke up in her bed, sweat-soaked despite the cool air. It had been the same nightmare plaguing her for three nights. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was only 2 AM. She lay back down, but sleep eluded her. Her mind raced with fear and frustration over her impending marriage to the governor's son, a man she barely knew and didn't love. She couldn't fathom spending her life with him, sacrificing her own happiness for the sake of family duty. ***** One week ago, Angela had returned home late at night, ecstatic from a party with her friends. Despite being twenty-one, she hadn't settled into a stable job or career, preferring the carefree life of socializing and enjoying her inherited wealth. Her father, Franco, always made sure she wanted for nothing since her mother's tragic death when she was twelve, shielding her from the harsh realities of life. That night, as Angela parked her car and entered their lavish house, she sensed something amiss. Franco stood in the hallway, his usually composed behavior marred by visible distress. Angela, in her carefree state, kissed him on the cheek and asked, "Dad, what's wrong?" Franco looked at Angela with tear-filled eyes, a stark contrast to his usual stoic self. "Angela, our company is on the brink of bankruptcy," he confessed, his voice cracking with emotion. Angela frowned, disbelief and concern etched on her face. "But how? What happened?" she questioned, her tone tinged with worry. Franco's shoulders slumped, and he collapsed onto the nearby couch, burying his face in his hands. "Our business partners embezzled the funds and vanished," he explained brokenly. "They left us with nothing but debts and liabilities." Angela, stunned, picked up the scattered papers on the coffee table, each one a damning testament to their company's financial ruin. She scanned through them, her mind struggling to comprehend the magnitude of their situation. "Dad," Angela began softly, her voice wavering with uncertainty. "What are we going to do?" Franco looked up at his daughter, his eyes reflecting a mix of despair and determination. "I don't know yet," he admitted with a heavy sigh. "But we have to find a way to save the company, Angela. It's all we have left." Angela felt a surge of responsibility and concern for her father. Despite her indulgent lifestyle, she knew this was a moment that demanded her full attention and support. "We'll figure it out, Dad," she reassured him, trying to sound more confident than she felt. One day, Franco arrived home with an unusually hopeful expression on his face. Angela, lounging in the living room with a magazine, looked up at the sight of her father's rare smile. "Dad, what's happened?" Angela asked, a mix of curiosity and caution in her voice. Franco settled beside her, his eyes bright with a sense of relief. "Angela, we might have a chance to save the company," he began, his tone infused with optimism. "I had a conversation with Governor Arkin Harrison today." Angela's brows furrowed as she tried to connect the dots. "Governor Harrison? What's he got to do with our company?" Franco leaned forward, his hands clasped together. "Arkin and I go way back from our college days," he explained. "He's offered us a lifeline—a substantial investment to pay off our debts and stabilize the company." Angela's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That's incredible news, Dad! Is he willing to lend us money?” Franco sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. "Yes will lend us but… He gave me a condition," he admitted reluctantly. "Arkin's son, Andrew, would marry you." Angela's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Marry Andrew?" she exclaimed, stunned by the unexpected proposition. "But Dad, I don't even know him!" Franco reached out to gently take Angela's hand in his own. "I understand this is a lot to take in, Angela," he said softly. "But Andrew is a good man. He's responsible, kind-hearted, and he genuinely wants to help us. This marriage would secure our future." Angela withdrew her hand, a mixture of frustration and confusion clouding her features. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, Dad," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment. "But I can't just agree to marry someone I don't love. It wouldn't be fair to either of us." Franco's expression hardened, his own frustration starting to show. "Angela, this isn't just about you," he replied firmly. "It's about the survival of our family's legacy. Andrew is willing to do his part. Can't you see that?" Angela stood up abruptly, her emotions swirling inside her. "I can't believe you would even consider this without my input," she said, her voice trembling with anger and hurt. "I won't be forced into a marriage for the sake of the company." Franco's gaze softened, his heart heavy with the weight of their circumstances. "I know you're upset, Angela," he said quietly, his voice tinged with sadness. "But please, try to understand. I'm doing what I believe is best for you, for us." Angela turned away, tears welling up in her eyes. "I need time to think," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "I need to figure out what I'm going to do." With that, Angela retreated to her room, leaving Franco sitting alone in the silence that followed. He ran a hand through his hair, torn between the love for his daughter and the pressing urgency to secure their family's future. In her room, Angela paced back and forth, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts and emotions. She loved her father deeply, but she couldn't fathom the idea of sacrificing her happiness and autonomy for the sake of the company.