The Unwanted Arranged Marriage

t marry a stranger. I told him I had met someone. Her name was Sarah Miller. She wasn't from a prominent family, and she didn't

g luxury, but legacy was permanent. I told him

nto proving him wrong. I built a successful architectural firm on my own merits. I

ike a story about someone else. The fight I had put up seemed naive, a foolish rebellion again

on the polished hardwood floors. Every object was a memory. The photograph on the mantelpiece from our trip to Italy. The stack

d. My heart felt numb, a dull, persistent ache that wa

zzed. A tex

ou? Please come back

g over the screen. Before I could decide

ah. It must have been an

he better of me

first, then I heard her v

u did that, Liam! In

runk anymore, but clo

h you throw your life away on him

m Sarah. "It's

tling sound, like fabric moving. "You know

pause. I hel

, breathless laugh. It wasn't

he said, but there was

e messag

a cold, hard certainty. I wasn't just losing a fight against my fam

again. Another

m really worried. I' m just at my

sage were not from an office. They

a simple, h

air. Don' t worry

ark. Let her have her false sense of

so inspiring now felt vast and empty. Our shared life was a beautifully designed room, but the fou

of lights, feeling a profound sense of detachment. I was an arch

an old college friend, Mark, who had been at the par

ened

text. Just

s a p

ith a phone from across the street. It

here. And s

His hands were on her waist, and her hand

fused one. It was deep, consuming

, but the image was

futa

The last nail in the coffin