Lilian Carson POV

"It's an arranged union, and I'll stand by my choice." My father demands; his face is stoic.

I vehemently disagree with him and want to go after my own goals and interests. He gives me a stern, unwavering look with his eyes. I flinch under his scrutiny and wonder what he is contemplating. Is he upset or just evaluating me? He seems to be trying to intimidate me, but I'm not going to give in. Instead, I stand my ground and meet his gaze directly. As I try to come up with a way to relax, my heart beats quickly.

"It's crucial for both your future and our reputation that you marry into a reputable family."

I'm not ready to wed someone I don't adore or see a future with. Why doesn't he make an effort to understand me?

I blink quickly and picture a sunny beach with gently lapping waves. My toes are in the warm sand, and I can smell the sharp aroma of pine trees. I began to breathe deeply, both inhaling and exhaling. I felt normal and could breathe again after a brief period of time. My father's face was expressionless. If I had died, he wouldn't have cared. He only considers money. To him, everything is just a game, and my life is merely a pawn.

In his eyes, I feel unimportant and used. I struggle to perceive any real worth or connection between us that goes beyond items of a material kind. I wish he could look beyond his own self-centeredness and recognise how his actions affect other people. Having the constant sense that his own gain comes before mine is irritating and painful.

I stated, "I'm not getting married," while simultaneously feeling angry and disappointed.

I began to nip at my bottom lip. The atmosphere seemed dreary to me. My mind was fogged up. I can't love someone; therefore, being married isn't an option for me. He cannot compel me; if he did, I would flee. I would live with Sam if I had to. Dad must respect my independence and refrain from attempting to dominate me. If he keeps trying, I'll do whatever it takes to keep myself safe and free, even if it means remaining with someone else like Sam.

Suddenly it dawned on me: I don't have a job; I can't just quit. My father pays for everything, and he might quit paying for my college. He had everything well prepared. I wish I had the money to pay for my own education. I'm willing to put in a lot of effort; I could work a couple of part-time jobs and perhaps rent an apartment, but I'm not getting married to someone I don't even know.

My father gave me a serious look and stated, "This is an order, Lilian Elizabeth Carson."

While I was astonished by my father's decision, I understood there was no use in challenging him. I questioned with whom I would be compelled to wed. I also couldn't believe that my father was directing my romantic life. He's never appeared so furious before, so he must be in a bad situation. He never even use my entire name to address me.

"You can't compel me or I would go to the cops."

I won't allow him to ruin my life. Nothing like this would have occurred if Mom had been present. She would have kept this egotistical man away from me. I know she would have made sure I wasn't harmed in any way since she was the one who always placed my safety first.

My father's avarice is what I guess caused my mother's accident. He murdered my mother, and now he wants to kill me too. I've always held myself responsible for my mother's passing, but perhaps I've been too hard on myself.

I am aware of my father's motivation, which is to expand his company and achieve more success. He's willing to give a stranger his own daughter. My eyes were watering, and I was on the edge of tears. I felt sick to my stomach at the notion of such a horrific deed. I could not fathom how someone could be so callous. I made an effort to hold back my tears, but they started to fall down my cheeks without my control. It was difficult to grasp how serious the situation was.

"I worry that the cops will take no action. You are getting married to Alexander Agnor, who always gets what he wants," was exactly what my father stated.

I can't continue to watch him ramble from this position. I had to leave this place. I realise that this isn't the first time I've felt this way as I turn to walk away. The relentless barrage of rambling conversation has finally worn me out.

I picked up my purse, made a U-turn, and headed for the door. I don't care who Alexander Agnor is. I'm only concerned about preserving myself. I'm not just giving up my independence by being married to anyone. I stepped out after opening the door. Florence yelled my name as I passed her, but I disregarded her. I felt a twinge of regret as I went, since I had ignored Florence.

I'm going over to Sam's place. I'm fairly sure that he would undoubtedly assist me in this circumstance. To get to his place, which is not too far away, I called a cab. Without having to worry about traffic or parking, it was a simple and practical way to get there.

I was able to wipe away my tears as soon as I entered the cab. The driver gave me a compassionate and friendly glance.

I find it unbelievable that my father approved the marriage without even seeking my consent. He seems to only want to get rid of me, to be honest. My father is clearly a sadist; he enjoys seeing me suffer. Why does he hate me so much?

What if I had never existed? I wonder sometimes. My dad would likely be content, and my mom would likely still be alive. Maybe I am the root of every issue since whatever I touch disintegrates into dust and vanishes.

I arrived at Sam's home after an hour. I was at ease. I currently just have faith in him. I ring the bell as I approach the door. I inhaled deeply because, for some reason, I felt afraid. As the door opened, Sam was there. My lips started to grin. Sam gave me a kind hug after giving me a quick glance. The smile on his face made it seem as though we had never lost contact, even though we both knew it had been too long since we had last seen each other.

Sam, who was looking anxious, said, "It's a good thing you're here. We need to talk."

My heart rate increased. It seems to be awful news. I entered the building after him. I knew it was confirmed the moment he turned around and looked at me; his expression said it all. I readied myself for the worst while I awaited his response.

My gaze fell on a young woman with red hair who was smoking a cigarette. She has several piercings on her face. The girl didn't even give me a glance as she ignored me. What's her name? Without additional information, it's difficult to identify who she is, but it appears like she is purposefully avoiding me. I give Sam a puzzled expression as I ogle her. He appeared to be hesitant.

"What is the issue? I queried. Sam groaned and then replied.

'I need you right now, so please don't break up with me!'

"I thought maybe today I could tell you the truth since I wanted to talk to you about this but couldn't."

I struggle to contain my tears. I made the incorrect choice in coming here to talk to him about my ideas. I should have realised that everyone is the same. The idealised picture I had created in my head was destroyed by this brutal realisation. I still struggled to put my dissatisfaction and disillusionment into words.

"I know we've been dating for a long time, but I no longer feel the same way. So I wanted to inform you that I am ending our relationship." He stated that with a solemn and worried expression. He didn't stop there, but went on with his lecture.

"I've been suffering with our relationship for some time now, and after careful thinking, I've come to the conclusion that it's best for both of us if we part ways," he stated quietly. "I appreciate the time we've spent together, but I feel this is the wisest option."

Why am I even considering this to be a joke? I should have expected this to happen. He met someone who was superior to me. Who wants someone like me, after all? I'm simply a blunder!

"I hope we can be friends and support each other at this difficult time." Sam added with a warm smile. I stood there like a moron, unsure of what to do.

"Meet Emma; she's a dear friend of mine." Sam pointed to the redhead girl, who was still oblivious to my presence. I'd never seen her before, but Sam feigned that she was a frequent member of our group. I was curious about Emma's personality; she clearly enjoys stealing other people's partners. A dear friend? Definitely not.

"You can watch a movie with us," Sam said. He acts as if nothing occurred between us. Bastard!

I'll give him a taste of his own medicine. I will not appear weak in his presence. I'd make certain he understood his position.

"No, I've been meaning to tell you something for a long time." I began rambling without even thinking. He seemed perplexed. I never expected him to end our relationship. I strive to give him everything, yet he hurts my heart in return. It was heartbreaking to realise that everything I had done for him had been in vain. Despite my best attempts, he opted to abandon our relationship, leaving me alone and devastated.

"I came here to break up with you as well because I will soon be married." I sarcastically remarked, "It's nice that you met someone after all; I feared you would die alone."

I'm hoping he realises his error and contacts me again. He would quickly get tired of Emma and return to me for forgiveness. I would first make fun of him, but later I would forget. Why would I not? I remain utterly in love with him. He could decide to think again after learning about my marriage, sooner or later.

He obviously didn't like my response, as I could tell. I had to tell him that one untruth even though I have no plans to wed anyone. Even though I was aware that lying was immoral, I was unable to express my genuine motives. I want this connection to end, just for this moment.

"I have to go, bye."

I then turned around and started to move in the direction of the entrance. I didn't express any feelings for him. I wish he would stop me.

'Just hold my hand and make me stop on my way.'

I heard him exclaim, "Congratulations; I am pleased for you," as I flung open the door.

My hold on the door handle grew firmer. It has a distinct vibe. I have the impression that if I leave the room, I will never see him again. Is he truly content to be with that girl? My chest hurt. My chest tightened, and I thought my heart would burst. Why am I feeling this way? I understand; it's a betrayal. Sam, I'll let you be free if you really want to be free. I won't return here ever again.

My cheeks began to flush with tears. I can no longer bear to revisit the haunting memories of this location. It is now time for me to let go and begin my new life.

I am aware of a spot that can assist me. I'm going to need to be absolutely wasted before I can function. At least I can temporarily put this scenario out of my mind. Tonight, all I want to do is forget. Everything about this should be a nightmare, please.

Why do people always leave me behind? especially when I need someone to listen to me right now.

I fix my gaze above. The stars shine in the night sky like snowflakes, yet they are motionless like old photographs. Individuals often claim that once they pass away, they become the shining stars of the night sky. One of the shining lights must be my mother, keeping an eye on me.

'I simply wish you were present, mom.'