Chapter 5

"You cannot do this to me, Father," Ethan said, his voice trembling with anger.

"Of course I can, and I will," Daniel replied coldly, his expression unyielding.

Ethan clenched his fists, feeling trapped and powerless. "Now what do you want me to do?" he asked, his frustration evident.

Daniel's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "You know the answer," he said, his tone almost mocking.

Ethan stared at his father, the weight of the situation crushing him. He knew he had no choice if he wanted to secure his future and pursue his dreams. With a heavy heart, he finally relented. "Okay, fine. I will marry her."

Daniel’s smile widened, but his eyes remained sharp and calculating. "One more thing, Ethan," he said, his voice turning serious again. "Don’t try anything smart. Don’t think you can break this marriage once it’s done. If you do, just remember—you’ll never see your shares, not a single penny of it."

Ethan looked at his father, the man who had always seemed invincible, and realized just how ruthless he could be. He felt the bitterness rise in his throat, but he knew there was nothing he could do. His father held all the cards, and for now, Ethan had no choice but to play along.

"Understood," Ethan muttered, the words bitter on his tongue.

Daniel nodded, pleased with his son’s reluctant agreement. "Good. Now, go and prepare yourself. We have a wedding to plan."

As Ethan turned to leave, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was walking into a trap, one that would bind him not just to Rachel, but to a life he had never wanted. But for now, he was trapped by his father's will, and the only way out seemed farther away than ever.

Rachel was feeling restless, her mind racing with countless thoughts. The weight of everything that had happened was pressing down on her, making it hard to focus. Suddenly, she was jolted back to reality by a familiar voice calling her name.

"Rachel," called her younger sister, Paige, who stood in front of her with a mixed expression on her face.

"What is it, Paige?" Rachel asked, noticing the unusual look in her sister’s eyes.

Paige hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I received my acceptance letter from Harvard," she said, her voice flat, betraying no emotion.

Rachel’s face lit up with excitement. "Wow, Paige! I’m so proud of you!" she exclaimed, but then she paused, noticing that Paige didn’t seem as thrilled as she expected. "Wait, why don’t you seem happy about it?"

Paige’s eyes welled up with tears as she suddenly burst into a sob and hugged her sister tightly. "I’m not sure if this is the right moment to tell Mom about this," she admitted, her voice shaking.

"Why not?" Rachel asked, concern filling her voice.

Paige sniffled and looked up at Rachel, her eyes filled with worry. "With everything going on, I’m not sure how she’ll react. And what about the fees? We can’t afford them now, not with everything that’s happened."

Rachel wrapped her arms around Paige, comforting her. "Oh, Paige, don’t worry about all that right now. We have Dad’s money to help cover the fees, and I know both Mom and Dad would be super proud of you. This is an incredible achievement, and it’s something we should celebrate."

Paige nodded, still unsure but feeling reassured by Rachel’s words.

"Let’s go and tell Mom," Rachel said gently, taking Paige’s hand. "This is something she needs to hear, and I know she’ll be just as proud of you as I am."

Together, they made their way to find their mother, ready to share the bittersweet news that held both joy and uncertaint

Maria was sitting on the living room sofa, her face lighting up as she saw her two beautiful daughters making their way toward her. She smiled warmly at them, the love and pride she felt for her children evident in her eyes.

"Mom, Paige has something to share with you," Rachel said, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation.

Maria turned her gaze to Paige, her expression curious and encouraging. "What is it, dear?" she asked gently.

Paige hesitated for a moment, nerves getting the best of her, but then she took a deep breath and continued, "Mom, I received my acceptance letter from Harvard."

Maria's eyes immediately lit up with joy, her face breaking into a broad, proud smile. "I am so proud of you, baby!" she exclaimed, her voice thick with emotion as she reached out to hug Paige tightly.

Paige melted into her mother’s embrace, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. The anxiety she had been carrying vanished as she realized how genuinely happy her mother was for her. In that moment, the uncertainty of the future seemed a little less daunting, knowing she had her family’s unwavering support.

Rachel watched the exchange with a smile, her heart swelling with pride for her sister and gratitude for their mother’s love. It was a moment of pure happiness amidst all the turmoil, a reminder that, no matter what challenges lay ahead, they had each other to lean on.