Selene's POV
The drive back to my parents' house was a blur, my thoughts tangled in a chaotic mess of emotions. The soft hum of the engine was the only sound as Thomas, my driver since childhood, navigated the dark streets with practiced ease. Sensing my turmoil, he glanced at me in the rearview mirror.
"Something on your mind, Miss Selene?" he asked gently.
I sighed, leaning back into the plush leather seat. "Thomas, how did you know your wife was the one?"
A smile tugged at his lips, his eyes twinkling with fond memories. "Ah, love. That's a question I've pondered many times. You see, Miss Selene, when I met my wife, it was like finding a missing piece of my soul. She understood me in ways I didn't even understand myself. Being with her felt like coming home."
"Home," I echoed softly, thinking of Claire.
"It's not just about the good times," Thomas continued. "It's about finding someone who stands by you in the storms, who sees you at your worst and still loves you. It's when you look at someone and think, 'This is home.' If you find that, Miss Selene, don't let her go."
His words resonated deeply, giving voice to the feelings I had been grappling with. As we pulled up to the mansion, I felt a renewed sense of determination. I thanked Thomas and made my way inside, dreading the confrontation I knew awaited me.
In my father's office, the air was thick with tension. He sat behind his massive oak desk, his expression stern and unyielding.
"Selene, we need to talk about your future," he began, his tone brooking no argument. "It's time you take your responsibilities seriously."
"What do you mean?" I asked, already bracing myself.
"Marriage," he said bluntly. "I've arranged a match for you with Grace, my friend's daughter. This union will strengthen our family's status and bring significant benefits."
A rush of anger surged through me. "Grace? Are you serious? She's a nightmare!"
"She's a respected woman from a good family," he countered, his voice hardening.
I couldn't hold back my emotions. "She's a bully, Father. She tormented others in high school just because she could."
A painful memory flashed before my eyes—a high school locker room, Grace's cruel laughter ringing in my ears. She had cornered me, her hands roaming without consent. When I had rejected her advances, she had exposed my secret to everyone, mocking me for being different. The humiliation and betrayal still haunted me.
"She exposed my secret because I didn't want her," I said, my voice shaking with anger. "And you want me to marry her?"
"People change, Selene," he said dismissively. "This is about our family's future, not your past grievances."
"This is my life!" I shouted. "I won't marry her!"
The shouting escalated, our voices echoing through the mansion. My mother burst into the room, her eyes wide with concern.
"What's going on here?" she demanded.
"Your daughter is being unreasonable," my father snarled. "She refuses to accept her responsibilities."
"Because you're trying to force her into a loveless marriage!" my mother shot back. "Let her love who she wants!"
"No," he said coldly. "She must marry someone worthy, not a human."
The tension was unbearable. I couldn't stay there another moment. "I'm done," I spat, turning on my heel and storming out of the room. My mother called after me, but I couldn't turn back.
Tears streamed down my face as I drove, the weight of my father's expectations and my own desires clashing within me. Before I knew it, I found myself at Claire's place. I knocked on the door, my heart pounding.
Claire answered, her eyes sleepy but quickly widening in concern when she saw my tear-streaked face. "Selene, what's wrong?"
"I couldn't stay there," I choked out. "I needed to see you."
She stepped aside, letting me in. As the door closed behind me, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was where I belonged.