The evening air on the balcony was a welcome respite for Evelyn. She leaned against the railing, trying to calm the rapid beating of her heart. The distant hum of conversations from the party below barely registered as she tried to push away the unsettling feeling that Aiden Thorn's gaze had instilled in her. She had never felt so exposed and scrutinized, and the feeling was unnerving.
After several moments of trying to regain her composure, Evelyn reluctantly reentered the party. The atmosphere inside was lively, though she now felt out of sync with the surrounding gaiety. She forced herself to join the conversation, her smile strained as she greeted the guests.
The music and laughter seemed distant, overshadowed by the chaos in her mind.She couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, as though his presence clung to her like a shadow, ever-present and overwhelming.
Her mother, Beatrice, stood at the far side of the ballroom, chatting politely with a few guests.
Evelyn quickly made her way over, eager for a familiar face that might ease her nerves. Her mother's warmth had always been a source of comfort, even if, in recent times, she had seemed more distant, weighed down by the demands of her husband's ambitions.
As Evelyn approached, her mother's eyes softened.
"Are you alright, dear?" Margaret asked, noting the tension still evident in her daughter's posture.
"I'm fine, Mother," Evelyn said, forcing a smile, though her voice betrayed her unease.
"I just needed a little fresh air. It's quite crowded in there."
Beatrice nodded knowingly, glancing toward the throng of guests before leaning in slightly.
"It is overwhelming, isn't it? These events your father insists on hosting. I don't know how anyone manages to enjoy themselves." She gave Evelyn's hand a gentle squeeze.
"But you looked lovely tonight, dear. I saw you speaking with that young man, Aiden Thorn, wasn't it?"
Evelyn's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name. She glanced back toward the crowd, where she knew Aiden was still lingering.
"Yes, Father introduced us," she murmured, not wanting to go into detail about just how unsettling the encounter had been.
Her mother studied her face, her brow furrowing slightly. "You look a little pale, Evelyn. Are you sure everything's alright?"
Evelyn hesitated, unsure of how to put her feelings into words. There was something about Aiden—something she couldn't explain but couldn't ignore.
"I just... I don't know, Mother. He's very intense."
Beatrice's eyes flashed with concern, and for a brief moment, Evelyn saw a flicker of something else—guilt, perhaps?
"Your father has been quite focused on this business deal with Mr. Thorn," her mother said quietly, her tone suddenly more guarded.
"I only hope it doesn't lead to anything more... complicated."
Evelyn frowned. "What do you mean?"
Before her mother could respond, James Hart's commanding voice cut through the air, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?"
Evelyn and her mother both turned toward the center of the ballroom, where James stood, a confident smile on his face. Evelyn's stomach churned—she knew that smile, and it always meant something significant was about to happen.
"I'd like to take a moment to express my gratitude to all of you for being here tonight," James continued, his voice carrying across the room.
"This evening is not just a celebration of business success, but also a celebration of the future. And speaking of the future, I have an announcement that I'm particularly excited to make."
Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest as her father's eyes landed on her. She glanced at her mother, who was now pale, her eyes wide with dread. Beatrice's hand gripped Evelyn's arm, as if trying to hold her in place.
"Evelyn, dear, would you come forward, please?" James gestured toward her with a proud smile.
Evelyn's feet felt like they were made of lead, but she forced herself to step forward, every eye in the room suddenly on her.
Her pulse raced, and her palms grew clammy as she walked toward her father, dreading what was about to happen.
"And Mr. Thorn," James added, turning toward Aiden, who was standing on the other side of the room.
"If you would be so kind."
Aiden stepped forward, his face an unreadable mask, though his dark eyes never left Evelyn's. The intensity of his gaze made her feel like she was being cornered, trapped in a situation she couldn't escape.
Evelyn's mind raced. What was going on? Why was Aiden Thorn being brought into this?
James smiled broadly, looking between Evelyn and Aiden with a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes.
"It is with great pride that I announce the union of our two families—an alliance that will secure both our legacies for generations to come. Evelyn, my dear, you are to be married to Mr. Aiden Thorn."
The words hit Evelyn like a blow to the chest. Her vision blurred for a moment, and the room seemed to spin around her.
Married? To Aiden Thorn? This couldn't be happening. She hadn't been told anything about this. How could her father make such an arrangement without even asking her?
She glanced at her mother, who had tears brimming in her eyes, her face pale with shock. Beatrice had known this was coming, hadn't she? And yet she had said nothing. Evelyn felt like she couldn't breathe.
The room erupted in murmurs of surprise and excitement. Evelyn's world seemed to collapse in on itself as the reality of her father's announcement struck her with full force. The shock and betrayal she felt were almost physical, her knees going weak as she struggled to stay upright.
Aiden's smirk widened, and he cast a satisfied glance in Evelyn's direction. His eyes gleamed with a cold, calculating intensity that made her skin crawl. The sight of him so pleased while she felt utterly defeated was almost unbearable.
Her brother, Daniel, immediately moved to her side, his face contorted with shock and anger.
"Father, what is this?" he demanded, his voice was low rising with frustration.
"How could you make such a decision without consulting us? This isn't just about business; this affects all of us!"
James's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as he met Daniel's gaze.
"This is a business decision, Daniel. It has been made after careful consideration. We don't have the luxury of arguing over it now."
Evelyn's heart was pounding in her chest as she tried to process the enormity of the situation.
"Father, this isn't fair. I wasn't aware of this arrangement until now. I don't want to marry Mr. Thorn."
"It's already been arranged," James cut her off, his voice growing colder. "This is for the good of the family, Evelyn. You will do your duty."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Aiden, whose expression remained calm, almost predatory. He wasn't surprised by this announcement at all—he had known. He had been in on this plan from the beginning.
Her brother, Daniel, stepped forward, anger flashing in his eyes. "Father, this isn't right. You can't just marry her off like some kind of business deal!"
James shot Daniel a warning look. "This is not up for debate, Daniel. This is about securing our family's position. Mr. Thorn has been more than generous in his terms, and this alliance will benefit us all."
"But what about Evelyn?" Daniel retorted, his fists clenched.
"What about what she wants?"
Evelyn looked at her brother, grateful for his defense, but it didn't seem to matter. Their father had already made up his mind.
Aiden's voice cut through the tension, cold and calculated.
"Evelyn will be well taken care of, Daniel. You needn't worry."
Evelyn's eyes darted to Aiden, her heart sinking at the finality in his tone. He spoke of her as if she were a possession, something to be owned and controlled.
Tears slipped down Evelyn's cheeks, and she felt utterly betrayed. Her entire world was crashing down around her, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She was being sold into a life she didn't want, all for the sake of her father's business.
Aiden stepped closer, his eyes fixed on her. There was a dark possessiveness in his gaze, and Evelyn felt a chill run down her spine. He was claiming her, even now, in front of everyone. And there was nothing she could do.
Her father placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm. "Evelyn, you will marry Mr. Thorn, and that's final."
Evelyn's legs felt weak, and she wanted to run, but she couldn't move. The weight of her father's command and Aiden's piercing gaze kept her rooted to the spot.
"I... I can't," she whispered, but her voice was drowned out by the applause of the guests, who had already begun to celebrate the announcement.
As the crowd cheered, Evelyn felt her world crumbling. Her fate had been sealed, and the man who would own her stood just a few feet away, watching her with eyes that promised control, possession, and a dark obsession that terrified her to the core.
The night had taken a turn she could never have anticipated, and there was no escape from the path her father had set her on.
________
Aiden's mind, however, was racing with possibilities. Seeing her tear-filled eyes, her trembling form, and her clear discomfort only heightened his obsession. She was his now, in every way that mattered, and the thought of molding her to his will sent a surge of satisfaction through him.
As Evelyn stood in the center of the room, overwhelmed by the shock of the announcement, Aiden knew one thing for certain—he would make her his completely. There would be no turning back for her now.
And she would soon learn that once Aiden Thorn wanted something, he always got it.
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