Fiona The silence stretched too long after he said it . I didn't even know what I was expecting , but it wasn't that . I had said it but I didn't expect him to follow along with it . " What the hell are you talking about ? " Marissa's voice shot out first . She was already halfway up from her seat , arms stiff at her sides , face turning red fast , " you're marrying me ." My father looked confused , like he'd heard the wrong name . " Rick , " he said , standing now too . " Son , this can't be what you meant . She's not … " My stepmother gripped the back of her chair and looked at me like I'd just stabbed her . " You can't be serious . Is this a joke ? " Rick didn't move . He didn't blink . He looked like he was still deciding whether any of them were worth acknowledging . Then he said it again , this time slower . " My father said to make a contract with this family . I'm choosing who that will be with . " The way he said it was cold , his voice was not loud or angry it was just final like it wasn't up for discussion . My father took a step forward , " you don't understand the agreement . We talked about this . Your father and I … " Rick glanced at his watch , one hand coming up casually . " I'm late for another appointment . " He turned to leave . " Rick , " Marissa snapped . " You're not walking out , you don't get to say that and walk out ." He walked anyway . He reached the door , pulled it open , then stopped just once to look over his shoulder . His eyes didn't go to my father or Marissa . He looked only at me , " it will be happening tomorrow , " he said and then he left . The door clicked shut . My stomach dropped . I hadn't realized I was holding my breath until it rushed out in one sharp exhale . My father turned toward me so fast I flinched . " What did you say to him ? " I looked at him and didn't answer . My stepmother was shaking her head , her mouth slightly open . " What kind of manipulation did you pull ? What did you promise him ? This is disgusting . " " I didn't promise him anything , " I said . Marissa took a step closer , her heels clicking too hard on the tile . Her eyes were glossy , her lip trembling . " You left for three years . You disappeared like you were dead . You show up with your bastard child and 1/3 8:40 pm ED Chapter 5 now you're stealing my fiancé ? " My hand moved before I even thought about it . 55 vouchers The slap landed across her cheek with a sharp sound . Her head jerked sideways . She held her face and stared at me like she didn't recognize me . " You don't get to talk about my child ," I said . " Not ever . " No one moved . I turned to Lena , who had already slid off her chair . Her small hand reached for mine like she knew it was time to go . " We're done here ," I said . I walked out of the room with Lena beside me . I didn't wait for anyone to stop me or follow . I walked through the hallway , past the massive front door , and out into the open air . I could still hear them shouting behind me , voices clashing , furniture shifting . I got Lena into her seat , buckled her in , then slid behind the wheel . My hands tightened around it . I started the engine and pulled away from the house without looking back . Halfway down the driveway , I glanced at Lena in the mirror . She was holding the edge of her dress and looking out the window . " Mommy ? " she asked . " Yeah ? " She hesitated . " Are we in trouble ? " " No ," I said . " We're going home ." We drove in silence for a while . I didn't turn on the radio . I needed the quiet to think . My head was a mess . Rick had just declared he was going to marry me and then walked out like it was nothing . I hadn't even spoken to him alone . I didn't know what his game was . I didn't know if this was real , if he remembered something , if he was just doing it to piss off his father or mine , But something in the way he looked at me didn't feel fake . I gripped the wheel tighter . My fingers were sweating . He couldn't possibly want to marry me out of nowhere . Not unless … unless something had started to come back . He had looked at Lena too long . He had looked at me too long . That wasn't a stranger's gaze . Still , no one just drops an announcement like that unless they've already made up their mind . We reached our building . I parked and helped Lena out . She skipped up the steps like nothing had happened . I unlocked the door and let her inside . 2/3 8:40 pm ED Chapter 5 EL 55 vouchers She kicked off her shoes and headed straight for her drawing pads . I stood in the kitchen with my coat still on , staring at the floor . What the hell just happened ? I pulled my phone out and stared at the screen . No messages . No calls . No updates . Rick hadn't contacted me . He just left . Walked out of that house and left me to deal with the pieces . I sat down on the couch and took off my heels . My feet were sore . My head was still buzzing from everything . Marissa's voice was stuck in my ears . My father's tone . That look on Rick's face . I leaned back and stared at the ceiling . My stomach was twisting . He had to reach out . He had to explain . He couldn't just say something like that and disappear . Unless that was the point . Unless he was forcing the next move out of me . But why ? Why now ? What did he remember ? I pulled the blanket over my lap and sat in silence . I didn't know what I'd just walked into . I didn't know what I was a part of now . But I was marrying Rick tomorrow . 3/3 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!