Humiliation burned in my cheeks as I stood there, ignored by everyone. My hand brushed against a decorative ivy garland wrapped around a column, and a sharp pain shot through my palm. I looked down to see angry welts forming where the plant's oil had touched my skin—poison ivy. Someone must have thought it was a clever addition to the decorations.
By the time I got home, my hand was swollen, the itching and burning unbearable.
In Asher's study—a room he always kept locked—I found my answer. On his desk, a framed photo of him and Celeste sat like a trophy. Her radiant smile and his adoring gaze told me everything I needed to know.
I picked up the phone and called my brother, Adam, who was overseas.
"Adam," I said, my voice calm despite the storm raging inside me. "I’ve decided to agree to the arranged marriage."
There was a pause on the other end before Adam spoke, his voice filled with surprise. "Lois, are you sure? Did something happen?"
"No," I lied, forcing a smile that he couldn’t see. "I’ve just realized it’s the right thing to do. Mom and Dad chose someone they trust, and I trust them too."