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He continued, “I believe that my family is biased towards Winters because they don’t know her as much as I know her. Sure, her past isn’t clean but what matters is the future and we love each other enough to move on and that is why…..”

Akim turned towards Winters and took her hand in his, squeezing them affectionately. With a smile on her face, he asked her,

“Would you marry me, Winters? ”

.....

Bam!

The fork slipped from Marcel’s hand and fell to the ground with a clatter. Chloe’s jaw dropped to the ground while Arianna was unlucky enough to be sipping from a glass of water at that moment, choking on it and entering a coughing fit. What the fuck?! None of them saw that coming.

Winters sat in her seat, frozen and unable to believe what was happening. Seeing her reaction, Akim let out nervous laughter as he said,

“Yeah, I know that it’s a little shocking but it’s the best alternative we have at the moment. My parents would have no choice but to approve of our relationship when they hear that we are getting engaged. And then, we would move to Lincolnshire and there, you would spend time with them and before you know it, they would come to love you. Not only that, we would plan our future together, you would learn Lincolnshire culture as my fiancée and when we get older, we would settle down as husband and wife. You would make a beautiful queen of Lincolnshire, Winters.” It was a foolproof plan but the same couldn’t be said for Winters.

Dear God, she couldn’t breathe. Winters was suddenly feeling claustrophobic and Akim’s hand holding hers suddenly felt like bondage. Everything was going too fast and the look on Marcel’s face suggested the same. However, when Winters saw the hopeful look on Akim’s face, her heart clenched and she couldn’t disappoint him.

“Yes, I would marry you, Akim. Let’s go ahead with the plan.” Winters said, but deep down, there was a voice screaming inside of her that this was a bad idea. She would make Akim happy, but what about her? Would she be happy as well?

She glanced up and saw Marcel’s expression. There has always been this understanding between her and Marcel and right now, he didn’t approve of this arrangement.

As if everyone finally woke up from the shock, Arianna clapped her hands together, “I don’t know how this is going to work out, but congratulations guys on your engagement.” Even she had her doubts.

“Congratulations Winters and Akim!” Chloe was the happiest of them. Since she was younger, she couldn’t comprehend the subtle tension in the air and was excited by the good news.

“Congratulations,” Marcel said, holding her gaze.

“Thank you,” Winters responded nervously. She has stayed enough with Marcel to know that compliment was not sincere.

Akim said to Marcel, “I know that you’re not related to Winters biologically, but she holds you in high regard and in a way, you’re like family to her… and that is why I would want your blessings.”

Marcel lifted his gaze and looked at the young man. For a moment there, Arianna thought he was going to strike at him or something, which was why she placed her hand on his back, coaxing him. Instead, Marcel grumbled, “The both of you do whatever you want,” and went back to having his breakfast.

Silence descended once again and this time, the tension in the room pulled and pulsed between them. Even Chloe who had been ignorant at first finally noticed it and kept shut. Her brother was not happy.

It wasn’t long when one of Marcel’s men approached him and whispered something in his ears. Winters’ stomach dropped when she saw the way Marcel’s gaze flickered to her momentarily while listening to the guard. He nodded his head and she knew undoubtedly that the moment she dreaded had come. Niklaus was here for Akim.

A cold sweat washed over her and her hands suddenly became clammy. It was a good thing Akim was not holding her anymore else he would have felt her nervousness. Everything else passed in a blur but Winters heard Marcel say, clearly,

“The moment that we have been waiting for is here. Niklaus is here to take you. I guess it’s time to drop the marriage surprise on him too.” He smiled, revealing those teeth of his that gleamed like those of a shark.

She turned to look at Akim who looked like the blood had drained from his face, but he was quick to push the emotion and put on a brave mask. When he turned to her, she too put on her mask, smiling at him brightly even when her stomach churned violently and she felt like throwing up.

No, Winters felt like running away, to a place where no one could find her and then she could erase the voices of everyone in her head telling her what to do and what not to do. And yet when Akim said, “Let’s go,” she put her hand in his and let him take her to her death.

Winters was like a zombie, her body was moving and yet she wasn’t really in charge. She felt like a puppet under the control of a puppet master. Nothing she was about to do was of her free will. And just before they got outside, Akim stopped to assure her,

“You don’t have to do anything, just leave it all to me.” She nodded her head obediently like the good puppet she was.

It wasn’t until they got outside that Winters recalled those words, “She was young and there were plenty of chances for love.”

For the first time, Winters searched deep inside of her and she realized that she didn’t want this. She needed to make her future, not one planned and handed down to her. That was what her heart wanted.

Freedom.

Even at the cost of her love.