𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐭 - 𝐓𝐞𝐰𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐱𝐱𝐢.

A few weeks passed. Mateo was here more and more often. Luckily, my Aunt Ophelia hasn't told my mother anything. But I doubt she'd remain quiet for long.

Tewkesbury and I had stopped writing letters to each other. That hurt more than anything. That I couldn't write to him anymore knowing that Wyatt could find out easily.

And ever since then, Wyatt has had someone follow me. More specifically Callum. He usually never leaves my side and is always around. But I couldn't protest as my father had given Wyatt his title. So now Wyatt was in charge of me.

We haven't seen each other since the incident, I tried avoiding him the most I could. Mateo would come over a lot of times and we'd spend the day together out in public. And right now we were coming back from a play.

"What's wrong?" Mateo spoke up from beside me. He rubbed the back of my hand as our hands were interlaced. I looked out our hands and then back at him.

"Nothing," I said. "I'm just tired, is all."

"Promise?"

"I promise Mateo," I lied, gently smiling at him. He smiled back and brought my gloves hand up to his lips and kissed them. I tried using Mateo to fill the empty void in my heart. And sometimes it did work, but most of the time I still felt empty.

We entered the parlor and that's when I noticed my mother and father, Wyatt, and Mateo's parents as well. We slowly came to a stop wondering why our parents were there. I let go of Mateo's hand and walked toward his parents.

"Mrs. Lohengrin," I smiled as I walked to her. She extended her hand which I took as I curtsied. When I came back up, she kissed both sides of my cheeks, smiling. "Mr. Lohengrin," I greeted, shaking his hand.

I noticed Mateo also greeted my parents. And when he was done, he sat down on a chair as I stood beside him. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"[Y/N], I know you said you wanted to wait, but Wyatt suggested that we push the wedding sooner rather than later," My mother spoke up.

I was taken aback by this. My father promised me that I had six months before I had to think about the wedding. He knew I wasn't ready, he didn't know the reason, but he respected that. What changed?

"What? No. I thought we came to an agreement." I started, walking towards my father. For some reason, I had a feeling that Wyatt did this.

"I know sweetheart but-" My father started, but I interrupted him. Whatever excuse he was going to put out wasn't going to work. He promised me I had six months.

"No! Father, you told me I had at least six months." I now stood in front of him. This wasn't fair to me. I'm giving them what they wanted and they can't respect one wish?

"I know [n/n]," My father spoke, slightly sighing. "I'm sorry. Wyatt is in charge of all the affairs now. Whatever he says goes." My father announced.

I was shocked. He wasn't even going to try and give me a little more time? I was standing there not knowing what to do. I heard footsteps behind me and felt a hand on the small of my back.

"I know I proposed to [Y/N] early," I heard Mateo say. "But I'm more than willing to wait for her. I have no rush to marry her-"

"But you love my sister, do you not?" Wyatt asked, interrupting Mateo. We both turned to look at him.

"More than anything, you know this," Mateo said firmly.

"So why delay the wedding?" Wyatt asked, crossing his arms and leaning back on the pillar near him.

"I promised [Y/N] to wait for her. I just wanted to let the entire world that I will be hers."

"But she's not officially yours until you are married," Wyatt corrected. I glared at him while recalling the first time he brought up my possible engagement with Mateo

"He would make the Alderidge family even stronger than before. The Lohengrin's and the Alderidge's would be powerful." He elaborated.

"Of course, I'd be some pawn to you," I muttered under my breath.

And that's all I would ever be to Wyatt. A pawn in his game of chess. I was nothing to him. I could either make or break our family name and he wasn't not going to let me destroy it.

"And she won't be mine," Mateo declared. "[Y/N] is her own person, not an object," Mateo protected me. If there was something I admired about Mateo, it was that he saw me as his equal.

"[Y/N], dear," Mrs. Lohengrin spoke, catching my attention. "Maybe it is better to push the wedding sooner. You know, with having to bare heirs and helping around the house." She suggested.

I felt my hands start to get clammy at the thought of that. I didn't want to produce heirs yet. I didn't even want to get married. I didn't want to get married to Mateo. And I gave up my other half for my family. And here they were, trying to rob me again.

"What's wrong [Y/N]?" Wyatt spoke up. "Do you not want to marry Mateo?" Wyatt asked.

He knew what he was doing. He knew that I couldn't refuse his "offer" in front of our parents. In front of Mateo's parents. This was part of his plan. It was part of his plan as well when Mateo proposed. I couldn't say no then and I can't say no now.

And even if I did, I'd face the consequences with Wyatt.

"Of course, I want to marry him," I tried sounding defensive.

"Then what is the problem?" Wyatt continued asking. He was trying to get me to crack but he knew that if I did, he'd tell my parents.

"N-Nothing." I stammered out.

"Then it's settled," Wyatt disclosed. "The wedding is to happen in a month." Wyatt smiled.

"[Y/N], are you sure about this?" Mateo asked me.

"I need to be excused," I walked out of the room.

~~~

I went to my room and locked myself in there. The tears started falling. Was I really this sensitive? I've never cried this much in my life. But who was I kidding? I knew why I was crying. I wanted to be with Tewkesbury.

I walked to my writing desk and took out a piece of parchment and my fountain pen. I wrote to Owen. I couldn't even tell what I was writing as my vision was blurry.

I heard a knock at the door and I quickly dropped my pen. I tried hiding the letter and wiped my tears away.

"[Y/N]?" I heard someone ask from the other side of the door. I knew that voice belonged to Mateo. I walk towards the door and opened it. I opened it slightly so I was only in sight.

"Were you crying?" Mateo asked, trying to bring a hand to my face. I backed away from his touch.

"It's nothing," I tried lying. But I knew I couldn't lie right now.

"[Y/N]-" Mateo tried.

"Mateo, I'm fine."

"You're not." Mateo insisted. "I tried telling Wyatt to respect your wishes but he wouldn't listen."

"He won't listen to anyone," I explained. "Look if you want me to be fine, just leave. I want to be alone," I tried closing the door on him. I had made it clear that I didn't want him near.

"I'm not leaving you alone," Mateo put his hand on the door trying to keep it open.

"You want to help me?" I asked him, and he nodded. I walked into my room and he followed me inside. I walked to my desk and received the letter I had written. I placed it in an envelope and gave it to Mateo.

"Give this to my cousin tonight. I know you want to help me, but he's the one I need right now." I told him. Mateo looked at the letter and then back up at me.

"If that's what you want." He nodded before leaving me.