Chapter 6: The Weight of Expectations
A week had passed since Leyla's return, and her father's desperation grew with each passing day. Despite his best efforts to find a suitable match for his daughter, his hopes were dashed time and time again as potential suitors recoiled at the thought of marrying a girl who had dared to defy tradition.
Frustrated and at his wit's end, Leyla's father turned to his old friend, Emmad Noorani, a wealthy businessman known for his connections and influence. Despite his reservations, Dr. Arzhang approached Emmad, his heart heavy with the weight of desperation.
In a last-ditch effort to secure a future for his daughter, Dr. Arzhang pleaded with Emmad to marry Leyla, regardless of their age difference. But Emmad, ever the practical man, refused, citing not only the vast age gap but also his own sense of propriety.
"I have nieces as old as Leyla," Emmad explained, his tone firm yet empathetic. "It would be inappropriate for me to marry someone so much younger than myself."
"If you don't marry her, I'll kill Leyla myself," Leyla's father declared, his words ringing out in the silence of the room.
Emmad was taken aback by his sudden outburst, but her father saw it as a glimmer of hope. With a sense of relief washing over him, he embraced Emmad, gratitude shining in his eyes.
Returning home with news of Emmad's agreement, Leyla's father could barely contain his excitement as he shared the news with Leyla and her mother. But Leyla's joy quickly turned to anger as she realized the gravity of her situation.
"I won't marry him!" Leyla protested, her voice trembling with defiance.
But her father's patience had worn thin, and with a swift motion, he silenced her protests with a sharp slap across the face.
"You have no right to say anything now," he spat, his voice filled with anger and frustration. "You will marry Emmad, and that is final."
As Leyla's tears fell like rain, she knew that her fight for freedom had only just begun. But with each passing moment, her resolve grew stronger, her determination unwavering in the face of adversity. For she knew that no matter what trials lay ahead, she would never give up on love or on herself.
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Forced Vows | Age gap | fictional characters |
RomanceLeyla Arzhang, a 27-year-old doctor, had always been her father's pride. But when she eloped with a man her family disapproved of, the scandal threatened to ruin their reputation. Her father, a respected doctor himself, was desperate to salvage thei...
