The Marriage Gamble

New Beginnings

Sonja's heart raced as she made her way to meet Natalia after the family dinner. She needed reassurance that everything was in order for tomorrow's nuptials and Antoine's business transition to Singapore.

Natalia greeted her with a warm smile, her ever-efficient demeanor putting Sonja at ease. "I've double-checked all the paperwork," she said, shuffling through a stack of documents. "The marriage certificate, the legal requirements for Antoine's business—everything is in order."

Sonja exhaled a sigh of relief, but Natalia's next words caught her off guard.

"However, I did uncover something regarding the immigration laws," Natalia continued, her brow furrowing slightly. "It appears there's a loophole that would allow Antoine to operate his business without necessarily marrying a Singaporean citizen."

The room seemed to spin as Sonja processed the information. Her heart sank, a wave of sadness washing over her. If Antoine no longer needed to marry her to secure his business, what did that mean for their relationship?

Doubts and uncertainties flooded her mind. Had their connection been nothing more than a means to an end? Sonja had allowed herself to hope, to believe that what they shared was real and lasting.

Natalia's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. "Sonja, if you'd like, we can cancel the wedding arrangements. This changes things."

Sonja's throat tightened, emotions swirling within her. Part of her wanted to call it off, to save herself from potential heartbreak. But another part, the part that had fallen hopelessly for Antoine, yearned to continue down this path, even if the future was uncertain.

She took a steadying breath, searching for the right words. "Natalia, I... I need some time to think about this. Tomorrow is supposed to be the happiest day of my life, but now..." Her voice trailed off, a lump forming in her throat.

Natalia nodded in understanding, her expression softening. "Take all the time you need, Sonja. Just know that whatever you decide, I'll support you every step of the way."

As Sonja made her way back to the apartment she shared with Antoine, her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She had to figure out what her heart truly desired before she could take that fateful walk down the aisle.

*********

Sonja's hands trembled as she poured herself a glass of whiskey from the hotel room's minibar. The amber liquid sloshed precariously, a stark contrast to her usual preference for sparkling wine. But in this moment of turmoil, she needed something stronger.

With a deep breath, she downed the whiskey in one gulp, grimacing as the harsh liquid burned her throat. A wave of nausea hit her, and she nearly retched, the taste lingering bitterly on her tongue.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as the weight of Natalia's revelation crushed her. Was this all a sham? Had she fooled herself into believing Antoine's feelings were genuine?

The door opened, and Antoine stepped inside, his brow furrowing with concern upon seeing Sonja's distressed state. "Sonja? What's wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.

Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Sonja dissolved into sobs, her body shaking with each heaving breath. Antoine was by her side in an instant, pulling her into a comforting embrace.

"Hey, hey," he murmured soothingly, stroking her hair. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together. I'm here for you."

Sonja looked up at him through tear-filled eyes, her heart aching with uncertainty. "Do you mean that?" she asked, her voice quivering.

Antoine met her gaze, his expression a mix of confusion and unwavering determination. "Of course, babe," he said, letting out a soft chuckle. "What kind of question is that?"