Favor of Destiny

chapter 3 : Shattered Illusions

Reine

After Adam left, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything. My thoughts were a chaotic jumble, emotions ranging from anger to fear to desperation. I had to talk to Leo. He had to explain why he'd done this to me, why he'd agreed to marry me off like some piece of property.

I reached for my phone on the bedside table, my hands trembling as I dialed Leo's number. The phone rang, each passing second stretching into an eternity. Finally, he answered.

"Reine?" His voice was warm, familiar, and it almost broke me.

"Leo..." I could barely get the words out, my throat tightening with the effort. "Please, tell me this isn't real. Tell me Adam is lying."

There was a pause, and in that silence, I heard everything I needed to know.

"Reine," he began softly, and my heart sank. "I know you're upset, but you have to trust me on this."

"Trust you?" I repeated, my voice shaking with disbelief. "How can I trust you when you've just handed me over to a man I barely know? When you've made decisions about my life without even asking me?"

"I did what I had to do," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "You have to understand, Reine, this isn't just about you. There's more at stake here."

"Then tell me!" I pleaded, tears welling up in my eyes. "Tell me why you're doing this to me. Why you're forcing me to marry a man I don't love, a man I don't even like!"

"I can't tell you everything," Leo said, his voice strained. "Not yet. But you have to believe me when I say it's for your own good. For everyone's good."

"Damn it, Leo, stop talking in riddles!" I snapped, my frustration boiling over. "You're my brother! You're supposed to protect me, not... not sell me off like this!"

"Reine, please—" he began, but I cut him off.

"Do you have any idea what you're asking of me?" I demanded, my voice cracking with emotion. "I'm supposed to just... marry Adam, live with him, play the role of the dutiful wife? I can't do that, Leo. I don't want this life."

"I know it's hard," he said, his voice pained. "But you're stronger than you think, Reine. And I wouldn't be asking this of you if there were any other way."

"There has to be another way!" I cried, tears spilling down my cheeks. "Please, Leo, don't make me do this. I'll do anything else, anything, just... not this."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I thought he might relent, that he might tell me it was all a mistake. But then he spoke, and his words crushed whatever hope I had left.

"I'm sorry, Reine," he said quietly, his voice filled with regret. "But it's already done. The marriage is happening, whether you like it or not."

I felt the world closing in on me, the weight of his words suffocating. "You're really going to do this to me? To your own sister?"

"I'm doing this for you," he insisted, but the words felt hollow. "One day, you'll understand."

"No," I whispered, my voice broken. "I don't think I ever will."

"Reine," he said softly, "I love you. I always have. And I would never do anything to hurt you unless I truly believed it was the only way to keep you safe."

"Safe from what?" I asked, but my voice was barely a whisper now, drained of all strength.

"You'll know soon enough," he replied, evading the question again. "But until then, you have to trust me. Please, Reine, just... trust me."