Marriage By Deception

7. The Price of Freedom

The days after Christopher's confrontation with his father were a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. On the surface, life continued as usual—work, social obligations, and the familiar routines that had long structured his existence. But beneath it all, there was a current of change, a growing realization that the life he had always known was slipping away, replaced by something unrecognizable.

He had expected resistance, but the silence from his family was more unsettling than any confrontation. His father had not reached out since their meeting, and his mother, usually so involved in every aspect of his life, had only sent a single, terse text: "Call me when you're ready to talk."

Christopher knew that his decision had sent shockwaves through his family, but he was determined to see it through. The time for pretense was over, and he was committed to finding out what his life could be outside of the roles that had been assigned to him.

One evening, as he sat alone in his apartment, the phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number, and for a moment, he hesitated before answering. When he did, a familiar voice greeted him.

"Christopher, it's Edward."

Edward Markham—the last person Christopher expected to hear from. TheMarkhams were part of the same social circle as his family, old money with all the expectations and obligations that came with it. Edward had always been more of an acquaintance than a friend, someone Christopher saw at events but never truly connected with.

"Edward," Christopher replied cautiously. "What can I do for you?"

"I heard about the conversation you had with your father," Edwards said, his tone casual but with an undercurrent of something more serious. "Word gets around quickly in our circles, you know."

Christopher felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his chest. The news of his confrontation was spreading faster than he had anticipated. "And what have you heard?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Edward chuckled, though it was a humorless sound. "That you're considering walking away from everything. That you're questioning the family business, the life you've always known. People are talking, Christopher."

The anxiety deepened. This was exactly what he had been afraid of—the scrutiny, the judgment from those who had always expected him to fall in line. "I'm just trying to figure things out for myself," Christopher replied, choosing his words carefully. "It's not easy, but it's something I need to do."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Edward spoke again, his tone more serious. "Listen, I get it. More than you might think. I've been in your shoes, questioning everything, wondering if the path that's been laid out for me is really what I want. But there's a cost to stepping out of line, and you need to be prepared for that."

Christopher frowned, uncertain of where this conversation was headed. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that the world we come from doesn't take kindly to rebellion," Edward said, his voice dropping lower. "If you're serious about this, about breaking away, you need to know that it's going to change everything. You'll lose the support of your family, and with it, a lot of the privileges you've taken for granted. People will turn their backs on you. The same people who smiled and shook your hand at every event will suddenly find reasons to avoid you."

Christopher had considered this possibility, but hearing it stated so plainly was unsettling. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I've been where you are," Edward replied, his tone softening."I've seen what happens when someone tries to break free. My brother did it—walked away from the family business, from everything. And it wasn't easy. He lost a lot, but in the end, he found something better. Something real."