Golden Horizon: The Sea's Secret

Tangled Web of Choices

As Ashton drove home, he couldn't stop thinking about Emma. Icy, sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly burst out, "Who the hell puts their child in an arranged marriage like that?"

Ashton glanced at her, surprised by her outburst. "I thought you were angry at Jake."

"I was... but you know, Jake must be having a hard time dealing with his parents too. I love you, brother, but Jake's a friend too," Icy replied, her anger giving way to empathy.

Ashton smiled faintly. "I know, Ice. He's my friend too."

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That night, Ashton received a text from Ryan asking him to meet up at the bar. Curious and slightly concerned, Ashton agreed. When he arrived, he found Ryan and Jake already seated, their expressions serious.

Ashton slid into the booth, and Jake wasted no time getting to the point. Jake took a deep breath, clearly struggling with his words. "My dad... he's been pushing me into an arranged marriage for months now. I've been trying to fight it, but he's relentless. And the person he's arranged for me to marry is Lily... Emma's best friend."

Ashton felt a wave of anger and disbelief wash over him. "Lily? So, it's true?" His voice was tinged with frustration. "You knew all along, and you didn't think to tell Emma? You let her find out this way?"

Jake winced at Ashton's words. "I didn't want any of this, Ashton. I swear. But I was caught between a rock and a hard place. My dad doesn't care about what I want, or what Emma feels. All he sees is a business opportunity."

Jake's eyes filled with regret. "I tried to tell her... I was going to tell her. But every time I tried, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. How do you tell the person you care about that you're being forced to marry someone else?" Jake looked down, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know. I messed up. But you have to understand, I never wanted to hurt her. I never wanted any of this. I'm stuck in a situation I can't control."

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One afternoon, while Ashton was gazing at the sea after surfing, he noticed Emma approaching the beach with two surfboards. He was about to go over to her when he saw another girl join her. He recognized her as Lily, Emma's best friend. Emma didn't seem to notice him, her focus entirely on Lily.

Emma pointed to the surfboard and said simply, "Let's catch some waves. Surf with me."

The sun was beginning its descent, casting a warm, golden hue over the beach. Ashton watched them surf together, Emma as graceful as ever, while Lily kept up with her like a pro. His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. Icy's name flashed on the screen. He had almost forgotten he was supposed to pick her up that afternoon to help with her painting supplies.

Reluctantly, he left the beach, though his thoughts remained with Emma.

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At home, Ashton found himself unable to shake the image of Emma from his mind. Her face, the look in her eyes when she confronted Jake earlier that day, haunted him. He couldn't help but replay the scene over and over, the pain in her voice echoing in his thoughts. It was clear that she was hurting, and the more Ashton thought about it, the more helpless he felt. He wished there was something—anything—he could do to ease her pain.

During dinner, the usual lively chatter was somewhat subdued. Ashton was lost in his thoughts, barely picking at his food, when his mother, Eleanor, casually brought up a topic she had been meaning to discuss.

"I've been thinking," Eleanor began, her tone light but thoughtful. "Serenity Overlook, the place my friend owns, would be a perfect getaway for you two. It's got a beautiful view, very peaceful, and I know how much you appreciate a quiet ambiance, Ashton."

Ashton nodded absently, barely registering her words. His mind was miles away, still entangled in the complicated web of emotions surrounding Emma, Jake, and the whole arranged marriage mess. He couldn't help but wonder how Emma was coping with it all, whether she was okay, and what the future held for her now.

Sensing his distraction, Icy, who was usually the most cheerful person at the table, suddenly turned serious. She put down her fork and looked at their parents with a rare, somber expression.

"Mom, Dad... can I ask you something?" Icy's voice was unusually hesitant.

Richard and Eleanor exchanged a glance, picking up on the shift in her tone. "Of course, sweetie," Eleanor said, leaning forward slightly. "What's on your mind?"

Icy hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Would you ever... arrange a marriage for Ashton and me?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and unexpected. Ashton, who had been staring blankly at his plate, suddenly looked up, his attention fully captured. Richard, their father, was visibly taken aback. He set down his cutlery, his brow furrowing in concern.

"Where did you get that idea, Icy?" Richard asked, his voice gentle but tinged with surprise.

Icy shrugged, her usual spark dimmed by the weight of the conversation. "It's just... with everything that's happening. You know, the Hansleys... they're arranging a marriage for Jake. And it made me wonder."

Eleanor's face softened with understanding as she reached out to place a comforting hand on Icy's. "Oh, darling, you don't have to worry about that. We've never even considered something like that for you or Ashton. You're both free to choose who you want to spend your life with. We trust you to make the right decisions for yourselves."

Icy let out a small sigh of relief, but the tension hadn't completely left her. "I'm glad to hear that. But it's just so... unfair, you know? Jake's stuck in this awful situation, and it's tearing someone else heart and Jake's too"

Richard's expression grew more serious, his usually warm eyes hardening at the mention of the Hansleys. "Albert Hansley..." he muttered, almost to himself. Then, looking directly at his children, he asked, "Are you friends with his son?"

"Yeah," Ashton responded, a touch of curiosity creeping into his voice. "Jake's one of our surf buddies. Why?"

Richard seemed to weigh his words carefully before he spoke again, his tone deliberate. "Albert came to me not too long ago. He wanted to arrange a marriage between Jake and Icy—to unite our businesses."

Ashton and Icy both froze, their shock evident. The very idea was unthinkable. "He what?" Icy's voice was filled with disbelief, her eyes wide.

"I denied his request, of course," Richard continued, his tone firm. "I told him it wouldn't do any good for our children or our families. I won't put you in that situation. I want you both to have the freedom to choose whom to love and what to do with your lives. Your mother and you two are my treasures—my real wealth. And I would never risk losing you by forcing something like that on you."

Icy's eyes welled up with emotion as she stood up and moved to hug her father tightly. "I love you, Dad," she whispered, her voice thick with gratitude.

Richard smiled, his expression softening as he wrapped his arms around his daughter. "I love you too, sweetheart. I wouldn't be the best dad in the world if I did that to you."

Ashton watched the exchange, feeling a deep sense of gratitude well up inside him. He looked at his parents, appreciating, perhaps more than ever, the love and care they had always shown him and Icy. In a world that often seemed complicated and harsh, he was profoundly thankful to be part of a family that valued love and happiness above all else.

As they finished dinner, the conversation gradually shifted to lighter topics, but the gravity of what had been said lingered in Ashton's mind. He chuckled softly to himself, thinking about how lucky he was to be born into such a loving family. Yet, even in the warmth of his home, his thoughts drifted back to Emma, to the turmoil she was facing, and to the uncertainty that lay ahead for them all.

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