I stood frozen, gripping the edge of the dining table as the weight of my parents' words sank in.
"An arranged marriage?" I repeated, disbelief lacing my voice. My mother nodded solemnly, avoiding my shocked gaze.
"Yes, Vivian. It's already been decided. The Rivera family proposed it, and we've accepted," my father added, his voice firm but not unkind. "You're getting married to Aries and that's final."
My mind spun. Aries Rivera—the cold, arrogant heir to the Rivera empire. The man i had hated for as long as i could remember. Our families had been rivals in business for years, and every encounter i had with Aries was filled with condescension and sharp words. And now... they want us to marry?
"This is ridiculous," i snapped, my heart pounding. "You can't be serious. He hates me!"
My mother's expression softened. "I know this is a shock, darling, but it's a merger that could save both families' legacies. The Langfords and Riveras' have always had their differences, but this could bring us together."
I stared at her parents in disbelief. They weren't just asking me to marry a man i didn't love—they were asking me to marry a man who had made it clear, on multiple occasions, that he despised me. Aries Rivera was the embodiment of everything I couldn't stand—cold, ruthless, and controlling. He lived for power and prestige, not for love.
"This isn't about love," my father said, as if reading her thoughts. "It's about duty."
My stomach churned as i thought about the man I had crossed paths with so many times. Our interactions were always filled with biting remarks and cold stares. The thought of being bound to him for life made me want to scream. But deep down, i knew the truth, my family was in trouble. My father's business was struggling, and without the Riveras' merger, they would lose everything.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "When?"
"Next month," my father said, his voice gentle but final. "The engagement party will be next week. Don't disappoint me"
I barely heard his words. A month. In just a few short weeks, I would be tied to Aries Rivera forever. Dammit
YOU ARE READING
Forced promises
RomanceCEO Aries Rivera and Vivian are into an arranged marriage to strengthen their families' business ties. Initially, their interactions are fraught with conflict and rudeness. However, as they navigate their new life together, their animosity slowly gi...
