Karera | [ Stacey x OC (F) ]

C15 - Arranged Marriage

Third Person's POV

The day had been going smoothly, hanging out with Louise and their friends after the tense encounter with Donny. Stacey had finally begun to relax, feeling like the weight of Donny's obsession was lifting.

But as the evening drew near, her phone buzzed with a call from her dad. She answered with a casual "Hey, Dad."

"Stacey, we've got a family dinner tonight. It's important. Be ready by 7 p.m." her dad said, his voice carrying an unusual formality.

"Okay Dad, Papunta na po." she replied, slightly confused by the tone. Important? Was it business-related? Her family usually kept her out of those things.

At exactly 7 p.m, Stacey arrived at the restaurant, expecting a regular dinner with just her parents. But as soon as she walked in, she froze. Seated at the table with her mom and dad were Donny, his dad, and his mom.

Her stomach turned. "What the hell is this?" she thought, her eyes darting toward her parents, silently asking for an explanation. Her mom smiled warmly at her, gesturing for her to sit down.

"Stacey, come, have a seat." her dad said, his voice steady but laced with something that made her feel uneasy.

The moment she sat down, Donny gave her that insufferable smirk, leaning in slightly as if this was his stage to perform. "Stacey, you look stunning tonight." he said, his voice dripping with false charm.

Stacey shot him a glare of pure disgust, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't."

Her parents exchanged awkward glances, and for a moment, there was an uncomfortable silence at the table. Donny, as usual, ignored all social cues and pressed on, launching into a conversation clearly designed to impress her parents. He talked about his family's wealth, his plans, his future—anything he thought might win him points.

Stacey kept her eyes on her plate, tuning him out, her mind swirling with a deep unease. Something was wrong. This wasn't just a casual dinner. There was a reason her parents had called her here tonight with Donny's family.

As the food arrived, the conversation shifted, and Stacey's dad cleared his throat. "So, we've been discussing some... potential partnerships with Donny's family."

Stacey's eyes snapped up, finally paying attention. "Partnerships?" she asked, her tone skeptical, though a small pit of dread was already forming in her stomach.

Donny's dad smiled warmly. "Yes, we believe that our families working together will benefit us all greatly. There's something symbolic about such a partnership, and we've been thinking of... formalizing that connection."

Stacey's brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Her mom placed a gentle hand on her arm. "Honey, it's been discussed for a while now, and we think it's a great idea for both our families—an arranged marriage between you and Donny."

Stacey's mind went blank. Her breath caught in her throat as she processed the words.

"Arranged marriage?"

"This has to be a joke." She looked at her parents, her voice wavering between disbelief and fury. "You... you can't be serious."

Her dad leaned in, trying to sound reassuring. "Stacey, we know this might be sudden, but Donny's family is—"