Entangled hearts

2| The phone call

~River~

"Where have you been?" My mother's voice sliced through the silence the second I stepped into the house. The harsh tone, as always, carried from the kitchen, dripping with disapproval.

I stopped, my heart racing as I stood frozen in the hallway. The familiar knot tightened in my chest. How could she always make me feel like I was suffocating, like I was trapped in a cage too small for me to breathe?

"I asked you a question, River." Her voice cut through again, sharper this time. The chill in her words sent a shiver down my spine.

I swallowed hard, slowly turning to face her. There she was, standing by the kitchen counter, her arms crossed over her chest, eyes boring into me as if daring me to disobey.

But I didn't respond. I wasn't in the mood to have another fight with her. Not today. Without saying a word, I turned on my heel and started up the stairs.

Her next words stopped me cold.

"You're getting engaged in ten days," she said flatly, as if she were announcing the weather. "I've already informed your school about your absence."

The air left my lungs. My feet froze mid-step as her words sank in. Ten days. Ten days before my life would be completely out of my control. Ten days before I'd be shackled to a man I'd never met. I spun around, fury bubbling inside me.

"Since you're so eager for this to happen, why don't you marry him?" The bitterness in my voice was thick, laced with the frustration I'd been holding in for weeks.

For a brief moment, I thought I saw surprise flicker across her face, but it vanished as quickly as it came. She straightened, her eyes narrowing. "I wish I could," she spat. "You're marrying one of the wealthiest men in the state, River. Instead of acting like an ungrateful brat, you should be thanking me. At least you'll be more useful than your father ever was."

Her words sliced through me like a dagger. Every time she spoke about Dad, it felt like a slap to my heart. My fists clenched at my sides as the fury rose within me. "How can you stand there and say that?" I demanded, my voice shaking with anger. "Do you even care that I'm about to marry a man I've never met? A man who could be a complete monster for all we know? Did you ever stop to wonder why someone like him would even want me?"

She stared at me, her cold eyes narrowing, but I could see the flicker of doubt, the small crack in her mask. "Why does it matter?" she snapped. "This is what's best for this family. You'll marry him, and you'll do it with grace. End of discussion."

I laughed bitterly, shaking my head in disbelief. "Grace?" I whispered. "You sold your heart a long time ago, Mom. But I'm not going to lose mine."

Her eyes darkened, her jaw tightening as she glared at me. But she didn't say anything else. Instead, she turned away, dismissing me like I was nothing more than a nuisance.

I couldn't breathe. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, the weight of everything pressing down on my chest. My throat tightened as tears pricked the corners of my eyes. Without another word, I spun around and ran up the stairs to my room, slamming the door shut behind me.

The second I was alone, the tears spilled over. I sank down onto the floor, hugging my knees to my chest as sobs racked my body. My mind was spinning. I didn't know what to do, who to turn to. My mother had made up her mind. She'd sealed my fate, and I had no way out.

I couldn't do this alone.

With shaking hands, I grabbed my phone and scrolled to the only person who might be able to help me-my brother, Gideon. He didn't know. He had no idea what was happening. Maybe, just maybe, he could help me.