The Unspoken Promise

Arguments.

The weight of his parents' words lingered in the room, heavy and suffocating. Jace stared at them in disbelief, his mind racing with thoughts of Vivienne and everything they'd been quietly building together over the last two months. The reality of what they were asking sank in, each word feeling like a blow.

Finally, he spoke, his voice rough with frustration. "You're telling me I can't even see her anymore? Just like that, I'm supposed to forget all of this because of some... some tradition?"

Nathaniel exchanged a look with Evangeline, his gaze calm but resolute. "It's not 'just like that,' Jace. This tradition means something—it's a commitment to your family and to the values we've held for generations. We want what's best for you, for your future."

"What's best for me?" Jace repeated, his voice rising. "You think what's best for me is to just... forget her? To pretend that none of this matters?"

Evangeline sighed, reaching out as if to comfort him. "Jace, we understand that you care for Vivienne, but this isn't about disregarding your feelings. It's about building a life that fits within the framework of our family's beliefs. She's been a good friend, but—"

"A good friend?" Jace interrupted, his frustration spilling over. "It's more than that, and you both know it. You can't just expect me to ignore what I feel, what we feel."

Nathaniel's expression softened for a moment, but he quickly steeled himself. "Jace, this is how it's always been. Every member of this family has faced this decision, and each of them has embraced it. We're asking you to do the same, to respect what our family stands for." Nathaniel sighed. "What would you have me do, Jace?"

"What would you have me do, Dad?" Jace's voice broke, a mixture of anger and desperation. "Walk away from someone I actually care about because you think there's some ideal 'match' out there for me?"

Evangeline looked at him, her tone pleading yet firm. "We're not asking you to ignore your feelings, but to consider the bigger picture—the legacy you're a part of. This isn't about taking something away from you. It's about helping you find a partner who's aligned with our family's values."

Jace shook his head, pacing in frustration. "This isn't fair. You're asking me to throw away something real for something you think I need. I'm almost twenty-one, and you still think you can just make decisions for me?"

Nathaniel's face grew stern, his voice low but firm. "This was never a decision made for you, Jace. It's a tradition that you knew about, a path every one of us has walked."

Jace's jaw clenched, his gaze narrowing. "So I don't get a choice?"

Nathaniel held his gaze, unwavering. "You knew this was going to happen."

The silence that followed was thick and heavy, filled with the weight of things unsaid. Jace stood there, the realization settling over him like a storm, his heart pounding with a mixture of anger and helplessness.

**^****************************

Across town, a similar conversation was unfolding with Vivienne and her parents. The tension in the room was palpable as she looked back and forth between Cassandra and Sebastian, disbelief etched across her face. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she tried to process their words.

"You can't be serious," she said, her voice sharp and trembling with anger. "You think I'm just going to... to end things with Jace because you say so? Because of some outdated tradition?"

Cassandra tried to speak calmly, her voice steady but with a hint of pleading. "Vivienne, this isn't just 'some outdated tradition.' It's part of who we are as a family, something we've upheld for generations. We want you to have a life that's stable, built on values that align with our family."

Vivienne scoffed, her voice rising. "Values? What values? You mean the ones that tell me to marry a stranger because it's 'the right thing' to do? What about what I want? What about what I feel?"

Sebastian's face remained impassive, though there was a flicker of frustration in his eyes. "Vivienne, we understand that this is difficult, but this tradition has been part of our family for generations. It's not about taking something away from you—it's about building a future that respects where you come from."

Vivienne let out a bitter laugh, throwing her hands up in frustration. "So what, I'm just supposed to throw away everything I feel? To ignore the fact that Jace actually means something to me?"

Cassandra's gaze softened, but her voice remained steady. "Sweetheart, we're not asking you to forget your feelings. But you have to understand, this isn't just about you. It's about the family, about what we stand for."

Vivienne's voice broke, her frustration giving way to desperation. "But you're asking me to give up something real, something I actually care about. Do you really think that's fair?"

Sebastian shook his head, his expression unwavering. "Vivienne, life isn't always about what feels good in the moment. Sometimes it's about honoring something bigger than ourselves, something that's stood the test of time."

Tears of frustration stung her eyes as she stared at her parents, unable to believe what she was hearing. "You're both so caught up in this... this tradition that you can't even see what it's doing to me. You're asking me to choose a life I don't want!"

Cassandra reached out to her, her voice gentle but firm. "You knew this was going to happen, Vivienne."

Vivienne took a step back, her heart pounding as her mother's words settled over her, each one feeling like a weight pulling her down. She looked between them, the realization sinking in that they weren't going to change their minds.

The room fell silent, filled with the heavy tension of things said and unsaid, a gulf widening between them that felt insurmountable.