A Tale of Betrayals

Emily stood in front of her dad, fuming with rage.

“You can't just marry off like that. I'm not some kind of property that you can just give away,” Emily spat out, staring deeply into her dad's eyes.

Mr. Smith stood there and watched Emily's outburst. He wasn't budging. His mind was resolute.

“Emily I'm sorry, but your mother and I have made this decision,” he said in a firm yet calm voice.

“For God's sake, Dad! I have goals to achieve. I have dreams of my own. I have a boyfriend, Andrew, who I plan to spend the rest of my life with,” Emily yelled, her voice breaking as tears pricked at the corner of her eyes.

Mr. Smith sighed heavily as Mrs. Smith stood and rubbed his shoulder in encouragement.

“Stop being so selfish, Emily. The company is on the verge of death; in a few months, there won't be anything left of it,” Mrs. Smith stated heavily.

“You've been given the privilege to be the bride of a wealthy entrepreneur, and yet you stand here being so ungrateful,” she added, fury flashing in her eyes.

Emily unfolded her arms and held onto her head in confusion. She had always been a docile daughter, but this was just too much for her. She couldn't sacrifice her happiness for the sake of the family.

“Wealthy?! Wealthy?!! If he wasn't bankrupt, you would have let Lily get married to the billionaire. From what I heard, it was Lily who the billionaire chose to be his son's bride,” she yelled in aggression.

“But she always gets her way, doesn't she? I'm not even sure if I'm part of this family anymore,” she added, shrugging her shoulders.

"Emily, that is no way to talk to your mother!” Mr. Smith exclaimed.

“I'm sorry, Dad, but I can't do it. I won't do it," Emily screamed as she stormed out of the room.

****

"Andrew, please pick up,” Emily said to herself, pacing back and forth in her bedroom while staring at her phone.

“Hey, babe. What's up?” Andrew said over the phone.

“You have to help me, Andrew; you just have to help me,” she pleaded, her voice trembling.

“Emily, calm down and relax. What's the problem?” He replied with concern in his tone.

“I've been arranged to marry Alexander Roberts, the billionaire's son,” she stated, still pacing nervously.

“What! How did this happen?” Andrew exclaimed.

“It doesn't matter; I'll explain later.”

“So what do we do?” Andrew asked, his concern deepening.

“Andrew, I need to elope. And you have to help me.”

“Are you serious? But where do we go?”

“I don't know, Mexico, maybe England. Anywhere but here,” Emily replied, placing her hand on her forehead in frustration.

Emily stared at her bedroom door as she heard the sound of footsteps drawing nearer.

“Meet me at the train station by 5 p.m.,” she whispered into the phone.