"Whispers of Destiny"

the world of her favorite novel. The familiar scent of old books lingered in the air,

hen the door creaked open, and her mother wal

ate, darling, we need to talk," her voice

furrowing at the seriousness in her mother's ey

our financial situation, and.... we have decided that it's time you that you should know that it's no

ase settling in her stomach. "What

r mother and answers Kate's question. "Our family's business, the one that has sustained us for so l

the room. Kate's mind raced, trying to comprehend th

d investments, economic downturns, and a series of unfortunate even

her family's wealth slipping away like sand th

d with a solution, Kate. An old acquaintance of ours, the Harrisons, has proposed an arranged marria

wealthiest family in the city. Kate knew if she married Shawn she wi

age. She valued relationships more than money. So she tries to reason with her parents once more, "But I don't even kn

s are worried that if god forbids something happens to them he will be left lonely. That's why they want him to marry soon. They have previously arranged many dates for him but nothing came out of them. Now they don't want to leave the marriage matter to him. They were good friends with our parent

h the suddenness of it all. She looks in her mother's eyes and asks

imes, practicality must take precedence. We believe it's the best course of action for our family's future. But I will not force you, you're my only child, darling. I am already ashamed that I failed

pbringing, was slipping away. Her father, who looked so handsome and powerful few days back, looks haggard, his shoulders slumped with the burden

her a pampered life and never burdened her with their expectations. It's the least she

ity of the arrangement. The weight of the decision s

itting on her bed lost in her thoughts gets a call from an unknown number, confu

ng that its Shawn's call replies softly, "Oh, hi M

sten, I know this might sound a bit unexpected, but I was thinking, since we're plannin

person responds, "Well, yeah, that

e important things we should discuss face-to-face before takin

right. It's a bit surprising. we are gettin

he negligence of not meeting her bef

ah, I suppose meeting before getting engag

this nice place in downtown. How about

lies, "Saturday works f

onsense tone, "Great! I'll

softly, "Oka

ll after saying,