Billionaire or Spark
e. It was Mom's, a high-pitched squeal that sent shive
because Henry finally popped the question, dread because of the audience. Mom was already dabbing tears from her mascara-rimmed eyes, a
ice was a low rumble, de
he room. Henry, ever the gentleman, lingered by
omething that might have been...disappointment? "That's wonderful, Jessica,"
wouldn't be taking over the company. His dream, his legacy, had always been for me to become CEO, to follow in his
nsion. She reached for my hand, her fingers clutching mine with the force of a
terjected, the harshness back in his voi
upposed to celebrate my engagement, a step towards the life Dad always envision
d, his gaze shifting to encompass me and Henry. "You fina
like the undercurrent of Dad's words. "Sir," he
ying yes to you makes up for a lot." But what, Dad? My disobedience? My failur
gaze flitting between me and Dad. "Perhaps we should give you
g had been a carefully orchestrated move, a way to appease Dad and secure his bl
orcing a smile. "This is good news, r
! Let's go call your Aunt Margaret, she'll be thrilled to bits!" She
rose from his chair. He walked towards me, his face
s,
im well." Before I could respond, he turned and headed fo
is voice barely a whis
ons, the pressure to follow a path I didn't desire, the hollowness that gnawe
aging a weak smile. "Ju
ured. "But for now, let's celebrate." He gestured around the room, his gaze l
itter question escaped
uding over with confusion.
bol not of love, but of a life I wasn't sure I wanted. And a growing, nagging suspicion that somewhere else, a different