Simply, Raven

she doing this to me?" Adrian walked into

ys firmly, placing a hand on his arm. "We can replace Raven wi

ening. Ananya isn't my blood. She doesn't even bare my name." His voic

he doorway, with Ananya and Annie behind her, their fa

f Raven.His voice was low, but sharp. "

teady, but her heart raced inside. "I'm not getting ma

ed at her, silent, before

ed him to give in so easily. But before she could respond, he added

place?" Ananya asked,

urning his back on both

"Father, you can't-" She steps forward, pleading. "

arriage, you must be out of your senses. This marriage will hold whether you like it or not. You'

ow?" Annie faced her si

l processing everything. "No, how can yo

ht. This was probably your plan a

t a pang in her chest. "Annie, no-" Raven's voice faltered as she

ery-it broke something inside her. Annie wasn't just her sister; she was her confidante, her best friend, the one person Raven had always tried

mbling but firm. "Dad, I'll marry Michael, okay? Just don't do this to A

should have thought about this before trying to walk away." His

ont of him. "Please! I can fix this. I'll talk to the Silvers; I'll make

ed Raven on the ground, pleading. "Raven..." she

d Raven to her feet. "You're just like your mother," he muttered under his breath. He looked at her hard. "Fine. But if you fail t

f as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Now, she was left wi

standing in front of Raven. "Good luck." She added, her voice d

she just looked at Raven be

"I- I didn't mean what I said. I'm sorry." Annie looked at h

orry. I should have known dad would try to

head as she couldn't brin

hael was back in the room, and Laura

en please." Adrian's voice came

iage. It's so unfortunate, you know what this marriage meant t

d with unspoken words, but the lu

was back, his body resting by the entrance, his face unreadable. Laura a

behind her. "Please, before you go, hear her

wly, her eyes filled with disappointment. "What more is there to say, Adrian? We ca

just listen. I know everything is a mess right now and you might think this marriage isn't valid anymore, but your son

our virginity, what matters is it was before the wedding. That has been the tr

e time stepped forward, his voice sha

son. Her eyebrows slowly r

pick an invisible lint on his sleeve. "We keep

, one that kept Raven uneasy. Laura looked at Matthew, then at Michael, before pulling them aside. T

ve forward with this marriage," she said slowly. "You will have to sign a non-disclosure agreement. No word of this scandal

e would be trapped, bound by silence, but she didn't care an

takes." Raven's eyes flickered to Michael, his jaw tight, his gaze fixed on

pockets. "I'll get my lawyer to contact you. Ev

ightly as he turned towards L

We'll take our leave now. I'll send over the details for the

firmly. "Sure thing. Le

ed to leave the room, Raven's voice c

n I speak to M

crossing his face as he exchanged a look with his parents. There