11

Alfred.

I tried desperately to hide my true feelings, but how could I possibly pretend that everything was okay in this situation? I'm beyond nervous - I'm terrified! Worried sick about what might happen next! I didn't sleep a single minute properly!

"I can tell something's not right," my mother pressed, her voice still low. "You can tell me anything, you know that."

"Nothing serious, mother, truly," I forced myself to respond, squeezing her hands reassuringly. "It's just such a weird situation to find myself in so suddenly."

I blew a deep, shuddering sigh that betrayed more than my words did. "I think I'm simply not ready for such a major life change on such short notice."

I glanced around the room, taking in the watchful eyes of everyone present. "I hardly know these people," I added in a whisper. "And they hardly know me."

"That's precisely why we're all gathered here this morning," Sebastian suddenly announced, his voice cutting through the quiet conversation between my mother and me. He must have exceptional hearing to have caught my whispered comments from across the room.

"To discuss the details of our arrangement going forward," he continued, rising from his chair with deliberate slowness. "And to address any... concerns that might have arisen."

His eyes locked with mine across the room, and I felt a chill run down my spine at the intensity in his gaze.

"We are getting married tonight as planned! End of discussion!" Sebastian unexpectedly shrieked, his voice rising to a volume that made everyone in the room flinch.

His eyes never left mine as he continued, "There will be no more delays, no more debates, no more second thoughts. The agreements have been made, the papers signed, the arrangements finalized."

He slammed both hands down on the dining table with such force that the dishes jumped and silverware clattered noisily. I genuinely thought that the solid oak table would split in two from the power behind his strong fists.

"I have waited too long for this moment to let anything interfere now," he added, his voice dropping dangerously low.

The room fell into stunned silence for several heartbeats after Sebastian's outburst. My father looked smugly satisfied, while my mother's expression had transformed to one of shocked concern. Liam simply smirked, as if enjoying the dramatic scene unfolding before him.

"No, you are not, Sebastian!" An authoritative voice suddenly broke the tense silence.

An elegant older gentleman who had been observing quietly from the corner stepped forward into the light, his expensive suit perfectly tailored to his imposing frame. He moved with the confident grace of someone accustomed to commanding attention and respect.

"You most certainly will not be getting married tonight or any night soon without my approval," he continued, his voice firm but controlled as he approached the table.

All of us instantly turned our heads to stare at this unexpected challenger, this new player in an already complicated game. The family resemblance between him and Sebastian was unmistakable - the same strong jawline, the same penetrating eyes, though the older man's were edged with wrinkles of experience.

"Father!" Sebastian exclaimed, his jaw dropping open in undisguised shock. His earlier confidence seemed to deflate visibly in the presence of this man.

"You're supposed to be in Switzerland until next week," Sebastian added, his voice now noticeably less certain. "How did you know about-"

"Yes, I was meant to be abroad," Sebastian's father interrupted sharply, "but Liam called me late last night and informed me about this hastily arranged wedding you've been planning behind my back."

He approached Sebastian with measured steps, each one deliberate and heavy with authority. "How could you possibly decide something this important without seeking my opinion or approval first? Did you truly believe I wouldn't find out? Or perhaps you thought you would simply surprise me with a fait accompli tonight?"

Sebastian's father crossed his arms firmly over his chest, his disapproving gaze fixed steadily on his son. The resemblance between them became even more pronounced as they faced each other - especially in their expressions of stubborn determination. Sebastian scrunched his nose in frustration, a gesture his father mirrored unconsciously.

"So this is the young man?" Sebastian's father asked, turning briefly to look me over with calculating eyes before returning his attention to his son. "Handsome enough, I suppose, but hardly worth throwing away your political future for."

I felt myself flushing under his dismissive appraisal, but remained silent, sensing that this conflict was far larger than just me.

"Father, you haven't interfered in my personal decisions before, so why would you start now?" Sebastian challenged, raising an eyebrow defiantly. "I'm thirty-two years old, not a child needing permission for every choice I make."

Sebastian straightened his posture, attempting to match his father's imposing presence. "This is my life and my decision to make," he added firmly.

Okay, I thought to myself with growing hope, I might actually get to go home after this conversation concludes. Sebastian's father looked extremely annoyed and definitively opposed to this marriage. Perhaps this unexpected parental intervention would be the escape route I'd been praying for.

"Don't play naive with me, Sebastian," his father responded with a dismissive wave of his hand. "You know perfectly well why this situation is different from your previous romantic entanglements."

"When you were younger, you didn't make decisions with such far-reaching consequences," he continued, his voice rising slightly with frustration. "You used to be a wise, thoughtful young man who considered all aspects of a situation before acting."

Sebastian's father began pacing the room, his expensive shoes clicking rhythmically against the marble floor. "But now you are not just any man - you are a public figure with responsibilities to your family name, to our business interests, and to your political career."

He stopped suddenly, turning to face Sebastian directly. "And speaking of which - what about the election that's rapidly approaching? Have you completely forgotten about your congressional campaign?"

Sebastian's father huffed indignantly, gazing at his son with an expression that suggested he was barely restraining himself from physical violence. It was clear he wanted to slap some sense into Sebastian but was controlling his temper in front of witnesses. He certainly couldn't risk insulting or physically confronting a powerful man like Sebastian in public, even if that man was his son.

"Have you lost your mind completely?" he asked, his voice quieter but more intense. "Everything we've worked for, everything we've built - you would risk it all for what? A pretty face and a warm body in your bed?"

From my position across the room, I could see Sebastian's jaw clench tightly at his father's words. He ran his hands through his hair with deliberate slowness before responding, a mocking smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

"What about the election, Father?" Sebastian asked with exaggerated innocence, deliberately provoking the older man. "Is there something specific about my personal life that concerns the voting public?"