Chapter 2
Chapter 2:
Outside, the street was quiet and empty, stretching endlessly ahead of her. The riverside club’s exclusivity meant not a single taxi waited outside. Gift pressed tightly in her hands, Kailey moved briskly down the deserted drive, Ryan’s conversation with his friends playing on repeat in her mind.
After so many years, what exactly had she been clinging to?
A bitter laugh slipped from her lips. “Kailey,” she whispered to herself, “have you really been that foolish?” Unseen tears streaked down her cheeks. She didn’t bother wiping them away.
At the next intersection, a rush of headlights dazzled her, their brightness stinging her already aching eyes. In that moment, her grip loosened. The present—a pair of expensive cufflinks bought with her own bonus—dropped to the ground with a soft, final thud. They meant nothing to her anymore.
Drawing a deep breath, Kailey pulled out her phone and made a call.
𝖳𝘩𝗲 b𝖾𝗌t r𝘦𝖺𝖽і𝗻g ex𝘱𝖾𝗋іe𝗻𝗰𝖾 o𝗇 ga𝗹novе𝗹ѕ.𝖼𝗈m
“Kyson, I’ve decided. I accept your proposal. Let’s get married p>
Kyson Blake was five years older, a childhood neighbor from the Owen family’s circle. After high school, he had gone abroad, only returning to Aslesall recently. The last time they met, he had spoken openly about the pressures he faced—family expectations, arranged marriages, and the weight of inherited obligations. His offer had been pragmatic, even warm.
“Kailey, you know how this works. You and I are both destined for marriages that serve our families, not ourselves. If we’re going to be pushed into something, why not choose each other—someone who understands? What do you say we just tie the knot p>
Back when Kyson first made the suggestion, Kailey could only laugh it off. But tonight, the idea didn’t seem far-fetched at all.
She glanced over her shoulder at the club, its neon lights pulsing in bold, colorful bursts—each flicker like the dying embers of her feelings for Ryan.
“We’ve known each other since childhood. It’s far better than marrying a stranger. If you’re still willing and your family’s in a hurry, we could make it official soon,” she said into the phone.
Kyson was taken aback by how quickly she had made up her mind. There was a brief pause before he answered, “You say the word, and I’ll come get you. When are you ready p>
Her gaze dropped to the forgotten gift bag on the sidewalk. “Let me finish up with my internship arrangements first.” If she was going to marry Kyson, there was no reason to stay in Jucridge.
She hung up and walked for what felt like forever before finally flagging down a taxi back to Sundown Estate.
The estate stood right in the heart of the city, a prime location just five kilometers from the house where she had been born—before everything fell apart.
At nine years old, Kailey’s life had been shattered when her family’s company collapsed. Overwhelmed by mounting debts and relentless harassment from creditors, her parents lost all hope and left her entirely alone. Even their home was destroyed, reduced to nothing but ashes. The creditors showed no mercy, and for a time, it seemed that even little Kailey was not safe from their reach.
Ryan had stepped in when no one else would.