-28-
Rafae l
As I closed the door behind me, I couldn't help but replay the words I had spoken just minutes earlier in my head. They were innocuous enough, but something about them felt strange, off. I tried to shake off the feeling as I headed to the car, but it clung to me like a shadow. It was odd that my parents hadn't reached out. Truthfully, I was now genuinely concerned. I hadn't heard from them since the day they threatened me to get married. The memory of that confrontation was still fresh in my mind, a mixture of anger and bewilderment.
You would think they'd be happy that I'd followed their orders, that I'd bend to their will but their lack of a response screamed that they weren't happy with me. But if that were the case, they'd reach out to tell me exactly how disappointed they were, right? Surely, they'd respond in some way, instead of being silent.
"Daniel," I called out to my driver. "Change of plans. We're going to my parents' house."
Daniel nodded and adjusted the GPS. The drive to my parents' house was about 45 minutes from the city. It was usually a peaceful, scenic drive, but today the beauty of the rolling hills and green pastures was lost on me. I opened my briefcase and began sifting through the six-month report for one of my hotels, hoping to distract myself. The figures and graphs provided a temporary escape from my troubled thoughts.
Time flew by, and before I knew it, Daniel was pulling into the driveway of my childhood home. The sight of the familiar brick facade and the towering oak tree in the front yard stirred a mix of nostalgia and unease. I checked my phone before exiting the car and found a text from Yasmin, inviting Roman to review the contract with us. I quickly sent her a text back.
Then I dialed Roman's number. He answered on the first ring, his voice calm and professional. "Hey Roman, just wanted to let you know that I'll be late for lunch. Something's come up."
"No worries. What's going on?" he asked.
"I'm at my parents' house. It's just dawned on me that they haven't contacted me about my engagement," I explained, trying to keep the worry and annoyance out of my voice.
Roman paused for a moment. "Yeah, that is strange. You'd think they'd be all over your engagement since they insisted on it."
"That's what I've been thinking," I responded happily, glad I wasn't the only one to think that way. "That's why I find it so strange they're being silent now."
"You're right to feel that way, let me know what happens."
"Sure, and one more thing, Ivan is giving Yasmin the contract today, so we'll go over it at the penthouse later."
"That's the best thing I've heard all day," he responded immediately.
I laughed. "Of course, it is." Ending the call, I took a deep breath and got out of the car. The walk up the steps to the front door felt longer than usual. I knocked loudly, the sound echoing through the still morning air.
Moments later my mom opened the door, immediately pulling me in for a hug.
"Rafael! What a surprise!" she exclaimed, ushering me inside.
The living room was just as I remembered it, a snapshot of my childhood. My father sat in his usual chair, enjoying his morning coffee. He glanced up as I entered, a look of mild curiosity on his face. Neither seemed unhappy to see me which only added to my confusion.
"Rafael," he greeted me with a nod, gesturing to the empty chair opposite him. "Take a seat."
I sat down, the tension in the room palpable. My mom looked at me expectantly. "What brings you here, Rafael? Why the sudden visit?"
I took a deep breath, deciding to cut straight to the point. "Why haven't you acknowledged my engagement?" I asked, my voice sharper than intended.
My father rolled his eyes, and my mom sighed. "We found it oddly convenient how quickly you got engaged," she said, her tone laced with skepticism.
Annoyance bubbled up inside me. "Isn't this what you wanted?" I countered. "You practically threatened me into getting married. Or have you forgotten?"
"We didn't forget." Dad leaned forward, placing his coffee cup on the coaster. "We want you to settle down, Rafael. But we didn't expect you to put a ring on a random person."
His words stung, a sharp reminder of how little they knew about Yasmin. For a brief second, I considered telling them who she really was, but I shot that thought down immediately. I had no right to divulge such information without her permission and with how my parents were acting I wasn't sure I ever wanted them to find out. It was now abundantly clear that when they insisted on me getting married, what they meant was for me to attach myself to a family with just as much influence as ours.
I wondered what they would do if they somehow found out that Yasmin was actually Yasmin Rashid and no one on this continent could even comprehend her family's wealth. Would they still insist she was just a random person, or would they urge me to seal the deal so she couldn't leave me?
"Yasmin is not a random person," I said firmly. "You threatened me to get married and I am, with that being said I won't tolerate you speaking badly of her. You can either get on board or stay away. The choice is yours."
They exchanged glances, realizing I wouldn't change my mind. My mom's shoulders sagged in resignation. "Fine," my dad said reluctantly. "But we want her to sign a prenup."
I sighed; the irony of their demand was not lost on me. If anyone needed to sign a prenup in this relationship it surely wouldn't be Yasmin. A prenup wasn't a bad idea the longer I thought about it, I would happily sign one to prove that I only wanted her. "Of course you do," I replied. "I'll discuss it with Yasmin. But understand this: if she refuses, I will still marry her, with or without your blessing."
The tension in the room thickened, my parents' faces hardening at my words. But I stood my ground, knowing that this was a battle I had to fight for the sake of my future with Yasmin. At some point, they'd realize their mistake but for now, I would defend our relationship with everything I had.
"Do you even know her family background?" my father asked, breaking the silence. "We haven't heard anything about her, Rafael. How can you be sure she's not after your money?"
I clenched my fists, trying to keep my temper in check. "Yasmin isn't like that," I said through gritted teeth. "She's independent and successful in her own right. All you need to know about her family is that they are good people. "
My mother leaned forward, her eyes searching mine for any hint of doubt. "And you're sure about this? About her?"
"Absolutely," I replied without hesitation. "Yasmin is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. This isn't just about proving something to you. It's about my happiness, my future."
My parents fell silent, the weight of my words sinking in. For the first time, I saw a flicker of understanding in their eyes, a recognition that perhaps they had underestimated my resolve.
"Very well," my father said finally, his tone softer. "If you're that sure about her, we'll support you. But the prenup is non-negotiable."
I nodded. "I'll talk to Yasmin about it."
"That's all we ask."
"I know this should go without saying but if either of you make her feel like a gold digger or make any snide remarks against her, I won't be responsible for my actions. She's been in a relationship where her 'in-laws' were always insulting her and I won't have anyone hurt her that way again."
"Rafael, darling," my mom spoke softly as she shot a quick look in my father's direction. "We would never do such a thing. We only want you to protect yourself with the prenup, aside from that we'll welcome her with open arms."
I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me.