Chapter 85 Doubt, Forged into Steel
Anne‘s POV
"He tried," I said. "Right up until the end."
We sat in silence, Lily's grief filling the space between us.
"Why did you bring me here?" she finally asked. "What do you want?"
I lifted my chin. “Nothing—just wanted to confirm a few things, that’s all.”
---
Over the next few days, Lily told me everything—about the facility, about the other children who'd disappeared, about the guards who wouldn't meet their eyes when asked questions.
Each conversation added another piece to a picture I was beginning to dread seeing completed.
But even as I gathered evidence, there was still one conversation I needed to have.
---
I found Mother in her sitting room, embroidering with focused intensity.
"Mother, I need to talk to you about the marriage arrangement with Chase Sterling."
Her hands stilled. "What about it?"
"I don't want to marry him."
The silence was absolute. Finally, Mother set down her embroidery. "Don't want to? Anne, this isn't about what you want. This is about your duty—"
"What about my happiness?" I interrupted desperately. "What about what I want for my life?"
"Your happiness will come from being an Alpha's mate," Mother said. "From having status, security, influence."
"Even if it means being miserable?" I demanded. "Even if it means spending my life with someone who doesn't love me?"
"Love is a luxury," Mother said sharply. "Marriage is a contract."
"I don't believe that," I said, my voice breaking. "I don't want to spend my life pretending to be happy while dying inside—"
"Then what do you want?" Mother stood abruptly. "To be some nobody's mate? To live in obscurity? Is that what you think will make you happy?"
"I want to make my own choices," I said desperately. "I want to marry someone who actually wants me—"
"You want things that don't exist," Mother interrupted coldly. "You want a fairy tale. But we live in the real world, where women like us marry for advantage."
She moved closer, her hand cupping my cheek. "Being an Alpha's mate—that is happiness, Anne. That is the pinnacle of what a woman can achieve. Status, respect, security—these are what matter."
"But what if I need more?" I whispered.
"Then you'll learn to want less," Mother said simply. "Because there is no alternative. Your father has arranged this marriage, and you will fulfill your duty."
She returned to her embroidery, dismissing me.
"Mother," I said quietly. "Do you love Father?"
Her hands stilled. Then, without looking up: "I respect your father. I appreciate the life he's provided. That is enough."
That is enough. The words settled over me like a shroud, and I saw with devastating clarity that my mother had made the same choice she was asking me to make—and had been miserable for it.
"I don't want that," I said. "I don't want to spend my life just existing."
"Then you're a fool," Mother said flatly. "Because that is the bargain women like us make. We trade our freedom for security. And we do it because the alternative is far worse."
I left with tears streaming down my face and a certainty crystallizing: I can't do this. I can't be the person they want me to be.
---
I found Father in his study that evening.
"I don't want to marry Chase Sterling," I said without preamble. "I know you've been planning this, but I can't do it. I won't do it."
Father set down his papers carefully. "I see. And what brought about this change of heart?"
"It's not sudden," I said. "I've been trying to make myself want this, but I can't. Chase has a Mate. He's never wanted me. He never will."
"Shouldn't have to," Father repeated, his voice taking on dangerous quiet. "Do you understand what you're throwing away?"
"I understand I'm choosing my own happiness over political advantage."
"And you think that's a luxury you can afford?" Father stood, Alpha authority filling the room. "You think your happiness matters more than this family's security?"
"Yes," I said. "Because I'm not a chess piece. I'm a person."
The silence that followed was absolute.
"I see," Father said quietly.
"Then let me make something very clear," Father interrupted. "If you don't marry Sterling, what exactly is your value to this family? What purpose do you serve?"
The question stole my breath. "I'm your daughter—"
"You're a tool," he said flatly. "A means to an end. I raised you for one purpose—to secure an advantageous alliance. If you refuse, then you have no value to me."
Each word landed like a stone. "Father, please—"
"I don't need a daughter who can't contribute to this family's advancement," he continued. "I need a political asset. If you refuse to be that asset, you're worse than useless—you're a liability."
Tears streamed down my face. "Is that really all I am to you? Just a tool?"
"What did you think you were?" Father asked with genuine confusion. "Did you really think I loved you for who you are? I love what you can do for this family. And if you choose not to—" He shrugged. "Then you're choosing to make yourself irrelevant."
He pressed a button, summoning guards. "Since you need time to reconsider, I'm implementing a new protocol. Until you agree to fulfill your duty, you'll receive daily reminders of the consequences of defiance."
Two guards entered.
"Take her to the discipline chamber," Father ordered. "Standard protocol. Have her serve a few hours each day."
"Father, please—"
"You made your choice, Anne. Now live with the consequences."
As the guards flanked me, I looked at my father one last time.
"Father," I said quietly. "Do you really see me as your daughter? Or am I just a tool you've been using to climb higher?"
Something flickered across his expression before the mask returned.
"Does it matter?" he asked. "Either way, you'll do what's expected. Eventually."
The guards took my arms, leading me toward the door. But at the threshold, I stopped and looked back.
"You know what's strange?" I said, voice barely above a whisper. "I spent my entire life trying to earn your love. And I finally realize—I never had a chance, did I? Because you don't know how to love anything that doesn't serve your ambitions."
I felt something inside crack and reshape into something harder. Maybe Chase was right.