Chapter 5 Dinner
Hannah.
The dining room was suffocating. Polished chandeliers hung from the ceiling, glittering like mocking stars. The long, glass table was set with golden cutlery and crisp white napkins, but no one here was interested in dinner.
Not tonight. I sat quietly beside Timothy, my fingers twisted together in my lap so tightly they hurt. Loretta sat beside my mother. Her eyes were fixed on me like daggers.
“Let’s get straight to the point,” Mr. Blackwood said, his voice deep and sharp. “The scandal has reached international media. This isn’t something a PR team can sweep under the rug. A sex tape involving Timothy… and Hannah…” his eyes flicked to me with cold judgment “…is explosive. Our reputations are at stake.”
I felt myself shrinking into the velvet chair. I didn’t remember that night. I didn’t remember him. Just the way I felt. Lost in euphoria. Safe, for once. But I hadn’t wanted this. Any of this.
“It was an accident,” Timothy said, voice rough. “Neither of us knew what we were drinking. I believe someone drugged us.”
“Intentional or not, it happened,” Yvonne snapped. “You were caught on camera, naked with her. Loretta’s sister. How do we spin that?”
“There’s only one way,” my father said. “We marry them. Timothy and Hannah. It restores honor, removes the 'affair' angle, and sends a message of responsibility.”
I gasped, blinking rapidly. “No. You can’t be serious.”
“I won’t marry her,” Timothy said coldly, his teeth bared as he threw a glare my way. I blinked at the vehemence in his voice. Did he also think I’d orchestrated this whole thing? “Loretta and I…”
“There is no you and Loretta anymore,” my mother said, eyes icy. “You tainted that the moment you laid a hand on Hannah.”
“I didn’t mean to!” Timothy looked at me, his eyes wild and angry. “I didn’t even know who she was…”
“Don’t look at her!” Loretta stood, her voice rising. “Don’t you dare look at her like she’s a victim! You ruined everything!” She said pointing a finger at me.
“I didn’t…” I stood too, suddenly breathless. “Loretta, I swear, I didn’t know. I didn’t remember anything until the footage was released. I didn’t do this on purpose.”
She let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, please. You always wanted what I had. My room, my clothes, my spotlight. Now my boyfriend too?”
“I never wanted him. You know I never…”
“You expect me to believe you?” she cut in, her voice shaking. “You’re a liar. And now you’re a whore too.”
“Loretta,” Timothy said sharply. “That’s enough.”
“No. Why the fuck are you defending her? Did you want it?,” she hissed. “Let her hear it. She wants the truth? Fine. I hate you. I have always hated you. You were born to ruin everything. I’m done pretending. I’m done being your sister.”
The room went silent. Her words hit harder than any bullet or barb she’d ever thrown my way.
“You don’t mean that,” I whispered, my throat closing up.
“I do,” she said, cold as ice. “You’re dead to me.”
She sat back down and looked away. My mother didn’t flinch. My father didn’t blink.
“Loretta’s feelings are valid,” my father said like nothing had just broken inside me. “But we have to think beyond emotion. We must control this narrative. A formal engagement announcement will be made by tomorrow morning.”
“No,” I choked. “You can’t force me to marry someone I don’t even know.” Even I could hear it was a moot and weak point.
“You should’ve thought of that before you embarrassed us,” Yvonne sneered.
“I didn’t…”
“Enough,” Mr. Blackwood interrupted. “What’s done is done. The engagement will happen. The wedding will hold in about a month. We’ll make it as genuine as we can and, private. We’ll handle the details.”
Timothy stood suddenly, pushing his chair back. “I’m not a pawn in your political game. I don’t even like Hannah. We barely know each other. It was one mistake. There are other ways we can go about this.” He growled.
“That’s irrelevant now,” his father said coldly. “You’ll do as you’re told.”
I looked at Timothy, desperate. “Please. Tell them we won’t do it. That we’ll find another way.”
He glared daggers at me and opened his mouth, but then closed it. He hissed at his parents, “I’m not a kid. I’m a fucking grown ass man in his 30’s. You can’t force me to get married to some…conniving…”
“That’s enough, Timothy. Think of your family and the business.” His father snapped and Timothy’s mouth clamped shut. His nose flared but he slowly sat, his body vibrating with fury.
“You’re really going to go along with this?” I asked quietly, heart in my throat.
He sneered at me, “Feel free to drop the act anytime now. I don’t know what you have against your sister but you’ve ruined a lot with this shit.” he said, not looking at me.
I blinked back tears and quietly looked away. There was no use talking. No one could hear me. Or maybe they could. They just weren’t listening.
Dinner was served, but no one really touched it. The room had already swallowed its main course; me. By the time the night ended, I was dizzy with shock, my mouth dry from too many words unspoken.
Loretta didn’t even look at me as we all stood to leave. She whispered something to our mother, then threw me a cold look as she brushed past me, knocking her shoulder into mine.
I stepped out of the mansion into the night air, my legs shaking as I stumbled to the secluded garden and crumpled to my knees.
The reality of what was happening hit me then.
I was…. engaged to Timothy Blackwood.
I was going to marry a man who was not only in love with my sister…but who also hated me.