A life changing decision-1

Chapter One Hailey: I was sitting in my room near the window and reading my favorite book, which had a lot of mystery and thrill. I loved reading books before going to bed because they kept me distracted from recalling all the horrible memories in my past that haunted me every night. I shivered thinking about last week's nightmare. In my nightmare, I was crying hysterically at something my mom said, and then the world collapsed under me as I fell into darkness. I wanted to keep reading and finish the whole book before going to bed, but it seemed impossible to continue due to sleepiness. I closed the book and put it on my study table then I got up from the chair. My eyes caught the glowing full moon outside my window, and I stared at it. It looked beautiful, spreading light in the darkness of the night. Suddenly, the rustling of the trees in the garden made me jump. I looked outside but couldn't see anything or anyone. Before something would appear and scare me, I decided to go to bed. I jumped on my bed and pulled the comforter up to my chin. The softness of the new sheets felt so nice, making me sigh in contentment. I snuggled my face in the pillows and drifted into a dreamless slumber. The shouting and screaming of my mother woke me up. I looked around, and my eyes landed on the wall clock, which was showing that it was half-past twelve. I heard the shattering of glass and jumped from the bed, running out of my room to search my parents and granddad. The angry voices of my mom and granddad led me to my granddad's study room. The door of the study room was slightly opened and taking advantage of it, I silently slipped inside. I found my mom standing in the middle of the room crying and mumbling something. My dad was sitting on the couch and staring at the floor like it was the most interesting thing in the world. I didn't know what was going on and I was scared to find out. I noticed anger and worry etched on my granddad's face while he was busy glaring at my mom. They didn't know I was standing in the corner and watching everything. Finally, I got the courage to open my mouth. "What is happening? Mom, dad?" I asked them. Their heads snapped in my direction, and their eyes stared at me with terror. My gaze connected with my mom and I found myself frozen. Her eyes were filled with hate, and the hate was directed at me. I feared for my life at that moment. In my sixteen years of existence, I never saw this much hate for me in my mom's eyes. I was used with her disappointed glances at me, but this glare felt dangerous. Like it promised to inflict m an unimaginable amount of pain. My father noticed the look on my mom's face and shook his head. "Hailey, go back to your room," my dad said. I was about to turn around and leave the study room, but my mother's angry voice stopped me dead in my tracks. "No! She should know what is going on in this house. Emily left us because of some stupid promise your grandfather made years ago to his best friend," my mom yelled, making me freeze. I couldn't believe my ears. My sister left! Why would she suddenly leave the house? What happened? I asked my mom. "Why did she leave?" My grandfather heaved a sigh and stood up from his chair. He took long steps, and within seconds he was standing in front of me. "Hailey, when I was young, I made a promise to my best friend. Now, he is on his deathbed. He wants me to fulfill my promise before his death," my granddad said. I was more confused after hearing what my granddad said. I didn't understand how it was connected to my sister leaving the house. My mother noticed my confused state and said, "Tell her the truth!" My granddad glared at my mom then turned back to me. "My friend and I made a promise that someday, we will unite our families by arranging a marriage between our first grandchildren. Now, that he is not well and dying in the hospital, his family contacted me. They want me to fulfill my side of the promise before my friend's death. He wants to see his grandson happily married to my granddaughter before dying," my grandfather said. I looked at him in shock. Now, it all made sense. That was why Emily ran away in the middle of the night. She had always been against marriage, and an arranged marriage was something she would never do. She always wanted to become a model and marriage meant the end of her modeling career. "Why did you tell them that Emily would marry their son? She is eighteen, and it's too early to get married. She has her whole life ahead of her to spend the way she likes. Please don't ruin it by forcing her to marry a man she barely knows. Please, I beg you! Stop this nonsense so she can come back home," my mom said. "What do you want me to do, Melanie? Do you want me to refuse them or tell them that I can't fulfill my friend's last wish?" My mother's eyebrows scrunched up at his words. A few moments later she started smiling cryptically in my way. I felt nervous while staring at her. With slow predatory steps, she approached me. "I think Hailey is the better candidate to marry off. She doesn't look that young. She has good height and weight. She will look perfect as the wife of your friend's grandson," mom said and gripped my arm.