EO

he had loved, Millian. "It started the moment my eyes m

mole that dotted above her pouting lips and her black silky hair were the fi

gorgeous,"

had her silky blouse showing off her slim fig

with her right then and there-lo

e was shy. Then, eventually, he dared to

nge, which he said in

by the way,"

er after school and never missed a s

During lunch, he asked her to be his g

you,"

e replied with a wi

.. They were young, but they both under

ce that only teenagers can create, but we still found time to hang out together at break and

do," while trying to fight off

e filled with kids, one

f the tightness in his chest while still sipping from the cup of hi

; I didn't bother to

rip that changed the entire tr

ble. Edwards stood near him, arms crossed, while Amelia and George, still in their ta

flat on the table. "There's a clause you both need to be aware of. It was signed by me and your father at the

on that aligned with the future we envisioned

e remained still, but his jaw ticked ever so sli

" George aske

ed at the formation of Chedwards Group, in Bellawood, where I and Edward ensu

htly, as if needing space to brea

ecially designed for heirs of co-founders. It was a common practice in

itted co-founders to mandate marriage between heirs, as it helps

the clause is not honored, all existing shares under your names are to be recalled and redistributed t

is to take place on Amelia's attainment of 2

ely above a whisper. "I need air." S

hands fisted on the table as if hold

he had already been betrayed by his fathe

they had always wanted him to get closer

ere kids, and now, as an adult, he is being f

always behaved like the smarte

ding partners, and childhood friends had monthly dinners, weeken

tion, had the best grades, and always knew the capital of some random country n

hours conversing with their lawyers, and Amelia

trimonial alliances clause in their founding charters had long b

only on the grounds of in

nd by a legacy of control, and

honor it, the defaulting party loses everything. The le

iculous clause written by two old men who are long gone.

house with his airport fit and dry lips, like he hadn't slept in days. An

d the door. He covered his mouth with o

sized sweater, barefoot, like the world hadn't been cruel to her yet, the words just started pouring out. Not smooth. Not strong. Ju

alled it a 'matrimoni

outsiders from touching what they built. We've tried cont

word. She just star

weren't graceful. They were ugly, raw, the kind that scratched at her throat and left her gasping. Mu

George... Get out!" She folded into hersel

t the companies. Forget the clause. Forget them; I

on't be the daughter who vanished in the night. She's in

rward, she becam

ll social media platforms. He left messages: long one

day. He waited. Came agai

he lights sto

she had packed up in the middle of the

ever saw