Amelia had known her whole life that, unlike most people who found love and then marriage, she would find marriage first—and hopefully, with dedication, love would follow. It had never really bothered her. Her family had followed this centuries-old tradition for as long as she could remember. While it was once for noble lineage, now, according to her father, it was more of a strategic decision—preserving the family's honor, making sure his daughters were cared for and, if possible, aiding the family's financial ventures.
Her four older sisters had already been married off to men her father deemed suitable. Virginia was married to Bill, who owned a handful of banks. Anyone might expect them to live lavishly, but they were the most frugal couple Amelia knew. Virginia constantly recited her little mantras about financial responsibility, as if they were the keys to life.
Lorraine had married Gary, a doctor and head of the neuroscience department at Rothberg General—one of the country's top hospitals. He was a decent man. He and Lorraine often hosted charity events to raise money for those who couldn't afford life-saving surgeries.
Eleanor was married to Caleb, an architectural engineer. She handled interior design, and together they had created some of the most beautiful homes Amelia had ever seen. She thought they were a match made in heaven.
Then there was Macie, married to Jacob. Amelia barely saw them. Jacob was an heir to something significant, and the couple seemed to drift through life, untethered. It sounded romantic, but rumors of Jacob's appetite for alcohol and other women had reached Amelia more than once. Still, who was she to judge?
Her father seemed to have a reliable instinct for choosing "suitable" men. And now, it was Amelia's turn.
She had turned twenty-one three months ago and completed her degree only a month prior. Now, her father had chosen a match for her: Daniel Delaney, the CEO of a pharmaceutical company.
When she first heard his title, Amelia felt a wave of nerves. Having attended countless business events through her father's import/export company, she knew that "CEO" often translated to "middle-aged at best." Many were charming, certainly, but she had always hoped her match would be closer to her age.
To be fair, her father had mostly kept the age gaps reasonable. Virginia's husband Bill had been twelve years her senior—the largest gap among the sisters. The rest had partners within a ten-year range.
Amelia couldn't lie—once she had the name, she immediately searched for Daniel online. And to her surprise, what she found left her stunned. Pleasantly so.
He was twenty-eight. She had to double take. That kind of success at his age spoke of dedication and hard work—qualities she admired. She had always thrown herself into her own work with complete focus. Maybe that would be common ground they could build on.
Then she clicked on the images.
There were photos from galas, fundraisers, a possible family portrait—and then a magazine cover: Science Girl Weekly. He wore science goggles, a lab coat... and nothing underneath. His defined but somehow soft and inviting abs were on full display. With dark black hair, brooding eyes, and a sharp jawline, he looked intense but undeniably captivating. The headline read: "Hidden Heroes: Creating Safe and Affordable Medication."
Good job, Father, she had thought, feeling both anxious and hopeful.
That was three weeks ago.
And now, today, Amelia was about to begin her life with a man she had never met. A flicker of fear hit her. In today's world, the whole concept of arranged marriage felt like madness.
But she steadied herself. She took a deep breath.
She thought of her sisters—how they had each made it work. That gave her strength. She also reminded herself that love, left unchecked, could lead to heartbreak. Logic and commitment had their own kind of stability. She could do this. She might even grow to love him.
Still, there were no guarantees. For all she knew, Daniel Delaney could be a narcissist. Or worse.
A knock on her door pulled her from her spiraling thoughts.
"It's open!" she called.
The youngest Eden sister stepped in. Not quite a baby anymore—Camilla was nineteen. She didn't look directly at Amelia as she walked in, her gaze fixed on the floor.
"Have you been crying?" Amelia asked gently, noticing the red rims around her sister's eyes.
Camilla glanced up, startled. "No!" she said too quickly, then looked back down. But after a beat, she paused, looked up again, and smiled. "You look beautiful."
Amelia wasn't usually one for dressing up but today was special. Her wedding dress was simple and elegant—off-the-shoulder lace, clean lines, and a veil embroidered with colorful floral lace to represent the outdoors, her favorite place.
"Thank you," she said, reaching out to embrace her sister.
"I'm going to miss you," Camilla whispered, holding back her tears. After she got married today, she would be moving halfway across the country where Daniel lived.
"It'll be okay," Amelia said softly. "We'll call, FaceTime, visit...."
"Yeah," Camilla responded with a sarcastic eye roll, her bright green eyes so much like Amelia's own. "Just like Virginia and Lorraine and…"
Amelia cut her off gently. "Milli, I love all our sisters. But we'll stay in touch. We're different. No one's closer than us. You're strong, spirited, and you inspire me. That's how I know we'll be fine."
It was true. Amelia had always been closest to Camilla. Like her other sisters, Camilla had a strong work ethic—a trait their parents valued deeply—but she also had a fierce independence. She had no interest in being married off at twenty-one, and certainly not by their father. She wanted to explore the world on her own terms.
Amelia would never forget the day Camilla told her she wanted many lovers, not just one. If their father ever heard that, he might actually drop dead. It's not like the girls hadn't dated and experienced life, but they never let it get serious, and their father definitely didn't know about the "fun" times.
Camilla opened her mouth, as if to say something, then seemed to change her mind.
"Shall we then?" she asked instead, extending her arm.
"We shall," Amelia said, linking her arm with her sister's as they began walking toward the main hall.
Her life was about to change forever. For better or for worse.
Please let me be a good wife. Please let him be a good husband. Please, let this not be a disaster. And most of all... please, don't let me regret this.