The ride back to the Hunt mansion was heavy with silence. Carmilla stared out the window, her face set in stone, refusing to meet her father's eyes. The weight of the funeral, the whispers about Julian, and the Harrington family's eerie presence lingered like smoke.
As the car pulled up the long, winding drive, her father finally broke the silence.
"Carmilla… we need to have a serious conversation".His voice was low, uncertain.
Her heart skipped. What now?
Inside the mansion, the air felt colder than usual. Carmilla's mother offered a vague excuse and disappeared down the hallway, leaving father and daughter alone. Without a word, Mr. Hunt led Carmilla into the study and closed the door behind them.
He took a moment before speaking, his gaze locked on her.
"I know you're confused about what I said earlier… and about the Harringtons. But you deserve to know the truth."
Carmilla's posture stiffened.
"You said Julian was engaged to someone in the Harrington family. But what you didn't say is why you never told me."
Her father sighed, running a hand over his weary face.
"It was complicated. The engagement wasn't just romantic, it was a business move. Julian agreed to the arrangement to secure a merger. Our company… it's in serious trouble. There's been embezzlement, and I—I failed to stop it. We're on the brink of bankruptcy."
Carmilla's heart twisted. Their company? The legacy her grandfather built?
"But why would Julian sacrifice himself like that? Why didn't you try to talk him out of it?"
Mr. Hunt's eyes darkened.
"Because Julian wanted to protect the family name. He knew you'd refuse the marriage. He stepped in, thinking he could control the outcome."
Carmilla's throat tightened as anger and guilt clashed inside her.
"And now he's dead."
Her voice cracked.
"And none of you thought I deserved to know?"
Before her father could respond, the study door creaked open. Both stare at the entrance of the room, at this point, Carmilla was tired of seeing her mom's face.
"Am I interrupting something?" her mother asked, her tone sharp with suspicion.
Mr. Hunt quickly composed himself, giving Carmilla a silent look, urging her to stay quiet.
"It's nothing," he said firmly.
"Well, don't get too comfortable. The Harringtons invited us to their estate for the reception. Go change into something presentable. You too, Cam."
As Carmilla stood to leave, her mother suddenly blocked her path.
"There's no need to rush. I'm sure your father has already told you about the company's situation."
Carmilla pulled away, her jaw clenched.
"He did. But I have a feeling I'm still not hearing everything."
She glanced between them, searching their faces.
"Did it ever occur to you that Julian died because of this arrangement? Because of what you forced him into?"
Her mother let out a cold, humorless laugh.
"Don't be dramatic. Stop blaming us and look at the real problem."
Then, she said the unthinkable.
"It should've been you. The marriage was arranged for you, not Julian."
Carmilla froze.
"What…?"
The words hit like a slap.
"You were going to marry me off without telling me?"
Her father looked away in shame, while her mother remained unapologetic.
"Yes," she admitted.
"But Julian knew you'd never agree. So he offered to take your place. He thought he was protecting you… and us."
Tears spilled down Carmilla's cheeks as she sank into the nearest chair, her hand trembling over her mouth.
It was all too much. Her brother's death. The betrayal. The mounting pressure. Even if she wanted to save the company by investing through her own firm, the shareholders would never approve. Not without risking everything she had built on her own.
Is there no other way? she thought. Does it really have to be this?
Her mother, reading the desperation on her face, stepped forward.
"If you truly care about this family, if you want to make things right, renew the agreement. Marry into the Harrington family. Secure the deal your brother died for."
"No!" her father shouted, his voice raw with grief.
"I won't allow it. We've already lost Julian. I won't lose Carmilla too."
But Mrs. Hunt was unmoved.
"You may not care about your legacy, but I do. Carmilla, if you want to redeem yourself as this family's daughter, marry Harrison."
Mr. Hunt turned sharply toward his wife.
"She doesn't need to redeem herself. She's always been our daughter, and she owes us nothing."
Carmilla looked at them, her father's eyes full of sorrow and love, her mother's eyes full of cold conviction.
Somewhere deep down, despite everything, Carmilla knew her mother was right. Not about the guilt. But about the only path left.
She stood, wiping her tears.
" You" Carmilla spoke referring to her mother. " You really know how to pull strings, don't you?. Fine," she said softly, then firmer.
"I'll marry Harrison."
She looked at her parents, one horrified, the other satisfied.
I hope this time... I've made the right choice.